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
"Glory be to Osiris Un-Nefer, the great god who dwelleth in Abydos, king
of eternity, lord of everlastingness, whose existence endureth for
millions of years. Eldest son of the womb of Nut,[1] begotten by Keb,[2]
the Erpāt,[3] lord of the crowns of the South and North, lord of the
lofty white crown, prince of gods and men: he hath received the sceptre,
and the whip, and the rank of his divine fathers. Let thy heart in
Semt-Ament[4] be content, for thy son Horus is established on thy
throne. Thou art crowned lord of Tatu[5] and ruler in Abydos.[6] Through
thee the world flourisheth in triumph before the power of Nebertcher.[7]
He leadeth on that which is and that which is not yet, in his name of
'Taherstanef.' He toweth along the earth by Maāt[8] in his name of
'Seker'; he is exceedingly mighty and most terrible in his name of
'Osiris'; he endureth for ever and ever in his name of 'Un-Nefer.'
Homage to thee, O King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of princes, who
from the womb of Nut hast ruled the world and Akert.[9] Thy body is
[like] bright and shining metal, thy head is of azure blue, and the
brilliance of the turquoise encircleth thee. O thou god An of millions
of years, whose body pervadeth all things, whose face is beautiful in
Ta-Tchesert,[10] grant thou to the Ka of the Osiris the scribe Ani
splendour in heaven, power upon earth, and triumph in the Other World.
Grant that I may sail down to Tatu in the form of a living soul, and
sail up to Abydos in the form of the Benu bird;[11] that I may go in and
come out without being stopped at the pylons of the Lords of the Other
World. May there be given unto me bread-cakes in the house of coolness,
and offerings of food in Anu (Heliopolis), and a homestead for ever in
Sekhet Aru,[12] with wheat and barley therefor."
[Footnote 1: The Sky-goddess.]
[Footnote 2: The Earth-god.]
[Footnote 3: The hereditary chief of the gods.]
[Footnote 4: The other world.]
[Footnote 5: The town of Busiris on the Delta.]
[Footnote 6: Abydos in Upper Egypt.]
[Footnote 7: The Lord to the uttermost limit, _i.e._ Almighty God.]
[Footnote 8: The goddess of physical and moral law, and the
personification of the conscience.]
[Footnote 9: A name of the Other World.]
[Footnote 10: The Holy Land, _i.e._ the Kingdom of Osiris.]
[Footnote 11: A bird which has been identified with the phœnix. The soul
of Rā was incarnate in it.]
[Footnote 12: A name of the realm of Osiris, or the Elysian Fields.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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