"I turn my face from the accursed people and may darkness fall on the earth."
Then a dreadful thing happened: as the voice rose the sun decreased, 'and with the last word there was darkness as at night. Stars began to shine in the heavens; instead of the sun was a black disk surrounded with a thin hoop of flame.
An immense cry was rent from a hundred thousand breasts. Those who were storming the gate threw down their beams; common people fell to the earth.
"Oh, the day of punishment and death has come!" cried a shrill voice at the end of the street.
"O gods of mercy! O holy men, ward off this terror!" cried the crowd.
"WOE TO ARMIES WHICH CARRY OUT THE ORDERS OF GODLESS COMMANDERS!" cried a great voice from the temple.
In answer all the people fell on their faces, and confusion rose in the two regiments standing before the temple. The ranks broke, warriors threw down their weapons and ran toward the river insensate. Some, rushing like blind men, knocked against the walls of houses in the darkness; others fell to the ground and were trampled to death by their comrades. In the course of a few minutes, instead of close columns of warriors, on the square, spears and axes lay scattered about, and at the entrance of the streets were piles of dead and wounded.
"O gods! O gods!" groaned and cried the people, "take pity on the innocent."
"Osiris!" cried Herhor from the terrace, "have compassion and show thy face to the unfortunate people."
"AT LAST I HEAR THE PRAYERS OF MY PRIESTS, FOR I AM
COMPASSIONATE," answered the supernatural voice from the temple.