Page:The Pharaohs and their people; scenes of old Egyptian life and history (IA pharaohstheirpeo00berkiala).pdf/285

 governors came in and offered their submission; and various towns surrendered to the promised clemency of the conqueror. Mertum, indeed, had closed its gates; but 'his majesty sent to them, saying, "Two ways are before you; choose as you will—open and live; shut the gates and die. His majesty does not pass by any closed fort." And lo! they opened forthwith.'

Meantime Tafnekht had thrown himself into Memphis with 8000 men, both soldiers and marines; he had provisioned it carefully and strengthened the fortifications. King Piankhi, says the story, 'found the lofty walls strengthened with new works, and the bulwarks fitted up with great strength. There was no way found to assault it.' But Tafnekht himself slipped away as soon as the siege began; his troops (probably the mercenaries), deprived of the encouragement of their leader's presence, were disheartened, and Memphis yielded to a combined assault by land and water. 'The city was taken as by a storm of rain; multitudes were slain within it, or brought as captives to his majesty.' Next day, Piankhi entered, as was his custom in every captured town, the