Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 13
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Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 13
Literature -- Collections
"The possessor of understanding understandeth the higher order of men,
and the servant recognizeth the majesty of Pharaoh. But thy servant
feareth to speak it: it is a weighty matter to tell of. The great God,
like unto Ra, knoweth well the work which he himself hath wrought. Who
is thy servant that he should be considered, that words should be spent
upon him? Thy majesty is as Horus, and the strength of thy arms
extendeth to all lands.
"Then let his Majesty command that there be brought to him Meki of
Kedem, Khentiu-aaush of Khent-keshu, and Menus of the Two Lands of the
Fenkhu; these are chiefs as hostages that the Tenu act according to the
desire of thy _Ka_, and that Tenu will not covet what belongeth to thee
in it, like thy dogs.[60] Behold this flight that thy servant made: I
did not desire it, it was not in my heart; I do not boast of it; I know
not what took me away from my place; it was like the leading of a dream,
as a man of Adhu sees himself in Abu,[61] as a man of the Corn-land sees
himself in the Land of Gardens.[62] There was no fear, none was
hastening in pursuit of me; I did not listen to an evil plot, my name
was not heard in the mouth of the informer; but my limbs went, my feet
wandered, my heart drew me; a god ordained this flight, and led me on.
But I am not stiff-necked; a man feareth if he knoweth [?], for Ra hath
spread thy fear over the land, thy terrors in every foreign country.
Behold me in thy palace or behold me in this place,[63] still thou art
he who doth clothe this horizon. The sun riseth at thy pleasure, the
water in the rivers is drunk at thy will, the wind in heaven is breathed
at thy saying.
"Thy servant will leave to a successor the viziership which thy servant
hath held in this land. And when thy servant shall arrive[64] let thy
Majesty do as pleaseth him, for one liveth by the breath that thou
givest. O thou who art beloved of Ra, of Horus, and of Hathor! It is thy
august nostril that Mentu, lord of Uast, desireth should live for ever."
* * * * *
It was granted that I should spend a day in Iaa,[65] to pass over my
goods to my children, my eldest son leading my tribe, and all my goods
in his hand, my people and all my cattle, my fruit, and all my pleasant
trees. When thy humble servant[66] journeyed to the south, and arrived
at the Roads of Horus, the officer who was over the frontier-patrol sent
a report to the Residence to give notice. His Majesty sent the good
overseer of the peasants of the king's domains, and ships with him laden
with presents from the king for the Sati who had come with me to convey
me to the Roads of Horus. I spoke to each one by his name, each officer
according to his rank. I received and I returned the salutation, and I
continued thus[67] until I reached Athtu.[68]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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