TD18-5

La autobiografa del visir Rejmirea

Texto jeroglfico: Urkunden IV, 1071 - 1085 (revisado)
Traduccin: A.H.Gardiner, ZS 60 (1925) 62 - 76

1.

(1)

The hereditary and local prince, steward of stewards,

2.
master of the mysteries who enters into the sanctuary,
3.
from whom god has fenced away nothing,
4.
nor is there aught of which he is ignorant in heaven or earth or in any recess of the netherworld;
5.
sm-priest in the House of Flame (the national temple of Lower Egypt);
6.
wr-mAw-priest in the Great House (the national temple of Upper Egypt);
7.

(2)

... [controller] of all ceremonial robes;

8.
judge of the Six High Courts;
9.
director of every diwn of the king;
10.
he was uniquely useful to him who made him useful;
11.
conciliatory in giving judgement;

12.
foster-child of the King of Upper Egypt;
13.
follower of the King of Lower Egypt;
14.
attendant of Horus;
15.

(3)

... [Horus] in his house;

16.
under whose signet-ring are [united (?) and] bound together the houses of gold and the houses of silver (?);
17.
the steward of [Amn ..., Rekhmera].
18.
He said: I am a noble second (only) to the king,
19.
fourth (only) to the judge of the Two Comrades;
20.

(4)

one advanced of place in private (audience);

21.
one who is praised at every hour;
22.
[ .............................. ]
23.
foremost in the estimation of the common folk.
24.
It was the first time that I was summoned;
25.
all my brothers were amid the outer thousand (?).
26.

(5)

I issued forth ... clad in festive attire (?);

27.
[the entourage rejoiced ?] over me;
28.
I reached the door of the Gate;
29.
the courtiers bent their backs.
30.

(6)

I found the elders of the entrance clearing the way (for me).
31.
[ ........................................ ]
32.
My wisdom was not as it had been,
33.
my appearance of yesterday had altered itself,
(7)

34.

since my issuing forth in the adornments [of the vizier],

35.
being [promoted ?] as the priest of Truth.
36.
[ ........................................... ]
37.
Thus was my praise established in the midst of great and small;
38.
I looked upon everyone
39.

(8)

as (?) the glaze (?) of walls wrought with turquoise.

40.
When a second [day] had dawned [and the morrow had come],
41.
[then I was summoned] again to the presence of the good god,

42.
the king Menkheperra (may he live forever),
43.
even Horus, the strong bull appearing in Thebes.
44.
Lo, His Majesty knows what happens;
45.
there is indeed nothing of which he is ignorant.
46.

(9)

He is Thoth in every regard.

47.
There is no matter which he has failed to discern.
48.
[ ... he is acquainted] with it after the fashion of the Majesty of Seshat (the goddess of writing).
49.
He changes the design into its execution like a god who ordains and performs.
50.
His Majesty opened his mouth,
51.

(10)

and spoke his words in my presence.

52.
Behold, my eyes send me to my heart,
53.
[forasmuch as My Majesty (?)] knows that decisions are many and there is no end to them,
54.
and that the judgement of pleas never ceases.
55.
O that thou mayst act as I say;
56.
then will Justice rest in her place.

57.

(11)

He admonished me very much:

58.
Gird thyself, be energetic (?). Do not slacken. Rebuke [evil].
59.
[ ... ] according as he had ordained.
60.
He gave me a staff of officials under my authority;
61.
there was none who could browbeat me.
(12)

62.
Then I strode forth, putting stick on back;
63.
the dogs were not let loose;
64.
my voice (went up) to heaven.
65.
There was none [who] ... rebel.
66.

The malcontent, I propitiated him with his desires,

67.
by bringing to pass that wherewith he should be pleased.
(13)

68.

[People said] to me: Come, said they, to make flourish the condition of the two lands.
69.
Every business of weal to the body (?), I rose early to perform it every day.
70.
I was [ ... ], I [saw] his person in his (real) form,
71.
Ra the lord of heaven, the king of the two lands when he rises,

72.
the solar disk when he shows himself, at whose place are [Black] Land and Red Land,
(14)

73.

their chieftains inclining themselves to him,

74.
all Egyptians, all men of family, all the common folk
75.
[ ... ] lassoing him who attackes him or disputes with him.
76.
My name was (?) smiter of the smiter,
77.
... striking him who spoke evilly against him.
78.

