Berkley, E.: The pharaohs and their people: scenes of old Egyptian life and history (New York, [1883])

BATTLE OF KADESH. 159

close at our side.' But meanwhile the king of
the Kheta had fallen suddenly upon the main
body of the Egyptian army, who were following
the advanced guard slowly and in careless
security, and had taken them completely by
surprise. They gave way and fell back upon
the road that led to the place where the
king was stationed with his advanced guard.
But ' when Pharaoh saw this he was wroth;
he seized his armour and appeared like unto
the god of war in his hour. He mounted
his chariot and rushed forth alone. None
was with him. He rushed upon the foe and
cast them down, and subdued the people before
him. Then did the king of the Kheta lift up
his hands in supplication.'

The scene is a favourite one, and is depicted
more than once. We see the orderly masses
°f the Kheta in contrast to their less regular
and less warlike allies. We see the heroic on-
slaught of the king, and the desperate encounter
of the chariots on the plain of the Orontes.
The Khetan chariots are beheld overthrown
and hurled into the river, where the horsemen
are confusedly struggling. One prince is being