第18章
ForYahvehofoldisourFriendandFather，AndcherishethYak？bHechoseofold。
TheGodsofthePeoplesourLordhathchidden，TheircourtshathHefilledwithHiscreepingthings；
ThelightofthefaceoftheSunhehathhidden，Andbrokenthescourgeinthehandsofkings。
HehathchastenedHispeoplewithstripesandscourges，OurbackshathHeburdenedwithgrievousweights，ButHischildrenshallriseasaseathatsurges，AndfloodthefieldsofthemenHehates。
TheKingsoftheNationsourLordhathsmitten，HisshoehathHecasto’ertheGodsofthem，ButalampforourfeettheLordhathlitten，WondershathhewroughtintheLandofKhem。
Thustheysang，andthesingingwassowildthattheWanderercravedleavetogoandstandatthePalacegate，lesttheApurashouldrushinandspoilthetreasure-chamber。
TheKingnodded，butMeriamunrose，andwentwiththeWandererashetookhisbowandpassedtothegreatgates。
Theretheystoodintheshadowofthegates，andthisiswhattheybeheld。Agreatlightofmanytorcheswasflaringalongtheroadwayinfront。Thencameabodyofmen，rudelyarmedwithpikes，andthetorchlightshoneontheglitterofbronzeandonthegoldhelmsofwhichtheyhadspoiledthesoldiersofKhem。Nextcameatroopofwildwomen，dancing，andbeatingtimbrels，andsingingthetriumphanthymnofscorn。
Next，withaspacebetween，trampedeightstrongblack-beardedmen，bearingontheirshouldersagreatgildedcoffin，coveredwithcarvenandpaintedsigns。
“ItisthebodyoftheirProphet，whobroughtthemhitheroutoftheirlandofhunger，“whisperedMeriamun。“Slaves，yeshallhungeryetinthewilderness，andclamourfortheflesh-potsofKhem！“
Thenshecriedinaloudvoice，forherpassionovercameher，andsheprophesiedtothosewhobarethecoffin，“Notonesoulofyouthatlivesshallseethelandwhereyourconjurerisleadingyou！Yeshallthirst，yeshallhunger，yeshallcallontheGodsofKhem，andtheyshallnothearyou；yeshalldie，andyourbonesshallwhitenthewilderness。Farewell！Setgowithyou。Farewell！“
Soshecriedandpointeddowntheway，andsofiercewashergaze，andsoawfulwereherwords，thatthepeopleoftheApuratrembledandthewomenceasedtosing。
TheWandererwatchedtheQueenandmarvelled。“Neverhadwomansuchahardyheart，“hemused；“anditwereilltocrossherinloveorwar！“
“Theywillsingnomoreatmygates，“murmuredMeriamun，withasmile。
“Come，Wanderer；theyawaitus，“andshegavehimherhandthathemightleadher。
Sotheywentbacktothebanquethall。
Theyhearkenedastheysattillfarinthenight，andstilltheApurapassed，countlessasthesandsofthesea。Atlengthallweregone，andthesoundoftheirfeetdiedawayinthedistance。ThenMeriamuntheQueenturnedtoPharaohandspakebitterly:
“Thouartacoward，Meneptah，ay，acowardandaslaveatheart。InthyfearofthecursethattheFalseHathorhathlaidonus，shewhomthoudostworship，tothyshame，thouhastlettheseslavesgo。
Otherwisehadourfatherdealtwiththem，greatRamesesMiamun，thehammeroftheKhita。Nowtheyaregonehissingcursesonthelandthatbarethem，androbbingthosewhonursedthemupwhiletheywereyetalittlepeople，asamothernursesherchild。“
“WhatthenmightIdo？“saidPharaoh。
“Thereisnoughttodo:allisdone，“answeredMeriamun。
“Whatisthycounsel，Wanderer？“
“Itisillforastrangertooffercounsel，“saidtheWanderer。
“Nay，speak，“criedtheQueen。
“IknownottheGodsofthisland，“heanswered。“IfthesepeoplebefavouredoftheGods，Isaysitstill。Butifnot，“thensaidtheWanderer，wiseinwar，“letPharaohgatherhishost，followafterthepeople，takethemunawares，andsmitethemutterly。Itisnohardtask，theyaresomixedamultitudeandcumberedwithmuchbaggage！“
ThiswastospeakastheQueenlovedtohear。Nowsheclappedherhandsandcried:
“Listen，listentogoodcounsel，Pharaoh。“
AndnowthattheApuraweregone，hisfearofthemwentalso，andashedrankwinePharaohgrewbold，tillatlasthesprangtohisfeetandsworebyAmen，byOsiris，byPtah，andbyhisfather——greatRameses——thathewouldfollowaftertheApuraandsmitethem。AndinstantlyhesentforthmessengerstosummonthecaptainsofhishostintheHallofAssembly。
Thitherthecaptainscame，andtheirplansweremadeandmessengershurriedforthtothegovernorsofothergreatcities，biddingthemsendtroopstojointhehostofPharaohonitsmarch。
NowPharaohturnedtotheWandererandsaid:
