pour all blessings on the sovereign,
dignitaries of the civil power and of the army were permitted to kiss
the lowest step of the throne. Then Ramses took a gold spoon, and,
repeating a prayer which the holy Sem pronounced aloud, he incensed the
statues of the gods arranged in line on both sides of the pharaoh's
chapel.

"What am I to do now?" inquired he.

"Show thyself to the people," replied Herhor.

Through a gilded, widely opened door his holiness ascended marble steps
to a terrace, and, raising his hands, faced in turn toward the four
sides of the universe. The sound of trumpets was heard, and from the
summits of pylons banners were hung out. Whoso was in a field, in a
yard, on the street, fell prostrate; the stick, raised above the back
of a beast or a slave, was lowered without giving the blow, and all
criminals against the state who had been sentenced that day received
grace.

Descending from the terrace the pharaoh inquired,

"Have I something more to do?"

"Refreshments and affairs of state are awaiting thee, holiness,"
replied Herhor.

"After that I may rest," said the pharaoh. "Where are the remains of
his holiness, my father?"

"Given to the embalmers," whispered Herhor.

Tears filled the pharaoh's eyes, and his mouth quivered, but he
restrained himself and looked down in silence. It was not proper that
servants should see emotion in such a mighty ruler.

Wishing to turn the pharaoh's attention to another subject, Herhor
asked,

"Wilt Thou be pleased, holiness, to receive the homage due from the
queen, thy mother?"

"I? Am I to receive homage from my mother?" asked Ramses, with
repressed voice.

"Hast Thou forgotten what the sage Eney said? Perhaps holy Sem will
repeat those beautiful words to us."

"Remember," quoted Sem, "that she gave birth to thee and nourished thee
in every manner."

"Speak further; speak!" insisted the pharaoh, striving always to
command himself.

"Shouldst Thou forget that she would raise her hands to the god, and he
would hear her complaint. She bore thee long beneath her heart, like a
great burden, and gave thee birth when thy mouths had expired. She
carried thee in her arms afterward, and during three years she put her
breast into thy mouth. She reared thee, was not disgusted with thy
uncleanness. And when Thou wert going to school and wert exercised in
writing, she placed before thy teacher daily bread and beer from her
own dwelling." [Authentic]

Rams