who is, after me, the bravest and the wisest man in all the world. Say
to them that if indeed I double myself by marriage and return having
fulfilled the law, I will beg this mighty prince to accompany me, and
that if he consents that will be the most joyful day which the
Ethiopians have seen for a thousand years, since he will teach them
wisdom and lead their armies in great and glorious battles. Let the
priests of the Grasshopper pray therefore that he may consent to do
so. Now salute the mighty lord Shabaka who can send one arrow through
all three of you and two more behind, and depart, tarrying not day or
night till you reach the land of Ethiopia. Then when you have
delivered the message of Karoon to the Captains and the Councillors,
return, or let others return and seek me out wherever I may be,
bringing of the gold of Ethiopia and other gifts, together with their
answer, seeing that I and the lord Shabaka who have the world beneath
our feet, will not come to a land where we are not welcome."

So these great men saluted me as though I were the King of kings
himself, after which they rubbed their foreheads in the dust before
Bes, said something which I did not understand, leapt to their feet,
crying "Karoon" and sprang away into the night.

"It is good to have been a slave, Master," said Bes when they had
gone, "since it teaches one that it is even better to be a king, at
least sometimes."

Here I may add that during the days which followed Bes was often
absent. When I asked him where he had gone, he would answer, to drink
in the wisdom of the holy Tanofir by help of a certain silver vessel
that the maiden Karema held to his lips. From all of which I gathered
that he was wooing the lady who had called herself the Cup of Tanofir,