His Majesty sent me to cut five channels in the South, and make three broad boats and four transports of the acacia of Wawat. Behold, the rulers of Arertet, Wawat, Aam, and Meza were bringing wood for it. All were made in one year, floated, and laden with very great blocks of granite for the pyramid Kha-nefer of Merenra; moreover, I myself gave service to the palace in the whole work of these five channels,[203] on account of my abundance and my wealth [?], and of the loftiness of the mighty spirit of King Merenra, living for ever, beyond that of any god, and because all things came to pass according to the command which his _Ka_ ordained. Translation of F. Ll. Griffith. SONGS OF LABORERS The reapers, represented cutting corn in the tomb of Paheri (XVIIIth Dynasty), are supposed to be chanting a little song, the words of which are engraved above their figures. Such songs are very common among the fellahin of the present day, who thus mark time for their work in the fields or on the river. This song is introduced by a phrase which seems to speak of it as being "in answering chant"; and this perhaps gives us the technical Egyptian term for antiphonal singing. _In answering chant they say_:-- This is a good day! to the land come out | The north wind is out. The sky works according to our heart | Let us work, binding firm our heart. The following transcription of the original Egyptian may give some idea of the assonances of words and ordered repetitions which marked the poetical style; the main repetitions are here italicized. _Khen en usheb, zet-sen_:-- Hru pen nefer, _per_ em ta | Ta mehyt _perta_. Ta pet her art en _ab-en_ | Bek-en mert _ab-en_. In the same tomb there is another song, already well known but less noticeable in form than the above. It is sung to the oxen on the threshing-floor. Thresh for yourselves. Thresh for yourselves. Thresh for yourselves. Thresh for yourselves. Straw to eat; corn for your masters; Let not your hearts be weary, your lord is pleased. Translation of F. Ll. Griffith. LOVE SONGS Some of the prettiest Egyptian poetry is contained in a papyrus of the XVIIIth Dynasty at the British Museum. The verses are written in hieratic, and are extremely difficult to translate, but their beauty is apparent to the translator even when he cannot fix the sense. A new edition of these and other poems of a kindred nature is being prepared by Professor W. Max Mueller of Philadelphia, who kindly permits us to make some extracts from the advance sheets of his publication. The songs are collected in small groups, generally entitled 'Songs of Entertainment.' The lover and his mistress call each other "brother" and "sister." In one song the girl addresses her lover in successive stanzas under the names of different plants in a garden, and plays on these names. Others are as follows:-- LOVE-SICKNESS