The holy Mentezufis, who, as a representative of Herhor, understood the military art well, was overcome by astonishment.
"Ye know," said he to Sem and Mefres, "that I do not like the heir to the throne, for I have discovered his perversity and malice. But Osiris be my witness that that young man is a born leader. I will tell you a thing unparalleled: We shall concentrate our forces on the border three or four days earlier than it was possible to expect. The Libyans have lost the war already, though they have not heard the whistle of our arrows."
"So much the worse is such a pharaoh for us," interposed Mefres, with the stubbornness peculiar to old men.
Toward evening the sixth of Hator, Prince Ramses bathed and informed his staff that they would march on the morrow two hours before sunrise. "And now I wish to sleep," said he.
To wish for sleep was easier than to get it. The whole city was swarming with warriors; at the palace of the prince a regiment had encamped which had no thought of rest, but was eating, drinking, and singing.
The prince went to the remotest chamber, but even there he could not undress. Every few minutes some adjutant flew in with a report of no moment, or for an order in questions which could have been settled on the spot by the commander of a regiment. Spies were led in who brought no new information; great lords with small followings were announced; these wished to offer their services to the prince as volunteers. Phoenician merchants broke in on him; these wanted contracts for the army, or were contractors who complained of the extortion of generals.
Even soothsayers and astrologers were not lacking, who in the last hours before marching wished to draw his horoscope for the viceroy; there were even practicers of the black art who wished to sell unfailing amulets against missiles.
These people simply broke into the prince's chamber: each one of them judged that the fate of the expedition was in his hands, and that in such a case every etiquette should vanish.
The heir satisfied all applicants patiently. But when behind an astrologer one of his own women pushed into the room with complaint that Ramses did not love her, since he had not taken farewell, and when a quarter of an hour later the weeping of another was heard outside the window, the heir could endure no longer; he summoned Tutmosis.
"Sit in this room," said he, "and if Thou wish, console the women of my household. I will hide somewhere in the garden; if not, I shall not sleep and to-morrow I shall look like a hen just pulled out of a cistern."