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'BL.
PREFACE
The
tales contained in the following chapters are
One
or
two
stories
Wenas
Amen,
the
narrative,
much
merely as a story
fair
but those
idea
who
output of
Egyptian
The version
crudities
in
given
of
is
some of the
life
more modern
all
ideas,
cases,
which are
indicated,
defective.
In
860309
vi
PREFACE
The
from
Osiris,
all
of
course,
is
reteUing
the others
are
directly
of native
Egyptian
origin.
To
writers
such
as
Erman,
and
Petrie,
life,
and others
but
who have
debt
is
treated of Egyptian
religion,
;
literature, this
my
specially
to Sh*
Professor
Flinders
Egyptian Tales."
The
details of
far
the
as
illustrations
CONTENTS
BOOK
CHAPTER
I.
I
....
PAOB
II.
H
23 27
III.
m
43
47
IV.
The Wizards
V.
HIS
-
SON SENOSIRIS
67
BOOK
II
The Story
93
106
128
139 159
IX.
vii
viii
CONTENTS
BOOK
III
XI.
How Mkn
-
rebelled
-
183
XH. How IsiS STOLE THE GrEAT NaME OF Ra Xni. The Princess and the Demon XIV. The Story of Osiris and his Wicked Brother XV. The Wanderings of Isis
-
198
206 217
239
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN
from drawin(;s by
COLOUR
CONSTANCE
1.
N.
BAIKIE
-
Osiris
on his Throne
Frontispiece
FACING PACK
2.
3.
4.
WE embarked on the Royal Barge and came to Copi'os" Setna restores the Roll to the Tomb " The Curse of Amen, thy God, be upon thee,
" So
57 64 78
Ethiopian
5.
6.
r'
"
7.
Our Ship went down ^ "Behold, a Great Serpent was drawing near!"" Then said the Crocodile to him " I am thy
:
97
104 153
160 192
8.
9.
"
-
10.
Hathor (Sekhmet) and the Blood-Red Beer The God Khonsu flies back from Bekhten to
Egypt
-
216 232
241
of Osiris
12. Isis
BOOK
WONDER TALES
Most
people, I suppose,
who
and
and
While we think'-their great buildings, such as the Pyramids and some of the temples, very extraordinary, we wonder why in all the
world people ever were so
things
;
silly as
to build such
learn
their
mummies, and
what an amount of thought they used to give to death, and to the life that was to come after
3
death,
Most of
all
this
strange
about
these
old
has
come from
their
tombs.
if
What
sort of folk
We should
made
a
But you
:
When
tomb
for himself,
he knew that
was to be
made
he
it
very carefully
said, "
Well, this
may
more than a few years, and my son, when he comes after me, may like something quite
live in it for
different."
And
would last his time and not*much more. Perhaps he was wiser, after all, than we who have to go on some-
we
don't like at
all,
just
is
Anyhow,
that
why you
learn
their
PEOPLE
TALES
Another reason
Egyptians
travellers
because
when
travellers'
seriousness
Some
;
and some
had
some of them well, I think the Egyptians had been playing a quiet joke off on the Greek globe-trotters, and were laughing in their sleeves at them all the
taken
them up wrong
and
time.
was one of these Greeks who first told the story which, more than anything else, has made people believe that the Egyptians were a gloomy, sour, long-faced folk the story, I mean, of how whenever a company was gathered at a feast, the
It
model of a
words, "
this
is,
mummy
in its coffin
was brought
in,
for as
and uncomfortable,
not do
certainly.
but
am
we
and most
easily
amused of
peoples.
They were very fond of music and singing, and some of the oldest songs in all the world are the simple old verses that the workmen used to sing at their work the fisherman as he hauled his nets,
kinds
ing
and when
their
the
from
their tombs.
these pictures of
they adorned
PEOPLE
Most
TALES
life
here
is
done.
The Greeks
thought of
it
as a dim,
of
even the
on dust and
The Pit, and dreaded nothing so much going down into it. But the Egyptians' Heaven
cheeriest places
folks
and fowling,
in little
glass of
you want to know what people really are like, I fancy as good a way as any of finding out is to learn what they like to read or to be told. There are some nations in whose literature you can
Now,
if
scarcely imagine
it
a story that
But
they liked a
it
all their
hearts
they liked
with a
to end
happily.
So you
nothing very
terrible in these
wonder
who
No
better done
practice
now
it
ought
to, after
but,
all
be interesting to
us, for
of
all
How
down
idea of
come
us
to our times
You
if
how
Some
of
them
tell
to
Some of them belong much about the time when Abraham was journeyabout 5,000 years ago.
;
may have
heard
when he was
PEOPLE
"
all
TALES
wisdom of the Egyptians." Now, I am very sure that no book of our times is likely ever to last
the
so long as any of these old stories have done, and so
the question
is,
You know
that has
come down
Egypt has lasted so long because it was carved in The stone upon the walls of some great building.
Egyptians had a very beautiful form of writing,
which
It
is
IS
really
made up
a,
of hundreds of
a lion for an
little
?w,
pictures
on.
an eagle for an
and so
And when
they had
it
writing was
things.
generally kept
is
for
There
between the Egyptians and the Hittites which is carved on the walls of a great temple
battle
in
Egypt
but
it
wasn't everybody
who
all
could
when he wanted
to publish
a poem.
Egyptian
2
10
difficult hieroglyphic,
we call
or "demotic";
and they were written not on stone, but on papyrus. The papyrus, from which our word " paper " comes, was a reed with a long, fleshy, thick stem, which
grew
plentifully in Egypt.
They used
to split
up
when pasted
Then
crosswise
over one
another,
were
had holes
his pens,
and
and
of
which were
made
in the
same way
as a
papyrus,
(It
Chinaman paints his letters now. Then the when it was finished, was rolled together.
roll, for
sheet
was joined to sheet as the story went on. There is one papyrus in the British Museum more than
one hundred and thirty
put into a
a
case,
feet long.)
It
was then
it
wanted
rolled
until
to read he took
little
of the beginning.
side
As he went on he
up on the one
PEOPLE
Now,
them
;
TALES
11
have
And
somethe
much
that
when
owner of the
roll or
roll
rolls
And
of
there the papyrus has lain, beside the old owner, for hundreds
mummy
upon hundreds of years, the desert sands drifting over them both, until some European explorer, or perhaps some Arab thief, has found out the old grave, dug up
its
papyrus
roll
poem,
upon
it.
Nearly
Where some
;
of
them
not
known
who
sold
of our museums.
them or gave them to some But one way or another they all
have been dug up from under the sands of Egypt, which have preserved them safe and sound for all
12
these centuries.
and
(for
and
have
to
be
very
carefully
handled
what is written on them into English and French and German, so that we all
them and
to translate
when
One
Sety
with a long
story on
II.,
He
lived
by no means one of the oldest of the that you see how old they are.
is
rolls,
so
When we come
at
them
in
two ways.
The
itself
first is
is
look
that
that
only anxious
what happened to the Doomed Prince, or how the Shipwrecked Sailor was saved, or how the Ghost made the Wizard Prince give back the magic roll. After all, stories are meant to be read that way too, and nobody can blame those who like to see their hero or heroine safely settled, and don't
care
much
for
anything
else.
And some
of the
PEOPLE
Egyptian
TALES
13
have sprung.
We
Ah
sailor
shadow of the doom pronounced at birth by the Fates or Fairy Godmothers. But quite apart from the interest of the stories, we may look at them from the point of view of what they tell us about the Land of Egypt itself, the people who lived in it, their manners and
customs, what they thought and what they believed,
And
and
interest.
They give
you pictures of all kinds of Egyptian life. You see Pharaoh in his palace, wearying of everything, and
asking for stories to be told him, just as the Sultan
in the "
Arabian Nights
"
wearied
see
till
Scheherazade
You
the extraordinary
14
power of magic.
the Story of the
Waxen
Crocodile,
where you
belief,
and
still lasts
in Italy
and other
you can make waxen images which will become alive and do harm to your enemies, or which can represent your enemies
European
countries, that
injure
who
waxen
man
lived
that she
is first
may have vengeance on her false lover, cousin to the learned scribe Uba-aner, who
ago,
and made
his
waxen
himself on the
man
him.
The
all
and one
last
stories
belong almost
we
believe that
Moses
little
The
boy
an old Egyptian
PEOPLE
TALES
15
Pharaoh
and
his Court,
when
a greater
power than
wisdom of the
Egyptian
on the long
of those
who have
and you see the strange dangers and marvels that he believed to lie about his path talking serpents, and vanishing islands, and young
Continent
;
ladies
who
on the wings of a
atmosphere of sus-
thunderbolt.
Or you
as
now
the natural
medium
moves
among
as
by virtue of his higher civilization, just the Briton or the American takes the first place
the less civilized races of the earth to-day.
like that of Tahuti,
among
Prince,
Stories
and the
Doomed
in those
16
our
own
Elizabethan period
the days
when
the
waken
those
least
life
important, the
laborious
of
the
ordinary
Egyptian
little
who
less
and caring
mighty ones of
with
its
earth,
Two
Brothers,
maze of reincarnations
and wizardries.
The
first
stories
and they
are
a faithful
because
an entirely unstudied
reflection of the
beliefs of
may
seem, there
is
no
body of literature extant in any other land on earth which, from this point of view, has a value even
remotely approaching that of these
of the Ancient World.
Wonder
Tales
CHAPTER
The
and
II
She gave
it
to the
famous
It
scholar, Lepsius,
is
and
it is
now
in the Berlin
Museum, and
is
known
all
the oldest of
us, for
all,
now
best
Papyrus.
known is later than the Westcar Some scholars hold this book to have
about the time of the
less
been
written
Twelfth
Dynasty, not
living
old,
quite so
all
1500
B.C.
But
18
The
this
stories
a copy of Shakespeare's
year,
may
be
published
which were many hundred years old already when he wrote them down in the form in which we now
have them.
to
stories are
supposed
by
his
three sons,
very
much
earlier.
Wax
who
;
If Professor Petrie's
we
Perhaps
much
at
At the we notice
magic of
to.
19
beheved with
stars, in
kinds,
and
the influence
it
and
significance
of
dreams.
On
certain days
a
On
seem
others
if
you went
;
in a boat
you would be devoured by a crocodile while the 13th day of the month JMekhir was specially unlucky, because on that day the Goddess Hathor, or Sekhmet, went forth to slay the men who had
rebelled against
later on.
God a
people
Some
still
real
and
terrible.
Here
its
may judge
quality.
Take
;
a cat, black
all
over,
killed
prepare
a writing-tablet,
which thou
desirest to
'
it
mouth
of the cat.
Keimi
Keimi
am
the
20
WONDER
in
TAI.ES OF
Great One
whose mouth
ISIommon, T}ioth,
above
heaven,
Nanumbre,
Karikha,
who
is
tlic
Then
follows a lot
more of
o,
similar drivel,
and the
spell
ends
a,
"
:
'
Thy name
i,
e,
o,
y, 6,
name
also used.'"
it
Let us hope
ought to have
matter
is
The
fact of the
that
Egyptian magic
and just
is
written by an anti-suffragist.
AVomen always
their
held
undue
influence.
the
woman who
is
at
mischief
all
for
burning
story that
21
who might
be tempted to presume on their favoured position in the land. By which it appears that the vexed
question of women's rights
yesterday.
is
scarcely a thing of
The
fact that
when Uba-aner
hand
it
how
laid hold of
by
its
owner
the wizard
was exactly paralleled by that employed by the great Khedive of Egypt, Mehemet Ali, to divert him
in his
hours of ennui.
It
is
tales.
is
The
first,
which
is
is
something more.
was no doubt
The
King
22
was a
Ra
of
the Sun-god.
from
its rise
Egypt begin to take, as part of their regular Son of the Sun. The story, which tells how the three babies (whose names in the
Kings of the
Fifth Dynasty) are really the children of the Sun-
The
common
offerings
his
respectively
may
be seen
in
the
ancestors,
and
to
the
wizards.
Nebka and
23
At last he said to his sons, the royal Princes, who were gathered about "Is there one among you who can tell his throne me a tale of the wizards of the olden times ?"
:
Then the royal son Khafra arose to speak, and he said "I shall tell your Majesty the story of a
:
wonder which befell in the times of your ancestor the King Nebka, of happy memory, on an occasion when he was going to the Temple of Ttah, Lord
of Anklitaui.
"The Story
"
of the
Waxen
Crocodile.
Now,
it fell
went
to the
the
reciter,
Uba-aner.
train of
comely face and form, and when the wife of Ubaaner saw him, her heart was turned away from her
husband, and she loved the young man.
Without
There they
when
24
the evening
in
the lake.
Now, when
saw
tiic
house of Uba-aner
himself:
It
is
be done, and
about them.'
tiie
" Therefore,
dawn
appeared, and
W'^hen the
first
:
Uba-aner, knew
all,
Bring
me
milion,
which contains
my
book of
it,
spells.'
^Vhen
Uba-aner fashioned
;
waxen
he recited a
this
spell over
and he
said to
lake,
it
'
:
When
page
He
:
down
Now,
let
it fell
Come
by the
charge
and
us
make
good day
'
in the pavilion
who had
25
there.'
am
was prepared, and furnished with all kinds of dainties, and the lady and the page came and passed the day in amusements. When the
pavilion
The
waxen
long
"
at
The
water.
Meanwhile the first reciter, Uba-aner, remained Court seven days with His Majesty King Nebka,
Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt, while the page lay under the water without breathing. But when the seven days were past, and when the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebka, of happy memory, was going to tlie temple^ the first reciter, Uba-aner, came before him and said May it please your Majesty to come and see a wonder
: '
in these
days of your
?'
JNIajesty's
the
first
re:
citer,
'
crocodile
came
forth,
26
of the water.
*
reciter,
Uba-aner, said
crocodile,
Stop
!'
He
cast a spell
upon the
and
made him stand still before the King. " Then His Majesty, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nebka, of happy memory, cried Mercy upon us, this crocodile is dreadful
:
'
I'
and
of
it
became
in his
Then the first reciter, Ubaaner, told His Majesty King Nebka, Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt, the whole story, and
how
"
is
His Majesty
Take what
thine.'
Then
the
crocodile
plunged to the
bottom of the
lake,
Then His
Upper and Lower Egypt, caused the wife of Ubaaner to be led to the north side of the palace
there they burned her alive, and threw her ashes
into the river.
Behold, this
is
happened
happy
memory. King Nebka, Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt one of the wonders wrought by the first
reciter,
Uba-aner."
27
Let
one
be offered
to
the
of
Majesty of the
a thousand
loaves,
King
Nebka, an
of incense
offering
hundred jugs of
;
beer, a bullock,
let there
and
whose
have had
in-
cense."
It
was done
Then
he said
:
am
going to
tell
wonder which happened in the time of your father. King Seneferu, of happy memory, and which was wrought, among other wonders, by the chief reciter
Zazamankh
Sxoiir
gp^
"
The
"
He
called
if
his
time.
They
suggested
different
things,
'
28
At
'
bring to
me
'
Zazamankh
His
;'
and
INIajesty said
Zazamankh, my brother, I have together the whole royal household to see of them could invent something to relieve
him
called
if
any
of
me
;
my
"
weariness (for
my
heart
is
very heavy)
but
Zazamankh Let His Majesty condescend to go down to the lake of the Royal Pleasance, and let him man one of the royal barges
said
:
Then
'
with
all
grow
its
light as
you
see
For
my
is
how
shall arrange
the voyage.
be chosen
loveliest in
let
the
harem
in
young and
fishing-nets.'
fresh
and
swung
them be clothed
mand.
The
girls
29
new
malachite
fell
into
Then
and ceased to
steer,
were
And
"
'
Why
rowing V
They
'
said
'
Why
are
"
?'
'
My coronet
of
new malachite
'
;
Never mind,'
said
said
His Majesty
go on, and
and
the
at
I shall
"
But she
*
'
want
my own
'
coronet,
If that
is so,'
said
His Majesty,
said
bring
me
once,
'
Zazamankh,
and
my
brother,
have
taken
your
advice,
My
the girls
30
little
singing,
steering,
and
she
has
checked
I
said
My
coronet of
I
I
new malachite
:
said to her
Never mind, go
on
as
steering,
and
shall give
''
want
'
my own
jewel,
as good."
Then the
chief reciter,
Zazamankh,
his
arose,
and
magic book.
lialf
The bottom
it
for it
middle
it
before,
was
down upon
it,
he found the
;
he took
reversed
and gave
it
back to the
girl.
Then he
his spell,
So His Majesty passed a happy day with the royal household, and he rewarded the chief reciter, Zazamankh, with all sorts of good was
as before.
things.
Behold
in
this
is
the wonder
which hapof
pened
the
days
of
thy
father,
happy
31
memory, the King Seneferu, and which was wrought, among others, by the chief reciter, Zuzamankh, the
wizard."
Then
feru, of
said
"
Let
King Sene-
and
let
there
be
of whose
skill I
was done
as
CHAPIER
III
Then
" JNlay
men
man
can swear to
but
am
whom
His
Dedi,
"
AVho
is
:
he,
''
Hordadef ?"
who
lives at
old,
eats every
day
his
side of beef,
He knows how
off,
he knows
how
to
make
a lion follow 32
him without
33
Thoth."
knows the plans of the house of (Now, behold, His INIajesty King Khufu
make
to
a copy of
them
:
" Hordadef,
my son,
man
me
yourself."
and he
When
the boats
came to the landing-place, he sat upon a litter made of ebony, whose poles were of cedar- wood, inlaid with gold. Then, when he came to Dedsneferu, the litter was set down, and he rose up to salute the wizard. He found him sitting upon a
low couch
his feet.
at the
for him,
of one
Thy state is that who lives in the restful shade of old age. Commonly old age is a coming into harbour, a wrapPrince Hordadef said to him
:
ping of the
mummy,
all
but,
in-
indeed, a
happy
lot
my
father,
His
You
shall eat
of the best 5
34
that the
King can give and the Court provide; and, thanks to Ilis Majesty, you shall come at last with honour to your fathers who rest in their tombs.'
