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
“... my envoys ... the many ... that they send to me I ... Thou my brother
without ... for thy daughter to wed, as I send ... (you say) thus, ‘From
of old a daughter of the King of Egypt was not given for anything.’ Why
so? Thou art a King, and doest thy will. As they spake this message to me
I then sent thus, ‘Many of (your) daughters are grown up. So send one who
is grown up as (I ask for) her.’ Who says thus, ‘There is no daughter of
the King to give.’ Thou hast sent without enquiring as to this. Thou dost
not rebuke alliance and good-will, as you send approaching me eagerly as
to a taking to wife. And I sent to you because of these things, in
brotherhood and good-will, because eagerly approaching me as to taking a
wife. My brother, why not send a woman? Why am I repulsed? I myself have
sent like thee, I have intrusted a woman. As there were daughters I did
not refuse thee. Why associate by taking a wife as ... I have sent to thee
to know this ... all your ... so ... they said your ... Lo! my daughter
whom I have sent(412) ... you do not take unwillingly, consenting to
whatever you desire ... and as for the gold that I send you, your envoy
has agreed with me as to the amount of the gold I.... Behold speedily,
within this year, whether in the month of June (_Duzu_) or in the month of
July (_Ab_),(413) this message being taken away, let her whom I have taken
be.... If within this year, in June or in July, I send you the gold, you
shall send ... the daughter whom I am given by you, and you in return
shall send the gold for your ... But if in June or in July the gold is not
sent, do not cause her whom I have taken to be sent away. And in return
for what will you send to be carried away her whom I have taken. Why,
indeed, is it necessary to trouble about gold? Truly sending 3,000
(pounds?) of gold have not I completed the exchange for you, and have not
I given my daughter to take to wife?”
ASSURUBALID’S LETTER
9 B.—“To _Amenophis IV_ (the great King?) the King of _Egypt_ my brother,
thus _Assurubalid_,(414) King of _Assyria_ the great King thy brother.
Peace be to thee, to thy house, and to thy land. I was very glad when I
saw your envoys. Let me send your envoys again with my message. I have
sent as a present for you a chariot (of the royal forces?) of my ... and
two horses swift and sure. A chariot (without harness?) and a precious
stone.
“The sending of gold from your land that has formerly come across to the
great King has ceased.(415) Why should he be repulsed from your sight?
They have taken as much gold as there was; as much as I have received,
which also I have needed, is caused to be sent.
“In the time of _Assurnadinakhi_(416) my ancestor they sent to the land of
Egypt twenty (pounds?) of gold.
“In the time that the King of _Khani-Rabbatu_ sent to your father, to the
land of Egypt, they sent him twenty (pounds) of gold.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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