The Literature of the Ancient EgyptiansBudge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir
History
The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians
Budge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir
Egyptian literature -- History and criticism; Egyptian literature -- Translations into English
"Behold, I was 'judge belonging to Nekhen' when His Majesty made me a
_smer uāt_, and overseer of the estates of Pharaoh, and ... of the four
overseers of the estate of Pharaoh who were there. I performed my duties
in such a way as to secure His Majesty's approval, both when the Court
was in residence and when it was travelling, and in appointing officials
for duty. I acted in such a way that His Majesty praised me for my work
above everything. During the secret inquiry which was made in the king's
household concerning the Chief Wife Amtes, His Majesty made me enter to
hear the case by myself. There was no Chief Justice there, and no Town
Governor, and no nobleman, only myself, and this was because I was able
and acceptable to the heart of His Majesty, and because the heart of His
Majesty was filled with me. I did the case into writing, I alone, with
only one judge belonging to Nekhen, and yet my rank was only that of
overseer of the estates of Pharaoh. Never before did a man of my rank
hear the case of a secret of the royal household, and His Majesty only
made me hear it because I was more perfect to the heart of His Majesty
than any officer of his, or any nobleman of his, or any servant of his.
"His Majesty had to put down a revolt of the Āamu dwellers on the
sand.[1] His Majesty collected an army of many thousands strong in the
South everywhere, beyond Abu (Elephantine) and northwards of
Aphroditopolis, in the Northland (Delta) everywhere, in both halves of
the region, in Setcher, and in the towns like Setcher, in Arthet of the
Blacks, in Matcha of the Blacks, in Amam of the Blacks, in Uauat of the
Blacks, in Kaau of the Blacks, and in the Land of Themeh. His Majesty
sent me at the head of this army. Behold, the dukes, the royal
seal-bearers, the _smer uats_ of the palace, the chiefs, the governors
of the forts (?) of the South and the North, the _smeru_, the masters of
caravans, the overseers of the priests of the South and North, and the
overseers of the stewards, were commanding companies of the South and
the North, and of the forts and towns which they ruled, and of the
Blacks of these countries, but it was I who planned tactics for them,
although my rank was only that of an overseer of the estates of Pharaoh
of.... No one quarrelled with his fellow, no one stole the food or the
sandals of the man on the road, no one stole bread from any town, and no
one stole a goat from any encampment of people. I despatched them from
North Island, the gate of Ihetep, the Uārt of Heru-neb-Maāt. Having this
rank ... I investigated (?) each of these companies (or regiments);
never had any servant investigated (?) companies in this way before.
This army returned in peace, having raided the Land of the dwellers on
sand. This army returned in peace, having thrown down the fortresses
thereof. This army returned in peace, having cut down its fig-trees and
vines. This army returned in peace, having set fire [to the temples] of
all its gods.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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