Dedi replied
*'
:
May
may
he
place thee
amongst the
elders
May
I
thy guardian
he helped him to
rise,
Dedi
for
said to
him
"
my
house-
hold and
my
books."
Two
Now, when
make
" Sire
(life,
health,
my
" Bring
him quickly
to
my
presence."
presented to him.
35
I
"
How
man
(life,
is it,
Dedi, that
have
?"
Dedi answered
he
is
"A
" Is
can only
come when
!)
called.
My King
I
health, strength
calls
have come."
:
His Majesty
cut off?"
said
it
true, as
Dedi answered
master."
" Surely
it
is
true,
sire,
my
Then
of those
death."
said
His Majesty
who
But Dedi cried " No, no, your Majesty not a man. Do not let us venture such a thing upon
:
human
being."
So a goose was brought to him, and its head was off, and the goose was placed at tlie right side of the hall and its head at the left side. Then Dedi
cut
his
book of
spells.
The goose
rose
when
up and cackled. Then a pelican was brought, and the same thing happened. His Majesty ordered a bull to be brought, and its
other, the goose stood
36
to the
ground with
lay
its
Dedi
and the
still
bull stood
halter
upon the
ground.
King Khufu " Do you know that people say of you that you know the plans of the house of Thoth ?" Dedi answered " Pardon me, your Majesty, I
Then
said
know
where they
*'
are."
is
And where
said to
that
:
said
His Majesty.
is
Dedi
him
" There
a block of grit-
Then
said the
King
"
Bring
"
me
But Dedi
JMajesty,
it is
said to
him
May
it
please your
not
who
:
shall bring
them."
Who, then, shall bring them to me ?"said the King. And Dedi answered " They shall be brought to you by the eldest of the three children who shall
"
be born of Rud-didet."
*'
By my
faith," said
is
she, this
Rud-didet of
whom
you speak
?"
37
Dedi answered him " She is the wife of a priest She shall bear of the god Ra, Lord of Sakhebu.
three children,
who
shall
whole
land
shall
{i.e.,
shall be Kings),
Then His Majesty's heart was troubled but Dedi said to him " Why are your thoughts so
:
sad, sire,
my
?
master
Is
it
children
shall
not happen
in thy day.
Thy
Then
said
His
?"
Majesty
"
When
shall
the
children be born
The wizard
replied
They
shall
be born on the
fifteenth of the
month Tybi."
:
The King
said
And Dedi
answered
"
Then
I^etopolis."
38
and
let
there
was done
*
as
Now
it
eame
The Majesty
I sis,
of Ra,
Lord of Sakhcbu,
said to
to
Nephthys, to
'*
:
Khnumu
Go
and
who
shall reign
to your endowments."
forth.
Then
The goddesses changed themselves into singing-girls, and Khnumu went with them in the guise of a porter. They arrived at the house of Ra-user, and they found him spreading out linen. They passed before him with their musical instruments, and told him that they had come to be present
at the birth of the children.
When
the children
in all their
members, they
"
39
forth,
;
and said to
behold,
three
" Rejoice,
Ra-user
"
for,
He
do
for
said to
them
My
let
ladies,
you
Behold,
me
may
it
away
So Khnumu loaded himself with the barley, and they set out for the place whence they had come.
But
Isis
said
to
the others
"
What
are
we
we have come
tell
it
to the house
for
wonder
these
we may
to their father
who
has sent us
?" {i.e.,
to the
god Ra).
they brought
they said
" Store
for us
this
we come
north
in a sealed
chamber.
Now,
the
servant
it
fell
children were
:
" Is
everything
good order
in
the
house
?"
40
servant
answered
" All
things
are
in
order
brought."
Then
said
Itiid-didet:
?"
:
"Why
is
the
brewing
The
and
servant said
it
" It
their seal."
So Rud-didct
Ra-user
will give
"
Go down
and fetch
it
it
them more
in place of
when
The
room
behold,
all
welcome
told Rud-didet
Then Rud-didet came down to and could not find the place whence
came.
barley,
the sound She placed her head agauist the sack of and found that the noise was inside it
wooden
it
coffer.
She sealed
it
she tied
round
own
seal.
Ra-user returned from working in his garden, Rud-didet told him the whole affair, and
When
41
that
Rud-
The
house
:
who were
? 1
in the
treat
will
me
go
thus, she
who
and
tell
King Khufu." So she went away, and she found her uncle, her mother's brother, who was busy bundling up
flax.
He
maid
my
little
And
Then
she told
"
And you
I will
So he took a bunch of the flax, and gave her a sound thrashing. The servant ran down to the
river to bathe her bruises
;
When
tell
her
seated, her
"
42
He
was
said to her
:
"
"
Madame, why
so sad ?"
She answered
in
'
who
the house
1
saying,
will go,
and
will
the King.'
Then the uncle made salaam, and said to her " My lady, when she came to tell me what had happened, and made complaint to me, I gave her
a sound beating
bruises,
;
bathe her
and
lo
(The
lost
but probably
it
may
Khufu endeavoured
children
who were
last to
CHAPTER
IV
B.C.
At
the
go
in
down in one form or another for many centuries. The Prince who gives the title to both stories
is
historical
-
personage.
-
Setna-
Glory in Thebes)
was
the
favourite
Ramses
the oppressor of
the Hebrews.
probability he
was destined
43
44
Memphis among
the long reign of
fell
other things
Ramses
closed,
Khaemuas had a
;
great reputation in
Egypt
for learning
and, as
witness
reputation for
meant almost inevitably a reputation for skill in the magic arts. The story of Setna and the Magic Roll is again
double
and
it is
more
diffi-
posed to belong.
There
is
no King of Egypt
known who bears the name Mer-neb-ptah given by Ahura in her story. The probability is that the name is a corruption of one of the titles of the famous and magnificent Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The Setna part of the story, therefore, dates from about 1300 B.C., and Ahura 's tale takes us back,
roughly speaking, another century.
In
Ahura's account of
Egyptian
45
perhaps the
waxen images
Setna and
his
wondrous
man and
it
Lazarus.
is
such that
does not
tale
but
it is
also
is
wonderfully striking.
The
reincarnate in the boy Senosiris, and the reincarnation of the old Ethiopian wizard, naturally calls
up
46
WONDER TALKS OF
is
it is
TIIK ANCIKN'I'
to
lie
WORLD
advantage, naturally,
wizard, and
made
interesting to
we
are dealing
with a person
who almost
certainly
comes very
may have
The marriage
sister
strictly in
accordance
arrangement
house
while
demand
for
two
coffins to
be made
him and
him
ordinary importance
which
the
Egyptian mind
life
attached to
all details
after
death. Na-nefer-ka-ptah's
ing knowledge.
Many
sup-
drunk
Isis
from them.
At
How
47
Great
Name
Na-
The Story
Once upon a time there was a great King of Eg}'pt named User-maat-Ra (Ramses II.). to
whom
be
life,
health,
and strength.
liis
He
had a
sons,
whose name
time study-
was Sctna-Kliaemuas,
man.
w^as a
Memphis.
Moreover,
like
him
He knew
all
kinds of
charms and
bidding.
spells,
of power that
made
Now,
it
when
man
said
:
of noble appearance
who
to laugh loudly.
" \N
48
at
you, but
am
can
you where to
find
To read it Thoth wrote with his own hand. will make you only a little lower than the gods. There are two spells in it. When you repeat the first, you will charm heaven and earth, sea and sky, mountains and rivers you will under;
fly,
and the
the
serfish,
call to
power
will bring
them up
to the surface of
you repeat the second spell, though you were in your grave you will come back to life again as you were before and you will see
the water.
;
When
moon
in her changes,
and
"
all
the
company of the
life,"
gods."
By my
is,
book
ask."
*'
and
I will
lies
The book is not mine," said the stranger. " in the tomb of Prince Na-nefer-ka-ptah, son
of
King Mer-neb-ptah (to whom be life, health, and Only I advise you not to meddle with strength). bring it it, ^for Na-nefer-ka-ptah will make you
49
on your head."
As
He hastened away,
would carry him, to the King his father, told him everything that had been said, and asked his permission to go down into the tomb of Prince Na-nefer-ka-ptah, and bring back the magic
So he took with him his foster-brother An-he-hor-er-u, and for three days and three nights they searched the cemetery of Memphis, reading all the inscriptions on the tombs, that they might find
book.
the
last,
tomb
of Prince Na-nefer-ka-ptah.
it,
When
at
Setna recited
a spell over
into the
down
chamber of the tomb, leaving his foster-brother to wait for him above. A vulture and a crow flapped
slowly on before
till
they
came
to
where they
stone closed
all
A great
tomb
the chamber.
At
first his
50
was
as
bright as day.
After a
he looked
his
wife
Ahura and
far
boy Merab.
Their bodies
;
were buried
away up the
Nile at Coptos
but,
by
brought their
spirits
company in his grave. So, when Setna came in, the Princess Ahura sprang up and cried " Who art thou ?"
:
And
Setna answered
"
am
Prince Setna-
Khaemuas, son of King Ramses whom be life, " and I am come to carry health, and strength),
" (to
away
this
see
between you
it
by force." Then said the lady Ahura away, I beg of you but listen
:
"
Do
not take
it
first
to the story
us,
of
all
the evils
which
it
it
and
how
the getting of
earth."
51
when
was ahve
(to
was
be
the daughter of
Hfe, health,
King Mer-neb-ptah
whom
my
my brother, and we loved one another very dearly. When I grew old enough to be married, the King my father said to the Queen my
husband, was
mother
up, and
'See,
it is
is
quite
grown
liigh
To
whom
shall
we marry
I
Now,
had told
my my
my
husband.
So
my
father
'
Ahura
But
loves Na-neferother,
:
let us
my
father said
We
why
should
son of a General
the family.'
"
That night there was a banquet in the palace, and I had to appear before Pharaoh my father but I was grieved at what he had said, and was not So Pharaoh said to so gay and bright as usual.
;
52
me
'
'
I^ittle stupid,
what
'
folly
is
this that
you have
said to
Oh,
well,' I
do what you
like
marry me
my
brother
happy
Then
he saw that
Na-nefer-ka-ptah.
'
And
Marry Ahura
all sorts
and send to
their
silver,
and
So we were married, and were very happy together for a while and we had this one son, little Merab, whom you see. " But after a time my husband began, like you,
of good things.'
;
in the
Now, one
day,
when he was reading the writings on the walls of the Temple of Ptah, an old man who was
standing by laughed at him.
ing at
"
* *
Why are
me said Na-nefer-ka-ptah. I am not laughing at you,' said the but I am laughing to see you wasting
?'
your time
I shall
If
you
really
wish to see
53
show you a book which Thoth wrote with his own hand. There are two spells in it. When you repeat the first you will charm heaven and earth, sea and sky, mountains and rivers you will understand what the birds say as they fly, and the serpents as they crawl and when you call to the fish, a divine power will bring them up to the surface of the water. When you repeat the second, though you were in your grave, you will come back to life again as you were before and you will see the sun in the sky, and the moon in her changes, and all the company of the gods.'
;
;
*'
'
By the
life
of Pharaoh,' said
I will
my husband,
give
is.'
tell
me
you
"
it
you,
if
only
me where
:
this
'
book
you wish me to show you where the book is, you must give me one hundred pieces of silver, and cause two coffins to be
Then
If
made
priest.'
for
me, that so
may
be buried as a rich
So the money was handed over, and the coffins were made, and then the priest said The book you wish is in the middle of the River Nile at
:
"
'
is
a bronze
;
box
in the bronze
box
a sycamore box
in the
54
AVORLl)
;
sycamore box
in the
box
in the silver
is
box
is
a gold box
and
gold box
the book.
Round about
all sorts
of crawling things
all.'
When my
me
all
husband heard
about
this
that he scarcely
knew where he
it,
He came
going to
I
and told
and said
'
am
this
will
But when
knew
what was
priest for
for I
in his
mind,
what he had said, and I threatened him was sure that if my husband went up the
it.
Then
I
;
Coptos
said to
me.
He
went
him
'
him everything, and Pharaoh What do you really want, then ?'
your royal barge, with the crew and
*
"
'
Give
me
and
I shall
take
my
wife and
my
and
son,
this
book
then
"
to Coptos.
When we
and
55
to
at Coptos
came down
meet
us,
We
offered sacrifice
priests
making hoHday with Na-nefer-ka-ptah, and their wives making hohday with me. On the morning of the sixth day my husband caused a
wax
to be brought to liim.
sailors.
life
Out
of
it
He
in the
with sand.
Then he went on
river,
board,
:
and
*'
saying
'
must see what will happen to him.' So Na-nefer-ka-ptah cried to his waxen sailors Oarsmen, row me to the place where the book of Thoth lies and they rowed day and night, till in three days they came to the place. Then he threw
:
'
;'
river,
this
way
lo
in the
He
their
and
in a
moment
all
Then he
reared
its
came
it
56
it
a mighty hlow,
it
so that
it fell
hut immediately
it,
came
he
to
life
again.
it
and
a second time
But the third time hand with sand and drew his sword,
came
and
it
up
agaiFist
him, he smote
in a
so that
in
two
halves,
and then
moment
he cast the sand between the writhing pieces of the creature's body, so that they could not come together again.
The
deathless snake
was dead.
and opened
it.
Within
it
was a bronze
in the
He
took
it
out, broke
it.
When
first spell,
he charmed the
heavens and the earth, the sea and the sky, the
rivers
he understood what
when he called to the fish, a divine power made them come to the surface of the Then he recited another spell, and the water.
57
had been.
So he went on board the waxen boat once Oarsmen, row me back again more, and said and they to the place where Ahiira waits for me
: '
"
;'
till
they found
me
sitting
For
all
After
'
By
the
life
of Pharaoh,' said
to him,
'
let
me
see this
book
for
trouble.'
I
He
it,
put the
I
my
hand, and
when
had read
could
of Thoth.
So we embarked once more on the royal barge, and rowed northwards from Coptos. But the god
Thoth had learned what we had done, and he went to Ra, the chief of the gods, and complained to him
him of his book and killed its guardian serpent. Then said Ra He is in your hands, he and all that is his.' Then Thoth sent a curse from heaven, saying Forbid
that Na-nefer-ka-ptah had robbed
'
:
'
58
that
should
ever
his
return
family.'
to
Memphis
that very
little
In
moment when
!
boy Merab came out from under the awning As he of the barge, and lo he fell into the river. fell, all who saw him cried out, and his father came
swiftly from
the cabin.
Swiftly, too,
he spoke
Then, as
his cold
down on
all
how
Thoth had accused him before the gods but no spell could bring our little boy back to life again. *' So we returned sadly to Coptos, and there we embalmed little Merab, and laid him in the tomb with such honour as becomes a Prince of the house of Pharaoh and we hastened northwards again, lest the King our father should hear first from others of what had happened, and should be troubled. But when we came to the place where Merab had been drowned, the curse wrought once more, and as I came out from under the awning
;
fell
My husband
his spells
;
brought
me
by
but
59
me
back to
life.
So he returned
buried
me
to Coptos,
little
embalmed
my body, and
me
*'
beside our
a Princess.
lonely heart he
;
embarked
Would
it
not be better to
?
die,
How
now
roll
shall I
" I
children with
me
have
slain
them, and
come
back
royal
alive to
linen,
you
"?'
He
round
his waist
And
I
all
who saw
it
cried out
'Woe and
lamentation
wise
"
He
is
equal
!'
So
Pharaoh finished
its
went
forth,
of Na-nefer-ka-ptah.
to
galley
came
of the
and
all
the priests
it
;
came out
I
in
mourning
garments to meet
and, behold
60
had
itself
magic
and
when they had embalmed him and mourned him for many days, they buried him in this tomb.
" Beliokl, therefore, Setna, 1
all
come
to us because of this
by
for
You have no
it
right to
life
it,
but we have
because of
cut short.
our days of
..."
So
"
I
said
Ahura
her pleading.
Give
it
me
by
said
take
Then
craftily
:
Na-nefer-ka-ptah,
and
he
spake
you are so hard-hearted, let us stake the book upon a game of draughts. I will play you for it, the best of fifty- two points."
" Done," said Setna.
" If
the
first
game.
61
then he struck
up to
his knees.
The
pieces were
game
began.
first,
his waist.
Then
the
first
Antell
and
said
"
Hasten to Pharaoh,
my
book
An-he-
He placed it upon
Setna's head,
and Setna immediately rose out of the earth again. Then, stretching out his hand, he took the magic
roll
and as
he went, crying
I
*'
:
Glory to the
"
ness
All power
is
Do
make him
bring back
hand and a
fire-pan
on
his head."
So Setna went
62
forth
as
it
no man might know of the entrance. Then he went to Pharaoh, and told him all that had happened and Pharaoh said to him
was
before, so that
;
*'
If
will
Na-nefer-ka-ptah
it
other-
make you
bring
he
whom
he met.
that, as
Then
he walked in
woman
;
in all the
When
He
inquire
Tabubua, daughter of a
Bast.
house, and there pled hard with her that she would
marry him.
:;
63
torment him
that he should
give her
own
children,
and at
slain.
