"I will show thee all, and give every explanation," said Otoes. "But we should go to a place where there is no uproar."
In fact, in the palace which the prince occupied as many people thronged in the inner and outer court as at a fair. They ate, drank, sang, raced or rested, and all this to enhance the glory of the viceroy whom they were serving.
About three in the afternoon, the nomarch gave command to bring two horses, and with the prince he rode forth from the city westward. The court remained in the palace and amused itself with still greater gladness.
The day was beautiful, cool; the earth was covered with plants and flowers. Over the beads of the horsemen were heard the songs of birds, the air was full of fragrance.
"How pleasant it is here!" exclaimed Ramses. "Now I am able to collect ray thoughts for the first time in a month. I had begun to think that a whole regiment of chariots had assembled in my head, and that from morning till evening reviews were held there."
"Such is the fate of a ruler in this world," said the nomarch.
They halted on an eminence. At their feet lay an immense meadow, cut through by a blue stream. On the north and on the south were white walls of towns; beyond the meadow on the rim of the horizon extended the reddish sands of the western desert, from which came an occasional breath of heated air, as if from a furnace.
On the meadow were countless herds of animals, horned and hornless oxen, sheep, goats, asses, antelopes, even rhinoceroses.
Here and there were visible swampy places covered with water plants and reeds in which were teeming wild geese, ducks, doves, storks, pelicans, and ibises.
"Behold, lord," said Otoes, "a picture of our country, Quench, Egypt. Osiris fell in love with this strip of laud in the midst of deserts; he covered it with plants and living creatures, so as to have from them profit. Then the kindly god took a human form and became the first pharaoh. When he felt that his body was withering, he left it and entered into his son, and later on into his son's son.