Egyptian Tales - vol.1 - IVth to XIIth Dynasty

7/28/2019 Egyptian Tales - vol.1 - IVth to XIIth Dynasty

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EGYPTIAN TALES


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EGYPTIAN TALESTRANSLATED FROM THE PAPYRI

FIRST SERIESIVth TO Xllth DYNASTY

EDITED BYW. M. FLINDERS PETRIE

D.C.L., LL.D.., PH.D., HON. F.S.A. (SCOT.)

ILLUSTRATED BY TRISTRAM ELLIS

llpb'a u^ -jo !- atTHIRD EDITIONMETHUEN & CO. LTD.

36 ESSEX STREET, W.C.LONDON


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First published . . . January i8Q5Second Edition . . . MarchThird Edition . .


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CONTENTSPAGE

INTRODUCTION . iTALES OF THE MAGICIANS

KHAFRA'S TALE . . .10BAUFRA'S TALE . . .16HORDEDEF'S TALE . . .22REMARKS . . . .46

THE PEASANT AND THE WORKMAN . 61REMARKS . . . 75

THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR . .81REMARKS . . . -93

THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT . . 97REMARKS . . . .127

INDEX ..... 143


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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSPAGE

FrontispieceTHE STEWARD AND THE WAX CROCODILE . 13ZAZAMANKH FINDING THE JEWEL . . IQHORDEDEF LEADING DEDI TO THE SHIP . 23DEDI ENCHANTING THE DUCK . . 2QTHE GODDESSES AND KHNUMU COMING TO

RA-USER. . . . -35THE GODDESSES HIDING THE CROWNS . 39THE HANDMAID LISTENING TO THE FESTIVITY 43IN THE SEKHET HEMAT . . . 6lTHE TRESPASS . . . . 63THE BEATING OF THE SEKHTI . . 7 1GOING TO WAWAT . 8 1


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viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSPAGRTHE INQUIRY . . . .85

BRETHREN AND CHILDREN . ,' .88THE FAREWELL . . , " , gjTHE FLIGHT . . . . 99THE CROSSING . , . ,100THE RESCUE . . . . . JC JSANEHAT MEETING THE TENU . . 106THE COMBAT. . . . . IOQEGYPTIAN MESSENGERS ARRIVING . .113THE SONG OF THE PRINCESSES , . 123THE SHAVING OF SANEHAT , .


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INTRODUCTION

ITis strange that while literature occupies

so much attention as at present, andwhile fiction is the largest division of our

book-work, the oldest literature and fictionof the world should yet have remainedunpresented to English readers. The talesof ancient Egypt have appeared collectivelyonly in French, in the charming volumeof Maspero's " Contes Populaires " ; whilesome have been translated into English atscattered times in volumes of the " Recordsof the Past." But research moves forward ;and translations that were excellent twentyyears ago may now be largely improved, aswe attain more insight into the language.

2 t


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2 INTRODUCTIONFor ano'her reason also there is a wide

ground for the present volume. In no casehave any illustrations been attempted, to givethat basis for imagination which is all themore needed when reading of an age anda land unfamiliar to our ideas. Whenfollowing a narrative, whether of real eventsor of fiction, many persons perhaps most-find themselves unconsciously framing intheir minds the scenery and the beings ofwhich they are reading. To give a correctpicture of the character of each of the variousages to which these tales belong, has beenthe aim of the present illustrations. Adefinite period has been assigned to each tale,in accordance with the indications, or thehistory, involved in it ; and, so far as ourpresent knowledge goes, all the derails of lifein the scenes here illustrated are rendered inaccord with the period of the story.To some purely scholastic minds it mayseem presumptuous to intermingle transla-

tions of notable documents with fanciful


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INTRODUCTION 3illustrations. But, considering the greaterprecision with which in recent years we havebeen able to learn the changes and thefashions of ancient life in Egypt, and theessentially unhistorical nature of most ofthese tales, there seems ample reason toprovide such material for the reader'simagination in following the stories; it maygive them more life and reality, and mayemphasise the differences which existedbetween the different

periodsto which these

tales refer.It will be noticed how the growth of the

novel is shadowed out in the varied groundsand treatment of the tales. The earliest ispurely a collection of marvels or fabulousincidents of the simplest kind. Then weadvance to contrasts between town andcountry, between Egypt and foreign lands.Then personal adventure, and the interest inschemes and successes, becomes the staplematerial ; while only in the later periods doescharacter come in as the groundwork. The


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4 INTRODUCTIONsame may be seen in English literaturefirst the tales of wonders and strange lands,then the novel of adventure, and lastly thenovel of character.

