The World's Progress, Vol. 01 (of 10): With Illustrative texts from Masterpieces of Egyptian, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Modern European and American LiteratureDelphian Society
History
The World's Progress, Vol. 01 (of 10): With Illustrative texts from Masterpieces of Egyptian, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Modern European and American Literature
Delphian Society
Civilization -- History; World history
"Leave all the riches that thou hast, and that are with thee,
altogether. When thou shalt come into Egypt behold the palace, and
when thou shalt enter the palace, bow thy face to the ground before
the Great House; thou shalt be chief among the companions. And day
by day behold thou growest old; thy vigor is lost, and thou
thinkest on the day of burial. Thou shalt see thyself come to the
blessed state, they shall give thee the bandages from the hand of
Tait, the night of applying the oil of embalming. They shall follow
thy funeral, and visit the tomb on the day of burial, which shall
be in a gilded case, the head painted with blue, a canopy of
cypress wood above thee, and oxen shall draw thee, the singers
going before thee, and they shall dance the funeral dance. The
weepers crouching at the door of thy tomb shall cry aloud the
prayers for offerings: they shall slay victims for thee at the door
of thy pit; and thy pyramid shall be carved in white stone, in the
company of the royal children. Thus thou shalt not die in a strange
land, nor be buried by the Amu; thou shalt not be laid in a
sheep-skin when thou art buried; all people shall beat the earth,
and lament on thy body when thou goest to the tomb."
When this order came to me, I was in the midst of my tribe. When it
was read unto me, I threw me on the dust, I threw dust in my hair; I
went around my tent rejoicing and saying, "How may it be that such a
thing is done to the servant, who with a rebellious heart has fled to
strange lands? Now with an excellent deliverance, and mercy delivering
me from death, thou shalt cause me to end my days in the palace."
I made a feast in Iaa, to pass over my goods to my children. My eldest
son was leading my tribe, all my goods passed to him, and I gave him
my corn and all my cattle, my fruit, and all my pleasant trees. When I
had taken my road to the south, and arrived at the roads of Horus, the
officer who was over the garrison sent a messenger to the palace to
give notice. His majesty sent the good overseer of the peasants of the
king's domains, and boats laden with presents from the king for the
Sati who had come to conduct me to the roads of Horus. I spoke to each
one by his name, and I gave the presents to each as was intended. I
received and I returned the salutation and I continued thus until I
reached the city of Thetu (Thebes).
When the land was brightened, and the new day began, four men came
with a summons for me; and the four men went to lead me to the palace.
I saluted with both my hands on the ground; the royal children stood
at the courtyard to conduct me: the courtiers who were to lead me to
the hall brought me on the way to the royal chamber.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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