Hiseyeswerealmostclosed，andtomehelookedlikeamanwhoisveryill。ThePrincessUsertienteredafterusandtoherhespokesomewordsofwelcome，givingherhishandtokiss。Thenheorderedthedoorstobeclosed。Ashedidso，anofficerofthehouseholdenteredandsaidthatamessengerhadcomefromtheHebrewswhodesiredspeechwithPharaoh。
“Lethimenter，“saidMeneptah，andpresentlyheappeared。
Hewasawild-eyedmanofmiddleage，withlonghairthatfelloverhissheepskinrobe。Tomehelookedlikeasoothsayer。HestoodbeforePharaoh，makingnosalutation。
“Deliveryourmessageandbegone，“saidNehesitheVizier。
“ThesearethewordsoftheFathersofIsrael，spokenbymylips，“
criedthemaninavoicethatrangallroundthevaultedchamber。“Ithascometoourears，OPharaoh，thatthewomanMerapi，daughterofNathan，whohasrefugedinyourcity，shewhoisnamedMoonofIsrael，hasshownherselftobeaprophetessofpower，onetowhomourGodhasgivenstrength，inthat，standingaloneamidstthepriestsandmagiciansofAmonoftheEgyptians，shetooknoharmfromtheirsorceriesandwasablewiththeswordofprayertosmitetheidolofAmontothedust。Wedemandthatthisprophetessberestoredtous，makingoathonourpartthatsheshallbegivenoversafelytoherbetrothedhusbandandthatnoharmshallcometoherforanycrimesortreasonsshemayhavecommittedagainstherpeople。“
“Astothismatter，“repliedPharaohquietly，“makeyourprayertothePrinceofEgypt，inwhosehouseholdIunderstandthewomandwells。Ifitpleaseshimtosurrenderherwho，Itakeit，isawitchoracunningworkeroftricks，toherbetrothedandherkindred，lethimdoso。ItisnotforPharaohtojudgeofthefateofprivateslaves。“
ThemanwheeledroundandaddressedSeti，saying：
“Youhaveheard，SonoftheKing。Willyoudeliverupthiswoman？“
“NeitherdoIpromisetodeliverherupnornottodeliverherup，“
answeredSeti，“sincetheladyMerapiisnomemberofmyhousehold，norhaveIanyauthorityoverher。Shewhosavedmylifedwellswithinmywallsforsafety’ssake。Ifitpleaseshertogo，shecango；ifitpleaseshertoremain，shecanremain。WhenthisCourtisfinishedI
giveyousafe-conducttoappearandinmypresencelearnherpleasurefromherlips。“
“Youhaveyouranswer；nowbegone，“saidNehesi。
“Nay，“criedtheman，“Ihavemorewordstospeak。ThussaytheFathersofIsrael：Weknowtheblackcounselofyourheart，OPharaoh。
IthasbeenrevealedtousthatitisinyourmindtoputtheHebrewstothesword，asitisinthemindofthePrinceofEgypttosavethemfromthesword。Changethatmindofyours，OPharaoh，andswiftly，lestdeathfalluponyoufromheavenabove。“
“Cease!“thunderedMeneptahinavoicethatstilledthemurmursofthecourt。“DogofaHebrew，doyoudaretothreatenPharaohonhisownthrone？Itellyouthatwereyounotamessenger，andthereforeaccordingtoourancientlawsafetillthesunsets，youshouldbehewnlimbfromlimb。Awaywithhim，andifheisfoundinthiscityafternightfalllethimbeslain!“
Thencertainofthecouncillorsspranguponthemanandthrusthimforthroughly。Atthedoorhewrenchedhimselffreeandshouted：
“Thinkuponmywords，Pharaoh，beforethissunhasset。Andyou，greatonesofEgypt，thinkonthemalsobeforeitappearsagain。“
Theydrovehimoutwithblowsandthedoorswereshut。OncemoreMeneptahbegantospeak，saying：
“Nowthatthisbrawlerisgone，whathaveyoutosaytome，PrinceofEgypt？Doyoustillgivemethecounselthatyouwroteintheroll？Doyoustillrefuse，asheiroftheThrone，toassenttomydecreethattheseaccursedHebrewsbedestroyedwiththeswordofmyjustice？“
NowallturnedtheireyesonSeti，whothoughtawhile，andanswered：
“LetPharaohpardonme，butthecounselthatIgaveIstillgive；theassentthatIrefusedIstillrefuse，becausemyhearttellsmethatsoitisrighttodo，andsoIthinkwillEgyptbesavedfrommanytroubles。“
WhenthescribeshadfinishedwritingdownthesewordsPharaohaskedagain：
“PrinceofEgypt，ifinadaytocomeyoushouldfillmyplace，isitstillyourintenttoletthispeopleoftheHebrewsgounharmed，takingwiththemthewealththattheyhavegatheredhere？“
“LetPharaohpardonme，thatisstillmyintent。“
Nowatthesefatefulwordstherearoseasighofastonishmentfromallthatheardthem。BeforeithaddiedawayPharaohhadturnedtoUsertiandwasasking：
“Aretheseyourcounsel，yourwill，andyourintentalso，OPrincessofEgypt？“
