The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient EgyptPrus, Bolesław
History
The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt
Prus, Bolesław
Egypt -- History -- To 332 B.C. -- Fiction
At that moment from various sides were heard voices as of distant
trumpets. Near the lamp some bird flew past, then a robe of ruddy
color, afterward a man with a tail, finally a crowned cock which stood
on the table before the curtain.
The Chaldean spoke again,--
"In the name of the Almighty and Eternal--Amorul, Taneha, Rabur,
Latisten."
Distant sounds of trumpets were heard for a second time.
"In the name of the just and ever-living Eloy, Archima, Rabu, I
conjure and summon thee. In the name of the star, which is the sun, by
this its sign, by the glorious and awful name of the living God."
The trumpets sounded again, and stopped on a sudden. Before the altar
appeared a crowned vision with a sceptre in its hand, and sitting on a
lion.
"Beroes! Beroes!" cried the vision, with a restrained voice. "Why dost
thou summon me?"
"I wish my brethren of this temple to receive me with sincere hearts,
and incline their ears to the words which I bring them from brethren
in Babylon," said the Chaldean.
"Be it so," said the vision, and vanished.
The Chaldean stood as motionless as a statue, with his head thrown
back, with hands lifted upward. He stood thus half an hour in a
position impossible for an ordinary person.
During this time a part of the wall which formed one side of the cave
pushed back, and three Egyptian priests entered. At sight of the
Chaldean, who seemed to lie in the air, resting his shoulders on an
invisible support, the priests looked at one another with amazement.
The eldest said,--
"Long ago there were men like this among us, but no one has such power
in our day."
They walked around him on all sides, touched his stiffened members,
and looked with fear at his face, which was bloodless and sallow, like
that of a corpse.
"Is he dead?" asked the youngest.
After these words the body of the Chaldean, which had been bent
backward, returned to a perpendicular position. On his face appeared a
slight flush, and his upraised hands dropped. He sighed, rubbed his
eyes like a man roused from sleep, looked at the priests, and said
after a while, turning to the eldest,--
"Thou art Mefres, high priest of the temple of Ptah in Memphis. Thou
art Herhor, high priest of Amon in Thebes, the first dignity in this
state after the pharaoh. Thou," he indicated the youngest, "art
Pentuer, the second prophet in the temple of Amon, and the adviser of
Herhor."
"Thou art undoubtedly Beroes, the high priest and sage of Babylon,
whose coming was announced to us a year ago," answered Mefres.
"Thou hast told truth," said the Chaldean.
He embraced them in turn, and they inclined before him.
"I bring you great words from our common fatherland, which is Wisdom,"
said Beroes. "Be pleased to listen and act as is needful."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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