Egyptian Literature: Comprising Egyptian tales, hymns, litanies, invocations, the Book of the Dead, and cuneiform writings
Religion
Egyptian Literature: Comprising Egyptian tales, hymns, litanies, invocations, the Book of the Dead, and cuneiform writings
Egyptian literature -- Translations into English
A champion of the Tenu came to defy me in my tent: a bold man without
equal, for he had vanquished the whole country. He said, “Let Sanehat
fight with me”; for he desired to overthrow me; he thought to take my
cattle for his tribe. The prince counselled with me. I said: “I know him
not. I certainly am not of his degree, I hold me far from his place. Have
I ever opened his door, or leaped over his fence? It is some envious
jealousy from seeing me; does he think that I am like some steer among the
cows, whom the bull overthrows? If this is a wretch who thinks to enrich
himself at my cost, not a Bedawi and a Bedawi fit for fight, then let us
put the matter to judgment. Verily a true bull loves battle, but a
vainglorious bull turns his back for fear of contest; if he has a heart
for combat, let him speak what he pleases. Will God forget what he has
ordained, and how shall that be known?” I lay down; and when I had rested
I strung my bow, I made ready my arrows, I loosened my poniard, I
furbished my arms. At dawn the land of the Tenu came together; it had
gathered its tribes and called all the neighboring people, it spake of
nothing but the fight. Each heart burnt for me, men and women crying out;
for each heart was troubled for me, and they said: “Is there another
strong one who would fight with him? Behold the adversary has a buckler, a
battle-axe, and an armful of javelins.” Then I drew him to the attack; I
turned aside his arrows, and they struck the ground in vain. One drew near
to the other, and he fell on me, and then I shot him. My arrow fastened in
his neck, he cried out, and fell on his face: I drove his lance into him,
and raised my shout of victory on his back. While all the men of the land
rejoiced, I, and his vassals whom he had oppressed, gave thanks unto
Mentu. This prince, Amu-an-shi, embraced me. Then I carried off his goods
and took his cattle, that which he had wished to do to me, I did even so
unto him; I seized that which was in his tent, I spoiled his dwelling. As
time went on I increased the richness of my treasures and the number of my
cattle.
Petition To The King Of Egypt
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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