In translating these documents into EnglishI have freely used the various translationsalready published in other languages ; but inall cases more or less revision and retransla-tion from the original has been made. Inthis matter I am indebted to Mr. F. LI.Griffith, who has in some cases as in Anpuand Bata almost entirely retranslated theoriginal papyrus. The material followed ineach instance will be found stated in thenotes accompanying the tales. As to theactual phraseology, I am alone responsiblefor that. How far original idiom should beretained in any translation is always a debatedquestion, and must entirely depend on theobject in view. Here the purpose of render-ing the work intelligible to ordinary readersrequired the modifying of some idioms andthe paraphrasing of others. But so far


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iNTRODUCliON $as possible the style and tone of the originalhas been preserved, and whatever could beeasily followed has been left to speak foritself. In many plainnesses of speech theold Egyptian resembled the modern Oriental,or our own forefathers, more than ourselvesin this age of squeamishness as yet un-paralleled in the world. To avoid offencea few little modifications of words have beenmade ; but rather than give a false impres-sion by tampering with any of the narrative,I have omitted the sequel of the last tale andgiven only an outline of it. The dictionadopted has been the oldest that could beused without affectation when dealing withthe early times. It has been purposelymodified in the later tales ; and in the last

which is of Ptolemaic authorship amodern style has been followed as morecompatible with the later tone of the narra-tive.

For .the illustrations Mr. Tristram Ellis'sfamiliarity with Egypt has been of good


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6 INTRODUCTIONaccount in his life-like scenes here used.For each drawing I have searched for thematerial among the monuments and remainsof the age in question. The details of thedresses, the architecture, and the utensils,are all in accord with the period of eachtale. In the tale of Setnau two differentstyles are introduced. Ahura is probablyof the time of Amenhotep III., whereasSetnau is a son of Ramessu II. ; and thechange of fashion between the two differentdynasties has been followed as distinctive ofthe two persons, one a ka or double of thedeceased, the other a living man. To thereader who starts with the current idea thatall Egyptians were alike, this continualchange from one period to another may seemalmost fanciful. But it rests on such certainauthority that we may hope that this littlevolume may have its use as an object-lessonin practical archaeology.The use and abuse of notes is a matter of

dispute. To be constantly interrupted in


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INTRODUCTION 7reading by some needless and elementaryexplanation is an impertinence both to theauthor and the reader : the one cannot resentit, the other therefore resents it for both.But what is to be deemed needless entirelydepends on the reader : I have been asked inwhat country Pompei is, as it is not in theEnglish Gazetteer. Rather than intrude,then, on the reader when he is in highdiscourse with the ancients, I humbly setup my interpreter's booth next door ; andif he cares to call in, and ask about anydifficulties, I shall be glad to help him if1 can. Not even numbers are intrudedto refer to notes , for how often an eagerreader has been led off his trail, and turnedblithely to refer to 37 or 186 only to find," See J. Z. xxxviii. 377,'* at which hegnashed his teeth and cursed such interrup-tions. So those to whom the original talesare obscure are humbly requested to try foisome profit from the remarks after them,that have been gleaned by the translator.


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8 INTRODUCTIONMuch might be said by a " folk-lorist " inproportion to his ardour. But as there arefolk-lorists and folk-lorists, and the schoo'sof Rabbi Andrew and Rabbi Joseph writedifferent targums, I have left each to makehis own commentary without prejudice.


