"Thou, worthiness, art a foreigner and an unbeliever," retorted Herhor, "hence this speech. But we Egyptians understand that when the people and the soldiers cease to reverence the scarabs, their sons will cease to fear the ureus (the serpent). From contempt of the gods is born revolt against the pharaohs."
"But what are axes for?" asked Nitager. "Whoso wishes to keep a head on his shoulders let him listen to the supreme commander."
"What then is your final opinion of the heir?" asked the pharaoh of
Herhor.
"Living image of the sun, child of the gods," replied the minister. "Command to anoint Ramses, give him a grand chain and ten talents, but do not appoint him yet to command the corps in Memphis. The prince is too young for that office, too passionate and inexperienced. Can we recognize him as the equal of Patrokles, who has trampled the Ethiopians and the Libyans in twenty battles? Or can we place him at the side of Nitager, whose name alone brings pallor to our northern and eastern enemies?"
The pharaoh rested his head on his hand, meditated, and said,
"Depart with my favor and in peace. I will do what is indicated by wisdom and justice."
The dignitaries bowed low, and Ramses XII, without waiting for his suite, passed to remoter chambers.
When the two leaders found themselves alone in the entrance hall,
Nitager said to Patrokles,
"Here priests rule as in their own house. I see that. But what a leader that Herhor is! He vanquished us before we spoke; he does not grant a corps to the heir."
"He praised me so that I dared not utter a word," said Patrokles.