(15)

He appointed me as the proverbial (?) stick

79.
to chastise him who was ...
80.
[ ... ] the balance of the entire land
81.
keeping aright their hearts in accordance with the plumb-line.
82.
Those who were vacillating of heart,
83.

(16)

lacking in straightness, them the ... of Horus (?) curbed.

84.
Whosoever was ladden with his sorrows
85.
was contented [ ... ].
86.
My mouth was natron. Leniency was pure in my lips.

87.
I am the heart of the Lord,
88.
the ears and the eyes of the Sovereign.
89.

(17)

Behold, I am his very own skipper,

90.
I know not sleep by night or day.
91.
I spend my life,
92.
my heart being occupied with the prow-rope and the stern-rope,
93.
and the tiller (?) is not absent from my hands.
94.
I am watchful for any chance of stranding.
95.

(18)

What (?) is the king of Upper Egypt? What (?) is the King of Lower Egypt?
96.
He is a god by whose dealings one lives.
97.
[He is] the father and the mother [of all men];
98.
alone by himself, without an equal.
99.
I did (?) not cause evil to overcome.
100.

(19)

There was (?) no neglect of mine in evil case.

101.
I speak with my mouth, I cause it to be known.

102.
Then others who are wise [of their mouths] shall hear.
103.
I exalted Justice to the height of heaven,
104.
I caused her beauty to circulate over the breadth of earth,
105.

(20)

so that she might rest in (mens) nostrils like the northwind

106.
when it has banished what was malignant in heart and body.
107.
I judged po[or and] rich (alike).
108.
I rescued the weak from the strong.
(21)

109.

I repelled the fury of the ill-disposed,

110.
and quelled him who was covetous in his hour (of covetousness).
111.
I [checked] the impulse of him who was infuriated.
112.
I restrained weeping by substituting a comforter (?).
113.

(22)

I defended the widow who had no husband.

114.
I established the son and heir on the seat of his father.
115.
I gave [bread to the hungry] and water to the thirsty,
116.
meat, oil and clothing to him who had none.

(23)

117.

I revived (?) the old man, giving [to him] my stick.

118.
I caused the old women to say: what (?) a happy occasion!
119.
I [hated (?)] wrong, and did not do it.
120.
I caused the liar (?) to be [ ... ] upside down.
121.

(24)

I was innocent before God.

122.
No one who knew [said] concerning me: what has he done?
123.
I judged a great matter (?) [ ... ]
124.
[I caused] both suitors to go forth in peace.
125.
I did not [suppress (?)] justice for reward.
126.

(25)

I was not indeed deaf to the empty-handed;

127.
and moreover I did not take anyones bribe.
128.
[ ... ] what he had to say about me,
129.
because [ ... ] in truth,
130.

(26)

that [he (?)] might be propitiated with the smell of incense.

131.
May your hearts prosper,

132.
so that ye know, ye counsellors who [judge weakness],
133.
ye great, noble magistrates of former times,
134.
[ ... ] me in the tomb (?).
(27)

135.

Hail, comrades. Hearken all of you.

136.
Behold, I am with you, it is not false.
137.
[My heart (??) said to me:] Be vigilant, behold thou art the equal of God.
138.
Be not [ ... ]
(28)

139.

Give praise to [His Majesty (?)], that thy palm may be successful.
140.
Mayest thou (?) [ ... ] for him the two regions by doing Justice.
141.
Wherefore was I (?) [ ... ],
142.
that I should do as he (?) said?
143.
I was contented and satisfied [at doing] his (?) bidding.
144.

(29)

I went about (?) at once according to what [I (?)] heard.

145.
I improved every occasion ...
146.
I was the gossip of all conversations,

147.
like [ ... ]
148.

(30)

I spent my life with my stick on the back,

149.
lassoing [ ... ] cattle (?) [ ... ]
150.
I made myself a skillful hunter,
151.
discerning of foot [ ... ]
(31)

152.