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TALES OF THE MAGICIANS

ONEday, when King Khufu reigned

over all the land, he said to hischancellor, who stood before him," Go call me my sons and my councillors,

that I may ask of them a thing." Andhis sons and his councillors came and stoodbefore him, and he said to them, "Knowye a man who can tell me tales of the deedsof the magicians ? "Then the royal son Khafra stood forth

and said, " I will tell thy majesty a tale ofthe days of thy forefather Nebka, theblessed ; of what came to pass when he wentinto the temple of Ptah of Ankhtaui."


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io TALES OF THE MAGICIANSKHAFRA'S TALE

" His majesty was walking unto thetemple of Ptah, and went unto the house ofthe chief reciter Uba-aner, with his train.Now when the wife of Uba-aner saw a page,among those who stood behind the king,her heart longed after him ; and she sent herservant unto him, with a present of a boxfull of garments." And he came then with the servant.Now there was a lodge in the garden of Uba-aner ; and one day the page said to the wifeof Uba-aner, c In the garden of Uba-anerthere is now a lodge ; behold, let us thereintake our pleasure.' So the wife of Uba-aner sent to the steward who had chargeover the garden, saying, * Let the lodgewhich is in the garden be made ready.'And she remained there, and rested anddrank with the page until the sun wentdown.

e< And when the even was now come the


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KHAFRA'S TALE itpage went forth to bathe. And the stewardsaid, 4 1 must go and tell Uba-aner

of thismatter/ Now when this day was past, andanother day came, then went the steward toUba-aner, and told him of all these things."Then said Uba-aner, * Bring me my casket

of ebony and electrum/ And they broughtit ; and he fashioned a crocodile of wax,seven fingers long : and he enchanted it,and said, * When the page comes and bathesin my lake, seize on him/ And he gaveit to the steward, and said to him, * Whenthe page shall go down into the lake tobathe, as he is daily wont to do, then throwin this crocodile behind him/ And thesteward went forth bearing the crocodile."And the wife of Uba-aner sent to the

steward who had charge over the garden,saying, * Let the lodge which is in the gardenbe made ready, for I come to tarry there/" And the lodge was prepared with allgood things ; and she came and made merrytherein with the page. And when the even


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i TALES OF THE MAGICIANSwas now come, the page went forth to batheas he was wont to do. And the stewardcast in the wax crocodile after him into thewater ; and, behold ! it became a greatcrocodile seven cubits in length, and it seizedon the page." And Uba-aner abode

yetseven dayswith the king of Upper and Lower Egypt,

Nebka, the blessed, while the page wasstifled in the crocodile. And after the sevendays were passed, the king of Upper andLower Egypt, Nebka, the blessed, wentforth, and Uba-aner went before him.

" And Uba-aner said unto his majesty,' Will your majesty come and see this wonderthat has come to pass in your days unto apage ? ' And the king went with Uba-aner.And Uba-aner called unto the crocodile andsaid, ( Bring forth the page/ And the croco-dile came forth from the lake with the page.Uba-aner said unto the king, ' Behold, what-ever I command this crocodile he will do it/And his majesty said, * I pray you send back


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THE STEWARD AND THE WAX CROCODILE


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KHAFRA'S TALE 15this crocodile.* And Uba-aner stooped andtook up the crocodile, and it became in hishand a crocodile of wax. And then Uba-aner told the king that which had passed inhis house with the page and his wife. Andhis majesty said unto the crocodile,

' Take tothee thy prey.' And the crocodile plungedinto the lake with his prey, and no manknew whither he went.

" And his majesty the king of Upper andLower Egypt, Nebka, the blessed, com-manded, and they brought forth the wife ofUba-aner to the north side of the harem,and burnt her with fire, and cast her ashes inthe river

" Th s is a wonder that came to pass inthe days of thy forefather the king of Upperand Lower Egypt, Nebka, of the acts of thechief feciter Uba-aner."

His majesty the king of Upper and LowerEgypt, Khufu, then said, "Let there be pre-sented to the king Nfbka, the blessed, athousand loaves, a hundred draughts of beer,


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1-6 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSan ox, two jars of incense ; and let therebe presented a loaf, a jar of beer, a jar ofincense, and a piece of meat to the chiefreciter Uba-aner ; for I have seen the tokenof his learning." And they did all things ashis majesty commanded.

