Instead of looking, the prince sprang into the path and stopped the road before the songstress. She was really a beautiful maiden, with Grecian features and a complexion like ivory.
From under the veil on her head peeped forth an immense mass of dark hair, wound in a knot. She wore a white trailing robe which she held on one side with her hand; under the transparent covering were maiden breasts shaped like apples.
"Who art thou?" cried Ramses.
The threatening furrows vanished from his forehead and his eyes flashed.
"O Jehovah! O Father!" cried she, frightened, halting motionless on the path.
But she grew calm by degrees, and her velvety eyes resumed their expression of mild sadness.
"Whence hast Thou come?" inquired she of Ramses, with a voice trembling a little. "I see that Thou art a soldier, but it is not permitted soldiers to come here."
"Why is it not permitted?"
"Because this is the land of a great lord named Sesofris."
"Ho! ho!" laughed Ramses.