They died in ignominy. Shall the last remnant of the unhappy
family be stamped out in dishonor?
"If one came before thee seeking to insult innocence, and another
begging leave to protect it, thou wouldst choose for him who would keep
pure the undefiled. Have I not said, O my King?
"Before thee, even now is such a choice.
"Already thou hast given over the mastership of Rachel, daughter of
Maai the Israelite, to thy fan-bearer, Har-hat. By the lips of his own
servants, I am informed that he would have put her in his harem.
"She fled from him and I hid her away, for I could not bear to deliver
her up to the despoiler.
"I love her--she loveth me. Wilt thou not give her to me to wife?
"Thine illustrious sire bespeaketh thy favor, out of Amenti. Behold
his signet and its injunction.
"Furthermore, I confess to sacrilege against Athor, in carving a statue
which ignored the sculptor's ritual. For this, and for hiding the
Israelite, am I imprisoned in the city stronghold of Tape.
"I would be free to return to my love and comfort her, but if it shall
overtax thy generosity to release me, I pray thee announce my sentence
and let me begin to count the hours till I shall come forth again.
Pages:
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386