BAUFRA'S TALEThe royal son Bau-f-ra then stood forth

and spake. He said, " I will tell thy majestyof a wonder which came to pass in the daysof thy father Seneferu, the blessed, of thedeeds of the chief reciter Zazamankh. Oneday King Seneferu, being weary, wentthroughout his palace seeking for a pleasureto lighten his heart, but he found none.And he said, c Haste, and bring before methe chief reciter and scribe of the rollsZazamankh' ; and they straightway broughthim. And the king said, ' I have sought inmy palace for some delight, but I have foundnone.' Then said Zazamankh to him, ' Let


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BAUFRA'S TALE 17thy majesty go upon the lake of the palace,and let there be made ready a boat, with allthe fair maidens of the harem of thy palace ;and the heart of thy majesty shall be re-freshed with the sight, in seeing their rowingup and down the water, and seeing thegoodly pools of the birds upon the lake, andbeholding its sweet fields and grassy shores ;thus will thy heart be lightened. And Ialso will go with thee. Bring me twentyoars of ebony, inlayed with gold, with bladesof light wood, inlayed with electrum ; andbring me twenty maidens, fair in their limbs,their bosoms and their hair, all virgins ; andbring me twenty nets, and give these netsunto the maidens for their garments.' Andthey did according to all the commands ofhis majesty." And they rowed down the stream andup the stream, and the heart of his majesty-was glad with the sight of their rowing.But one of them at the steering struck herhair, and her jewel of new malachite fell

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i8 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSinto the water. And she ceased her song,and rowed not ; and her companions ceased,and rowed not. And his majesty said,' Row you not further ? ' And they replied,4 Our little steerer here stays and rows not.'His majesty then said to her, ' Whereforerowest thou not ? ' She replied, ' It is formy jewel of new malachite which is fallenin the water/ And he said to her, * Rowon, for behold I will replace it.' And sheanswered, ' But I want my own piece backin its setting.' And his majesty said, c Haste,bring me this chief reciter Zazamankh,' andthey brought him. And his majesty said,Zazamankh, my brother, I have done as

thou sayedst, and the heart of his majestyis refreshed with the sight of their rowing.But now a jewel of new malachite of one ofthe little ones is fallen in the water, and sheceases and rows not, and she has spoilt therowing of her side. And I said to her,"Wherefore rowest thou not?" and sheanswered to me, "It is for my jewel of new


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BAUFRA'S TALE 21malachite which is fallen in the water." Ireplied to her, " Row on, for behold I willreplace it " ; and she answered to me, " ButI want my own piece again back in itssetting." Then the chief reciter Zazamankhspake his magic speech. And he placed onepart of the waters of the lake upon theother, and discovered the jewel lying upona shard ; and he took it up and gave it untoits mistress. And the water, which wastwelve cubits deep in the middle, reachednow to twenty-four cubits after he turned it.And he spake, and used his magic speech;and he brought again the water of the laketo its place. And his majesty spent a joyfulday with the whole of the royal house.Then rewarded he the chief reciter Zaza-mankh with all good things. Behold, thisis a wonder that came to pass in the days ofthy father, the king of Upper and LowerEgypt, Seneferu, of the deeds of the chiefreciter, the scribe of the rolls, Zazamankh."Then said the majesty of the king of


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22 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSUpper and Lower Egypt, Khufu, theblessed,

"Let there be presented an offeringof a thousand cakes, one hundred draughts

of beer, ai ox, and two jars of incense tothe king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Sene-feru, the blessed ; and let there be given aloaf, a jar of beer, and a jar of incense tothe chief reciter, the scribe of the rolls,Zazamankh ; for I have seen the tokenof his learning." And they did all thingsas his majesty commanded.

