"Pardon, lord," interrupted Pentuer. "For gold and jewels, thou wilt find traitors shouldst thou need them, among priests even. But I am not of those men. For think, were I to betray the gods, what bond could I give not to betray thee also?" Rameses grew thoughtful. "Thou hast answered wisely," said he. "But it is a wonder to me why thou, a priest, hast for me kindness in thy heart. Thou didst bless me a year ago, and to-day thou wouldst not let me go alone into the desert, and hast shown me great service." "Because the gods have forewarned me that thou art worthy, lord; shouldst thou wish, thou mayst rescue the ill-fated people of Egypt." "How do the people concern thee?" "I came from them. My father and brother raised water long days from the Nile, and received blows of sticks for their labor." "How can I aid the people?" asked Rameses. Pentuer grew animated. "Thy people," said he, with emotion, "toil too much, they pay too much tribute, they suffer persecution and misery. Hard is the fate of the toiling man. The worm eats half his harvest, the rhinoceros the other half; in the fields, a legion of mice live; the locust comes,--the cattle trample,--the sparrows steal. What is left after these for the threshing floor the thief takes. Oh, wretched earth-tillers! Now comes the scribe to the boundary and mentions the harvest. His attendants have sticks, and black men carry palm rods. 'Give wheat!' say they. He answers, 'There is none.' They flog him; immediately they stretch him out at full length--they bind him; they hurl him into the canal, where they sink him, head downward. They bind his wife in his presence and also his children. His neighbors flee, carrying their wheat away with them."[20] [20] Original description. "I have seen that myself," said Rameses, "and have driven off at least one scribe of that sort. But can I be everywhere to forestall injustice?" "Thou mayst command, lord, not to torment working-men needlessly. Thou mayst decrease taxes, appoint days of rest for the earth-tillers. Thou mayst give each family a patch of land, even the harvest of which would be theirs, and serve to nourish them. In the opposite case they will feed themselves as they now do, with lotus seeds, rotten fish and papyrus, till thy people will perish finally. But show them favor and they will rise." "Indeed, I will do so!" said Rameses. "A wise owner will not let cattle starve nor work beyond the strength of their bodies, or be clubbed without reason. This must be changed." Pentuer halted. "Dost thou promise that, worthy lord?" "I swear!" answered Rameses. "Then I swear that thou wilt be the most famous of all pharaohs; before thee the fame of Rameses the Great, will grow pale!" cried the priest, mastering himself no longer. The prince fell to thinking, then asked,-- "What can we two do against those priests who hate me?" "They fear thee, lord," answered Pentuer. "They fear lest thou begin war too soon against Assyria?"