Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri: First series, IVth to XIIth dynastyPetrie, W. M. Flinders (William Matthew Flinders)
General
Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri: First series, IVth to XIIth dynasty
Petrie, W. M. Flinders (William Matthew Flinders)
Egyptian literature -- Translations into English
When I had dwelt there half a year Amu-an-shi--who is the prince of the
Upper Tenu--sent for me and said: "Dwell thou with me that thou mayest
hear the speech of Egypt." He said thus for that he knew of my
excellence, and had heard tell of my worth, for men of Egypt who were
there with him bore witness of me. Behold he said to me, "For what cause
hast thou come hither? Has a matter come to pass in the palace? Has the
king of the two lands, Sehetep-abra gone to heaven? That which has
happened about this is not known." But I answered with concealment, and
said, "When I came from the land of the Tamahu, and my desires were
there changed in me, if I fled away it was not by reason of remorse that
I took the way of a fugitive; I have not failed in my duty, my mouth has
not said any bitter words, I have not heard any evil counsel, my name
has not come into the mouth of a magistrate. I know not by what I have
been led into this land." And Amu-an-shi said, "This is by the will of
the god (king of Egypt), for what is a land like if it know not that
excellent god, of whom the dread is upon the lands of strangers, as
they dread Sekhet in a year of pestilence." I spake to him, and
replied, "Forgive me, his son now enters the palace, and has received
the heritage of his father. He is a god who has none like him, and
there is none before him. He is a master of wisdom, prudent in his
designs, excellent in his decrees, with good-will to him who goes or
who comes; he subdued the land of strangers while his father yet lived
in his palace, and he rendered account of that which his father
destined him to perform. He is a brave man, who verily strikes with
his sword; a valiant one, who has not his equal; he springs upon the
barbarians, and throws himself on the spoilers; he breaks the horns
and weakens the hands, and those whom he smites cannot raise the
buckler. He is fearless, and dashes the heads, and none can stand
before him. He is swift of foot, to destroy him who flies; and none
who flees from him reaches his home. His heart is strong in his time;
he is a lion who strikes with the claw, and never has he turned his
back. His heart is closed to pity; and when he sees multitudes, he
leaves none to live behind him. He is a valiant one who springs in
front when he sees resistance; he is a warrior who rejoices when he
flies on the barbarians. He seizes the buckler, he rushes forward, he
never needs to strike again, he slays and none can turn his lance; and
when he takes the bow the barbarians flee from his arms like dogs; for
the great goddess has given to him to strike those who know her not;
and if he reaches forth he spares none, and leaves nought behind. He
is a friend of great sweetness, who knows how to gain love; his land
loves him more than itself, and rejoices in him more than in its own
god; men and women run to his call. A king, he has ruled from his
birth; he, from his birth, has increased births, a sole being, a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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