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
[Footnote 2: _i.e._ they were kept prisoners in Syria until their
death.]
Then the Governor spake to the officer of his bodyguard, saying, "Lay
hands on him, and take him to see the tombs wherein they lie." And I
said unto him, "Far be it from me to look upon such [ill-omened] things!
As concerning the messengers of Khā-em-Uast, the men whom he sent unto
thee as ambassadors were merely [officials] of his, and there was no god
with his ambassadors, and so thou sayest, 'Make haste to look upon thy
colleagues.' Behold, wouldst thou not have greater pleasure, and
shouldst thou not [instead of saying such things] cause to be made a
stele whereon should be said by thee:
"Amen-Rā, the King of the Gods, sent to me Amen-ta-mat, his divine
ambassador, together with Unu-Amen, his human ambassador, in quest of
trunks of cedar wood for the Great and Holy Boat of Amen-Rā, the King
of the Gods. And I cut down cedar trees, and I loaded them into ships. I
provided the ships myself, and I manned them with my own sailors, and I
made them to arrive in Egypt that they might bespeak [from the god for
me] ten thousand years of life, in addition to the span of life which
was decreed for me. And this petition hath been granted.
"[And wouldst thou not rather] that, after the lapse of time, when
another ambassador came from the land of Egypt who understood this
writing, he should utter thy name which should be on the stele, and pray
that thou shouldst receive water in Amentet, even like the gods who
subsist?"
And he said unto me, "These words which thou hast spoken unto me are of
a certainty a great testimony." And I said unto him, "Now, as concerning
the multitude of words which thou hast spoken unto me: As soon as I
arrive at the place where the First Prophet (_i.e._ Her-Heru) of Amen
dwelleth, and he knoweth [how thou hast] performed the commands of the
God [Amen], he will cause to be conveyed to thee [a gift of] certain
things." Then I walked down to the beach, to the place where the trunks
of cedar had been lying, and I saw eleven ships [ready] to put out to
sea; and they belonged to Tchakar-Bāl. [And the governor sent out an
order] saying, "Stop him, and do not let any ship with him on board
[depart] to the land of Egypt." Then I sat myself down and wept. And the
scribe of the Governor came out to me, and said unto me, "What aileth
thee?" And I said unto him, "Consider the _kashu_ birds that fly to
Egypt again and again! And consider how they flock to the cool water
brooks! Until the coming of whom must I remain cast aside hither?
Assuredly thou seest those who have come to prevent my departure a
second time."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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