"And justly," answered the priest. "For the gods made the first features of this work and men finished them under divine guidance. Our sphinx by its size and mysteriousness recalls the desert. It has the posture of spirits wandering through it, and terrifies men as does the desert. That sphinx is really the son of the gods and the father of terror."
"Everything has in its own way an earthly beginning," answered the prince. "The Nile does not flow from heaven, but from certain mountains which lie beyond Ethiopia. The pyramids, which Herhor said were an image of our state, are built on the model of mountain summits. And our temples, too, with their pylons and obelisks, with their gloom and coolness, do they not recall caves and mountains, extending along the Nile valley? How many times in hunting have I not gone astray among eastern ridges! I have always struck upon some strange collection of rocks which recalled a temple. Frequently even, on their rough sides, I have seen hieroglyphs written by wind and by rainstorms."
"In that, worthiness, Thou hast proof," said Pentuer, "that our temples were reared on a plan which the gods themselves outlined. And as a small kernel cast into the ground gives birth to a heaven-touching palm tree, so the picture of a cliff, a cave, a lion, even a lotus, placed in the soul of a pious pharaoh, gives birth to an alley of sphinxes, to temples and their mighty columns. Those are the works of divinities, not men, and happy is the ruler who when he looks can discover divine thought in earthly objects and present it in a form pleasing to future generations."
"But such a ruler must have power, much wealth, and not depend on the fancies of priests," interrupted Ramses.
Before them extended a second sandy elevation, on which at that moment appeared some horsemen.
"Are they our men, or the Libyans?" asked Ramses.
The sound of a horn was heard from the eminence; to this an answer was given by the prince's retinue. The horsemen came down as quickly as the deep sand would let them. When they had approached one cried out,
"Is the heir to the throne here?"
"He is, and is well!" cried Ramses.
They dismounted and fell on their faces.