"I and my servant here are returned safe, but as for our tidings, well, judge of them for yourself," and drawing the letter of the Great King from my robe, I touched my forehead with the roll and handed it to him.
"I see that you have acquired the Eastern customs, Shabaka," he said as he took it.

"But here in my own house which once was the palace of our forefathers, the Pharaohs of Egypt, by your leave I will omit them.

Amen be my witness," he added bitterly, "I cannot bear to lay the letter of a foreign king against my brow in token of my country's vassalage." Then he broke the silk of the seals and read, and as he read his face grew black with rage.
"What!" he cried, casting down the roll and stamping on it.

"What! Does this dog of an Eastern king bid me send my niece, by birth the Royal Princess of Egypt, to be his toy until he wearies of her?
First I will choke her with my own hands.

How comes it, Shabaka, that you care to bring me such a message?
Were I Pharaoh now I think your life would pay the price." "As it would certainly have paid the price, had I not done so.