HORDEDEF'S TALETHE royal son Hordedef then stood forthand spake. He said, " Hitherto hast thouonly heard tokens of those who have gonebefore, and of which no man knoweth theirtruth But I will show thy majesty a manof thine own days." And his majesty said," Who is he, Hordedef? " And the royalson Hordedef answered, " It is a certainman named Dedi, who dwells at Ded-


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HORDEDEF'S TALE 25sneferu. He is a man of one hundred andten years old ; and he eats five hundredloaves of bread, and a side of beef, anddrinks one hundred draughts of beer, untothis day. He knows how to restore thehead that is smitten off; he knows how tocause the lion to follow him trailing hishalter on the ground ; he knows thedesigns of the dwelling ot Tahuti. Themajesty of the king of Upper and LowerEgypt, Khufu, the blessed, has long soughttor the designs of the dwelling of Tahuti,that he may make the like of them in hispyramid.'*And his majesty said, " Thou, thyself,Hordedef, my son, bring him to me." Thenwere the ships made ready for the king'sson Hordedef, and he went up the streamto Dedsneferu. And when the ships hadmoored at the haven, he landed, and sathim in a litter of ebony, the poles of whichwere of cedar wood overlayed with gold.Now when he drew near to Dedi, they set


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26 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSdown the litter. And he arose to greetDedi, and found him lying on a palmstickcouch at the door of his house ; one servantheld his head and rubbed him, and anotherrubbed his feet,And the king's son Hordedef said," Thy state is that of one who lives to

good old age ; for old age is the end otour voyage, the time of embalming, thetime of burial. Lie, then, in the sun, freeof infirmities, without the babble of dotage :this is the salutation to worthy age. I comefrom far to call thee, with a message frommy father Khufu, the blessed, for thoushalt eat of the best which the king gives,and of the food which those have who followafter him ; that he may bring thee in goodtstate to thy fathers who are in the tomb."And Dedi replied to him, fi Peace to thee !Peace to thee ! Hordedef, son of the king,beloved of his father. May thy father Khufu,the blessed, praise thee, may he advancethee amongst the elders, may thy ka prevail


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HORDEDEF'S TALE 27against the enemy, may thy soul know theright road to the gate of him who clothesthe afflicted ; this is the salutation to theking's son." Then the king's son, Hordedef,stretched forth his hands to him, and raisedhim up, arid went with him to the haven,giving unto him his arm. Then said Dedi," Let there be given me a boat, to bring memy youths and my books." And they madeready for him two boats with their rowers.And Dedi went down the river in the bargein which was the king's son Hordedef.And when he had reached the palace, theking's son, Hordedef, entered in to giveaccount unto his majesty the king of Upperand Lower Egypt, Khufu, the blessed.Then said the king's son Hordedef, " Oking, life, wealth, and health ! My lord,I have brought Dedi." His majesty replied," Bring him to me speedily." And hismajesty went into the hall of columns ofPharaoh (life, wealth, and health), andDedi was led before him, And his majesty


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28 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSsaid, u Wherefore is it, Dedi, that I have notyet seen thee?

" And Dedi answered, " Hewho is called it is that comes ; the king(life, wealth, and health) calls me, andbehold I come." And his majesty said," Is it true, that which men say, that thoucanst restore the head which is smitten off?

"

And Dedi replied, " Truly, I know that, Oking (life, wealth, and health), my lord."And his majesty said, "Let one bring me aprisoner who is in prison, that his punishmentmay be fulfilled. 1 ' And Dedi said, " Let itnot be a man, O king, my lord ; beholdwe do not even thus to our cattle." And aduck was brought unto him, and its headwas cut off. And the duck was laid on thewest side of the hall, and its head on the eastside of the hall. And Dedi spake his magicspeech. And the duck fluttered along theground, and its head came likewise ; andwhen it had come part to part the duckstood and quacked. And they broughtlikewise a goqse before him, and he did


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HORDEDEF'S TALE 31even so unto it. His majesty caused anox to be brought, and its head cast on theground. And Dedi spake his magic speech.And the ox stood upright behind him, andfollowed him with his halter trailing on theground.And King Khufu said, " And is it truewhat is said, that thou knowest the numberof the designs of the dwelling of Tahuti ? "And Dedi replied, " Pardon me, I know nottheir number, O king (life, wealth, andhealth), but I know where they are." Andhis majesty said, " Where is that ? " AndDedi replied, " There is a chest of whetstonein a chamber named the plan-room, in Heli-opolis ; they are in this ches*"." And Dedisaid further unto him, " O king (life,wealth, and health), my lord, it is no Itthat is to bring them to thee." And hisrmjesty said, "Who, then, is it that shallbring them to me ? " And Dedi answeredto him, "It is the eldest of the three chil-dren who are in the body of Rud-didet who