;
madness he granted her wishes the children were slain, and their bodies were cast to
in
his
So
the dogs and cats, and Setna heard the hungrybrutes crunching their bones while he sat drinking
her, she
gave
to
the palace he
them
safe
in his
dream
all
but
and sound.
upon him and said " Setna, have you been drunk, that you come here in such a miserable condition ?" So Setna told him the whole story of his evil dream, and Pharaoh said
64
" AVell, I
take
it
back to Na-nefer-ka-ptah, with a forked your hand and a fire-pan on your head."
stick in
in
So Setna took the book, and with a forked stick his hand and a fire-pan on his head, he went
into the tomb.
:
When
" Setna,
god Ptah that you are here alive." But Na-nefer-ka-ptah chuckled and
did
I tell
"
What
you before
?"
And
humbly
Then
What
?"
penance
And
Na-nefer-ka-ptah answered:
"You
see,
my
me
wife
Ahura and
my
arts
still
at Coptos,
though by
I
my
order you to go
to Coptos
here, that
we may be
all
to
^l.l.\
A Ki'.sroKKs
nil-; laM.i.
to thk tomb.
65
At
if
last
he found an
old, old
lay.
man, and
asked him
The
:
old
man thought
father's
and then
said
said
"My
father's
'
father once
to
my
father's
father
The tomb of the Princess Ahura and her son Merab is under the southern angle of the
:
priest's house.'"
"
Has
?"
the
priest
house
"
" while
Keep me under guard," said the you knock down the house, and
man,
you do
may
punish
me
as a rogue."
southern corner
Merab.
it
up the house exactly as before, and taking Ahura and Merab on board the barge, Setna went back to Memphis. Then Pharaoh (to' whom be life, health, and
built
Then they
was
when the family had been united once more, the tomb was sealed, and they were
left in peace.
66
was written
CHAPTER V
THE WIZARDS OF THE EMFIRE Continued
The True Story of Setna-Khaemuas and
Son
Senosiris.
his
Once upon
health,
whom
be
life,
and strength).
He
the
his
Egypt
child,
and
Now,
it fell
when S etna's
work great miracles in the land of Egypt. When the little boy was born, they called him Senosiris, and he grew so fast that when he was one year old people would have said he was two, and when he was two they would have said that he was three. His father was so fond of him that he could not
67
68
bear to
him out of his sight even for an hour. When he grew big he was sent to scliool, but in a very short time he knew more than his teacher. Then he began to read spells with the scribes of the Double House of Life of the temple, so that all who heard him were filled with wonder and Setna delighted to take him before Pharaoh on festival days, that he might see him striving with his magic against the magicians of Pharaoh, and
;
holding his
own with
it
Now,
siris
after this
man being carried to his burial in the IMountain of And the West with great mourning and honour. while they looked, behold, a poor man was carried
also to his grave,
wrapped
"
in a mat,
and with no
Then
said Setna
By
the
life
of Osiris, Lord of
like that
the Underworld,
of the rich
may my
lot in
Hades be
man
for
whom they make mourning, and the poor man whom they bury
his
little
without honour
I"
But
Senosiris,
son,
said
to
him
69
may your
is
lot in
Hades be
like that of
may
man
in
When
grieved,
and
said
"
Are
?"
to
him
" If
you wish
it,
show
own
place, the
rich
poor
man
over
over
whom
man
So
whom
He
took
Memphis.
through the
and
in
sorts.
They passed
no man offering to hinder them. In the fourth they saw a number of men toiling hard, while behind them asses devoured all
three,
men
Every
but
as fast as
were
70
hall,
behold the
man who
it,
When
two gods of the jury of the other world, sitting to try the causes of the souls of men, while the ushers of the court called the causes. When they came to the seventh hall, Setna saw the great god Osiris sitting on his throne of pure gold, and crowned with his diadem with its double plumes. Anubis, the great god, stood on his left, and Thoth, the great god, on his right, while all around sat the
jury of the gods.
balance,
hall stood a
Those whose
their souls
\4rtues,
of the
Unjustified
more than his sins, was led in among the gods, and his soul went up to heaven among the souls of the
blest.
garments of
Osiris
and while he
71
him
"
My
?
father,
do you see
the poor
this
noble
This
is
man whom
you saw being carried to the grave, wrapped up in a mat, with no one to mourn over him. When he came here to judgment, it was found that his virtues were more than his sins, and that on earth he
had not had the good fortune and happiness that he deserved and so it was ordained that all the
;
carried
As
for
fallen
It
is
he
who
mercy and utters cries of pain. By the life of the great god Osiris, was not I right when I said to you on earth, May your lot be like that of the poor man, and not
socket, while he prays for
'
V
:
"
Then
said Setna
"
My
son Senosiris,
know who
are the
men who
toil
"
72
"
My
who on
toiled
that
came to Hades, it was found that their sins were more than their virtues, and so their punishment here is the same as it was on earth. As for those whose bread hangs over their
tliey
When
heads, and
who
it,
these are
men who on
no
man knew
it.
When
they
came
here,
it
their sins
were greater
is
them on
his
into Hades.
when
the
little
boy
Senosiris
was
73 or
magician in Memphis
reading of
spells.
who
Now,
at
after this,
in the
it fell
was seated
audience-chamber of
all
Memphis, while
King and
said
whom
be
life,
health,
and strength)."
So the man was brought unto the Court, and he made obeisance, saying " Is there any man here who can read the sealed letter which I bring
:
to
it
or
breaking the
seals
If there
is
no man
this,
in
Egypt, scribe or
I
magician,
who can do
then
will proclaim
Egypt
inferior to the
my
"
country."
When
the
life
Pharaoh and
his
servants
heard these
:
By
opening
it
74
Pharaoh
son."
" Call
to
me
Setna-
Khaemuas,
my
When
Setna
came,
;
he
bowed
then
Then
said
Pharaoh to him
"
My
son
my
is
Majesty,
saying,
Is there a
good
scribe or a wise
man
in
letter
which
in
my hand
"
The moment Setna heard this he w^as troubled and said " Mighty Lord, who is there that can
:
it ?
Nevertheless,
see
me
may
what
can do,
inferior to
So be
it,
my
son
for the
Ethiopian such
filthy food,
went to bed without eating or drinking. Setna went to his house, scarcely knowing whither he went. He wrapped himself in a mantle
75
his
bed
"
in
great perplexity.
his
and came to
said,
" Setna,
my
husband," she
you
have no
is
fever,
Leave me,
my
wife," he
answered
me
is
not a matter to
to a
woman." Then came the little boy Senosiris. He bent " My father, why o\'er his father and said to him have you lain down, heavy at heart ? Tell me the troubles that weigh upon you, that I may take them away." " Leave me, my son Senosiris," he answered " you are too young to understand the matters
:
that grieve
" Tell
" that
with regard
to
them."
Then
is
Setna to him
"
My
son Senosiris,
it
a vile Ethiopian
who
has
come
carrying with
him a
If there
it,
sealed letter,
who can
is
opening
it ?
no good
man
able to read
I will
76
my
have
lain
down
ness."
When
" "
Senosiris
father's face.
W^hy
I
are
you laughing?"
triHe.
said Setna.
sucli a to-do
am
over such a
my
opening
**
it
But what proof can you give me, Senosiris, my son, that you can do this ?" " My father," said he, " go to your library in the basement of the house, and I will tell you the name of each book that you choose as you take it
out of
its case,
all
the time."
So Setna went to his library, and Senosiris read for him every book that he took out, without its
being opened.
the happiest
man on
earth.
He
lost
no time
;
in
he told
him
all
that
Senosiris
had
said,
and
Pharaoh
into the
;
rejoiced exceedingly.
When
the
his nobles
he
77
into
the hall with the sealed letter upon him, and stood
in the
The
came and stood in the midst, beside the vile Ethiopian. Then he spake thus against him, saying " The curse of Amen thy god be upon thee, Ethiopian Thou hast dared, then, to come to
: I
Osiris,
saying,
'
shall
May
the anger of
to
Amen
tliy
god
fall
upon thee!
recite
Listen
shall
letter,
deny them
falsely
before
When
his
lie
bowed
say
"I
will
nothing
Egypt
listening
to his
voice, while
letter
he read
vile
all
which the
:
Ethiopian carried.
Thus he
spake
" It
of the
King Siamen,
that, as the
78
Amen, he heard
them spake loudly, saying, among other things, If Amen would keep me safe from the anger of the King of Egypt, I would cast my spells upon Egypt, so that for three
house behind him.
of
'
One
light.'
The second
If
Amen
would keep
me
safe
I would cast a spell upon Egypt, and bring Pharaoh of Egypt to the Land of
hundred blows with the courbash, and carry him back to Egypt in exactly six hours.' The
five
would keep me safe from the anger of the King of Egypt, I would cast a spell
third said,
'
If
Amen
upon Egypt
"
grow
in the
Execute by your magic spells that which you have said, and, by my god Amen, if you do it well, I will make you rich.'
'
the second of
"
of
wax
he recited a
spell
THE CURSE
OF AMEN, TIIV
I,
lOl'IAN
'
{p. 77)
79
he gave
;
them
will
and
said
'
You
will
King
is
five
hundred blows with the courbash, before the King, and then you will carry him back again to Egypt,
all in six
"
They answered,
We will
leave nothing
undone
Land of the Negroes where the King was they gave him a good beating, five hundred blows of the
courbash, in public before the King, and then they
carried
him back
to Egypt,
all in six
a minute more."
Thus spake
Senosiris
his
Egypt
"
The
curse of
Amen
thy god
be upon thee
Are not
is
my
in
thy hand
The
for all
vile
Ethiopian answered
true,
"
Go
on reading,
so far as
you have
gone."
80
" After
all
all
this
had hap-
What
evil
Egypt that I have been obliged to leave it V " Ashamed at their own thoughts, the courtiers Has I'haraoh gone mad V said one to another What is the meaning of Then they said aloud
: ' :
'
Then Pharaoh
arose
he showed
them
*
By
the
carried
me
to the
Land
night.
good beating,
five
me
back,
all
"
When
his
astonishment.
Now, the Pharaoh Siamen had a head Ubrarian named Horus, son of Panehsi, and he was very
wise.
"
When
cry, saying
'
My
lord, this
life
is
Ethiopians.
By
the
8l
and execution
"
Then
said
Pharaoh
lest I
be carried to
'
night.'
So the chief scribe Horus went at once. He took his magic books and charms to the palace,
"
and put a charm upon Pliaraoh, so that the spells of the Ethiopians should not take hold upon him.
Then he went
"
'
Go to-morrow morning
; ;
temple
sealed
is
open
copy
it,
and you
I
will find a
box
in
which
hand.
it
is
a book which
it,
my own
;
Take
it,
and put
it
back again
evil,
for
it
and
will
sorceries
of the Ethiopians.'
"
The wise
scribe
Horus
god
and
Pharaoh
when
spell
guarded by the
for him.
11
82
Horus
the
all
how
had
failed.
"
out of
it
he spake a
spell
over tliem
he breathed
life,
and he said
;
them Vou will go to the I^and of the Negroes you will bring back the King of the Ethiopians to Pharaoh's palace you will give him a sound
' ;
public
before
hours,
'
Truly we
will
perform
all
by night on the
Land of the Negroes. They took possession of the King they brought him into Egypt they gave him a sound beating with the courbash, five hundred blows before the King of Egypt then they carried him back to the Land of the Negroes, all in six hours, and not a
clouds of heaven to the
; ; ;
minute more."
Thus spake
83
Egypt hearkening, and then he said " The curse of Amen thy god be upon thee, wicked Ethiopian. Are the words that I speak those which are written
:
Bowing
it is
is
as
After all this had went on happened, and the King of the Ethiopians was
Then
'*
all
over
in
Egypt.
He
me.
'
What my
sorceries did
have been carried into Egypt, beaten before Pharaoh, and brought back again.' He turned his
his scars,
they
made
a great outcry.
The King
:
!
sent for
'
Horus
anger of
will
Amen my
me from
rival.'
god
the
save
enchantments of your
The Ethiopian wizard made charms and fastened them upon the King to save him but the next night he was carried to Egypt
Egyptian
;
84
enemy
from
of Etliiopia
me
By
the
life
of
Amen,
unless
me
from the
spells of the
Egyptians,
I shall deliver
!'
you
o\'er to a cruel
and lingering
My lord
I
'
let
me go
into
Egypt, that
may
and
for
work
all
my
So the King gave him leave to go, and he went first to his old mother, and told her all that had happened, and how the King had threatened him with a cruel and lingering death unless he was
able to conquer the wizardries of the Egyptian
magician.
'
My
son,' said
she,
'
be wise, and do
beware
you go to Egypt to work magic, for you cannot conquer the Egyptians,
If
will never
'
and you
to the
Land
of the Negroes.'
Then
said his
mother
'
85
upon
signals
I
between
us, so that if
'
you are
If I
conquered
may come
to help you.'
am
beaten,' he said,
signals,
When
!
Ha who
is
me
in the presence
King of Ethiopia into Egypt against Then Horus the Egyptian wizard stood
cried
:
his will
forth
and
'
Ha
thou
vile
Ethiopian
Is
it
not thou
who
my
him
Yet thou
Who
works sorcery
me ?"
By
the
life
the gods of
thee
I
thee
!'
Egypt have brought thee here to punish Gather thy courage, for I come against Is this Then said the Ethiopian wizard
:
'
me
he
against
me V
"So
saying he spake a spell
and
lo
a flame
86
and the
*
the land of
Egypt
cried aloud
I'
Help
us,
Then
a great
and
lo
upon the fire, and it was extinguished in a moment. Then the Ethiopian spake another spell, and lo a huge black cloud came over the audience-chamber, so that no one could see his neighbour. But the Egyptian wizard recited a spell towards the sky, and it became clear once more. The Ethiopian spake a third spell, and lo a great vault of stone two hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide rose up over Pharaoh and his Princes to separate Egypt from its King. Pharaoh looked up he saw the immense vault hanging
from the south
fell
!
all
him
spake another
spell,
and behold
itself
a papyrus boat
away with
to
the
Lake
Moeris.
"
vile
made
But
Land
own country.
87
Pharaoh and
all his
Horus recited another spell, and cast him down upon his back with a falconer over him, his Then away in knife in his hand, ready to kill him.
away.
Ethiopia the signals which the Ethiopian wizard
his
mother came to
pass,
and
At once
the sky
who
she was.
and threw her down to the ground with a falconer standing over her, and threatening
spake a
her with his knife.
He
Then she changed her shape once more, and became again an Ethiopian woman, and
:
'
Slay us not,
Only give us a boat to travel in, and we will never return to Egypt.' Horus refused to reverse his spells unless the wizard and his mother swore by the gods never to return to Egypt. She raised her hand and swore, and her son also swore, saying
88
'
I will
passed.'
Land of the
Thus spake
his father
and
'J'hen,
turn-
mighty
lord, this
wretch
whom
is
Horus the Ethiopian wizard, whose wicked acts I have recounted. He has not repented him of his
evil;
but
now
work sorcery upon Egypt again. 1 am Horus the Egyptian AVhen 1 learned in Hades that this vile Ethiopian was coming to bewitch Egypt, knowing that there was no scribe in Egypt strong enough to contend with
has returned to
And
let
me
return to earth
Egypt
before Ethiopia.
who
stands
So saying, he spake a
Ethiopian,
89
sumed him in the sight of Pharaoh and all his Court. Then Senosiris himself vanished like a shade
from before Pharaoh and
his father Setna,
all
and they
nobles
Pharaoh and
his
"
scribe or wise
;
man
But Setna
mourned, and made great lamentation, because his son had vanished like a shadow. In the fulness of
time his wife bore him another son
ceased to
;
but he never
make
Horus the
son
son of Panehsi,
Senosiris.
who had
also
been
his little
12
BOOK
II
CHAPTER
VI
little bit
of explanation
to begin with.
which
is
now
in
grad, and perhaps part of the story has gone amissing, for at present it begins
;
but
we
The
story
is
told
by one of the
officers
of an
mand
of
the expedition.
really the first
know, were
we can scarcely realize it, they sent their ships away down the Red Sea to the country which we now call Somaliland. Of course they they called it The didn't call it Somaliland then Divine Land, or The Land of Ghosts, and they got
;
all sorts
93
94
by
Land
of Ethio-
They
The
Land
of
Wawat, and
their expeditions
were often
a whole
quite big
affairs, lasting
risks.
men down
so
of
the
explorers
who
had
perished,
that
own
you are to imagine one of these expeditions coming home by river. The great galley, gorgeous with scarlet and green and gold, comes flashing round the bends of the river between
\\"ell,
then,
hills,
know
great ship
ivory,
gold-dust
in bags,
ebony
perhaps
little
them, maybe, a
ing
dwarf,
whom
down
as a present to the
Pharaoh.
By-and-by
95
and
Abu
Simbel
will
is
passed.
now Some
come up here himself and order that rock to be made into a huge temple. The Egyptian architects will hew away at it till
day a famous Pharaoh
they have hollowed out the very heart of the
cliff,
and
left
it
sit
But that will not be for many a long day yet, and meanwhile there is nothing but the great rock, bare and frowning and grim. Still northward the galley swings day by day,
river.
distance,
and the
sailors
know
the
already
onwards with a
wild with excite-
foam
at her bows.
is
On
ment and
96
He
is
lies
little
very heavy.
at the
To-day
end of
all
men
will reach
home
make
and be
their toils
and troubles
still
He
has
to
down
it
and at
tlie
end of
to the King.
for
or perhaps
the cargo
is
But even if he can report a most successful journey, he knows perfectly well that he will have no peace till the terrible interview with Pharaoh
is
is
over, for
Pharaoh
If he
is
is
God
fire
;
a terror.
is
angry with
anger
consuming
as
he
lies in his
would rather
face the
good God
lies
"
who
is
So he
in the cabin,
wondering whether
If he
be
"
97
good humour, he may get promotion, and have a gold collar put round his neck by the King's own
hand
well,
;
but
if
likely to
be
banishment to
tlie
all
some miserable
frontier-station
it.
on
it
Oh,
fate
if
were only
liis
was
to be!