I [did not trip up (?)] on a fragment of stone.

153.
I dispelled [ ... ] sloth.
154.
I rebuffed the donfederates of night-[conspiracies (?)].
155.
I checked the wrong-doer [ ... ]
(32)

156.

I [ ... ]ed the guilty on water and on land.

157.
I turned back (?) the steps of him who defied (?) his lord
158.
by his foot (?) and his nose.
159.
I [bound (?)] his [legs (?)].
160.
I was one who went away from (?) his sight (?) on the day of opposition.
161.

(33)

I did not [ ... ] to the doer of wrong.

162.
I put dread into the multitude.
163.
I taught the stranger (?) lad his duty.
164.
I curbed the prisoner (?).
(34)

165.

I caused the rebel to perceive his evil fall.

166.
The command of the king was in my hand in effecting his counsels.
167.
No single man said of me: what has he done?
168.
I was knower of knowers in [all] krafts.
(35)

169.
[ ... ] who perform.
170.

There was none [like (?)] me in (power to) make happy or miserable.
171.
There was no design of whose execution I was ignorant.
172.
Drawings which were perfect and effective (?) or buried (?) and old,
(36)

173.
I was [versed (?)] in them,
174.
and excelled because of it.
175.
I was clever in all undertakings,
176.

deliberate in counsel, ready to listen.

177.
I was skilled in by-gone affairs,
178.
and the [condition (?)] of yesterday caused me to know tomorrow.
179.

(37)

I judged the suppliant. I did not incline to one side.

180.
I paid no attention to rewards.
181.
I was not angry [with him who came (?)] as a suppliant.
182.
I did not rebuff (?) him.
183.
I tolerated him in his moment of passion.
184.

(38)

I rescued the timid man from the violent.

185.
I [ ... ] his [needs (?)] by banishing his grievance.
186.
I (?) rescued myself [from ... ] in the mouth of the people,
187.
answering every [ ... ] word by reporting (?) [ ... ],
188.

(39)

[completing (?)] the moment (?) of a few words.

189.
Hearken, [ye] who are in existence,
190.
for God knoweth what is in the body;
191.
[all] members [which are in (?)] it are open before him.

192.
Behold ye, his eyes perceive (mens) natures in the(ir) liver(s);
193.
every heart gathers (?) itself [to (?)] him of itself;
(40)

194.

the secrets [of ... ] are opened up in his sight;

195.
the silent (man) [ ... ], he knoweth him.
196.
May your hearts prosper,
197.
ye who exist, [princes] who live and are in existence,
198.
every able scribe skilled in the wrintings, who shall read in the writings,
199.

(41)

and interpret with his heart, keen of tongue, open of mind,

200.
who penetrates words, and whom an overseer has taught to do as should be done,
201.
deliberate and patient, brave in questioning
202.

he is a wise man whosoever shall hear what the ancestors of former times have said.

203.
The gods of your cities shall praise you,
204.

(42)

and the king of his time at your period;

205.
you shall hand down your offices to your children
206.
after a long life,

207.
without regret;
208.
ye shall attain your tombs in the necropolis,
209.
those who live upon earth
210.
(joining) in the funeral procession;
211.

(43)

kine of the HsAt-cow shall convoy you,

212.
the roads inundated with their milk;
213.
ye shall be united with your sepulchral chambers which are in eternity
214.
in the town of Truth, the silent land;
(44)

215.

your names shall not fail from mouth to mouth;

216
and your likeness shall proper [in the place (?)] thereof;
217.
according as ye shall say:
218.
A boon which the king gives, and Amen-Ra, Atum, Shu and Tefnis,
219.
Geb and Nut, Osiris, Horus, Mekhantenyerty,
220.
Stekh, Isis, Nephthys, and Thoth the deputy of Ra:
221.

(45)

invocation-offerings [ ... ],

222.
all good things without end;
223.
to go up to heaven;
224.
to penetrate the netherworld in the midst of the unresting stars;
225.
may (?) they offer offerings of food,
226.
placed upon the leaves of The-weary-of-heart;
227.
for the Soul of the prince and overseer of the city, [Rekhmera], justified.