Itwasaftertheplagueoflocusts，whichatealltherewaslefttoeatinEgypt，sothatthepoorfolkwhohaddonenowrongandhadnaughttosaytothedealingsofPharaohwiththeIsraelitesstarvedbythethousand，andduringthatofthegreatdarkness，thatLabancame。Nowthisdarknesslayuponthelandlikeathickcloudforthreewholedaysandnights。Nevertheless，thoughtheshadowsweredeep，therewasnotruedarknessoverthehouseofSetiatMemphis，whichstoodinafunnelofgreylightstretchingfromearthtosky。
Nowtheterrorwasincreasedtenfold，anditseemedtomethatallthehundredsofthousandsofMemphisweregatheredoutsideourwalls，sothattheymightlookuponthelight，suchasitwas，iftheycoulddonomore。Setiwouldhaveadmittedasmanyastheplacewouldhold，butKibadehimnot，saying，thatifhedidsothedarknesswouldflowinwiththem。OnlyMerapididadmitsomeoftheIsraelitishwomenwhoweremarriedtoEgyptiansinthecity，thoughforherpainstheyonlycursedherasawitch。FornowmostoftheinhabitantsofMemphiswerecertainthatitwasMerapiwho，keepingherselfsafe，hadbroughtthesewoesuponthembecauseshewasaworshipperofanaliengod。
“IfshewhoistheloveofEgypt’sheirwouldbutsacrificetoEgypt’sgods，thesehorrorswouldpassfromus，“saidthey，having，asI
think，learnedtheirlessonfromthelipsofKi。OrperhapstheemissariesofUsertihadtaughtthem。
Oncemorewestoodbythegatewatchingthepeopleflittingtoandfrointhegloomwithout，forthissightfascinatedMerapi，asasnakefascinatesabird。ThenitwasthatLabanappeared。Iknewhishookednoseandhawk-likeeyesatonce，andsheknewhimalso。
“Comeawaywithme，MoonofIsrael，“hecried，“andallshallyetbeforgivenyou。Butifyouwillnotcome，thenfearfulthingsshallovertakeyou。“
Shestoodstaringathim，answeringneveraword，andjustthenthePrinceSetireachedusandsawhim。
“Takethatman，“hecommanded，flushingwithanger，andguardssprangintothedarknesstodohisbidding。ButLabanwasgone。
Ontheseconddayofthedarknessthetumultwasgreat，onthethirditwasterrible。Acrowdthrusttheguardaside，brokedownthegatesandburstintothepalace，humblydemandingthattheladyMerapiwouldcometoprayforthem，yetshowingbytheirmienthatifshewouldnotcometheymeanttotakeher。
“Whatistobedone？“askedSetiofKiandBakenkhonsu。
“ThatisforthePrincetojudge，“saidKi，“thoughIdonotseehowitcanharmtheladyMerapitoprayforusintheopensquareofMemphis。“
“Lethergo，“saidBakenkhonsu，“lestpresentlyweshouldallgofurtherthanwewould。“
“Idonotwishtogo，“criedMerapi，“notknowingforwhomIamtoprayorhow。“
“Beitasyouwill，Lady，“saidSetiinhisgraveandgentlevoice。
“Only，hearkentotheroarofthemob。Ifyourefuse，Ithinkthatverysooneveryoneofuswillhavereachedalandwhereperhapsitisnotneedfultoprayatall，“andhelookedattheinfantinherarms。
“Iwillgo，“shesaid。
ShewentforthcarryingthechildandIwalkedbehindher。SodidthePrince，butinthatdarknesshewascutoffbyarushofthousandsoffolkandIsawhimnomoretillallwasover。Bakenkhonsuwaswithmeleaningonmyarm，butKihadgoneonbeforeus，forhisownendsasI
think。Ahugemobmovedthroughthedensedarkness，inwhichhereandtherelightsfloatedlikelampsuponaquietsea。IdidnotknowwhereweweregoinguntilthelightofoneoftheselampsshoneuponthekneesofthecolossalstatueofthegreatRameses，revealinghiscartouche。ThenIknewthatwewerenearthegatewayofthevasttempleofMemphis，thelargestperhapsinthewholeworld。
Wewentonthroughcourtafterpillaredcourt，priestsleadingusbythehand，tillwecametoashrinecommandingthebiggestcourtofall，whichwaspackedwithmenandwomen。ItwasthatofIsis，whoheldatherbreasttheinfantHorus。
“OfriendAna，“criedMerapi，“givehelp。Theyaredressingmeinstrangegarments。“
Itriedtogetneartoherbutwasthrustback，avoice，whichI
thoughttobethatofKi，saying：
“Onyourlife，fool!“
Presentlyalampwasheldup，andbythelightofitIsawMerapiseatedinachairdressedlikeagoddess，inthesacerdotalrobesofIsisandwearingthevulturecapheaddress——beautifulexceedingly。InherarmswasthechilddressedastheinfantHorus。
“Prayforus，MotherIsis，“criedthousandsofvoices，“thatthecurseofblacknessmayberemoved。“