In the midst of
ship-captain
sailor
all his
in the
to
make
his
He
is
an old
who
has
grown grey
Red Sea
so,
when he knew
He
to
into his
mind
chief
by
telling
him
a story of his
own
adventures,
I
dare
mood
to listen to
let
own
heart out.
So he
sifjned
is
what
old
man
said
13
98
"
WONDER
TALF^S OF
!
we have
reached
The crew
'
is
his neighbour,
and the
crowd
any
is
shouting
Good
luck
'
to us.
Without
among our soldiers we have reached the end of the Land of AVawat, we have passed the Island of Sen-mut, and now, see, we have come back in peace, and are in our own country. Listen
loss
am
out exaggeration.
Pluck up
wash
yourself,
fingers.
for a
him
or
sense,
condemns him. Follow your own good and may your speech be pleasing in the ears
tell
you the story of a similar adventure which happened to myself. I was going to the Royal IMines, and I went down on the Great Green Sea in a vessel of one hundred and fifty cubits long and forty
cubits broad.
fifty
99
all
who were both weather-wise were bolder than lions. They were
;
would be no storm, and that no harm would come but the tempest burst upon us while we to us
were
in
we
Our
ship
managed to seize a plank, and by good fortune a great wave washed me ashore upon an island. I passed three days alone, with no other companion than my own heart. Night by night I slept in the fork of a tree, and day by day I sallied out in search
of something to eat.
I
" I
found
figs
and grapes,
abundance,
fish
and
birds
there
was
nothing
desire.
I satisfied myself,
and
1
left
my
made
"
fire-drill, I
lighted a
and
made an
Suddenly
'
I
is
thought,
It
wave
of the
sea.'
The
trees
face.
my
100
was thirty cubits long, and had a beard more than two cubits in length his body was overlaid with pure gold, his eyebrows were
;
He
more
face
flung myself on
my
and made salaam before liim, and, towering over me, he opened his mouth and spake, saying
'
What
thee here,
one,
If
tell
isle,
me
1
to
become
So he spake, and I hearkened without understanding I was before him like a man without
;
"
sense.
Then he took me up
in
set
his
mouth, he
there
carried
me
to his
lair,
and he
me down
was
safe
harm had been done to an}^ of my limbs. " Then once more he opened his mouth while
I
lay on
my
me
:
and
this
he said to
What
brought thee,
little
101
before him, I
repHed
'
and
fifty
long
by
forty
cubits
broad.
She
carried
tlie
one hundred
and
;
fifty
sailors,
the
pick of
Land
of
Egypt
they were
both
They were
would
and before
but,
we
tlie
raised
enormous waves.
snatched a plank
am now
here
And
as for
me,
it
He
answered
me
'
Fear not,
little
!
one, fear
not, and
to this Island of
lackino-,
and which
is
102
filled
of good things.
after
Now,
hehold,
you
shall puss
month
Then
;
a ship will
will
come, with
town.
"
'
sailors of
your
own
people
you
go
will
die in
your own
own
so I
experience,
shall tell
I
when once
the sadness
is is
past
in this isle.
the
midst of them
seventy-five serpents,
my
children and
girl
my
a young
who
were
even
all
my
companions
afterwards
come near
found her
bodies.
But now
she
is
dead, and
my brethren
am
alone.
Now,
you you
shall
shall
you are brave and of a stout heart, yet clasp your children to your bosom, embrace your wife, you shall see your
if
;
own house and, best of all, you shall your own land and live among your own
"
return to
people.'
Then
cast
myself on
my
face
and made
103
said to
him
'
I shall describe
;
your
Highness's being to
my
Sovereign
I shall
make
him understand your greatness, and I shall send to you ointment, holy oils, perfumes, cassia, and the
sacred incense with which
men
of the gods.
I shall I
and they
of
all
shall
my town
earth.
I
in presence
the mighty
men of the
and
I shall
the
the friend of
man
in
land.'
"
his
He
own
laughed at what
said, and,
chuckling at
Is there
thought, he answered
me
'
not
am Lord
common
of the
Land
is
not
But do not think that you will ever again for, as soon as you have left it,
;
will
Now, behold, even as he had predicted, the vessel came after four months and when I saw
:
"
104
ran and
sailors.
cHmbed
Tlien
I
a high tree,
and
recognized the
went
;
to tell
the news to
my
good
but
I
:
me
Good
luck,
good
in
Return to your
may your
name be good
for you.'
your town
these are
my
wishes
"
Then
cast
myself on
my
face,
and made
myrrh,
me
gifts of
antimony, of cypress,
much
incense, courbashes of
and
all
excellent treasures.
ship
;
upon the
myself upon
said to
my
*
face,
He
me,
own
go to
"
you
will
good
old age
you
will
inherit
new
life in
your tomb.'
So then I went down to the shore where the ship lay, and I called the soldiers who were on I rendered adoration on the shore to the board.
master of the island, and those
likewise.
We
(p. 100)
105
chanted island,
of
the
Double Kingdom.
Behold he made
for a
me
liis
reward of
my
labour,
received a
number of
handsome slaves. Look upon me now that I have come back to the land of Egypt, having passed through such hazards and take my advice, for it is a good thing for men to hearken unto wise
;
counsel."
listen
;
he said wearily
killed ?"
Do
not be a
fool,
my
friend
Thus
end, as
it
it
from the beginning to the has been found in tlie writings. He who
is
finished,
has written
it is
Ameny-
Amenu
(life,
health, strength
14
CHAPTER
VII
which we have to recount (with the possible exception of the tale of the capture of Joppa) in this,
that
it
bears
all
true story.
It
in
Syrian
life
Dynasty, when Egypt reached a height of power and splendour scarcely surpassed in her later days.
The
story
old
is
King who
the Pharaoh
is
Amenemhat
Senusert
I.,
I.,
who
succeeds him
a famous soldier
Why
Sinuhe was so
is
when he heard
puzzle.
It
is
rather a
that he
may
have been
some way
or other, and
new
possible rival,
107
A
act
on the part of a newly enthroned Oriental King, but rather a reasonable and prudent precaution. Or perhaps Sinuhe may have known that he had
an enemy
in the
while he
felt
himhe
his
self safe so
alive,
may have
Possibly
some day an explorer may light upon the actual tomb that the wanderer was so proud of; and we may learn how it was that he was so frightened, and why, even when he came back to Egypt, he had to leave his family behind him in
Palestine.
Meanwhile he has
life
left
us a very useful
in the East,
not very
see the
We
his
among
man might do
while
is
^just as
an English-
his single
combat
Then we
the
what
he
manner
in
which
108
counted
country without
all
Valley laid
such
stress.
And when
the
still
is
welcomed back to the Court with every mark of honour and regard, we see how overwhelming was
awe which was felt by a loyal Egyptian when he came into the presence of the Pharaoh, who, to
the
him, was
there
is
God
manifest in the
flesh.
Altogether
literature
which gives a fresher or more vivid picture of the manners and customs of those far-off days than the
story of the Adventures of Sinuhe.
The
"As
for
me,
am
the attendant of
my
master,
Amenemhat. On the seventh day of the third month of the season Akhet, in the thirtieth year of
of
109
King
members of
the
language simply
died.)
King Amenemhat
mourned
Now,
it
(life,
!),
was
in
command.
He
now he was
and numberless
The
councillors
tell
hall.
The messengers found him by night on the march, for the matter was urgent. The Hawk soared
with his followers without saying aught to the
host
;
the
army were commanded not to breathe a word of what had taken place." (The Hawk is the new King Senusert, who hastens secretly with his body-
But
I
it
came
liis
to pass that
and
for
heard
voice as he spake.
Then
I
fled,
my
my
upon
all
my members,
and thither seeking a place wherein to hide me. Slipping between two thickets that I might get off
the beaten track,
did not
I
journeyed southwards
but
dream of returning to the palace, for 1 knew not but that civil war might already have broken out there. I called down no blessing on
the royal house, but
I
of the Sycamore.
and
at the next
I
dawn
for I
over-
took a
man by the
me
mercy,
I
was
terrible to behold.
Towards evening
town of Xekau, and I crossed the river on a rudderless raft, helped by the west wind. Then I travelled eastwards by the quarries of Aku and the land of the goddess Herit, Lady of the Red
to the
came
Mountain.
"
reached the
Royal Wall,
111
and
lest
should be seen by
day
in a thicket.
When
out
I
Then
thirst fell
;
fainted
my
'
in
my
soul,
Verily this
is
when
suddenly
I lifted
my
strength
The Arabs
had been
gave
who
Behold, he
me
then
me
his tribe,
I
and one
tribe
passed
me on
to another.
turned away
Edom, where I dwelt for a year and a half. " Then the chief Ammianshi, who is the Prince of the Upper Tenu, sent for me to come to himself, and said Thou wilt be happy with me, for thou canst hear the speech of Egypt in this place.' This he said because he knew who I was, and what was my quality for some of the Egyptians who dwelt
:
'
in the land
with
me
me.
Tlierefore
'
112
pass
of the
Was Two
it
that the
guile
'
Verily,
w^hen
of the Libyans,
heard a report.
me
my
my name
I
mouth
of the herald.
;
What
has brought
me
to this land
know not perhaps it was the will of God.' " Then said Ammianshi What will become of the land of Egypt without that beneficent god, the terror of whose name spreads among
:
'
foreign
Sekhet
in a year of
plague
?"
"
Then
: '
uttered
forbid
my
that
mind
any
to
evil
thus
God
palace,
and hath
Verily he
laid
is
equal,
He is a
m his plans,
113
He
it
whenas
he reported to
of valour
his father
that had
He
his
is
the mighty
man
who
not
toils
witli
sword, a champion
is
who hath
his
match, when he
seen rushing
He
is
mighty
bull
who
they cannot
who beats in the skulls of his opponents none can make it good in his presence. He is the swift pursuer who
stand before him.
is
He
the smiter
;
destroys the
runaway
is
;
there
is
who
has turned to
flee.
firm.
He
courage, and
lets
when he
sees
crowds of enemies he
no
faintness
When
aught
he
His heart
;
when he
strike a second
blow when
15
Tlie barbarians
for his
Great Goddess.
He
is
him more than she loves herself; she him more than in her native god, and
because of him.
He
is
King wlio go\'crned while he was yet in the egg, and who has borne the double diadem ever since his birth. Under his care the nation has
increased, for he
is
God's
gift to us,
rejoices to be ruled
by him.
;
He
it
who hath
he
shall
shall
He
may
thy name be
King
lest
he hear of
"
it
For he
is
rich in
Then the chief of Tenu answered ^^erily Egypt is a happy land in that she knoweth the prime vigour of her Prmce. As for thee, abide
:
He
gave
me
115
own
children
he gave
eldest daughter
to wife,
and he allowed
me me
his
to
my own
which he possessed, on the border of a neighbouring laa is its name. land. It is indeed a goodly land
;
figs
and grapes
in plenty.
Wine
oil
more
fruit.
abundant
There
than water,
honey and
all
kinds
no end to
tlie
and the
cattle are
without number.
my
me up
Every
day bread and wine were brought to me, boiled and roast meat and fowl, besides the game of the land for every day the tribe hunted on my
;
my own
greyhounds brought
for
Food of
years
all
sorts
was prepared
me, and
I
Thus
spent
many
my
children
The messenger who came from the North towards Egypt, or who returned from Egypt by the South road, tarried
at
my
tent,
for I
I set
the wanderer on
lU)
the
way
delivered
him who
I
iiad
been
spoiled.
When
the
bowmen were
sent to conquer
Tenu made me
W^lienever
I
many
years
marched against
led captive their
I
I
servants
By my sword and my bow, my swift marches and my well-laid plans, I won the heart of the Prince,
and when once he had learned
vigour of
of
all his
my
my
made me
first
children.
and challenged
me
in
who had no
Being urged on by
his tribe,
;
me
he pur-
my
flocks
and
herds.
said
'
have no
friend
verily I
am no
Have
This
is
pure jealousy on
his
IIT
he knows that
I
am
your captain.
God
be
my
guard, for
am Hke
of his cows
when
to
upon him
greedy of
young bull from without rushes Is he a bull take them for himself.
a
battle, a
chosen bull
if
!
who
loves to give
fight,
all
blow
let
for
blow
Is God who knoweth him speak his ignorant of what He hath foreordained V
Then mind
he has a heart to
paring
my
arrows, unsheathing
my bow, my dagger,
;
pre-
and
making ready
my harness. When
he had
men
of
When
and summoned the neighbouring lands. the mighty man came, I rose and went
forth to
meet him.
me
uttered
:
and
all
were anxious
my
behalf, saying
'
Is there
champion strong enough to contend with him V Behold, he grasped his buckler, his spear, and his
javelins,
all
When
he had tried
his
weapons
in
upon me
then
drew
my bow
118
as
my
he gave a loud
cry,
and
his
fell
upon
his face.
;
made
an end of
his
own
hattleaxe
stood upon
all
shouted
my
the tribesmen
Then
me
in his arms.
Behold,
took possession of
;
all
and
all
me
that
;
did
to him.
took
all
plundered
spoil,
his village
my
cattle.
God shown
himself gracious
fugitive,
heart rejoices.
Once
was a
at the
me
Court of Egj^t
once
now
in
have
my
neighbour.
Once
misery
I
from
my
now
once
have
I
abundance of garments of
to run
had
my own
now
I
send, and
fine,
have
many
;
vassals.
JNly
house
is
my
estate
is
large
am remembered
at the
119
O
me
!
my
be gracious unto
;
me
bring
me
back to the
palace
grant
heart's desire
How
great
my
happiness,
I
if
my my
body may
lie
where
was born
;
May my
the
he
me still may Good God (Pharaoh) grant me peace. May have compassion on the man whom he has
good fortune abide with
Is not his
anger
the
let
hearken unto
far land,
and
him turn
towards him
whom
;
he has
King of Egypt be favourable unto me so shall I live by his gifts so shall I watch over the goods of the Queen of the Land
overwhelmed.
the
;
May
who
is
in his palace,
children.
Ah,
to be
;
young again
for
now
;
old
Mine
my
my
my
heart faileth.
Death draweth
Lady
Now, behold, when mention of my affairs had been made to His Majesty the King Kheperkara
120
truth,
His Majesty
my
me
their greeting.
ivas bro^ight to
'"The Horus, the life of lives, the Lord of the Red Crown and the AVhite, life of lives, King of Upper
and Lower Egypt, Kheperkara, Son of the Sun,
living for ever
and ever
I
An
Thou
own
not
What
Do
argue with
my
my
As
words
be set
heart
me, there
is
no
ill-will in
is
my
towards thee.
thy Heaven,
is
earth,
and her
121
Come
more the home of thy birth, make sahiam before the Great Gate, and join thyself to the King's friends. For, behold, old age is now creeping upon
thee
and thy thoughts turn to the day when the wrappings shall be put around
;
thy strength
faileth,
the
The oils for thine embalmment and mummy-swathings have already been assigned
by the hand of
Tait.
for thee
Thy
funeral pro-
and a gilded
is
prepared,
funeral sledge.
Oxen
shall
shall
singing-women
tomb
pyramid
shall
be built of
Thou
Aamu
lead thee to
V2'2
when thy funeral vault is made but when thou hast eome back hither there shall be amends for all
the affliction that has gone over thee.'
"
tlic
When
midst
1
this
ol'
order
came
folk.
to
my own
dust
:
to me,
threw myself on
my
my
I
liead in the
then
in the
my
heart
'
walked to and
fro in
my
dwelling, saying:
Is
it
whom my
Beautiful verily
the compassion
!
mine own
"
land.'
Then I returned unto the Majesty of the King of Egypt an answer praising his goodness and his mercy towards me, and giving thanks to him for
his
goodness in allowing
me
to return to
mine own
children
land.
Then
my
goods among
chief of
my
my
eldest son
all
became
my
clan,
and the
clan and
my
all
my vassals,
palms.
my
I
cattle,
my
crops,
and
my
dateI
Then
123
in
command
of the
for instructions.
me
to guide
me
by
his
toiled
who had
voyaged
Then
me
until
Now, behold, when the next day dawned, I was summoned, a guard of ten men appeared to conduct me to the palace. I bowed to the earth
before
"
anteroom came to
me
me
into
trum
my
was
like a
man
bewildered in
124
office,
my
heart stood
still,
and
I felt
neither alive
nor dead.
'
His
JNLajesty said to
let
him
speak.'
INIajesty:
who
didst
in
once take to
foreign lands.
it
is
and
em-
questioned.'
I
Then
lord
punishment, and
'
answered
man
Lo,
in
dread
is
What
hath
my
now
said
this
my
answer.
my own
deed, but by
is
My
present dread
flight.
;
even as the
my
Behold
me
in
thy
Thou
art Life
let
Then
His Majesty
Sinuhe,
to
the
like
Queen
'
See, here
is
who
has
come
an Asiatic, looking
like
loud
out
and
all
'
Nay
verily,
Lord King,
:
this
cannot be
it
is
he
!'
But His
JNIajesty said
'In truth
he
!'
