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
divine essence, by whom this land rejoices to be governed. He enlarges
the borders of the South, but he covets not the lands of the North;
he does not smite the Sati, nor crush the Nemau-shau If he descends
here, let him know thy name, by the homage which thou wilt pay to his
majesty. For he refuses not to bless the land which obeys him."
And he replied to me, "Egypt is indeed happy and well settled; behold
thou art far from it, but whilst thou art with me I will do good unto
thee." And he placed me before his children, he married his eldest
daughter to me, and gave me the choice of all his land, even among the
best of that which he had on the border of the next land. It is a goodly
land, laa is its name. There are figs and grapes; there is wine commoner
than water; abundant is the honey, many are its olives; and all fruits
are upon its trees; there is barley and wheat, and cattle of kinds
without end. This was truly a great thing that he granted me, when the
prince came to invest me, and establish me as prince of a tribe in the
best of his land. I had my continual portion of bread and of wine each
day, of cooked meat, of roasted fowl, as well as the wild game which I
took, or which was brought to me, besides what my dogs captured. They
made me much butter, and prepared milk of all kinds. I passed many
years, the children that I had became great, each ruling his tribe.
When a messenger went or came to the palace, he turned aside from the
way to come to me; for I helped every man. I gave water to the
thirsty, I set on his way him who went astray, and I rescued the
robbed. The Sati who went far, to strike and turn back the princes of
other lands, I ordained their goings; for the Prince of the Tenu for
many years appointed me to be general of his soldiers. In every land
which I attacked I played the champion, I took the cattle, I led away
the vassals, I carried off the slaves, I slew the people, by my sword,
my bow, my marches and my good devices. I was excellent to the heart
of my prince; he loved me when he knew my power, and set me over his
children when he saw the strength of my arms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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