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
This peasant came the ninth time to lay his complaint [before Rensi],
and said, "The great balance of men is their tongues, and all the rest
is put to the test by the hand balance. When thou punishest the man who
ought to be punished, the act telleth in thy favour. [When he doeth not
this] falsehood becometh his possession, truth turneth away from before
him, his goods are falsehood, truth forsaketh him, and supporteth him
not. If falsehood advanceth, she maketh a mistake, and goeth not over
with the ferry-boat [to the Island of Osiris]. The man with whom
falsehood prevaileth hath no children and no heirs upon the earth. The
man in whose boat falsehood saileth never reacheth land, and his boat
never cometh into port. Be not heavy, but at the same time do not be too
light. Be not slow, but at the same time be not too quick. Rage not at
the man who is listening to thee. Cover not over thy face before the man
with whom thou art acquainted. Make not blind thy face towards the man
who is looking at thee. Thrust not aside the suppliant as thou goest
down. Be not indolent in making known thy decision. Do [good] unto him
that will do [good] unto thee. Hearken not unto the cry of the mob, who
say, 'A man will assuredly cry out when his case is really righteous.'
There is no yesterday for the indolent man, there is no friend for the
man who is deaf to [the words of] truth, and there is no day of
rejoicing for the avaricious man. The informer becometh a poor man, and
the poor man becometh a beggar, and the unfriendly man becometh a dead
person. Observe now, I have laid my complaint before thee, but thou wilt
not hearken unto it; I shall now depart, and make my complaint against
thee to Anubis."
Then Rensi, the son of Meru, the steward, caused two of his servants to
go and bring back the peasant. Now this peasant was afraid, for he
believed that he would be beaten severely because of the words which he
had spoken to him. And this peasant said, "This is [like] the coming of
the thirsty man to salt tears, and the taking of the mouth of the
suckling child to the breast of the woman that is dry. That the sight of
which is longed for cometh not, and only death approacheth."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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