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32 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSshall bring them to thee." And his majestysaid, " Would that it may be as thou sayest !And who is this Rud-didet ? " And Dedireplied, " She is the wife of a priest of Ra,lord of Sakhebu. And she has conceivedthese three sons by Ra, lord of Sakhebu, andthe god has promised her that they shallfulfil this noble office (of reigning) over allthis land, and that the eldest of them shallbe high priest in Heliopolis." And hismajesty's heart became troubled for this ;but Dedi spake unto him, " What is thisthat thou thinkest, O king (life, wealth,health), my lord? Is it because of thesethree children ? I tell thee thy son shallreign, and thy son's son, and then one ofthem." His majesty said, " And when shallRud-didet bear these ? " And he replied," She shall bear them on the 25th of themonth Tybi." And his majesty said,c< When the banks of the canal of Letopolisare cut, I will walk there that I may seethe temple of Ra, lord of Sakhebu." And


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HORDEDEF'S TALE 33Dedi replied, " Then I will cause that therebe four cubits of water by the banks of thecanal of Letopolis." When his majestyreturned to his palace, his majesty said," Let them place Dedi in the house of theroyal son Hordedef, that he may dwellwith him, and let them give him a dailyportion of a thousand loaves, a hundreddraughts of beer, an ox, and a hundredbunches of onions. 1 ' And they did every-thing as his majesty

commanded.And one day it came to pass that Rud-

didet felt the pains of birth. And themajesty of Ra, lord of Sakhebu, said untoIsis, to Nebhat, to Meskhent, to Hakt,and to Khnumu,

"Go ye, and deliver Rud-didet of these three children that she shall

bear, who are to fulfil this noble office overall this land ; that they may build up yourtemples, furnish your altars with offerings,supply your tables of libation, and increaseyour endowments." Then went these deities ;their fashion they made as that of dancing-

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34 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSgirls, and Khnumu was with them as aporter. They drew near unto the house otRa-user, and found him standing, with hisgirdle fallen. And they played before himwith their instruments of music. But hesaid unto them, " My ladies, behold, here isa woman who feels the pains of birth."They said to him, " Let us see her, for weknow how to help her." And he replied," Come, then.'* And they entered in straight-way to Rud-didet, and they closed the dooron her and on themselves. Then Isisstood before her, and Nebhat stood behindher, and Hakt helped her. And Isis said," O child, by thy name of User-ref, do notdo violence." And the child came uponher hands, as a child of a cubit ; its boneswere strong, the beauty of its limbs waslike gold, and its hair was like true lapislazuli. They washed him, and preparedhim, and placed him on a carpet on thebrickwork. Then Meskhent approachedhim and said, " This is a king who shall


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HORDEDEF'S TALE 37reign over all the land." And Khnumu gavestrength to his limbs. Then Isis stoodbefore her, and Nebhat stood behind her,and Hakt helped her. And Isis said, " Ochild, by thy name of Sah-ra, stay not inher." Then the child came upon her hands,a child of a cubit ; its bones were strong,the beauty of its limbs was like gold,and its hair was like true lapis lazuli. Theywashed him, and prepared him, and layedhim on a carpet on the brickwork. ThenMeskhent approached him and said, " Thisis a king who shall reign over all the land."And Khnumu gave strength to his limbs.Then Isis stood before her, and Nebhat stoodbehind her, and Hakt helped her. And Isissaid, " O child, by thy name of Kaku,remain not in darkness in her." And thechild came upon her hands, a child of acubit ; its bones were strong, the beauty ofits limbs was like gold, and its hair waslike true lapis lazuli. And Meskhent ap-proached him and said, " This is a king who