125
and their
before His Majesty, speaking thus to him " Thy hands, King, do mercifully
'
may
the
blessing of the
Queen
of
thee.
The Golden Goddess gives life to thy nostrils, the Lady of the Stars unites herself to thee, as thou
voyagest to the North wearing the Southern crown
Thy bow
is
therefore, to
him who
is
afflicted,
who
Egypt
fear
!'
Then
said
His Majesty
'Let him
no
He
shall
be an
among
who
Go
is
When
went
forth
from
the
audiencethe hand,
me by
I
was lodged
ceilings
UG WONDER
heavens,
its
TAL?:S OF
Double White
IVorn
House
royal
(the
clotliin^'
the
wardrobe,
in
and
choice
of a
perfumes.
Each
official,
room was
charj^c
chosen royal
attending to his
own
hair, I
j)urticular duties.
Then
my
limbs,
shaved myself
and dressed
my
washed
clothing of the
in
I
dressed
me
fine
linen, I
slept
li\
left
who
and
cedar-oil to those
who
it.
me
man
all
many
its
were
brought to
me from
There was
me
its
decorations,
the
make
the furnishing of
its
store-chambers complete.
all
Priests for
my
spirit
the
127
all
made
the
appointments for
the upkeep
it,
of
the
and established
endowment
rank.
It
first
His
caused
my
statue
to be made.
kilt
Not
done
May
the day of
is
my
!"
finished
hath
been found
CHArTER
VIII
OF JOPPA
We have
brings his
jars,
all
the
men
and
by the
is
Now,
here
main
beyond a doubt,
It
was the
original
fountam
fi'om
the robber-chief's
oil-jars flowed.
not, per;
but as
you read
it
you
w^ill
see
how remarkably
Tahuti's
Forty Thieves
Before
with
this
we begin
me
is
tell
you that
OF JOPPA
129
Thothmes
bred.
III.,
was both a brave man and a skilful general, and Egyptian history becomes quite interesting at the point where the King, in opposition
Egypt ever
He
army
in single
file
in Palestine,
and then
whole army of
Megiddo
his
charge.
relics
lying to-day in
is
at
Leyden.
interesting of
all,
be-
us
valued
now
lies in
was given by
the King,
be placed
when the old soldier died, that it might in his tomb and used by his spirit and
;
it
130
with
lapis-lazuli, silver-
lands.
Keeper of
Good Lord
of both lands
and
his
Double
So now we are to hear of one of the deeds by which the wily old soldier and scribe satisfied the
King by the shores of the Great Sea, and if it does not seem to you anything very great as a story, remember that, but for it, you might never have had tlie best part of the story of your
heart of his
The
are
taken by soldiers
who
smuggled into
;
it
in
one
way
or another
is
but
it is
worth
such
the oldest of
all
earlier period
The fragments of the story are found on a papyrus roll, now lying in the British Museum, on which
is
also
Doomed
Prince.
a small introduction to
make
the beginning of
OF JOPPA
131
Egypt there reigned a great King whose name was Menkheperra. He ruled in great power and glory over the Two Lands, and when he went forth to war,
came
to pass that in the land of
either against the vile Asiatics or the vile sons of
Kush, they
of
the chariot
soldiers
of
lions,
He
followed King
in the
jNI
enkheperra
whether
and everywhere he
soldier,
strong and
enemy.
hand,
his
"
own
before the
he was a mighty
man
of valour,
who had not his equal in all the land. Now, behold, it came to pass in
that a messenger
(Palestine),
those days
and brought an
:
unto His
"
The Governor
of the North'
me
unto thy
INIajesty, saying,
The
Foe
in
and has
132
AxNCIENT
WORLD
suflicient to
these words,
and he
whole land
" Behold,
his
how
!
mighty men of
valour.
Then
said
His
]\Iajesty to
lias
them
this vile
Asiatic
arisen against
my
go
Majesty
Whom
he
shall
we
may
Then
before
my
may
?"
tlie
General
Tahuti
tliis
and
made
:
fashion to
His Majesty
thou
who
1
art the
Good God
of Both Lands,
rejoice
in
every day,
go
down the
;
only
be done unto
me on me
this wise
name
is
for a season
let there
be given unto
me
;
also
men
of the
army of Egypt
and
I shall
then shall
Foe
in Joppa,
Then
said
His
JNIajesty
OF JOPPA
133
good
in
mine eyes
be
it
hast said."
Now,
after
Joppa, but
him by
guile.
Therefore he
made
to
ready a
gi-eat
army
make many
the hands
set
;
many wooden
all,
two
all
vessels.
Then, when
this
now
the
Foe
in
Joppa, saying
1
"
Now, when
I
is
come
am
King of Egypt in all his wars. But now, behold, the King JMenkheperra hath indignation and
jealousy towards
me
because of
my
great deeds
and
have
staff of
I
His Majesty,
it
have hidden
in
the forage of
my
horses.
Now,
therefore, let us
field.
134
and
thou
;
of Pharaoh
and
I,
and
all
all
the
the
Egypt,
Now, when
he
rejoiced
the
Foe
in
Joppa heard
of
exceedingly because
the
words
"
Let
it
be as thou hast
and
me and more
!"
also if I
make
thee not as
my
in
So the Foe
city with
his charioteer,
and with many of the women and children of the city and he came face to face with Tahuti. Then Tahuti took him by the hand, and
;
embraced him, and caused him to enter into his camp but in his guile Tahuti had pitched his tent at a distance from the tents of his men, that so the
;
in
see nor
And
while the
Foe
and drank along with Tahuti, the men that were with him drank and were
Joppa
ate
soldiers of
Egypt.
Now, when they had well drunk, then said the Foe in Joppa unto Tahuti " Now, as touching this
:
OF JOPPA
135
For
my
it
heart
to
set
upon seeing
it,
and
if
thou showest
me
Now,
leading-staff of Menkheperra in the forage of his horses, and the forage was in baskets, even as the
was wont to be
in
carried.
Therefore,
this wise,
Tahuti answered
him
in
my men
Upper and Lower Egypt, Menkheperra." Then the soldiers of Tahuti came in, bearing the baskets of forage and the eyes of the Foe in Joppa were
;
how he was
it
which Tahuti
had digged.
Now,
came
baskets of forage,
leading-staff
;
Joppa
it
said
"
By
the
soul of Menkheperra,
show
it."
my
and and
Then Tahuti
in
hand.
He
seized the
Foe
Joppa by
his robe,
136
"
Foe
JNl
in
to
whom Amen,
I"
his
father,
gives
might and
hand, he
strength
staff in his
struck the
Foe
in
him
senseless
on the ground.
Meanwhile
his trusty
soldiers
men
of the
Foe
was now thrust into the leathern sack, bound hand and foot in the irons with four rings.
their chief
Now,
men
to bring the
two hundred great earthen vessels which had been made, and into each vessel he put a soldier, a mighty man of valour, with his harness and his
weapons.
Then he slung the jars on poles, each jar between two stout soldiers, and in the sides of the
were other
fetters
and
collars
of
wood
:
jars
he
said
shall
you have entered the town, you break the jars and let your companions out,
shall seize
"
When
and you
upon
all
town and put them in irons immediately." Then Tahuti went forth, and spake to the charioteer of the Foe in Joppa. " Behold, O miserable one, thy
OF JOPPA
to
137
his
is
fallen
Now,
that
is
his
!'
show to her as the spoil of the Egyptians these two hundred earthen vessels
shalt
Then
thou
which are
manacles."
full
of
men
Then in that great hour the heart of the charioteer melted within him for fear, and he hearkened unto
the
his
voice
of
Tahuti
to
do
according
unto
commands. So he went before the Egyptian soldiers, and cried to the Princess as she stood upon the wall over the gate " Rejoice, for we are
:
masters of Tahuti
!"
Then were
And when
jars,
and
their
companions came
city
and
all
bound
them with fetters of iron and collars of wood. And when the army of Pharaoh had taken the
and Tahuti had refreshed himself, he sent a message even unto Egypt, to the King Menkhecity,
perra
his
master, saying
father,
unto him
" Rejoice
Amen, thy
18
13S
Voe
Joppa,
^villl
all
his subjects
and
his city.
to
fill
lead
them
\n
into
thou niayest
lather
Amen
mentliy
who
shall
be under
and
ever.'
CHAPTER
IX
and to send
its
adventurous sons
out into
all
of the Eighteenth
Egypt began
to believe in her
own
future as a
either
conquering power.
He
did
when circum-
stances urged
him
what he
is
to-day
put
if
seemed
for a while as
140
kept
known
fierce
Egyptians rose
rebellion,
and
after a long
and
war
drove
their
oppressors
out.
They
followed
them up
seemed
intent
upon making
First
ruler
of the
ancient world.
heard
in
Town of Joppa.
Thothmes conquered and held all the land from the border of Egypt to the Uiver Euphrates, and before
he died was by
far the greatest
King on
earth.
Now,
romance.
It
Elizabethan period.
Land
of the Kivers
and
it
141
happen.
So the Prince in this story goes away to the land of Naharina, and remarkable things happen to him,
as every
In this story
we have what
ha\e
is
probably the
first
Godmothers, who
ever since.
been so hard
all
at
work
the stories
The Hathors, or Fates, who foretell the Prince's doom are really the genuine article in its first manifestation. The goddesses who made the
crowns
for Rud-didet's babies are different,
and not
as
on the same
footing.
They were
;
sent
down
an
been
Here, again,
we
onwards.
out, "
it
In
fact, as
would not be
14a
WONDER TALES
an
Ol'
talcs to start
liist(jrical
dictionary of
elements
of fiction
The
Papyri
story itself
in
is
the Hritish
it
Museum.
complete when
Alexandria
that a copy
suffered in
tlie
house at
helieved
which
it
was
stored.
it
It is
was made of
So
in
we have no
its
authentic information
the
what happened to
Prince
after
tlie
I
crocodile
made
am
thy doom,
following
thee."
Various
made
to provide a satisfactory
Among
"
others,
one
will
be found
in
Andrew Lang's
elaborate,
satisfactory,
is
The most
the
most
and
the
general
outhne of
here
his
followed,
altered,
nition,
by the faithful dog, of the treacherous Princes of Kharu. to a well-known passage in the work of
a greater romancer, the scene of the detection of
143
It
"
The Talisman."
must be admitted, however, that all such attempts to put a conclusion to the work of the early story-
more or less imsatisfactory and improbable. The chances are, reasoning from what we know of the Egyptian attitude of mind towards fate, that the Doomed Prince succumbed at last
teller are
probably to
a blunder on the
part of his
dog
Once upon
of this
a time there
He
When
the Fates
came
said
:
"
He
by the
crocodile, or
by
this,
tell
it
health, strength
!)
and His
at
Majesty
(life,
health, strength
doom which threatened his boy. So he caused a house of stone to be built for the boy on the edge of the desert it was furnished
:
all
sorts of
good things
144
was never
allowed to
<ro
out
ol' it.
came to pass, when the boy grew big, tliat he went up one day on tlie roof of the house, and he saw a hound which ran Ixliind a man who was travelling along the road. So he said to the page who was with him " What is this creature
it
:
Now,
is
walking along
r
'*
:
is
a liound.'
1
want
to
to report
the
!j,
'*
:
matter to His
(life,
health, strength
health,
strength
!)
said
young puppy greyhound,' so that he may not be grieved," And, behold, they brought him a young hound. Now, after many days had passed over his head,
him
a
when
grown
a strong
young man, he
:
" AVherefore
should
Since
I
am
do,
doomed
why
;
should
not do
I
according to
my own
less
desire
for,
whatever
is
God
will
not
accomplish what
in his heart."
145
his
request
he gave him
him
to be escorted to the
it
was
said
him
'*
:
Go
desires."
lie
went wherever
all
game
of the country.
the
to the
had no
child, saving
he caused
all
them
*'
:
He who
shall
after,
shall
of
my
daughter
window
Egypt
to their
146
to
"
Whence
:
coniest
Lhoii,
gallant
young
man
He
and and
answered
"
am
My
own
mother
died,
my
1
AVhen
my
have
fled
company.
after certain days
:
Now,
But what do you all here ?" They answered him " We spend our time in trying to climb to the windows of this house on the rock, and whoever is able to climb to the
the Princes
:
"
Then
the Prince of
it,
Egypt
said to
them
" If
you
will allow
shall
enchant
my
my
They went
to
climb, according to
their daily
them and the daughter of the Prince of Naharina marked him where he stood, and her countenance
;
also.
147
Then went
him " A man has climbed even unto the window of thy
Tlie Prince questioned the messenger, saying
daughter."
"
of a Prince
is
he
who
has succeeded
?"
messenger answered:
"He
has
is
the son
as a
his
who
come
stepmother,
who had
:
my
daughter to a
Egypt ?
Let him go
home
again."
man
"
Return
But the Princess held him close in her arms, and " By the life of Rasware by heaven, saying Harmakhis, if ye take him from me, I will not
:
eat, I will
not drink,
I will die
118
guards
young man
I
in tlie
:
Then
he
is
"
Hy
if
killed,
he dead by sunset.
if I
will
not
am
to
So they went
presence
to
tell
and he
man
be
Princess.
The young
before
man was
l*rince of
when he came
the
Naharina
kissed
me who
thou
art, for,
sliait
I
be
my
son."
am
My
mother
and
my
She
ha\e
tied
face."
chief gave
him
daughter to wife
and
all
came
man
" Behold,
die
young am doomed to
crocodile, or
one of three
evil fates
to
by the
by the
"'
this
dog
149
I will
not
kill
since he
was a
puppy."
Thereupon she was very anxious about her husband, and she never suffered him to go out
alone.
At
again,
and he
man wished to return home went down to the land of Egypt, his
wife bearing
him company. Now, after a time, the Prince was making a good day in his house in Egypt, and when the night came, he lay down upon his bed, and deep sleep came upon him. His
wife
lier
filled
it
beside
Then
a great serpent
came
by giving
till it
it
The
serpent drank
Then
who
him
:
to
God
He made
sacrifices
to
150
Now,
f^rejit
came
was
came even
to the midst of
;
l)ut
there
who overcame it, nnd shut up in liis (iwellin^^ For many days he kept it closely shut up only when the crocodile slept the mifrhty man went forth to walk in the cool of the evening, and, when the sun arose, he
;
eame hack
months.
liad
left
to his house.
ni<;lit,
So
it
went on
for
two
Hut one
to
walk according to
sleep,
awaked out of
to guard
it, it
and seeing no
hand
the
stole
down
among
watched
\Vhen the day dawned the Prince went forth to hunt in his park, and his dog went with him. The dog ran oft' in pursuit of game, and the Prince
followed.
When
ran
down
came
forth
its
from the
said
cruel jaws,
in
among
:
the reeds.
Then
"
am
151
Whatsoever thou mayest do, thou and thy mighty man, thou must come to me at last. Yet now, behold, I shall let thee go this once, only thou must swear to me to kill the mighty man who
has kept
me
so long in prison.
do
this,
Meanwhile the dog had seen that liis master was He listened, and in the power of the crocodile. " \\'^ill you swear to he heard the crocodile say
:
me
man C
*'
;
Why should I slay The Prince answered him ?" him who has watched over me Then said the crocodile " Your fate must have
:
its
I
way.
If
me
the oath
ask,
you
dog heard these words, he ran to his master's house, and there he found the I'rincess in
VX'hen the
tears because her
When
come back
;
alone, she
wept
by the hem of her garment, and pulled her towards the door, as though asking her to go out. She
rose up, she seized the war-axe with which she had
killed the serpent,
152
W()NI)i:U
to the house of
herscll"
mighty man.
TIk
re
she hid
among
hfe.
hushund's
me
I
that you
slay the
mighty man
If not,
carry you
down
Hut he answered
Ijoldly
"Why
?"
should
slay
him who
hank
lias
watched over
me
Then the
(juite close to
victim,
she leaped
came rushing
the
half-
Then
said
:
husband, and
" Behold,
God
He made
his
offerings to
and magnified
153
came to pass that enemies entered into the land. For the sons of the Princes of the land of Kharu were angry bedays,
it
many
Egyptian adventurer.
their armies
;
made him
:
prisoner.
As
they could not find the Princess and her husband, they said to the old chief
"
Where
?"
is
is
thy daugliter
whom
He
answered them
?"
"
He
on a hunting expedition.
where they are
How
know
one to
Then they
another
:
considered,
and they
forces
said
"
up
into small
slay the
young man, and take his wife to himself." So they went, some to the east, others to the
;
and those
who went
to
man
to the
154
him
They
flee
are too
many
now, therefore,
shall return to
my
;
Then
he
hid themselves
mountain.
two days and two nights, Princes of Kharu came with many soldiers, and they passed before the mouth of the cave, and none of them saw the Prince but as the last of them went by, the dog ran out at him, and began to bark. The sons of the Princes of Kharu remem;
Then
him
but, behold, a
fell
and they
fell
Then the
155
them
stretched
to be devoured
by wild away to
Now,
behold,
when the
young man opened his eyes, and saw his wife stretched upon the ground beside him, and the carcass of his dog. Then he groaned, and said " Of a truth, the gods accomphsh without fail whatsoever they have decreed aforetime. The Fates
gone, the
:
had decreed, at
my
by the
into
dog
for
accomplished,
it is
my
me
Let
lie
me now
die, for,
life is
who
beside me,
Then he
"
and
cried
ye gods,
Therefore grant to
me
an honourable burial
in this
come
justification before
Having
his voice
so
spoken, he
heard.
but
was
and Ra-Harmakhis
is
companions
"
Fate
accomplished
15G
WONDER
it
TALP:S OF
Now,
to these
two
lovers, for
riglit
faithfulness
other."
mother of the gods, nodding her head, assented to the words of lla-Harmakhis, and said
tlie
*'
And
So great
re-
ward."
