"Tutmosis," said the prince on a sudden, "dost Thou think today that I can reckon on the army?"
"We will go to death, only give the order."
"And dost Thou reckon on the nobles?"
"As on the army."
"That is well. Now we may render the rites to Patrokles."
CHAPTER XLVIII
In the course of those few months, during which Prince Ramses had fulfilled the duties of viceroy of Lower Egypt, his holiness the pharaoh had failed in health continually. The moment was approaching in which the lord of eternity, who roused delight in human hearts, the sovereign of Egypt, and of all lands on which the sun shone, had to occupy a place at the side of his revered ancestors in the Libyan catacombs which lie on the other side of the city Teb.
Not over advanced in age was this potentate, the equal of the gods, he who gave life to his subjects, and had power to take from husbands their wives whenever his heart so desired. But thirty and some years of rule had so wearied him that he wished, of his own accord, to rest and regain youth and beauty in that kingdom of the west, where each pharaoh reigns without care through eternity over people who are so happy that no man of them has ever wished to return to this earth from that region.
Half a year earlier the holy lord had exercised every activity connected with his office, on which rested the safety and prosperity of all visible existence.
Barely had the cocks crowed in the morning when the priests roused the sovereign with a hymn in honor of the rising sun. The pharaoh rose from his bed and bathed in a gilded basin containing water fragrant with roses. Then his divine body was rubbed with priceless perfumes amid the murmur of prayers, which had the power of expelling evil spirits.