7 After all, what is prosperity? Their fenced walls are dilapidated. Their houses are as that which has never existed. 8 No man comes from thence who tells of their sayings, who tells of their affairs, who encourages our hearts. Ye go 9 to the place whence they return not.(514) Strengthen thy heart to forget how thou hast enjoyed thyself, fulfil thy desire whilst thou livest. 10 Put oils upon thy head clothe thyself with fine linen adorned with precious metals 11 with the _gifts_ of God multiply thy good things, yield to thy desire, fulfil thy desire with thy good things 12 (whilst thou art) upon earth, according to the dictation of thy heart. The day will come to thee, when one hears not the voice when the one who is at rest hears not 13 their voices.(515) Lamentations deliver not him who is in the tomb.(516) 14 Feast in tranquillity seeing that there is no one who carries away his goods with him. Yea, behold, none who goes thither comes back again. Hymns To Amen Translated by C. W. Goodwin, M.A. These beautiful poems are contained in the “Anastasi Papyri” in the collection at the British Museum. They have been mostly translated in French by M. F. Chabas, from whose interpretation I have occasionally found reason to differ. The papyrus itself is considerably mutilated, and bears no date, but from the character of the script there can be little doubt that it is of the period of the nineteenth dynasty. These hymns have been published by myself with exegetical notes in the “Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archæology,” vol. II, part 2, 1873, p. 353; and, as before mentioned, in French by M. Chabas in the “_Mélanges Egyptologiques_,” 1870, p. 117. HYMN TO AMEN(517) 1 “O Amen, lend thine ear to him 2 who is alone before the tribunal, 3 he is poor (he is not) rich. 4 The court oppresses him; 5 silver and gold for the clerks of the book, 6 garments for the servants. There is no other Amen, acting as a judge, 7 to deliver (one) from his misery; 8 when the poor man is before the tribunal, 9 (making) the poor to go forth rich.” HYMN TO AMEN(518) 1 “I cry, the beginning of wisdom is the way of Amen,(519) 2 the rudder of (truth). 3 Thou art he that giveth bread to him who has none, 4 that sustaineth the servant of his house. 5 Let no prince be my defender in all my troubles. 6 Let not my memorial be placed under the power 7 of any man who is in the house ... My Lord is (my) defender; 8 I know his power, to wit, (he is) a strong defender, 9 there is none mighty except him alone. 10 Strong is Amen, knowing how to answer, 11 fulfilling the desire of him who cries to him; 12 the Sun the true King of gods, 13 the Strong Bull, the mighty lover (of power).” HYMN TO AMEN(520)