“And if I refuse, what then?”

“Then the curse of Jahveh shall be on you, Pharaoh, and with plague upon plague shall he smite this land of Egypt.”

Now a sudden rage seized Meneptah.

“What!” he cried.  “Do you dare to threaten me in my own palace, and would ye cause all the multitude of the people of Israel who have grown fat in the land to cease from their labours?  Hearken, my servants, and, scribes, write down my decree.  Go ye to the country of Goshen and say to the Israelites that the bricks they made they shall make as aforetime and more work shall they do than aforetime in the days of my father, Rameses.  Only no more straw shall be given to them for the making of the bricks.  Because they are idle, let them go forth and gather the straw themselves; let them gather it from the face of the fields.”

There was silence for a while.  Then with one voice both the prophets spoke, pointing with their wands to Pharaoh: 

“In the Name of the Lord God we curse you, Pharaoh, who soon shall die and make answer for this sin.  The people of Egypt we curse also.  Ruin shall be their portion; death shall be their bread and blood shall they drink in a great darkness.  Moreover, at the last Pharaoh shall let the people go.”

Then, waiting no answer, they turned and strode away side by side, nor did any man hinder them in their goings.  Again there was silence in the hall, the silence of fear, for these were awful words that the prophets had spoken.  Pharaoh knew it, for his chin sank upon his breast and his face that had been red with rage turned white.  Userti hid her eyes with her hand as though to shut out some evil vision, and even Seti seemed ill at ease as though that awful curse had found a home within his heart.

At a motion of Pharaoh’s hand the Vizier Nehesi struck the ground thrice with his wand of office and pointed to the door, thus giving the accustomed sign that the Court was finished, whereon all the people turned and went away with bent heads speaking no words one to another.  Presently the great hall was emptied save for the officers and guards and those who attended upon Pharaoh.  When everyone had gone Seti the Prince rose and bowed before the throne.

“O Pharaoh,” he said, “be pleased to hearken.  We have heard very evil words spoken by these Hebrew men, words that threaten your divine life, O Pharaoh, and call down a curse upon the Upper and the Lower Land.  Pharaoh, these people of Israel hold that they suffer wrong and are oppressed.  Now give me, your son, a writing under your hand and seal, by virtue of which I shall have power to go down to the Land of Goshen and inquire of this matter, and afterwards make report of the truth to you.  Then, if it seems to you that the People of Israel are unjustly dealt by, you may lighten their burden and bring the curse of their prophets to nothing.  But if it seems to you that the tales they tell are idle then your words shall stand.”