“LetPharaohhearme，“answeredUsertiinacold，clearvoice，“theyarenot。InthisgreatmattermylordthePrincewalksoneroadandI
walkanother。Mycounsel，will，andintentarethoseofPharaoh。“
“Setimyson，“saidMeneptah，morekindlythanIhadeverheardhimspeakbefore，“forthelasttime，notasyourkingbutasyourfather，Iprayyoutoconsider。Rememberingthatasitliesinyourpower，beingoffullageandhavingbeenjoinedwithmeinmanymattersofgovernment，torefuseyourassenttoagreatactofstate，soitliesinmypowerwiththeassentofthehigh-priestsandofmyministerstoremoveyoufrommypath。Seti，Icandisinherityouandsetanotherinyourplace，andifyoupersist，thatandnolessIshalldo。Consider，therefore，myson。“
InthemidstofanintensesilenceSetianswered：
“Ihaveconsidered，OmyFather，andwhateverbethecosttomeI
cannotgobackuponmywords。“
ThenPharaohroseandcried：
“Takenoteallyouassembledhere，andletitbeproclaimedtothepeopleofEgyptwithoutthegates，thattheytakenotealso，thatI
deposeSetimysonfromhisplaceasPrinceofEgyptanddeclarethatheisremovedfromthesuccessiontothedoubleCrown。TakenotethatmydaughterUserti，PrincessofEgypt，wifeofthePrinceSeti，Idonotdepose。WhateverrightsandheritagesarehersasheiressofEgyptletthoserightsandheritagesremaintoher，andifachildbebornofherandPrinceSeti，wholives，letthatchildbeheirtotheThroneofEgypt。Takenotethat，ifnosuchchildisbornoruntilitisborn，Inamemynephew，thecountAmenmeses，sonofbybrotherKhaemuas，nowgatheredtoOsiris，tofilltheThroneofEgyptwhenI
amnomore。Comehither，CountAmenmeses。“
Headvancedandstoodbeforehim。ThenPharaohliftedfromhisheadthedoublecrownheworeandforamomentsetitonthebrowofAmenmeses，sayingashereplaceditonhisownhead：
“BythisactandtokendoInameandconstituteyou，Amenmeses，tobeRoyalPrinceofEgyptinplaceofmyson，PrinceSeti，deposed。
Withdraw，RoyalPrinceofEgypt。Ihavespoken。“
“Life!Blood!Strength!“criedallthecompanybowingbeforePharaoh，allsavethePrinceSetiwhoneitherbowednorstirred。Onlyhecried：
“AndIhaveheard。WillPharaohbepleasedtodeclarewhetherwithmyroyalheritagehetakesmylife？Ifso，letitbehereandnow。MycousinAmenmeseswearsasword。“
“Nay，Son，“answeredMeneptahsadly，“yourlifeislefttoyouandwithitallyourprivaterankandyourpossessionswhatsoeverandwherevertheymaybe。“
“LetPharaoh’swillbedone，“repliedSetiindifferently，“inthisasinallthings。PharaohsparesmylifeuntilsuchtimeasAmenmeseshissuccessorshallfillhisplace，whenitshallbetaken。“
Meneptahstarted；thisthoughtwasnewtohim。
“Standforth，Amenmeses，“hecried，“andswearnowthethreefoldoaththatmaynotbebroken。SwearbyAmon，byPtah，andbyOsiris，godofdeath，thatneverwillyouattempttoharmthePrinceSeti，yourcousin，eitherinbodyorinsuchstateandprerogativeasremaintohim。LetRoi，thehead-priestofAmon，administertheoathnowbeforeusall。“
SoRoispoketheoathintheancientform，whichwasterribleeventohear，andAmenmeses，unwillinglyenoughasIthought，repeateditafterhim，addinghoweverthesewordsattheend，“AllthesethingsI
swearandallthesepenaltiesinthisworldandtheworldtobeI
invokeuponmyhead，providedonlythatwhenthetimecomesthePrinceSetileavesmeinpeaceuponthethronetowhichithaspleasedPharaohtodecreetome。“
Nowsometheremurmuredthatthiswasnotenough，sinceintheirheartstherewerefewwhodidnotloveSetiandgrievetoseehimthusstrippedofhisroyalheritagebecausehisjudgmentdifferedfromthatofPharaohoveramatterofStatepolicy。ButSetionlylaughedandsaidscornfully：
“Letbe，forofwhatvaluearesuchoaths？Pharaohonthethroneisabovealloathswhomustmakeanswertothegodsonlyandfromtheheartsofsomethegodsarefaraway。LetAmenmesesnotfearthatI
shallquarrelwithhimoverthismatterofacrown，Iwhointruthhaveneverlongedforthepompandcaresofroyaltyandwho，deprivedofthese，stillpossessallthatIcandesire。Igomywayhenceforwardasoneofmany，anobleofEgypt——nomore，andifinadaytocomeitpleasesthePharaohtobetoshortenmywanderings，I
amnotsurethateventhenIshallgrievesoverymuch，whoamcontenttoacceptthejudgmentofthegods，asintheendhemustdoalso。
Yet，Pharaohmyfather，beforewepartIaskleavetospeakthethoughtsthatriseinme。“