"Today this scribe came with his people, and said to my husband, 'If Thou hast not money, give thy two sons. The worthy Dagon will not only forgive thee the rent, but will pay thee a drachma a year for each boy.'"
"Woe to me because of thee!" roared the half-drowned husband; "Thou wilt destroy us all with thy babbling. Do not listen to her," continued he, turning to Ramses. "As a cow thinks that she frightens off flies with her tail, so it seems to a woman that she can drive away collectors with her tongue; and neither cow nor woman knows that she is stupid."
"Thou art stupid!" said the woman. "Sun-like lord with the form of a pharaoh."
"I call to witness that this woman blasphemes," said the official to his people in a low voice.
"Odorous flower, whose voice is like a flute, listen to me!" implored the woman of Ramses. "Then my husband answered this official, 'I would rather lose two bulls, if I had them, than give my boys away, though Thou wert to give me four drachmas; for when a boy leaves home for service no one ever sees him after that.'."
"Would that I were choked! would that fish were eating my body in the bottom of the Nile!" groaned the earth-tiller. "Thou wilt destroy all our house with thy complaints, woman."
The official, seeing that he had the support of the side mainly interested, stepped forth and began, in nasal tones, a second time,
"Since the sun rises beyond the palace of the pharaoh and sets over the pyramids, various wonders have happened in this country. In the days of the Pharaoh Sememphes marvelous things appeared near the pyramid of Kochom, and a plague fell on Egypt. In the time of Boetus the ground opened near Bubastis and swallowed many people. In the reign of Neferches the waters of the Nile for eleven days were as sweet as honey. Men saw these and many other things of which I know, for I am full of wisdom. But never has it been seen that some unknown man came up out of the water and stopped the collection of rent in the lands of the heir to the throne of Egypt."
"Be silent," shouted Ramses, "and be off out of this place! No one will take thy children," said he to the woman.
"It is easy for me to go away," said the collector, "for I have a swift boat and five rowers. But, worthiness, give me some sign for my lord Dagon."