"
The scanty manhood of the monarch, thus ably invoked, responded
somewhat. He raised himself and permitted Hotep to conduct him to the
side of the boy prince. Seti fell down at his father's feet, and Hotep
took Meneptah's hand and laid it on the bowed head.
"Thou dost pardon him, O Son of Ptah," the scribe said in the same
quiet voice. The king nodded weakly and wept afresh. After the prince
had clasped his father's knees and covered the hand with kisses, he
obeyed the scribe's sign and went away to his mother's side. Again
Hotep, compelling by his low voice, spoke to the king and the assembly
listened.
"The gods have not limited the darts of affliction to thee, O Son of
Ptah. Rameses journeyed not alone into Amenti. He took a kingdom with
him. Behold, the Hebrew hath loosed his direst plague upon Egypt, and
by the lips of an Israelite, in the streets, every first-born in thy
realm perished in the home of his father this night!"
The entire assembly cried out, and most of them ran sobbing and praying
from the chamber. Instantly the outcry and clamor in the palace broke
forth again, for the inhabitants knew that the blow which had smitten
Rameses had fallen on one of their own.
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