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
One day in the late summer, in the fifteenth year of his reign, his
Majesty was in Thebes celebrating a festival in honour of Father Amen,
the King of the gods, in the temple now known as the Temple of Luxor,
when an official came and informed the king that "an ambassador of the
Prince of Bekhten had arrived bearing many gifts for the Royal Wife."
The ambassador was brought into the presence with his gifts, and having
addressed the king in suitable words of honour, and smelt the ground
before His Majesty, he told him that he had come to present a petition
to him on behalf of the Queen's sister, who was called Bentresht (_i.e._
daughter of joy). The princess had been attacked by a disease, and the
Prince of Bekhten asked His Majesty to send a skilled physician to see
her. Straightway the king ordered his magicians (or medicine men) to
appear before him, and also his nobles, and when they came he told them
that he had sent for them to come and hear the ambassador's request.
And, he added, choose one of your number who is both wise and skilful;
their choice fell upon the royal scribe Tehuti-em-heb, and the king
ordered him to depart to Bekhten to heal the princess. When the magician
arrived in Bekhten he found that Princess Bentresht was under the
influence of a malignant spirit, and that this spirit refused to be
influenced in any way by him; in fact all his wisdom and skill availed
nothing, for the spirit was hostile to him.
[Illustration: Stele relating the Story of the Healing of Bentresht,
Princess of Bekhten.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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