下载辰思小说免费APP
ThereforeI，theRoyalPrincessofEgypt，wouldaskofPharaoh，isthisthedecreeofPharaoh？“
“Now，“saidBakenkhonsu，“Pharaohsatwithhangingheaduponhisthroneandmadenoanswer。“
“Pharaohdoesnotspeak，“wentonUserti。“ThenIask，isthisthedecreeoftheCouncilofPharaohandofthepeopleofEgypt？ThereisstillagreatarmyinEgypt，hundredsofchariotsandthousandsoffootmen。IsthisarmytositstillwhiletheseslavesdepartintothedeserttheretorouseourenemiesofSyriaagainstusandreturnwiththemtobutcherus？“
“Atthesewords，“continuedBakenkhonsu，“fromallthatmultitudetherewentupashoutof’No。’“
“ThepeoplesayNo。WhatsaithPharaoh？“criedUserti。
Therefollowedasilence，tillsuddenlyAmenmesesroseandspoke：
“Haveitasyouwill，Princess，andonyourheadandtheheadsofallthesewhomyouhavestirreduplettheevilfallifevilcomes，thoughIthinkitisyourhusband，thePrinceSeti，whoshouldstandwhereyoustandandputupthisprayerinyourplace。“
“Myhusband，thePrinceSeti，istiedtoMemphisbyaropeofwitch’shair，orsotheytellme，“shesneered，whilethepeoplemurmuredinassent。
“Iknownot，“wentonAmenmeses，“butthisIknowthatalwaysthePrincewouldhavelettheseHebrewsgofromamongus，andattimes，assorrowfollowedsorrow，Ihavethoughtthathewasright。TrulymorethanonceIalsowouldhaveletthemgo，buteversomeStrength，I
knownotwhat，descendedonmyheart，turningittostone，andwrungfrommewordsthatIdidnotdesiretoutter。EvennowIwouldletthemgo，butallofyouareagainstme，and，perchance，ifIwithstandyou，Ishallpayforitwithmylifeandthrone。Captains，commandthatmyarmiesbemadeready，andletthemassemblehereatTanisthatImyselfmayleadthemafterthepeopleofIsraelandsharetheirdangers。“
Thenwithamightyshoutingthecompanybrokeup，sothatatthelastallweregoneandonlyPharaohremainedseateduponhisthrone，staringatthegroundwiththeair，saidBakenkhonsu，ratherofonewhoisdeadthanofalivingkingabouttowagewaruponhisfoes。
ToallthesewordsthePrincelistenedinsilence，butwhentheywerefinishedhelookedupandasked：
“Whatthinkyou，Bakenkhonsu？“
“Ithink，OPrince，“answeredthewiseoldman，“thatherHighnessdidilltostirupthismatter，thoughdoubtlessshespokewiththevoicesofthepriestsandofthearmy，againstwhichPharaohwasnotstrongenoughtostand。“
“Whatyouthink，Ithink，“saidSeti。
AtthismomenttheladyMerapientered。
“Ihear，mylord，“shesaid，“thatPharaohpurposestopursuethepeopleofIsraelwithhishost。IcometopraymylordthathewillnotjoinhimselftothehostofPharaoh。“
“Itisbutnatural，Lady，thatyoushouldnotwishmetomakewaruponyourkin，andtospeaktruthIhavenomindthatway，“repliedSeti，and，turning，leftthechamberwithher。
“Sheisnotthinkingofherkingbutofherlover’slife，“saidBaken
