n by Freiherr
von Gebler. Otto Jahn, in his Life of Mozart, gives the following sketch
of its story:--

"Menes, King of Egypt, has been deposed by a usurper, Rameses, and, as
it is thought, assassinated; but he is living, under the name of
Sethos, as high priest of the Temple of the Sun, the secret being known
only to the priest Hammon and the general Phanes. After the death of
Rameses, his son Thamos is heir to the throne. The day arrives when
Thamos attains majority, is to be invested with the diadem, and to
select a bride. The friends of Menes seek in vain to persuade him to
dispute the throne. He will not oppose the noble youth, whom he loves
and esteems. But Pheron, a prince and confidant of Thamos, has, in
conjunction with Mirza, the chief of the Virgins of the Sun, organized
a conspiracy against Thamos, and won over a portion of the army.
Tharsis, daughter of Menes, who is believed by all, even her father, to
be dead, has been brought up by Mirza under the name of Sais. It is
arranged that she shall be proclaimed rightful heir to the throne, and,
as she will then have the right to choose her consort, Mirza will
secure her beforehand for Pheron. When she discovers that Sais loves
Thamos, and he her, she induces Sais to believe that Thamos prefers her
playmate Myris, and Sais is generous enough to sacrifice her love and
her hopes of the throne to her friend. Equally nobly Thamos rejects all
suspicions against Pheron, and awards him supreme command. As the time
for action draws near, Pheron discloses to Sethos, whom he takes for a
devoted follower of Menes, and consequently for an enemy to Thamos, the
secret of Sais' existence and his own plans. Sethos prepares secretly
to save Thamos. Sais also, after being pledged to silence by an oath,
is initiated into the secret by Mirza and Pheron, and directed to
choose Pheron. She declines to give a decided answer, and Pheron
announces to Mirza his determination to seize the throne by force in
case of extremity. Sais, who believes herself not loved by Thamos, and
will not therefore choose him as consort, but will not deprive him of
the throne, takes the solemn and irrevocable oath as Virgin of the Sun.
Thamos enters, and they discover, to their sorrow, their mutual love.
Sethos, entering, enlightens Thamos as to the treachery of Pheron,
without disclosing the parentage of Sais. Pheron, disturbed by the
repo