Part 4 (1/2)

Wrought by dead NEFREKEPTA in his ire.

I go to yield him up his worst desire, A fork upon my neck, between my hands A rod, and on my head a bowl of fire.'

One of the bondmen threw him, at that call, A poor man's robe; and on to PHARAOH'S Hall He journeyed with them, and stretched out his arms And clasped his sons, and told to PHARAOH all.

'Yea, take the Book, take quickly,' PHARAOH said, 'The rod, the fork, the fire upon thine head, And seek dead NEFREKEPTA in his tomb, And kneel and pray the pardon of the dead.'

And SETNE heard; and quick ere set of sun He stood before the Tomb, and one by one Pa.s.sed the great doors, and opened the last door, And, lo, a light through all the chamber shone,

A great light, like the going forth of RA.

And while he stood the Woman cried: 'Aha, SETNE, thou com'st! And if thou com'st alive 'Tis PTAH hath saved thee and the grace of PTAH.'

But NEFREKEPTA laughed. And SETNE came Kneeling: 'O King, with rod and fork and flame I come,' he said; 'and yield thee up thy Book.

What is thy judgement? Is it further shame?'

But NEFREKEPTA laughed: 'I would not now Make thee my slave, nor smite, nor burn thy brow.

This was enough.--Yet one thing lacketh me Still, and thereto I bind thee by a vow.

Far off in a strange grave 'mid much annoy My wife AHURE lieth and the boy MERAB; 'tis but their shadows, by the art Of a good scribe, dwell here and have no joy.

Therefore I charge upon thee my behest: Go, bring from Coptos to this House of Rest My wife AHURE and MERAB the boy.'

And SETNE rose and took on him the quest.

And straightway before PHARAOH bowed his head And told him all the tale. And PHARAOH said: 'I give thee mine own pleasure-s.h.i.+p to sail To Coptos and bring back those ancient dead.'

So PHARAOH'S pleasure-s.h.i.+p with all its crew Was brought, and southward on the wind they flew To Coptos; and the High Priest saw the s.h.i.+p, And all the Priests, and came in haste thereto.

The Priests of ISIS and HARPOCRATES And the Chief Priest; SETNE to all of these Gave ox and goose and wine, and with them walked On Coptos Hill amid the tombs and trees.