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。“