Chapter 8:
Ruth arrives at Ameres' house. Mysa makes sure that Ruth is happy with her and that she will happy with her position in the house. Ruth is and things go on happily. Chebron goes into the lower parts of the priesthood. Now he is allowed to go in the temple at all hours and could go into parts of the temple that he couldn't go into before. He was happy about this and used it mostly to go into the temple in the evenings when there weren't so many people around.
Ptylus was not happy with Ameres. His house was not far from Ameres and the two men did not chiefly like each other. Ameres was the high priest and Ptylus wanted to be the high priest instead. He was greedy and he wanted to be the high priest a lot.
One day, Ameres' wife came into him with shocking news. Plexo, Ptylus' son had come to Ameres' house to ask for Mysa to marry him. Ameres was shocked! Indeed, it was very important. Ameres said, "I do NOT want Plexo to marry Mysa because he will not be a good husband. He is arrogant and puffed up and he can also be tittering and foolish."
Ameres' delivered a message to his wife about what Plexo should say to his mother and father when he got home. Then Amense, Ameres' wife went and talked to Plexo. And then Plexo went home and told his father and mother. His father and mother were shocked and started making plans. Ptylus had already wanted to kill Ameres to become high priest, so he decided that he had been too patient and must begin right away.
THen Ptylus' wife said to him, "Ameres wife, Amense, told me that they are making a banquet and that we can come if we wanted. Shall we accept the invitation?"
Ptylus said, "Yes, we should show that we are not the least offended by what just happened."
On the day of the banquet, a couple of cook had gathered. Some grinded seeds and spices. Another one pushed the bellows for the temperature for the fire. Another skimmed the tops of the cauldron pots with a spoon. A lot was going on.
The guests came. The women were seated at one side of the table and the men at the other. There was a LOT of food: Ibis and fish and beef and goose, but there wasn't any sheep because the Egyptians kept the sheep only for wool, not for eating. There was a lot of wine and each guest was given a lotus flower to keep in their hand. Since the Egyptians didn't use a knife and fork, they were given pieces of bread to aid them as they ate. The guests ate and talked and were merry.
Ameres was seated and Amense were seated at the head of the table. Amense sat on the womens' side and the Ameres sat on the mens' side. The women were served by female servants and the men were served by male servants. When the feast was about half way done, a figure like a mummy was brought in and presented to each guest to represent the uncertainness of life.
After the meal was done, the guests went and tables were taken away and the guests went and sat in the chairs all around the room. Musicians and jugglers entertained them for the rest of the evening and everyone was happy. After each guest was helped away, for the men and women were all tipsy with the wine they had drunk, Amense said, "That was delightful."
Ameres replied, "I would rather have been in my own study, but if everyone had a good time, I am most content."
Amense said, "You are most ungrateful. You would rather be shut up in your study for all your life, seeing no one except your slave bringing you food and wine three times a day."
Ameres said, "I would probably prefer that, but as it is, I am content."
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