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。“