Thensheprayed，saying：
“OmyGod，takeawaythiscurseofblacknessfromtheseinnocentpeople，“andallofthosepresent，repeatedherprayer。
Atthatmomenttheskybegantolightenandinlessthanhalfanhourthesunshoneout。WhenMerapisawhowsheandthechildwerearrayedshescreamedaloudandtoreoffherjewelledtrappings，crying：
“Woe!Woe!Woe!GreatwoeuponthepeopleofEgypt!“
Butintheirjoyatthenewfoundlightfewhearkenedtoherwhotheyweresurehadbroughtbackthesun。AgainLabanappearedforamoment。
“Witch!Traitress!“hecried。“YouhaveworntherobesofIsisandworshippedinthetempleofthegodsoftheEgyptians。ThecurseoftheGodofIsraelbeonyouandthatwhichisbornofyou。“
Isprangathimbuthewasgone。ThenweboreMerapihomeswooning。
Sothistroublepassedby，butfromthattimeforwardMerapiwouldnotsufferhersontobetakenoutofhersight。
“Whydoyoumakesomuchofhim，Lady？“Iaskedoneday。
“BecauseIwouldlovehimwellwhileheishere，Friend，“sheanswered，“butofthissaynothingtohisfather。“
AwhilewentbyandweheardthatstillPharaohwouldnotlettheIsraelitesgo。ThenthePrinceSetisentBakenkhonsuandmyselftoTanistoseePharaohandtosaytohim：
“IseeknothingformyselfandIforgetthoseevilswhichyouwouldhaveworkedonmethroughjealousy。ButIsayuntoyouthatifyouwillnotletthesestrangersgogreatandterriblethingsshallbefallyouandallEgypt。Therefore，hearmyprayerandletthemgo。“
NowBakenkhonsuandIcamebeforePharaohandwesawthathewasgreatlyaged，forhishairhadgonegreyabouthistemplesandthefleshhunginbagsbeneathhiseyes。Alsonotforoneminutecouldhestaystill。
“Isyourlord，andareyoualsooftheservantsofthisHebrewprophetwhomtheEgyptiansworshipasagodbecausehehasdonethemsomuchill？“heasked。“Itmaywellbeso，sinceIhearthatmycousinSetikeepsanIsraelitishwitchinhishouse，whowardsofffromhimalltheplaguesthathavesmittentherestofEgypt，andthattohimhasfledalsoKitheKherheb，mymagician。Moreover，IhearthatinpaymentforthesewizardrieshehasbeenpromisedthethroneofEgyptbymanyfickleandfearfulonesamongmypeople。LethimbecarefullestIlifthimuphigherthanhehopes，whoalreadyhaveenoughtraitorsinthisland；andyoutwowithhim。“
NowIsaidnothing，whosawthatthemanwasmad，butBakenkhonsulaughedoutloudandanswered：
“OPharaoh，Iknowlittle，butIknowthisalthoughIbeold，namely，thataftermenhaveceasedtospeakyournameIshallstillholdconversewiththeweareroftheDoubleCrowninEgypt。NowwillyoulettheseHebrewsgo，orwillyoubringdeathuponEgypt？“
Pharaohglaredathimandanswered，“Iwillnotletthemgo。“
“Whynot，Pharaoh？Tellme，forIamcurious。“
“BecauseIcannot，“heansweredwithagroan。“Becausesomethingstrongerthanmyselfforcesmetodenytheirprayer。Begone!“
Sowewent，andthiswasthelasttimethatIlookeduponAmenmesesatTanis。
AsweleftthechamberIsawtheHebrewprophetenteringthepresence。
AfterwardsarumourreachedusthathehadthreatenedtokillallthepeopleinEgypt，butthatstillPharaohwouldnotlettheIsraelitesdepart。Indeed，itwassaidthathehadtoldtheprophetthatifheappearedbeforehimanymoreheshouldbeputtodeath。
NowwejourneyedbacktoMemphiswithallthesetidingsandmadereporttoSeti。WhenMerapiheardthemshewenthalfmad，weepingandwringingherhands。Iaskedherwhatshefeared。Sheanswereddeath，whichwasneartoallofus。Isaid：
“Ifso，thereareworsethings，Lady。“
“Foryoumayhapyouarefaithfulandgoodinyourownfashion，butnotforme。Doyounotunderstand，friendAna，thatIamonewhohasbrokenthelawoftheGodIwastaughttoworship？“
“Andwhichofusistherewhohasnotbrokenthelawofthegodweweretaughttoworship，Lady？Ifintruthyouhavedoneanythingofthesortbyflyingfromamurderousvillaintoonewholovesyouwell，whichIdonotbelieve，surelythereisforgivenessforsuchsinsasthis。“
“Aye，perhaps，but，alas!thethingisblackerfar。HaveyouforgottenwhatIdid？DressedintherobesofIsisIworshippedinthetempleofIsiswithmyboyplayingthepartofHorusonmybosom。ItisacrimethatcanneverbeforgiventoaHebrewwoman，Ana，formyGodisajealousGod。YetitistruethatKitrickedme。“