I^ast of all
'
Fate
is
came the seven Hathors, and said satisfied Now let them return to life."
:
!
And
they returned to
life
faithful
dog
also.
Then it came to pass that when the Prince of Egypt and his wife were restored to one another,
the Prince went to his father, even unto Pharaoh
(life,
health, strength
his son,
!),
he was
"
to him,
and how
Now,
my
vile
hand
that I
^lajesty
strength!)
gave
command
host,
the
157
His wife
remained
in the
them
"
for
The
us
We
let
Therefore
make submission unto this son of Pharaoh, knows us not, nor how we have dealt with the
lish
He
chief
Then
the sons of
saw the Prince of Kharu who had smitten him with the spear, he flung himself upon him, and
bore him to the ground.
Then
Pharaoh
and
said
"
Doth
the son of
be thus abused by
arose
"
know ye not
the
man whom
ye
left for
dead
?
in the
Now,
;
be-
158
Sardinians he said
"
Cover
faces."
Tlien
the
Princes
slain,
of
tlic
land of
Kharu were
field
led forth
and
air
And
own
the Prince of
spoil, gold,
land,
whom God
old age.
CHAPTER X
THE TALE OF THE TWO BROTHERS
This
tales,
is
all
Egyptian
Italy
interesting.
in
The manuscript
was bought
by
Madame
Elizabeth
by her
twenty
to the British
Museum.
The original manuscript still bears in two places the name of its first owner, who was no less a personage than Sety Merenptah, then Crown
Prince of Egypt, and afterwards Pharaoh (Sety
II.,
1214-1209
B.C.).
Nothing can be
Egyptian
tiller
finer
of the
it
soil
is
set forth, as
was
in the beginning,
now, and,
in all probability
The whole
two brothers
is
160
where the younger brother reaps the reward of his kindness to and sympathy with the cattle in their
warning of him concerning
his
brother's designs.
of
marvels and
intensely
wearisome to
structive skill
us.
The only
is
same con-
which
is
who
is
who
remains,
like all
such doubtful
utterly
Some
obvious.
The
earlier part
The King's
search for
is
a flower
had
left
And
is
the
King
quite
Ahasuerus, and
161
" It
the Oriental
way
of doing business."
Once
elder,
same
mother and
Anpu was
the
name
of the
and Bata was the name of the younger. Now, Anpu had a house and a wife, but his younger brother lived with him and had the lot of a younger
brother.
It
it
was
it
was he
who
who
For
this
;
younger
workman
for
there was
all
God was
in
him.
Now,
many
days the
his cattle,
according to
regular custom,
produce.
meat before his elder brother, with his wife and ate and drank and then each
;
new day came, and when he had baked the bread-cakes, he set them before his elder brother, who gave him his share to take with him to the fields. He drove out his cows to pasture
cows.
the
21
When
"
162
them
good pasture
led
in
So he
said,
listened to them,
and
them
to
Therefore the
his
Now,
it
came
begun
seed,
to
appear, and
is
in
good condition
ploughing.
for
Go you
we
shall
ploughing
to-morrow
morning.
Thus he spake
the
to him,
\Vhen
went to the
ing,
day long.
Now, after a good many days, while they were still at work ploughing and sowing, Anpu sent his
younger brother on an errand, saying
bring some more seed from the house."
:
"
Run and
"
163
and he
said to her
" Rise
and
me some
;
seed, so that 1
to the
'
for
!'
my
brother said,
when he
sent me,
No
loitering
She answered
in case
"
Go
yourself,
cannot move
again."
my
come down
and chose
meant
of grain.
He
filled it
She
said to
him
"
How much
?"
;
He
answered
;
two measures in all five measures. That is what I have upon my shoulder." Thus he spake but as for her, she answered
;
him, saying
"
How
admire
And
;
She rose
:
she caught
him by the
Stay with
me
If
you
make
fine clothes
furious as a panther
1G4
had made to
him.
in
deadly fear of
He
as
you have been a mother to me, and your husband has been as
spoke to her saying
:
" Verily
my
father,
my own
!
elder brother,
who
has given
this
me my
for
living
me,
word of
it
pass
my
lips to
anyone."
He
fields
;
lifted
up
his
tlie
set to
elder brother
went
back to
his house,
Now, because the elder brother's wife was terrified because of what she had said, she laid a plot. She took some grease, and some old linen, and besmeared herself, and arrayed herself in tatters, like one who has been
the byre in the farm steading.
me."
Your younger brother has assaulted Therefore when her husband came back at
:
"
165
when he
ill-
if
hands as
him
but
his
all
defiled.
Her husband
with you
?"
said to her
Who
but
She answered
brother.
"
No
one
your
younger
for
When
me
you, finding
made wicked
thy mother
?
suggestions to me.
to him.
1
As
for
:
me,
'
said to
him
Am
And
So
I
is
spake to him.
Then he grew
if
frightened,
and
he beat
matter.
shall
me
to
make me
therefore,
for
Now,
slay myself;
finds
let
evening, and
villainy,
it
is
out that
plain
have told of
his
perfectly
what he
will
do
to me."
Then the
elder brother
;
became
furious, like a
it.
He
166
his his
set,
younger brother when he came back to drive cows into the byre. Now, when the sun had
the younger brother
came back
with the
Just
lier
keeper
him !" When he had hearkened to what the first cow said, the second, as she went in, spoke to him in the same words. He looked below the byre-door, and there he saw the feet of his elder brother, who was
slay thee
Then the younger brother cast down his burden on the ground, he ran away as fast as he
hand.
could, and
Anpu
!
Then Bata
"
Ra-Harmakhis
!"
My
good lord
thou
who
Behold
Ra
Ra
two
was
side
full
hands
in
167
thus he did.
to
brother shouted
:
him from the opposite bank, saying " Stay there until the day dawns. AVhen the Sun-god
I
rises
shall plead
my
so that I
shall
may
for I
never be
thee again,
1 shall
never dwell
;
any more
in the place
where thou
!"
art
1 shall
go
Now, when the land brightened, and the new day came, Ra-Harmakhis arose and shone, and each saw his brother. Then Bata spake to his elder " Wherefore didst thou come brother, saying
:
behind
me
to slay
I
me by
?
guile,
without having
heard what
had to say
for
myself?
Am
not
as a
me
And
very
Now,
behold,
me
suggestions to
me
him
the
"
truly
all
him and
in hand,
!"
woman.
He
As
for thee, to
to slay
Then
168
he
Anpu
cursed himself
his brother
;
Then Bata
cried
to
him, saying
evil
mind a
thee
single
one of
I
my
good
for
which
have done
tliine
thee
Shame on
Return to
house,
attend to thy
shall dwell
I
no
am
going to
Now,
do
for
;
own house
draw out
am
going to
my
it
soul
by
upon the top of the flower of the Acacia and when the Acacia is cut down, and my soul falls to the ground, thou shalt come to seek Even though thou mayest have to pass for it.
place
;
may
it,
do not be discouraged
place
it
it,
in a vessel of
return to
life
once more,
and
T shall
1C9
When
the cup
is placed in thine hand muddy. Make no delay, then, assuredly, be when this hath happened to thee." So Bata went
Anpu
returned to
his
house
his
in sackcloth
and
ashes, with
hand
upon
head.
When
Now,
it
came
many
in
days, Bata
hunting the
his
was placed.
house with
And
his
after
a while longer he
it
built a
all
own
with
home
to dwell
One day, as he went forth from his home, he met the Nine Gods, who were going
about to arrange the
affairs
all
of their dominion
and
together,
and
said
unto
him
"
Ah
from thy
22
170
Anpu
!"
liehold,
liis
wife
is
dead,
and Ra-Hannakhis
god, "
said
to
Khniimu, the
artificer
Lo
tliou
make
a
that he
may no
So
companion to dwell
all all
her
the
in
evil of heart,
though the
spirit
all
to see her,
shall die
and they
said,
"
She
by the sword."
ingly,
them
before her.
lest
And
he said
"
Go
;
seize thee
As
for
me,
my
Acacia, and
fight with
anyone
for it."
else
should find
it,
must
all
him
Thus he revealed
to her
171
time
it fell
when
the
lo
she beheld
the River sending his waves after her, and she fled
before him, and entered into the house.
The River
cried to the
!"
Acacia
"
Would
that I
And
it
him
up
to
it
The
into
complaint was
"
made
the launderers,
oil
saying
the Hnen
There
is
a scent of perfumed
among
of His Majesty."
and the chief of the laundry came to the bank to see what was wrong, for he was exceedingly disgusted at the complaints which
selves with annoyance,
He
he caused
it
it
him
he found that
to Pharaoh.
172
Then were
Pharaoh, and
the learned
to
magicians of
tliey said
whom
is
the spirit of
all
the gods.
Since this
may seek for this damsel, and as for the messenger who goes to tlie Valley of the Acacia, let him take a great number of men with him to
land that they
bring her back."
Behold His
JNLijesty
is
we have
the
to
decided
made answer
"
And many
;
days after
did not return, for Bata had slain them, leaving but
tell
His
sent
spear-
men and
it
the damsel
moreover, a
woman went
was to give into her hand all kinds of trinkets and ornaments such as a woman loves. So the damsel came into Egypt with her, and all the land
173
her coming.
exceedingly, so that he
named
Wife."
what
and
Then were
bowmen and woodmen sent with their tools to cut down the Acacia. Tliey cut down the Hower upon
which was the soul of Bata, and he
evil hour.
fell
dead
in that
Now, it came to pass that when the dawn came upon the day after the Acacia had been cut down, Anpu, the brother of Bata, came into his house and sat down to eat and drink, having washed his
hands.
He
it
lo
it
foamed
seized
he called
for a
was
all
muddy with
;
sediment.
He
his staff,
buckled on
about
he journeyed to the
upon
He
cold and
stiff;
search
for
174
at night.
in the search
with-
out finding
the
The
:
when
Thus
longing to go
home
" I will
to
Egypt
arose in his
heart,
and he said
go to-morrow."
he said
in his heart.
Yet,
when
still
went
still
under the
and
as
he
was returning
as
in tiie
evening,
ofl'
looking around,
a seed, he brought
his brother.
He
brought a cup of
his
memcup
his soul
in the cup.
Anpu
seized the
he brought
it
to him,
and
The two
:
embraced each other and conversed together, and then Bata said to his elder brother " Lo 1 am going to become a great bull, which will have all
!
As
upon
175
my
rises,
my
wife dwells,
shall
myself
me
to the place
will
for
Pharaoh
me
to
him
for
shall
one
in the
whole land
because of me,
upon his back at dawn, and he came to the place where the King was. When the news was brought to His Majesty, he came and looked at the bull he was greatly
his brother.
Anpu
seated himself
delighted
" This
is
And
every-
body in the whole land was glad because of him. Pharaoh loaded Anpu with silver and gold, and he went and dwelt in his own town. Then Pharaoh
also
any man
Now,
after
many
days,
it
befell that
the bull
"
176
began to speak to
yet ahve."
am
She
said to
him
*'
He
said to her
well, wlien
down by
that
I
I'haraoh, that
;
nevertheless, behold,
!"
am
still alive.
am
a bull
The
went forth from the holy place, and His Majesty came to spend a holiday with his wife. She was at table with His Majesty, and he showed
bull
her
great
:
favour.
"
Therefore
she
said
to
'
His
Majesty
Swear to
me by God,
I
saying,
Whatthee.'
:
will
hearken unto
He
said,
" Give
me
no
at
what she
said,
Nevertheless,
INIajesty
proclaimed a
bull to be offered
up
as a sacrifice,
177
Now, when the blow had been struck, and while the bull was upon the shoulders of the men who carried him away, he shook his head, and two
drops of blood
of His Majesty
fell
;
the one
on the one
side of
trees of
wondrous beauty.
:
Two
up during the night beside His Majesty's great gate." The whole
persea- trees have
sprung
made
his
Now,
after
a time.
diadem of
garlands of
lapis-lazuli,
all
his
neck
his
kinds of flowers.
He mounted
chariot of electrum,
The Great
Royal Wife followed Pharaoh in a two-horse litter, and then His Majesty sat down under one of the perseas, and his wife sat down under the other.
When
wife
:
Ah,
traitress
am
Bata, and
I still live in
Well
didst thou
know
23
178
me
then when
had become a
me
to be slain."
days,
at
And
after
many
when
His
Swear to me by God,
wife shall ask of me,
saying,
I
'
What-
my
will
hearken
:
unto
"
her.' "
He
they
may
be
made
into beams."
Then Pharaoh hearkened unto what she said. And, after a time, His Majesty sent skilled carpenters who cut down the two royal persea-trees, and made them into beams, while the Great Royal \^''ife stood and looked on to see it done. Then a
chip flew from one of the trees, and
fell
into the
mouth
a son.
of the Queen,
and
in
carried to
saying
"
son
is
Nurses and
land
rejoiced.
Majesty immediately loved him exceedingly, and he was saluted " Royal Son of Kush " and after
;
179
Now, many days after, when Bata had for many years been Crown Prince, His Majesty flew up to
heaven
{i.e.,
died),
in his stead.
all
Then
officers
the
new King
all
"
Let
the chief
I
of JSIy Majesty be
summoned
that
may
inform them of
His wife was brought before him, he judged her in their presence, and they ratified his judgment.
Then
his
elder brother
Anpu was
brought unto
made him Crown Prince of the whole realm. Bata ruled over Egypt for twenty years, then he passed into new life {i.e., died), and his
him, and he
brother
Anpu
his burial.
(This book
is
the scribe
Pharaoh
health, strength
and
;
the scribe
the scribe
it.
Ennana, master of books, has written whoever shall speak against this book,
god Thoth
fight against
him
I)
BOOK
III
CHAPTER XI
THE EGYPTIAN GODS HOW MEN REBELLED AGAINST THE SUN-GOD
The
Egyptians, as everybody knows, worshipped
a great
rehffion
number
glance,
all
kinds of
animals, which
generally the
it.
first
thing that
attracts attention in
But
it
in reality it
was not
but as
nearly so ridiculous as
were not
actually
worshipped
gods,
emblems of that particular aspect of the divine power which they were thought to represent. The
bull Apis, for instance,
reverence at Memphis.
bull calf
When
a properly
marked
in the
land
temple
priests
;
his life
by
trains of
finer
183
184
the Pharaohs.
far
from Cairo.
15ut the
whom
So with the other animals each was worshipped because people saw in it some likeness to an aspect
;
of their god.
As
for the
from the
fact
Egypt
just
is
straggly land.
up along the banks of the Nile had no neighbours at all on either the east side or the west, which
are
all
desert,
much
to
itself,
their
own
religious ideas,
what one town believed about its very much like what the next town believed about its god, though he had quite a different name and was represented by a different image. There were two gods, however, in whom all the
185
oldest,
The
first,
and the
was
Ha
People
who
difficulty
understanding
why
Egypt
a part that
we in these cold northern lands have no idea of. Egypt is bathed in sunshine practically from year's
end to year's end, and
things
all life
there depends on
two
the
river.
The
other great
and the reason of his beinfif worshipped by the whole nation was that he was the god of the Resurrection and of all people who
called Osiris,
;
god was
people
tion
who
and the
everlasting.
Amen,
for instance,
who
to begin with
insignificant
who had
were
con-
quered Egypt.
But Ra and
Osiris
really,
the great gods of Egypt, whom everybody knew and everybody beheved in, though
first
from
to
last,
24
186
at the
also they
worshipped their
own
town
or village god.
The
tion, to these
They
Sun-god
and
of religion,
may
also,
as
in the
God and
his relations to
men,
and men.
They show
it
us, too,
how
natural
God men
as
to
^just
man
with
much
The
story of Osiris
we know
is
no connected story
like his in
we know from
far
many references
in
to Osiris that he
was not
wrong
him
what he
told.
Probably he got
his information
priest of Osiris,
for
who
told
thousands of years
God
of the
Dead.
These are
inven-
human
187
far older
even than
No
least,
one can
tell
how
old they
may
be
and perhaps
that.
Some
on
of
them
are written, as
rolls
in
of Egypt.
How Men
Ra was
the greatest of
the gods.
No
other
god created him, but he created himself, and was from the beginning; and he was King both
of gods
and men.
But
for
it
came
to
pass that
many
said in scorn
" Behold,
his
Ra
his
groweth old
flesh gold,
and
in
his hair is
lapis-lazuli."
Thus
His
they
they spake
rebellion
against
him, and
Majesty heard
the
wicked
words
which
188
Then he called to him all the other gods, and they came to him quickly and silently at the great temple of the Sun in Heliopolis the
uttered.
and war,
whom Ra
call
calls
the
whom men
Hathor, or
sometimes Sekhmet, when she is in the fury of war and destruction and the god Shu, who holds up
;
the heavens
Seb and the goddess Nut, whose starry body arches from east to west across the world, and makes the midnight sky to all the men who
is
;
name
live
thereon.
at
Now, when
come together
before His
made salaam
we may hear thy words." Then His Majesty spake unto Nu, who
is
the
"
whom
me.
myself created,
hold
counsel
in
against
Tell
me what
them
until
ye
would do
for
this strait,
1
me, for
am
loth
189
matter."
waters, saying
thou
who
thy
!
throne standeth
and great
is
lla
answered
men
flee
unto the
hills,
for their
evil
and who
shall
them among the dens and caves of the hills ?" Then said all the gods before His Majesty the King of the gods " Send forth thine Eye hi the
:
Let
it
destroy for
who have imagined wicked devices against thee for there is none among mankind who can withstand Hathor when she
people
;
descendeth to destroy."
