Produced by Al Haines [Illustration: Cover art] [Transcriber's note: the various sections of this book had varying page headers. Those headers have been collected at the start of each section as introductory paragraphs.] THE WISDOM OF THE EAST THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAH-HOTEP AND THE INSTRUCTION OF KE'GEMNI: THE OLDEST BOOKS IN THE WORLD. TRANSLATED FROM THE EGYPTIAN WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND APPENDIX BY BATTISCOMBE G. GUNN LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET 1906 TO MY MOTHER VII.NOV.MCMIV CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAH-HOTEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 THE INSTRUCTION OF KE'GEMNI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 APPENDIX NOTE TO APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 THE INSTRUCTION OF AMENEMHE'ET . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 EXPLANATION OF NAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 {10} EDITORIAL NOTE The object of the editors of this series is a very definite one. They desire above all things that, in their humble way, these books shall be the ambassadors of good-will and understanding between East and West, the old world of Thought, and the new of Action. In this endeavour, and in their own sphere, they are but followers of the highest example in the land. They are confident that a deeper knowledge of the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental thought may help to a revival of that true spirit of Charity which neither despises nor fears the nations of another creed and colour. Finally, in thanking press and public for the very cordial reception given to the "Wisdom of the East" series, they wish to state that no pains have been spared to secure the best specialists for the treatment of the various subjects at hand. L. CRANMER-BYNG. S. A. KAPADIA. 4, HARCOURT BUILDINGS, INNER TEMPLE, LONDON. {11} THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAH-HOTEP INTRODUCTION Memorials of the Past--The Land of Darkness--The Time of Ptah-Hotep--Concerning the Book--The Treatise of Ke'Gemni--Date of the Manuscript--An Egyptian Chesterfield--Who was Ptah-Hotep?--His Teaching--Views on Women--The Gods of Egypt--Previous Translations--The Oldest Book Known Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new! It hath been already of old time, Which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; Neither shall there be any remembrance Of things that are to come With those that shall come after.