attle, ploughing land, making pots, or drinking and idling on
their lands, learn the art of warfare? Egyptians are poor materials for
an army. I know that, for I see them daily. A Libyan, a Greek, a
Hittite, in boyhood even uses a bow and arrows and a sling; he handles
a club perfectly; in a year he learns to march passably. But only in
three years will an Egyptian march in some fashion. It is true that he
grows accustomed to a sword and a spear in two years, but to cast
missiles four years are too short a time for him. So in the course of a
few months ye could put out not an army, but half a million of a rabble
which the Assyrians would break to pieces in the twinkle of an eye.
For, though the Assyrian regiments are poor and badly trained, an
Assyrian knows how to hurl stones and shoot arrows; he knows how to cut
and thrust, and, above all, he has the onrush of a wild beast, which is
lacking in the mild Egyptians altogether. We break the enemy by this,
that our trained and drilled regiments are like a battering ram: it is
necessary to beat down one-half of our men before the column is
injured. But when the column is broken, there is no Egyptian army."

"Thou speakest wisdom," said Herhor to the panting pharaoh. "Only the
gods possess such acquaintance with things. I know that the forces of
Egypt are too weak; that to create new ones many years of labor are
needed. For this very reason I wish to conclude a treaty with Assyria."

"But ye have concluded it already!"

"For the moment. Sargon, in view of the sickness of thy father, and
fearing thee, holiness, deferred the conclusion of a regular treaty
till Thou shouldst ascend the throne."

The pharaoh fell into anger again.

"What?" cried he. "Then they think really of seizing Phoenicia! And do
they suppose that I will sign the infamy of my reign? Evil spirits have
seized all of you!"

The audience was ended. Herhor fell on his face this time, but while
returning from his lord he considered in his heart,

"His holiness has heard the report, hence he does not reject my
services. I have told him that he must sign a treaty with Assyria,
hence the most difficult question is finished. He will come to his mind
before Sargon returns to us. But he is a lion, and not even a lion, but
a mad elephant. Still he became pharaoh only because he is the grandson
of a high priest. He does not understand yet that those same hands
which raised him so high."

In the antechamber the w