Then went
whose delight
that run
forth
is
the
fierce
goddess Hathor,
in slaughter,*
in battle
and
and
among
the
hills,
And
at night
190
"
Come
I
in
peace,
my
Never
will
he parted from
who hast avenged me on mine enemies." And Hathor answered, with a fierce and cruel joy " Long live the King Blessed he his name who hath given me such a task to accomplish for this liketh me right well, and when I lay hold of man to slay him, then my heart rejoiceth." Then the Ahijesty of the god Ra answered
: !
" Verily,
will
his
men whom he had created. So it came that for many nights Hathor went forth
Egypt
feet
as far as
Henensuten,
men^were dying everywhere, and the great river ran red with blood. Then it repented him that he had sent Hathor forth to destroy, and he would fain have recalled her but the word of the King
;
of the gods
could
HOW
MExN
REBELLED
Ra
191
Therefore
took
how he might by
subtlety
Then
" Call to
them run like a blast of wind." They came, therefore, and made obeisance before Then spake Ka the Majesty of the great god. unto them " Run swiftly even unto Elephantine,
messengers
;
me
let
me abundance
Then
of the sleepy
it
grows
there.
Hasten, so that
may
be
desert,
its
And
juice,
of the sleepy
whereof if one
drink of
falls
upon
his eyes
and
brain.
Then
the messengers of
and
Ra
gave
them
who
dwells in
Heh-
192
opolis, that
And
;
while
crushed
much
it,
barley,
and when
the beer was ready the juice of the sleepy fruit was
poured into
blood.
and, lo!
it
And
they
filled
Two
other gods, to see this beer, ere yet the day had
dawned.
" This
is
And when Ra saw the beer, he said excellent Now will I protect mankind
!
against
said he
:
Hathor by the
"
Then
Let these
jars
it
of the morning."
was done
as
commanded and
;
whose colour
was even
dawned came the goddess Hathor, eager once more to slay but when she
the day
;
Now, when
fields,
on every hand,
; :
193
Then her
heart rejoiced
and
it
mounted to her brain, and she went about drunken and helpless, and could no more see to slay man. Then said the Majesty of Ra unto Hatlior
again,
"
Come
back to
me
in peace, ()
sweet one
Be-
be prepared for
Day
shall
joices,
maidens the
made by
all
priestesses
the
number
of the
in
great
God Ra
Heliopolis.
his heart
was
still
Then spake he
within
is
to
Hathor
"
My
I
heart
is
pained
heart
me
Verily
my
live
weary
at the
thought that
have to
with
25
194
sucli
\V()ni)i:k
crcjiturc's
ha\ e
as
destroyed some
as
I
of
tlieiii,
but not
nearly
many
should
liave
my
might and
my
dignity."
Then answered
ing
:
He not weary of heart thou hast hut to command, and it is done, for thy might is according to
thy desire."
"
But the Majesty of the god spake unto the " Now, for the first time, I feel INIajesty of Nu
:
my
limbs
fail
will
seizeth
upon
me
a second time."
Xu commanded
make an men who
herself
abode
god Ra,
far
from the
had grieved
heart.
And Nut
raised
and south, east and west and Ra rested upon her back far above the sinful children of men. But
;
when the earth grew light, and the morning dawned, it came to pass that men came forth into the fields
again, and, behold, they
their god,
was
back of the
celestial
cow.
Then
195
their
for sorrow,
Then spake
is
the
Majesty of
for the
this
god
"
Your crime
forgiven you;
me
atoneth
men,
for
"
have determined
There
of
for
it is full
And when
be set a great
appeared.
"
Ra had
and
said
"
Let there
and the
of Rest
;"
will
gather plants in
;
and
all
the flowers
Ra
turned into
stars.
Then Ra gave
air,
in
and
Nfit, the
all
the sons of
men who
live
upon
earth.
him against
"
Watch thou
19G
ANCIENl^
I
WORLD
lieiice, I
thing.
though
go
sliull still
shall
to those ereatures.
'J'he
Then
:
said
" Let
Thoth be brought
me ;"
The Majesty
"
Let us go,
thou and
I,
leaving heaven
and
will
make
plaee, great
in the
and wonderful,
of the Deep.
in the
Underworld, and
shalt thou write
Land
There
who
and there
servants
whom my
heart
in
hateth.
^\nd, behold,
:
my
plaee
book
for himself,
of incense
ears shall be
behind
his
two
upon
gar-
He
shall
new
197
his feet,
and
Then
;
shall
he purify himself
priests
and men
shall
do
CHAPTER
HOW
Now,
ISIS
in the beginning,
XII
Ra was
who
created himself,
earth, of the
the
fish
Very
Green
hath
(the sea).
He
gods, to
whom
who
But I sis was a woman, very cunning, and very mighty in words of power and her heart was weary of the sons of men, and she was fain to dwell with the gods.
even the gods do not know.
;
Then
if
only she
knew
name
of Ra, which
whose knowledge gives power over all beings, whether they be gods or men, she would be able to reign over the whole creation in heaven and on
198
HOW
earth,
ISIS
199
even as
Ra
did,
god himself would be subject unto her. Now, day by day Ka came forth in the excellency of his glory, journeying from his horizon in the
East,
till
at eventide he
came
sit in
But now the burden of the years was coming heavily upon him, and he gi-ew old so that his mouth watered, and the water fell down upon the ground as he dribbled. And Isis watched him, and with her
darkness.
;
hand she kneaded the water with earth and made clay thereof; and out of the clay she moulded
a sacred serpent with a head like unto a spear
health, strength
!)
Two
But she
in the
coiled
way, on
that the
Ra came
from
his
Pharaoh were
and he went on
200
his
Then
its
that sacred
head and
bit
him.
his cry
his moiitli,
and
tliat
The gods
is it ?
"
Lo
What
tliem.
\\'
hat
thee
?"
His jaws
even as the
his heart,
"
Come
unto me,
ye
me, and
see
from
hath
injured me.
it
My
heart feeleth
it,
not
neither did
my
hand create
know
I feel
not
this
evil
unto
me
never did
pain like
No
this.
Lo,
am
!
the seed of
a god
forms
am
was hidden
me
so that
no magician might
to
arise
who
I
Behold,
had come
my
custom, to
HOW
ISIS
201
have made.
I
was
walking in the
Fire
Two Lands
I is
which
not
have formed,
is
not, water
it
yet
burning,
my
limbs
all
tremble,
the
and
my heart is my members
be
words,
shudder.
Let
children
of the gods
brought unto
me
they
and
an
understanding
whose
power
full
Then came
mourning
heart,
the children of
all
the gods
;
of
Ua and
with them,
came the
arts,
subtle
Isis,
mistress of
is
all
guile
and
of magic
life,
whose mouth
full
of the breath of
disease,
whose command drives forth whose word the dead live again.
and at
Laughing
"
What
is
it,
divine father
What
is
it ?
Verily a serpent
;
one of thine
lifted
own
up
fall
made hath
a truth
it
his
But of
I will
shall
by
my
mighty
spells.
cause
it
to flee
Then
mouth and
answered
" Behold, I
was walking
in
my
26
daily
202
path.
in the
it
of
to
liad created.
Then
I
of a sudden Fire
was
it
is
1 bitten
of a serpent which
it is
not, water
1
not
yet
am
;
colder than
water, and
sweat.
I
am
;
hotter than
fire
all
my
limbs
tremble
my
face as in the
heat of summer."
the subtle
Isis,
Then spake
divine
"
in
tell
me
my
divine father,
evil
for only
and
live
who
is
called
by
his secret
name."
But Ra had no mind to tell to anyone his Great Name, lest his power should go forth with it, and another become greater than he therefore he
;
answered her on
the
this wise
" I
am
the Creator of
Heavens and the Earth, the ^laker of the JNIountains and the River and the Inundation. I made the starry sky and the secret of the two horizons, and I set the souls of the gods within
them.
I close
When
them
it is
light
when
it is
Maker
of
Hours and
HOW
of
ISIS
203
Days am
in all houses.
am Khepera
in the morning,
Ra
at midday,
and
Tum
in the evening."
Yet
nothing
course,
Then
name
tell
Now
it
may go forth from thee, for only he whose name is known to me can be healed and live." And ever the poison burned with fiercer burning,
and stronger was
it
fire.
And
Isis
at
last
Ra
my name
pass from
my
bosom into her bosom." Then there fell upon heaven and earth a space of awe and darkness, for the god hid himself from
the gods, and the bark of eternity in which
traverseth the heavens
Ra
was empty.
Great
Isis said
for the
Name
:
cunning
!
with an oath,
O Ra
to give to
my
204
and
the
great
enchantress,
cried
" Flee,
this
!
poison
Go
I
it
forth from
Ra
;
Depart out of
god, and
How
is
mouth
For
the
1,
who work
make
the conquered
it
came, for
name
him.
poison die
!"
Thus
hidden
name
it is
of
Ra
Now,
of
of any snake
I sis bit
who
should bite a
man
Isis.
as the serpent
Ra
let
as
he
Horus, or
Or
let it
be
or let
for
it
be written on a
worn
neck.
in
common
with
many
other
man, or a demon.
name, and the
The knowledge
pronounce
ability to
correctly,
this infor-
HOW
ISIS
205
great part
and
rivers in the
is
among Eastern
Petrie's Sinai
cilious look
face,
races
to
this day.
An
Arab
in
which
so conspicuous
it
on the camel's
to
know
tell.
CHAPTER
JMany years ago
XIII
who was
at
Moon-god Khonsu,
pillar
on
it.
At
picture.
On
Ramses the
welcoming an image of the Moon-god. The image is covered from sight in a gaily coloured
shrine,
which
is
carried in a
lie
on the shoulders of a
number of
priests
priests.
Just so the
Ark
of the Cove-
On
burning
incense before another image of the Moon-god which has come out to meet its companion. Below
many columns of beautiful picture The pillar is now in one of the museums
206
THE PRINCESS AND THE DEMON
at Paris,
207
it
times translated.
up by the priests of the Moon-god in honour of their god and the wonders which it tells are pretended to have happened in the days of Ramses that is to say, about the time when Moses was
;
growing up
after that.
in
Egypt
though, as a matter of
till
fact,
hundreds of years
tricks
which
the priests used in order to gain credit for their god, but also the
way in which some of the images of the gods were made with joints, so that they could be made to nod or shake their heads so as to
give whatever answer the priests wished to be
given, favourable or the opposite, to any petition
addressed to them.
Now,
the
all
that
is
Mighty King, the Powerful Bull, the Conqueror, mighty with the sword, the destroyer of the tribes of the Nine Bows, the Lord of the Two Lands, User-maat-ra, Sotep-en-ra, Ramses Mer-
Amen a
valiant warrior
still
while he was
a child,
like the
came
208
Naharina, the
from
his
sea,
and
rolls
east.
He
all
the countries
walking
in order
and of
all
silver,
of lapis-
the sweet-smelling
woods of the land of Arabia. But the Prince of Bekhten brought a gift more For at the head of all the precious than any.
slaves
who
carried
his
tribute
he
set
his
eldest
bowed
his
throne, and
life,
be-
and that
and
for she
209
and he
lifted
upon the throne beside him, and made her Great Royal Wife. And when he returned
peace to Egypt he gave her a
"
in
as beautiful
as the
his glory.
And
the land of
Now,
it
came
month Payni,
Amen-Ra,
Hidden One, the Lord of Karnak. Behold, while His Majesty was yet in the temple, a message was brought unto him, saying " There
the
:
is
who
come with numerous presents for the Great Royal Wife." Then the King sat upon his throne,
all
his gifts,
was brought
Majesty and
art
said
" Glory be
and by
27
"
210
on
"
come unto
thee, ()
King,
my
call
master, concerninf^
whom men
Daughter of
all
her limhs.
Therefore her
me
unto
thee, that
man
to be sent
For
all
men know
that
wisdom dwellcth
physicians have
its
Then
King
me
the scribes
of the Double
palace" (for
medicine to
who belong to the so are they called who are skilled in heal divers diseases, and who are of
House of
Life
When
" Behold,
may hear these words Choose me out one of yourselves who is expert of heart in his calling, a scribe
skilful to heal'
Then
House
of Life
211
the King,
journey even unto Hekliten, along with the messenger of the Prince.
into
it
for she
by drugs nor by
countenance
art
forth.
Now, when
this
is
come unto
thee,
O
an
Sire,
my
my
whom
unto
me
at
the
the journey
is
was even the twenty-third year of the reign of His Majesty before the second mesThen, on the first senger was come unto Thebes.
212
Now,
god.
in tliat
The name
Good-Counsel-in-Tliebes," and
name
of the
in
Thebes, and
spake
1
IJckhten."
Then Khonsu
of
Thebes gave command tliat lie should be brought unto Khonsu-the-Expeller-of-Demons, and the two
images of the great god came face to
said
face.
Then
Thebes
thy
if it
countenance
unto
Khonsu-the-Expeller-of-
all
men, that so
it
was
Khonsu-
him
may
213
demon
of
whom
she
is
possessed."
And
Khousu-of-Good-Counsel-
Khonsu-the-Expeller-of- Demons.
And
five
Thus
And, behold, as they drew nigh, the Prince of Bekhten came forth to meet them with his mighty men of valour and his chief Captains. He came even hito the presence of Khonsu-theExpeller-of-Demons, and he made obeisance, bowBekhten.
ing his face unto the dust, and thus he spake
"
Thou
liast
come
unto
us.
Oli,
have
mercy
of
upon
us,
Lord
of
Two
Lands,
Ramses,
King
Egypt."
Now,
214
pl.'ice
lay in
lier
liis
sickness,
and
her,
mightily
magic over
she was
moment.
men "Come
:
in peace,
O great
is
god who
city
self,
;
drivest
away
tlie
demons.
;
Ik-khten
I,
thy
its
yea,
even
I
my-
also
am
thy slave.
Therefore, that
this
I
may
thy
satisfy
shall depart at
;
word
let
to the place
whence
came
only, that
my
power be not
that he
slighted, or
mine honour
lightlied,
thy Majesty
command
make
a feast-day for
me
before
depart."
Then Khonsu nodded his head unto his priest, " Let the Prince of Bekhten signifying imto him make a great offering to this demon." Now, while these words were passing between
:
spirit,
the
mighty men of valour, and they were all stricken with terror, and their hearts became as water within them. So when a great festival day
and
his
for
Khonsu-the-Expeller-of-
215
the
demon
in
of the Prince of
command
So the
I'rince of
Bekhten and
all
the people
the
power of the great god Khonsu. But the Prince of Bekhten took evil counsel with himself, and he
discoursed with his heart, saying to himself: "Since
this
god has been given to Bekhten, why should I send him back to Egj'pt?" So Khonsu-the-Expellerof-
in the land of
Bekhten
for the
But
dreamed a dream, and behold he saw the doors of the shrine of the great god Khonsu open, and
therefrom there came a golden
hawk with wings of many colours outspread, and the hawk circled high into the heavens, and flew away towards the land of Egypt and the Prince of Bekhten knew that he had seen the spirit of Khonsu returning to his home.
;
it
was a dream
but
216
his heai't
and
his
Hmhs
sliivered
with
fall
fear lest
upon him.
said to
And when
:
it
was day he
called to
him
us,
him
he returns to Thebes.
Let
go to
Egypt."
Then
the
command
very
gifts
very
many and
his chariot
he sent a guard
of valour, both
of
all
men
of
bowmen and
Thebes,
into
horsemen.
And when
of
they came
unto
Khonsu-the-Expeller-of-Demons
the
;
entered
temple
Khonsu-of-Good-
Counsel-in-Thebes
of-Good-Counsel-in-Thebes
thing for himself.
great god
Khonsu-the-Expeller-of-Demons.
He
Two
Lands, Userthe
who
CHAPTER XIV
THE STORY OF
Now,
AND BROTHER
OSIRIS
HIS
WICKED
befell that
it
body we
see
at night, arching
from horizon to
;
and
in his
the year.
But
so
it
in her
who
;
loved her
Thoth,
the
the gods
cunning, devised a
to
way
it.
For he went
Ra
Moon-god wagered on
217
28
218
of
his light.
And when
skill
many
of so
much
own
light.
Then he gathered
up the twelve fragments of liglit which he had won, and by art magic he made them into five
whole days, and
times
these
he
olden
made
the year
this
day the
Egyptians
call
And
since
moon
but when
he has come to
slowly
lost at
he dwindles
Now,
upon
these
five
days which
Ra
did not
rest, for
they belonged to
;
and so upon
born, year
Nut
Osiris
on the
first
day,
Horus on the
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
fifth.
WICKED BROTHER
219
Nephthys on the
born,
it
And when
signs
Osiris
was
might be
had
an one was
He who
come
to the earth.
sounding across
could see him
though no
man
The
befell
who
and
saying, "
it
Lord of
that
all
the earth
born."
JNloreover,
when
a worthy priest,
for
drawing water
Amen,
in his
of the
god came upon him, commanding him to proclaim " The good in the hearing of all men these words and great King Osiris is born." And so it was that to this good priest was given the charge and
:
made, to be kept
and
it
was
name.
And
good
Osiris
mar-
Nephthys
him she loved him not, but all her heart was still with her good brother Osiris and her sister
to
Isis.