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38 TALES OF THE- MAGICIANSshall reign over all the land." And Khnurnugave strength to his limbs. And theywashed him, and prepared him, and layedhim on a carpet on the brickwork.And the deities went out, havingdelivered Rud-didet of the three children.And they said, " Rejoice ! O Ra-user, forbehold three children are born unto thee."And he said unto them, "My ladies, andwhat shall I give unto ye? Behold, givethis bushel of barley here unto your porter,that ye may take it as your reward to thebrew-house.'' And Khnumu loaded himselfwith the bushel of barley. And they wentaway toward the place from which theycame. And Isis spake unto these goddesses,and said, " Wherefore have we come withoutdoing a marvel for these children, that wemay tell it to their father who has sent us ? "Then made they the divine diadems of theking (life, wealth, and health), and laidthem in the bushel of barley. And theycaused the clouds to come with wind and


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THE GODDESSES HJDING THE CROWJf


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HORDEDEF'S TALE 41rain ; and they turned back again unto thehouse. And they said, " Let us put thisbarley in a closed chamber, sealed up, untilwe return northward, dancing." And theyplaced the barley in a close chamber.And Rud-di'det purified herself, with apurification of fourteen days. And she saidto her handmaid, "Is the house made ready ? "And she replied, " All things are made ready,but the brewing barley is not yet brought."And Rud-didet said, " Wherefore is thebrewing barley not yet brought ? " And theservant answered, "It would all of it longsince be ready if the barley had not beengiven to the dancing-girls, and Jay in thechamber under their seal." Rud-didet said," Go down, and bring of it, and Ra-usershall give them in its stead when he shallcome." And the handmaid went, and openedthe chamber. And she heard talking andsinging, music and dancing, quavering, andall things which are performed for a king inhis chamber. And she returned and told to


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42 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSRud-didet all that she had heard. And shewent through the chamber, but she foundnot the place where the sound was. Andshe layed her temple to the sack, and foundthat the sounds were in it. She placed itin a chest, and put that in another locker,and tied it fast with leather, and layed it inthe store-room, where the things were, andsealed it. And Ra-user came returning fromthe field ; and Rud-didet repeated unto himthese things ; and his heart was glad aboveall things ; and they sat down and made ajoyful day.And after these days it came to pass thatRud-didet was wroth with her servant,and beat her with stripes. And the servantsaid unto those that were in the house," Shall it be done thus unto me ? Shehas borne three kings, and I will go andtell this to his majesty King Khufuthe blessed." And she went, and foundthe eldest brother of her mother, who wasbinding his flax on the floor. And he said to.


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THE HANDMAID LISTENING TO THE FESTIVITY


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HORDEDEF'S TALE 45her, " Whither goest thou, my little maid ? "And she told him of all these things. Andher brother said to her, " Wherefore comestthou thus to me P Shall I agree to trea-chery ? " And he took a bunch of the flaxto her, and laid on her a violent blow. Andthe servant went to fetch a handful of water,and a crocodile carried her away.Her uncle went therefore to tell of this

to Rud-didet ; and he found Rud-didetsitting, her head on her knees, and herheart beyond measure sad. And he said toher, " My lady, why makest thou thy heartthus ? " And she answered, "It is because ofthis little wretch that was in the house ;behold she went out saying, c I will go andtell it.' ' And he bowed his head unto theground, and said, "My lady, she came andtold me of these things, and made her com-plaint unto me ; and I laid on her a violentblow. And she went forth to draw water,and a crocodile carried her away."

(The rest of the tale is lost.)


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46 TALES OF THE MAGICIANS

REMARKSThe tales or the magicians are only pre-served in a single copy, and of that the begin-ning is entirely lost. The papyrus was broughtfrom Egypt by an English traveller, and waspurchased by the Berlin Museum from theproperty of Lepsius, who had received itfrom the owner, Miss Westcar : hence it isknown as the Westcar papyrus. It waswritten probably in the Xllth Dynasty, butdoubtless embodied tales, which had beenfloating for generations before, about thenames of the early kings. It shows usprobably the kind of material that existedfor the

greatrecension of the pre-monu-mental history, made in the time of Seti I.

