Page:The Pharaohs and their people; scenes of old Egyptian life and history (IA pharaohstheirpeo00berkiala).pdf/189



know thee; where art thou? Has ever a father forgotten his son? Thy precepts, thy will have I ever denied? has ought I have done been apart from thee? These hosts of the foe, what are they to thee! Amen can humble the imperious and proud. To thee I built temples and offered rich gifts. The wealth of the nations I laid at thy feet. Lo! I am alone, and none other is with me. I called on my soldiers, and none heard my cry. More to me is thy power than myriads of men—than thousand times thousand arrayed for the war. On thee, father Amen, on thee do I call!

'In far-off Hermonthis my prayer was heard. He stood by my side. "Lo! I am come! Rameses Meri-*amen, thy prayer has been heard. I am more to thee than thousand times thousand. And the brave heart I love—my blessing is his. Nor can ought that I will of accomplishment fail."

'Then I rose up like Mentu and smote down the foe. A terror seized them and none dared fight. No man could shoot nor grasp the spear. Headlong they plunged into the stream like the crocodile. Still stood the King of Kheta to behold King Rameses, for—"He was alone, none other with him." Once more did he attack with all his power, but I rushed upon them like a flame of fire and slew them where they stood. Each man cried unto his fellow, saying: "No mortal man is he who is against us. It is Set the mighty—'tis the god of war. Whoso draws near him his hand drops, nor can he grasp the bow or spear." I called upon my foot and horse: "Take