220
So
that
tliose
came
to pass
Osiris
But
in
now
hmd
of
dihgent and
reaping
its
soil
and
others in
was a land of
with one
and cruel
men, ever
little
at
strife
human
flesh.
earth,
air,
the
and
all
that hovers,
in
reptiles
and
its
wild beasts
all
were given
contented therewith.
rulers,
For
in
Osiris
most excellent
his
wisdom and
light
goodness
he shone forth on
arises
sit in
He
in
Egypt
when he overthrew his enemies, and powerful when he slew his foes. Yea, the fear of him fell upon all his adversaries, and he enlarged
glorious
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
land,
221
own
and so excellently
Gods
praised
them by
force
hymns and
was
his
their natures
his
for
by the sweet
Isis
of music.
Withal
wife
loyal
side
things,
for
Isis
skilful
in speech of all
men nor
But the Red Fiend Set, the brother of Yet Osiris, hated the good King and envied him. even so he always crhiged and bowed before him,
ever
fail.
upon him. Moreover, the great god Ra, from whose eyes nothing is hidden, had seen the evil that was in the heart of Set, and had spoken unto him and his followers.
had
222
saying: "
and
He
but he
hide his
in secret.
And
fain to
Isis.
by the absence
Egypt
for
whom
the wise
and strong
strait, so
and
that he
These
evil
men did
and
in whispers, until
he had got
So when
ings,
Osiris returned
from
his
long journey-
who
so glad to
as
smihng
faces,
meet him, who showed such the black-hearted Set and his
?
companions
in guile
The
better both to
mask
and to accomplish
prepared a
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
;
223
and to that
all
feast
were
and
to be
made
in secret a
was framed of costly inlaid with ebony and ivory from the Southland,
with gold from the land of the
silver
from
Cilicia,
and
it
is
it
that no
man
it.
could look
upon
it
And
the
King
Osiris.
whom
he meant to
slay,
and the
men had
well eaten
jest
came
And when
they saw
it, all
men
cried out
224
in
admiration of
:
beauty.
Then
said the
cunning
be
Hfe,
Set
" Behold,
whom
make
this chest as
a memorial to celebrate
tliy
happy home-coming
who
loves thee so
And
be,
it is
in
my
till
be given to
tliat
man
shall
in tliis
company, whosoever
he
may
I
who
it
own To
great
him
least
say,
shall
worthy among
I
even thyself,
Osiris
Now,
fill
therefore,
let
my
lord
the
King
out deficiency."
So " Let
and
said,
O my
brother,"
first
him down in the chest until all had made trial of it. But none of them fitted the measure of So at last the chest, neither did any so purpose. came Set, boA\nng and smiling unto his brother, and " Behold, my lord, O King, the said unto him
pany
laid
:
chest will
fit
none of
of
it ?
us.
make proof
my vow
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
^25
I
must go
brother."
unfulfilled,
my
King and
and
my
his
Then
heart
in the truth
and simplicity of
arose,
upright
off the
Osiris
the
King
did
of the
Two Lands
in the chest.
from off
and
laid
him down
his
And
looking
down upon
of the
and he cried
pestilent
unto
his
fellows
Now
is
this
And
they
all
down upon the good King the heavy lid of the chest, and made it fast with many nails, and poured
molten lead upon
it
none might
lie
within
and yet
live
and breathe.
And
;
so,
King of gods, and King of men also but the end was not yet. Now, when these evil men had thus foully slain their King and god, they took upon their shoulders the chest in which his body lay, and with jests and laughter they carried it to the bank of the great
good King
river,
Then they
flung
it
far into
^26
sooner than
had
willed,
Yet the
shade of
hearts of
fear lest
even the
should
return
to
trouble him.
but
was only to
make come
his
men
Delta
and at
last it floated
and never
all
name without
cursing
And
these
upon the seventeenth day of the month Athyr, when Ra the Sun-god was in the sign of the Scorpion, and when Osiris was in the twentyeighth year of his reign, or, as some say, of his age. Now, it came to pass that the first who knew what had befallen the King were the Pans and
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
227
men and
half beasts
for
So they went and told it in the city nearest to them, and all men were amazed and affrighted with a great amazement and fear whereto the river.
;
fore
even unto
is
this
affright of a
multitude
But
I sis
the
make
report
moment when
his body, there
by her inward spirit of knowledge the assurance that her husband had
to her
came
been
slain
by Set
and
so,
taking her
little
son
lest
him
So
at last she
came
Buto
name
also called
Then
come again and Uatchet took him and brought him up as her own.
she should
;
228
And
by her
art
magic
cast a spell
it
upon
all
the
floated like an
upon the waves of the Great Green Sea, and no man could draw nigh unto it to do the lad
harm.
Then
it
Isis
to seek the
body of
Osiris.
Now,
his wife;
and the
when
its
the Tamarisk
it
felt
branches,
into a great
and beautiful
it
on every
was
in
nowise to be seen.
And
all
men
marvelled
at the greatness
King
INlalkander.
was the body of a god, he ordered the to be cut down and made into the great
it
own presence-chamber,
for that
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
fit
WICKED BROTHER
for
929
so kingly a tree
was
a King's hall.
Therefore the
its
of Osiris in
King
Buto,
JNIalkander at Byblos.
Isis,
therefore,
having
left
journeyed
ever
as
onwards
she went
seeking
husband's
all
body
and
she asked of
chest.
men
And
so
fell
out, that
little
by any hap they had seen a chest floating on the river and they answered her that but the other day while they were playing on the bank, a gaily adorned coffer drifted past them
;
down
the stream
its
it
beauty
drifting
and saw
was received into the waters of the Great Green Sea. And even unto
this
as being in
some
the
men
have
these
and
this
wisdom of
children
who
So
Isis
230
last
spirits
how
went
body was
kander.
Thereupon
a fountain
to the seashore at
down upon
by
Queen Athenais came to bathe and there she wept and made moan for her dead lord. And when tlie Queen's maidens came down to bathe,
slie
offered
herself to
braided for
fingers.
them their long hair with her fragrant Now, when they returned unto the Queen
for I sis
it
had perfumed
Then
this
said
Queen Athenais
is
:
"
Whence
?"
got ye
in
your hair
"
in bearing
fingers
Then Athenais sent her maidens to bring Isis unto her and when they had seen one another
;
OSIRIS
face to face,
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
231
heart of the
the stranger,
her,
for
and to
Athenais
name was
called Diktys,
and he was
death.
Then
of art magic
"
my
keeping, and
;
but
this thing
be done, and
So the Queen gave Diktys into the keeping of the stranger, and day by day the boy grew mightily in stature and in strength, so that his mother marvelled
what means
his
"
As
we
him
know
not, giving
and that
pillar of
at night,
when
all
men
the great
And
232
When Queen
what would befall. And when all men slept, behold, Isis came into the presencechamber carrying the child, and laying him down by the hearth, she piled the logs upon the fire until
see for herself
fire
grew
fire
Then, when
all
the
was
cleared a
it,
space, hot
and glowing,
in
the midst of
;
and
but she
and bewailing
And
in all
round
the
and
Isis,
(>F uslRi,^
'/).
236)
OSIRIS
"
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
!"
233
fool
Queen,
doubt
my
is
power
all
that
mortal
folly,
he must
know age and decay and death even as thou." Then the heart of Queen Athenais became water, for she knew that she stood before one
the immortal gods.
as
of
for her
husband,
Isis to
;
that
commanded them to give her the pillar of tamarisk wood that stood in the presence-chamber. And when it was given unto her, she split it open,
and took out the chest with the body of her husband
;
fine linen of
oil
upon
it,
she gave
Now,
it
is
Queen
set
it
up
in a
temple
which they
there
it.
By bios unto
unto
this
Isis,
and, behold,
all
even
day,
and
men
worship
234
So when
slic set
lier
husband,
away from
Byblos.
And some
Queen Athenais, and that he was lost upon the voyage and other some affirm that her lamentation when she saw the chest was so terrible that the boy's heart failed him for fear, and
httle Diktys, the son of
;
he died
and yet others say that he grew up and reigned in King iNLilkander's stead, and was a good
;
Khig and
so
wont of Kings,
for that
much
And
;
stories I
cannot discern
sight.
judge
Queen
lsis,
therefore, in
Egypt, and when she came over against the outgoing of the river called Phadrus, a cold wind from
off the river
And
it
in her
and behold
this day.
unto
place,
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
it
235
in
all
was written
Egypt know it even unto this day. And when she had mourned and wept, she hid the chest
in
for a season in a place
men
Now, while
his
companions and
would not
him
to rest.
And
in the
to be made, and
knew
At
;
terror,
so,
make an end
of Osiris
his brother
Then he returned home, believing of that he had put away the fear of Osiris
for ever.
Isis
And when
had
lain,
thing
therefore she
went
the
forth once
find
fragments
such as the
reeds,
since
but
first
Isis,
to
make
And when
god of the land which the outlandish desert-folk call Fayum, saw the goddess in her skiff, he gave
commandment unto
of
waters
this
Egypt not
to any
to do her harm.
Egypt do no
or that they
harm
it
still
who journey
in
command
of Sebek and
honour the
So Queen
went throughout
the land of
and built a
shrine.
And
so
thus
it is,
as
some
aver,
Egypt
many
sepulchres of Osiris.
is
with them,
OSIRIS
AND
HIS
WICKED BROTHER
237
them
all
god Ra
and the god heard her prayer, and he sent down from heaven Anubis, the fourth of his sons, whose
head
is
who
guides the
And Anubis gathered together the members of Osiris and united them as they were at the first. And
he wrapped the body in swathings of
fine linen of
Egypt
dead
the
this
and unto
of Osiris.
this
their
in the land of
name
and dead.
Then came
life
and, be-
came back
Yet because he had been dead and was alive again, the Council of the Gods gave judgment that he should not return to live as an earthly King among men, but tliat he should reign as King and
judge of
justice
all
unto
men
in the body.
So
Osiris dwelleth
even
now
in the
238
ILill of the
and
all
men who
pass
out of
this
There
They who
condemned and perish in the jaws of the Devourer of the L^njustified but they
have done
evil are
;
where
is
everlasting peace
But
defeat
Osiris
Red Fiend, he endures in and misery. For when Horus the son of was grown and came to man's estate, he
as for Set, the
;
and though
for Set
Set used
and vanquished.
is
not yet
so long as
men on
and
Set,
But in the fulness of the time Horus shall one day overthrow him utterly and in that day Osiris shall return once more as King to this earth, and his kingdom shall be righteousness
renews the
strife.
;
and peace.
CHAPTER XV
THE WANDERINGS OF
This
is
ISIS
one of the
of
many
not
stories that
belong to the
great legend
others
Osiris.
which
have
come down
to
us,
for
many Egyptian
writings to
and Horus, of which we know nothing but what we have is enough to show us that Plutarch was not only romancing w^hen he told us the story of Isis and Osiris, but
was
what had been told to himself. Shortly before the coming of Christ Isis became by
really repeating
far the
most popular of all goddesses, not only in her own land, but all through the Roman Empire. The story of the persecuted mother, and her faithful
love to her son seemed to find an echo in men's
hearts everywhere.
The
some of the adventures of Isis after the enemy Set had slain Osiris, and was trying to usurp his brother's kingdom and make himself master
a39
240
of Egypt.
hirge
stone pilhir
years
about four
hundred
priest.
before
an
Egyptian
in
The
pillar
was dug up
at Alexandria
Mehemet
herself
is
Prince Metternich.
supposed to be speaking.
"
am
I sis,
the
INlagic, to
whom
when
Now,
Osiris,
it
befell that
Red God
Set,
had
my
husband
by
guile,
me up
in prison
him
me
in the
me
the great
the
Prince
of
Truth and
Wisdom
goddess
spake unto
I sis
!
me
It
saying
is
'
O
he
who
fvill
be guided
Hide
thyself with
unto him
He
shall
grow
and
ISIS
AND HER
SKVE.X
GUARDIAN SCORPIONS.
'.p.
243)
THE WANDERINGS OF
shall
ISIS
241
be found in him.
Yea, he
shall sit
upon the
Lord of the
Two
Lands.'"
Then
my
me
evil brother
At evening
I left
journeyed with
me
as
my
my defence.
my
left
Behind
me came two
right
on
my
hand came
and on
and three went before my face to prepare the way before me, and their names were
hand,
JNIestetef,
Petet,
Thetet,
I
and Maatet.
And
to
:
these
'
my
guards
spake, charging
them
straitly
Salute no
;
make acquaintance with any speak to no Red Fiend, harm no child nor helpless creature,
one, neither
!'
they brought
me
to
Pa-sui,
is
the
town of the
river
at the
no
and thither across the land, and the people of the land from here even unto the Great Green Sea in
31
242
arrived at Teb,
and came
dwelt.
for a place
for I
women
And as
wherein to hide
my
footsore, a certain
rank, whose
name was
Usert,
Scorpions
in
my
"
as to
what should be done unto this woman for her hardness of heart, and they shot out all their poison on the tail of the scorpion Tefen, so that his sting
should have sevenfold
But a peasant her door unto me, and into the house of this w^oman of low degree I went, and laid me down there and rested. But while I
in
it.
venom
Tefen crawled
in
woman
Usert,
who had
shut
And when
fire.
it
out, for
it
was not
THE WANDERINGS OF
the sky sent
ISIS
fire
243
down
was
Yet the heart of the lady Usert was heavy within her, and her sadness was great upon her, for her child lay in pain, and she knew not
quenched.
whether he would
live or die
Hut
heard the
and
me no
in
So
Come
I
to
I
to
me
There
for
is life
my words.
spell
me Come am a woman
!
well
known
my
I
skill to heal.
by a
his
which
my
father
taught
"
me
I
for
am
;
daughter and
his beloved.'
still
Then
came
and
laid
'
and when
I
beheld him
I
:
my
no
O
on
poison of Tefen,
farther.
come
I
forth, fall
on the ground, go
poison of Befen,
come
forth, fall
the ground.
For
am
I
Isis
of words of power.
am
venom
fall
244
not up
in his
body.
Poison Poison
Do not my words
?
rule to the
I
Unto you
speak,
am
alone and in
The poison
shall
Horus, that
I sis,
be
is
and he who
Then
as before,
and the
fire in
And
many and
precious,
and
laid
them
at
For I am the lady Isis, a great goddess, mistress of words of power, and mighty in word
my
feet.
and
"
in deed.
Now
in
I,
Isis,
bore
my
Osiris,
And
I rejoiced
THE WANDERINGS OF
greatly over
ISIS
I
245
my
son, because
now
knew
that the
avenger of
had appeared, and that the Red Fiend Set should not have dominion over
his father
1
the land.
for I
was
afraid of the
Red
Fiend.
Then
went
forth to the
town of Am, and the people received me and did homage unto me, for they knew the So when greatness of my power, and were afraid.
I
in
Horus
lifeless,
into
my
!
arms.
But,
behold, I found
him
my
beautiful Horus,
my
golden one,
my
fatherless child
body was
"
relaxed,
and
liis
and made lamentation 'My father is in the Under- World, and my mother in the realms of the dead, and my husband lies in his coffin. None have I to answer for me or to avenge
Then
1 shrieked
me on mine
me.'
adversary.
if
I will call
So
called
and hastened to
help
me
at
my
call.
sorrow,
greatness of
my
me
or give
246
me
said
my
me
son.
There came a
woman
to me,
She
'
Red
JSIay
'*
come
not be
1
tliat
Then
and
laid
I
my
nose close to
tlie
child,
my
knew
: '
took
him
swiftly in
my
arms, and
is
my
unto heaven
Horus
stung,
Great
God
Ra.
!'
Horus is stung, the inheritor of thy heritage Then came my sister Nephtliys weeping, and her
lamentations echoed through the swamps, and with
her came Selkis, the scorpion goddess.
said
: '
And
even
she
?
What
has happened
What
has happened
will stop
in
Ra
is
will not
Horus
dead.'
my
Then 1 made my voice reach unto heaven, and cry came even unto the Bark of Eternity.
still in
the mid-
firmament, and
out of the
moved not from his place. And Bark of Eternity came Thoth, bringing
THE WANDERINGS OF
his
'
ISIS
247
magic with him, and a great commission from AVhat is the matter ? Ra, and thus he spake
:
What
is
the matter,
skilful
O
?
Isis,
with the
tongue
happened to the child Horus ? Lo I come from the Bark of the Sun, from his place of yesterday hath iied, for darkness hath come on, and light his mother until Horus is healed and given back to
Isis.
who
is
Horus is the Sun, both lands with his beaming eyes, and
Verily the dethe protector of the suffering. in fender of Horus is the Ancient of Days who is
the mid-heaven,
who
gives
commands
is
to
all
who
and
The
ship of the
Sun stands
the
Sun moves not from his place of yesterday and the until Horus is made whole once more,
sufferer
is
So Thoth, the great god, the Lord of Truth and of Wisdom, stood over the child Horus and Wake up, spake his words of power on this wise
"
:
'
Horus.
Thy defence
Isis.
is
sure.
of thy mother
ye that dwell
The
248
word
mouth
tongue of the
Sun's disc
to heal
Ha Great God
of
still
shjill
shall
Now
the
Hark of Ra standeth
is
and
inoNttli not.
it
and the
in the place
where
Isis.
was yesterday,
Horus
for his
mother
to
Come
to earth
draw
near,
Ra
Make
the ship of
Ra
come
1,
for his
mother
Isis.
Lo
even
!
am
Thoth, the
Ra The company of the gods have commanded me to heal Horus for his mother Isis. Hchold the poison is its own destrucfirst-born son, the son of
tion
one.
it
is
destroyed because
it
Horus
liveth
Then my
back to
me
alive
and
well,
on
in heaven,
the other.
in the
Now
doth Horus
my
and
in
Red Fiend
and
Osiris
me
his father
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