Amongst the workmen there were sons of rich cattle-holders, for in levying the people it was never:  ‘What have you?’ but ’Of what race are you?’ The fortifications and the canal which was to join the Nile and the Red Sea had to be completed, and the king, to whom be long life, health, and prosperity, took the youth of Egypt with him to the wars, and left the work to the Amus, who are connected by race with his enemies in the east.  One lives well in Goshen, for it is a fine country, with more than enough of corn and grass and vegetables and fish and fowls, and I always had of the best, for amongst my six people were two mother’s darlings, whose parents sent me many a piece of silver.  Every one loves his children, but the Hebrews love them more tenderly than other people.  We had daily our appointed tale of bricks to deliver, and when the sun burnt hot, I used to help the lads, and I did more in an hour than they did in three, for I am strong and was still stronger then than I am now.

“Then came the time when I was relieved.  I was ordered to return to Thebes, to the prisoners of war who were building the great temple of Amon over yonder, and as I had brought home some money, and it would take a good while to finish the great dwelling of the king of the Gods, I thought of taking a wife; but no Egyptian.  Of daughters of paraschites there were plenty; but I wanted to get away out of my father’s accursed caste, and the other girls here, as I knew, were afraid of our uncleanness.  In the low country I had done better, and many an Amu and Schasu woman had gladly come to my tent.  From the beginning I had set my mind on an Asiatic.

“Many a time maidens taken prisoners in war were brought to be sold, but either they did not please me, or they were too dear.  Meantime my money melted away, for we enjoyed life in the time of rest which followed the working hours.  There were dancers too in plenty, in the foreign quarter.

“Well, it was just at the time of the holy feast of Amon-Chem, that a new transport of prisoners of war arrived, and amongst them many women, who were sold publicly to the highest bidder.  The young and beautiful ones were paid for high, but even the older ones were too dear for me.

“Quite at the last a blind woman was led forward, and a withered-looking woman who was dumb, as the auctioneer, who generally praised up the merits of the prisoners, informed the buyers.  The blind woman had strong hands, and was bought by a tavern-keeper, for whom she turns the handmill to this day; the dumb woman held a child in her arms, and no one could tell whether she was young or old.  She looked as though she already lay in her coffin, and the little one as though he would go under the grass before her.  And her hair was red, burning red, the very color of Typhon.  Her white pale face looked neither bad nor good, only weary, weary to death.  On her withered white arms blue veins ran like dark cords, her hands hung feebly down, and in them hung the child.  If a wind were to rise, I thought to myself, it would blow her away, and the little one with her.