They were healthy, strong persons, not looking in the least like men who had lived two months on begging.
Sofra with his retinue approached the prince. But Ramses, feigning not to see him, turned to one of the overseers,
"Are ye earth-tillers from Sochem?" inquired he.
The overseer fell at full length with his face to the earth.
The prince shrugged his shoulders, and called out to the laborers,
"Are ye from Sochem?"
"We are earth workers from Sochem," answered they, in chorus.
"Have ye received pay?"
"We have received pay; we are sated and happy servants of his holiness," answered the chorus, giving out each word with emphasis.
"Turn around!" commanded the prince.