The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 01 : $b Prolegomena; Egypt, Mesopotamia
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 01 : $b Prolegomena; Egypt, Mesopotamia
World history
“Like Mentu, I then cast my arrows to the right, I overthrew my
enemies. I am like Baal before them. The two thousand five hundred
chariots which surround me are dashed to pieces by my horsemen. Not
one of them has a hand to fight with, their hearts fail them, and fear
enfeebles their members. They cannot draw their arrows, nor have they
strength to wield their lances. I precipitate them into the water as
you would a crocodile, they are cast down on the top of each other.
I do not wish one to look behind nor to turn back. He who falls will
never regain his feet.”
The effect produced by this outburst about God was very great,
especially on the Kheta, who seemed arrested by an invisible power when
on the point of victory, and hesitated in terror. Then they commanded
the chiefs in their cars, and the men versed in war to advance, so
that the company of the kings of Arathu, of Ilion, of Lycia, Dardania,
Carchemish, Kerkesh, Khilibu, numbering three thousand chariots,
proceed forward.
“But all their efforts are useless. I dashed on them like Mentu, my
hands destroyed them in the space of an instant, I cut and I killed
amongst them, so that they said one to another:
“‘This is not a man amongst us, it is Sutekh, the great warrior. It
is Baal in person. These are not the actions of a man that he does.
Alone, all alone, he repulses hundreds of thousands without chiefs,
and without soldiers. Let us hasten to fly before him, let us save our
lives, let us breathe again.’
“All who came to fight found their hands weakened, they could no longer
hold bows, or lance. Seeing that he had arrived at cross-roads the king
pursued them like a griffin.”
It was only when the enemy is in retreat that he summons his soldiers,
not so much for their aid as to let them witness his valour:
“Be firm, keep up your heart, O my soldiers! You see my victory and I
was alone. It is Amen who gave me strength; his hand is with me.”
He encourages his shield-bearer Menna who is full of fear at the number
of the enemy, and rushes into the mêlée.
“Six times I charged the enemy!”
At last his army arrives toward evening and helps him. He assembles his
generals and overwhelms them with reproaches.
“What will the whole world say, when it learns that you left me quite
alone? That not a charioteer nor any archers joined with me? I have
fought, I have repulsed millions of people alone. ‘Victory of Thebes,’
and ‘Mut is satisfied’ were my glorious horses. It was with them that
I was alone amid terrifying enemies. I will see them fed myself every
day, when I am in my palace, for I had them when I was in the midst
of my enemies with the chief Menna, my shield bearer, and with the
officers of my horse who accompanied me, and are witnesses of the
battle; they were with me. I have returned after a victorious battle
and I have struck the assembled multitudes with my blade.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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