An Egyptian Princess — Volume 07

This collection of memories shows the difficulties of the writer who have lived in vain; the wretches have burnt me in burning my works. O my books, my books! And he sobbed aloud in his agony. Phanes came up and took his band, saying: “The Egyptians have struck you, my friend, but me they have maltreated and abused—­thieves have broken into your granaries, but my hearth and home have been burnt to ashes by incendiaries. Do you know, man, what I have had to suffer at their hands? In persecuting me, and driving me out of Egypt, they only did what they had a right to do; by their law I was a condemned man; and I could have forgiven all they did to me personally, for I loved Amasis, as a man loves his friend. The wretch knew that, and yet he suffered them to commit a monstrous, an incredible act—­an act that a man’s brain refuses to take in. They stole like wolves by night into a helpless woman’s house—­they seized my children, a girl and boy, the pride, the joy and comfort of my homeless, wandering life. And how think you, did they treat them? The girl they kept in confinement, on the pretext that by so doing they should prevent me from betraying Egypt to Cambyses. But the boy—­my beautiful, gentle boy—­my only son—­has been murdered by Psamtik’s orders, and possibly with the knowledge of Amasis. My heart was withered and shrunk with exile and sorrow, but I feel that it expands—­it beats more joyfully now that there is a hope of vengeance.