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

248 CIVIL WAR.

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