e warriors. Only then did Amon the eternal father
reach his hand down and end the battle with victory. But if instead of
fighting he had waited for the aid of your God, long ago would the
Egyptians have been moving along the Nile, each of them bearing a brick
and a bucket, while the vile Hittites would be masters going around
with clubs and papyruses.

"Therefore, Sarah, thy charms will scatter my sorrows sooner than thy
song. If I had acted as your Jewish song teaches, and waited for divine
assistance, wine would have flowed away from my lips, and women would
have fled from my household.

"Above all, I could not be the pharaoh's heir any more than my
brothers, one of whom does not leave his room without leaning on two
slaves, while the other climbs along tree trunks."

CHAPTER XV

THE next day Ramses sent his black men with commands to Memphis, and
about midday came a great boat toward Sarah's house from the direction
of the city. The boat was filled with Greek soldiers in lofty helmets
and gleaming breastplates.

At command sixteen men armed with shields and short darts landed and
stood in two ranks. They were ready to march to the house, when a
second messenger from the prince detained them. He commanded the
soldiers to remain at the shore, and summoned only their leader,
Patrokles.

They halted and stood without movement, like two rows of columns
covered with glittering armor. After the messenger went, Patrokles in a
helmet with plumes, wearing a purple tunic over which he had gilded
armor ornamented on the breast with the picture of a woman's head
bristling with serpents instead of hair.

The prince received the famous general at the garden gate. He did not
smile as usual, did not even answer the low bow of Patrokles, but said
coldly,

"Worthiness, tell the Greek warriors that I will not review them until
their lord, his holiness, appoints me leader a second time. They have
lost that honor by uttering in dramshops shouts worthy of drunkards.
These shouts offend me. I call attention also to this, worthiness, that
the Greek regiments do not show sufficient discipline. In public places
the soldiers of this corps discuss politics and a certain possible war.
This looks like treason to the state. Only the pharaoh and members of
his supreme council may speak of such matters. But we, soldiers and
servants of our lord, whatever position we occupy, may only execute the
commands of our most gracious ruler, and