In the 15th chapter of "The Book of the Dead" we find an account of the passage of the soul in a boat across the firmament, to the abode of the blessed. This fable reappears in the religious writings of other nations, as, for instance, in, the Greek story of Charon, ferrying departed spirits across the Styx, and in the traditions of the ancient Mexicans. The soul is called by the Egyptians Osiris, in connection with the proper name of the individual (_N_), to indicate that the latter already partakes of the divine nature. Ra is the sun-god, approaching the west. The following translation is by P. Le Page Renouf: Here is the Osiris _N_. Come forth into Heaven, sail across the firmament and enter into brotherhood with the stars, let salutation be made to thee in the bark, let invocation be made to thee in the morning bark. Contemplate Ra within his Ark, and do thou propitiate his orb daily. See the fish in its birth from the emerald stream, and see the tortoise and its rotations. Let the offender (the dragon) fall prostrate, when he meditates destruction for me, by blows on his backbone. Ra springs forth with a fair wind; the evening bark speeds on and reaches the Haven. The crew of Ra are in exultation when they look upon him; the Mistress of Life, her heart is delighted at the overthrow of the adversary of her Lord. See thou Horus at the look-out at the bow, and at his sides Thoth and Maat. All the gods are in exultation when they behold Ra coming in peace to give new life to the hearts of the Chu, and here is the Osiris _N_ along with them. [_Litany._] Adored be Ra, as he setteth in the land of Life. Hail to thee, who hast come as Tmu, and hast been the creator of the cycle of the gods, _Give thou delicious breezes of the north wind to the Osiris N._ Hail to thee, who hast come as the Soul of souls, revered in Amenta, Hail to thee, who art above the gods, and who lightenest up Tuat with thy glories, Hail to thee, who comest in splendor, and goest around in thine orb, Hail to thee, who art mightier than the gods, who art crowned in Heaven and King in Tuat, Hail to thee, who openest the Tuat and disposest of all its doors, Hail to thee, supreme among the gods, and weigher of words in the nether world, Hail to thee, who art in thy Nest, and stirrest the Tuat with thy glory, Hail to thee, the great, the mighty, whose enemies are laid prostrate at their blocks, Hail to thee, who slaughterest the Sebau and annihilatest Apepi (the dragon). [After each invocation, the italicized line is repeated.] Horus openeth: the Great, the Mighty, who divideth the earths, the Great One who resteth in the Mountain of the West, and brighteneth up the Tuat with his glories and the Souls in their hidden abode, by shining into their sepulchres.