“ThouhastnotyetansweredmymessagethatReicarriedtotheethismorning。Wiltthoutakeservicewithmeandbeacaptaininthiswar？“
TheWandererlittlelikedthenameofservice，buthiswarlikeheartwasstirredwithinhim，forhelovedthedelightofbattle。Butbeforehecouldansweryeaornay，MeriamuntheQueen，whowasnotmindedthatheshouldleaveher，spokehastily:
“Thisismycounsel，Meneptah，thattheLordEperitusshouldabidehereinTanisandbetheCaptainofmyGuardwhilethouartgonetosmitetheApura。ForImaynotbehereunguardedinthesetroubloustimes，andifIknowhewatchesoverme，hewhoissomightyaman，thenIshallwalksafelyandsleepinpeace。“
NowtheWandererbethoughthimofhisdesiretolookupontheHathor，fortoseenewthingsandtrynewadventureswasalwayshisdelight。
SoheansweredthatifitwerepleasingtoPharaohandtheQueenhewouldwillinglystayandcommandtheGuard。AndPharaohsaidthatitshouldbeso。
AtmiddayonthemorrowPharaohandthehostofPharaohmarchedinpompfromTanis，takingtheroadthatrunsacrossthedesertcountrytowardstheRedSeaofWeeds，thewaythattheApurahadgone。TheWandererwentwiththearmyforanhour’sjourneyandmore，inachariotdrivenbyReithePriest，forReididnotmarchwiththehost。
ThenumberofthesoldiersofPharaohamazedtheAch？an，accustomedtotheleviesofbarrenislesandscatteredtribes。ButhesaidnothingofhiswondertoReioranyman，lestitshouldbethoughtthathecamefromamongalittlepeople。Heevenmadeasifheheldthearmylightly，andaskedthepriestifthiswasallthestrengthofPharaoh！
ThenReitoldhimthatitwasbutafourthpart，fornoneofthemercenariesandnoneofthesoldiersfromtheUpperLandmarchedwiththeKinginpursuitoftheApura。
ThentheWandererknewthathewascomeamongagreaterpeoplethanhehadeverencounteredyet，onlandorsea。Sohewentwiththemtilltheroadsdivided，andtherehedrovehischariottothechariotofPharaohandbadehimfarewell。Pharaohcalledtohimtomounthisownchariot，andspakethustohim:
“Sweartome，thouWanderer，whonamestthyselfEperitus，thoughofwhatcountrythouartandwhatwasthyfather’shousenoneknow，sweartomethatthouwiltguardMeriamuntheQueenfaithfully，andwiltworknowoeuponmenoropenmyhousewhileIamafar。Greatthouartandbeautifultolookon，ay，andstrongenoughbeyondthestrengthofmen，yetmyheartmisdoubtsmeofthee。Formethinksthouartacraftyman，andthatevilwillcomeuponmethroughthee。“
“Ifthisbethymind，Pharaoh，“saidtheWanderer，“leavemenotinguardoftheQueen。AndyetmethinksIdidnotbefriendtheesoilltwonightsgone，whentherabblewouldhaveputtheeandallthyhousetotheswordbecauseofthedeathofthefirstborn。“
NowPharaohlookedonhimlonganddoubtfully，thenstretchedouthishand。TheWanderertookit，andsworebyhisownGods，byZeus，byAphrodite，andAthene，andApollo，thathewouldbetruetothetrust。
“Ibelievethee，Wanderer，“saidPharaoh。“Knowthis，ifthoukeepestthineoaththoushalthavegreatrewards，andthoushaltbesecondtononeinthelandofKhem，butifthoufailest，thenthoushaltdiemiserably。“
“Iasknofee，“answeredtheWanderer，“andIfearnodeath，forinonewayonlyshallIdie，andthatisknowntome。YetIwillkeepmyoath。“AndhebowedbeforePharaoh，andleapingfromhischariotenteredagainintothechariotofRei。
Now，ashedrovebackthroughthehostthesoldierscalledtohim，saying:
“Leaveusnot，Wanderer。“Forhelookedsogloriousinhisgoldenarmourthatitseemedtothemasthoughagoddepartedfromtheirranks。
Hisheartwaswiththem，forhelovedwar，andhedidnotlovetheApura。Buthedroveon，assoitmustbe，andcametothePalaceatsundown。
ThatnighthesatatthefeastbythesideofMeriamuntheQueen。Andwhenthefeastwasdoneshebadehimfollowherintoherchamberwhereshesatwhenshewouldbealone。Itwasafragrantchamber，dimlylightedwithsweet-scentedlamps，furnishedwithcouchesofivoryandgold，whileallthewallstoldpaintedstoriesofstrangegodsandkings，andoftheirlovesandwars。TheQueensankbackupontheembroideredcushionsofacouchandbadethewiseOdysseustositguardoveragainsther，sonearthatherrobesswepthisgoldengreaves。Thishedidsomewhatagainsthiswill，thoughhewasnohateroffairwomen。Buthisheartmisdoubtedthedark-eyedQueen，andhelookeduponherguardedly，forshewasstrangelyfairtosee，thefairestofallmortalwomenwhomhehadknown，savetheGoldenHelen。