know well that I have no children. Why then do you ask me to show you
their loveliness?"

"I had heard rumours, O Pharaoh," answered the Prince, "no more. Indeed,
I did not believe them, for where there are so many wives I was certain
that there would be some mothers. Therefore I asked to be sure before
I proffered a petition which now I will make to you not for my own sake
but for Egypt's and yours, O Pharaoh. Have I your leave to speak here in
public?"

"Speak on," said Pharaoh sternly. "Let aught that is for the welfare of
Egypt be heard by Egypt."

"Your Majesty has told me," replied Abi bowing, "that the gods, being
wrath, have denied you children. Not so much as one girl of your blood
have they given to you to fill your throne after you when in due season
it pleases you to depart to Osiris. Were it otherwise, were there even
but a single woman-child of your divine race, I would say nothing, I
would be silent as the grave. But so it is, and though your queens be
fair and many, so it would seem that it must remain, since the ears of
the gods having been deaf to your pleadings for so long, although you
have built them glorious temples and made them offerings without count,
will scarcely now be opened. Even Amen your father, Amen, whose name you
bear, will perform no miracle for you, O Pharaoh, who are so great that
he has decreed that you shall shine alone like the full moon at night,
not sharing your glory with a single star."

Now Ahura the Queen, who all this while had been listening intently,
spoke for the first time in a quick angry voice, saying,