as the Hebrews had failed to kill him, he did
not think that any others would succeed. Moreover he believed there
were no Egyptians in the land who would lift a sword against him, or put
poison in his drink, whoever bade them. Also he added these words:

"The best way to escape death is to have no fear of death, for then
Osiris shuns us."

Now I must tell of the happenings at Tanis. Pharaoh Meneptah lingered
but a few hours and never found his mind again before his spirit flew
to Heaven. Then there was great mourning in the land, for, if he was not
loved, Meneptah was honoured and feared. Only among the Israelites there
was open rejoicing, because he had been their enemy and their prophets
had foretold that death was near to him. They gave it out that he had
been smitten of their God, which caused the Egyptians to hate them more
than ever. There was doubt, too, and bewilderment in Egypt, for though
his proclamation disinheriting the Prince Seti had been published
abroad, the people, and especially those who dwelt in the south, could
not understand why this should have been done over a matter of the
shepherd slaves who dwelt in Goshen. Indeed, had the Prince but held up
his hand, tens of thousands would have rallied to his standard. Yet
this he refused to do, which astonished all the world, who thought it
marvellous that any man should refuse a throne which would have
lifted him almost to the level of the gods. Indeed, to avoid their
importunities he had set out at once for Memphis, and there remained
hidden away during the period of mourning for his father. So it came
about that Amenmeses succeeded with none to say him nay, since without
her husband Userti could not or would not act.

After the days of embalmment were accomplished the body of Pharaoh
Meneptah was carried up the Nile to be laid in his eternal house, the
splendid tomb that he had made ready for himself in the Valley of Dead
Kings at Thebes. To this great ceremony the Prince Seti was not bidden,
lest, as Bakenkhonsu told me afterwards, his presence should cause some
rising in his favour, with or without his will. For this reason also the
dead god, as he was named, was not suffered to rest at Memphis on his
last journey up the Nile. Disguised as a man of the people the Prince
watched his father's body pass in the funeral barge guarded by shaven,
white-robed priests, the centre of a splendid procession. In front went
other barges filled with soldiers a