The city knew the king had deigned to bathe
In lake Nitocris for his mother's sake,
For twenty slaves had filled the lake with spice,
And delicious herbs, and many loads of flowers,
And Sethos, the good man who bore his cup,
Had passed the city's gates with fruit and wine,
And armed attendant guarded the king's gems,
For he wore gold and rubies when he bathed.

The holder of the royal parasol
Stood in the sun, and then the envied guard
Who bore the shield of great Bel-shar-uzzúr
Appeared, and with him hosts of shining men,
Leading the banners of great Merodach,
And horses burdened by their straps of gold,
And many chariots armed with iron scythes.
The royal tent, tufted with ostrich plumes,
Was carried by fair women to the bath,
And in it they reposed on scented mats
To give the monarch pleasure by their limbs.
And lo! the trumpets sounded, and the lyres
For the great king, mighty Bel-shar-uzzúr,
Entered the chariot with bejeweled feet,
While all the people bowed unto the dust.
And at the sight men slew themselves with joy,
And this was told unto the king, who smiled
And bade the corpses to be natroned well
For swift interment in the city's vaults,
The price thereof to come from his own purse.