Page:The Pharaohs and their people; scenes of old Egyptian life and history (IA pharaohstheirpeo00berkiala).pdf/284

 the days of old, so that there was nothing anomalous in Piankhi's now girding on the sword and appearing in person on the scene. 'Behold, they have made a stand!' he cried reproachfully to his forces; 'you have fought them without courage; will you not complete the pursuit, spreading the fear of my name even unto the north of the land of Egypt?'

Animated by the presence of the king, the troops now pressed the siege with redoubled energy, and the town surrendered 'prostrate in supplication before the face of the sovereign.' Nimrod first sent his wife and the princesses to intercede with the conqueror, and afterwards offered his own humble submission with many gifts, which Piankhi graciously accepted. He entered Hermopolis, and, on examining the state of things in general, was roused to anger by discovering that certain horses there had been left without sufficient food. He expressed the bitterest displeasure,—'Vile are they to my heart that have starved my horses; more is this than any other abomination that thou, O Nimrod, hast wrought altogether!'

After this decisive victory, other princes and