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
When the earth lightened and it was the second day[155] his Majesty came
to Anbuhez. He moored upon its north side, he found the water risen to
the walls and ships moored at [the quay of] Mennefer. Then his Majesty
saw that it was mighty indeed, the wall raised high with new building,
the battlement manned with strength; no way of attacking it was found.
Each person fell to saying his say among the hosts of his Majesty of
every rule of warfare, and every man said, "Let us lay siege to
[Anbuhez]; behold, her soldiers are many." Others said: "Make a causeway
unto it; let us raise the ground to its wall; let us construct a wooden
work, let us set up ships' masts, let us make its edges of poles. Let us
divide it with these things[156] on every side of it, with embankments
and ... upon its north side, in order to raise the ground to its wall
that we may find a way for our feet."
[The King determines to assault it immediately; he seizes all
the boats at the quay, where the houses were comparatively
unprotected, and landing his men in them at that point captures
the city.]
Then his Majesty raged against it [the city] like a leopard, he
said:--"As I live, as I love Ra, as my father Amen who formed me
praiseth me, these things have happened unto it by the command of Amen.
These things are what men say: '[The North Country] with the nomes of
the South they open to him [Tafnekht] from afar; they had not placed
Amen in their hearts, they knew not what he had commanded. [Then] he
[Amen] made him [Piankhy] in order to accomplish his mighty will, to
cause the awe of him to be seen.' I will take it like a water flood;
[this] hath [my father Amen] commanded me."
Then he caused his ships and his army to set out to attack the quay of
Mennefer. They brought back to him every ferry-boat, every cabin-boat,
every dahabiyeh, and the ships in all their number that were moored at
the quay of Mennefer, the bows being moored in its houses [on account of
the height of the water.[157] Not] the least of the soldiers of his
Majesty mourned.[158]
His Majesty came to direct the ships in person in all their number. His
Majesty commanded his soldiers: "Forward to it! Scale the walls, enter
the houses upon the bank of the stream. If one of you enters upon the
wall there will be no stand against him [for a moment], the levies [?]
will not bar you. Moreover, it is feeble that we should shut up the
South Country, moor at the North land, and sit still at 'the Balance of
the two lands.'[159]
Then Mennefer was captured as by a flood of water; men were slain within
it in great numbers, and were taken as prisoners to the place where his
Majesty was.
[In Memphis Piankhy sacrifices. The neighboring garrisons flee;
three Northern chiefs and all the nomarchs submit in person;
the treasures of Memphis are confiscated.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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