Those ages of the first three dynasties wereas long before that recension as we are afterit ; and this must always be remembered inconsidering the authority of the Egyptianrecords.

This papyrus has been more thoroughly


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REMARKS 47studied than most, perhaps more than anyother. Erman has devoted two volumes toit ; publishing the whole in photographicfacsimile, transcribed in hieroglyphs, tran-scribed in the modern alphabet, translatedliterally, translated freely, commented onand discussed word by word, and with acomplete glossary of all words used in it.This exhaustive publication is named " DerMarchen des Papyrus Westcar." Moreover,Maspero has given a current translation inthe ** Contes Populaires,"- 2nd edit. pp.53-86.The scheme of these tales is that they

are all told to King Khufu by his sons ;and as the

beginning is lost, eight linesare here added to explain this and introducethe subject. The actual papyrus beginswith the last few words of a previoustale concerning some other magician underan earlier king. Then comes the tale ofKhafra, next that of Bau-f-ra, and lastlythat of Hor.dedef.


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48 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSIt need hardly be said that these tales

are quite fictitious. The king and hissuccessor Khafra are real, but the othersons cannot be identified ; and the con-fusion of supposing three kings of theVth Dynasty to be triplets born early inthe IVth Dynasty, shows what very vagueideas ot their own history the Egyptianshad when these tales were formed. Thisdoes not prevent our seeing that theyembodied some very important traditions,and gives us an unequalled picture of theearly civilisation.

In the earliest tale ot the three thereseems at first sight merely a sketch of

faithlessness and revenge. ButPage 10. there is probably much more init. To read it aright we must bear inmind the position of woman in ancientEgypt. If, in later ages, Islam has goneto the extren e of the man determining


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REMARKS 49his own divorce at a word, in earlytimes almost the opposite system pre-vailed. All property belonged to thewoman ; all that a man could earn, orinherit, was made over to his wife ; andfamilies always reckoned back further onthe mother's side than the father's. Asthe changes in historical times have beenin the direction of men's rights, it isvery unlikely that this system of femalepredominance was invented or introduced,but rather that it descends from primitivetimes. In this tale we see, then, at thebeginning of our knowledge of the country,the clashing of two different social systems.The reciter is strong for men's rights, hebrings destruction on the wife, and nevereven gives her name, but always calls hermerely " the wife of Uba-aner." Butbehind all this there is probably theremains of a very different system. Theservant employed by the mistress seemsto see nothing outrageous in her proceed-

5


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50 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSings ; and even the steward, who is onthe master's side, waits a day or twobefore reporting matters. When we re-member the supremacy in properly anddescent which women held in Egypt, andthen read this tale, it seems that itbelongs to the close of a social systemlike that of the Nairs, in which the ladymakes her selection with variations fromtime to time. The incident of sending apresent of clothing is curiously like thetale about a certain English envoy, whoseproprieties were sadly ruffled in the Naircountry, when a lady sent him a grandshawl with an intimation of her choice.The priestesses of Amen retained to thelast this privilege of choice, as beingunder divine, and not human protection ;but it seems to have become unseemly inlate times.The hinging of this tale, and of those

that follow it, upon the use of magic,shows how thoroughly the belief in magic


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REMARKS 51powers was ingrained in the Egyptians.Now such a belief implies the presence ofmagicians, and shows how familiar musthave been the claim to such powers, andthe practising of the tricks of witchcraft,so prevalent in Africa in modern times.The efficacy of a model, such as thiscrocodile of wax, is an idea continuallymet with in Egypt. The system of tombfurniture and decoration, of ka statues, ofushabtis or figures to work for the de-ceased, and the models placed in founda-tion deposits, all show how a model wassupposed to have the efficacy of an actualreality. Even in the latest tale of all(written in Ptolemaic times), Setnau makesa model of a boat and men, to be sunkin the river to work for him. The re-conversion of the crocodile to wax, onbeing taken up by the magician, remindsus of the serpent becoming again a rodwhen taken up by Aaron.The punishment of burning alive is very


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52 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSrarely, if ever, mentioned in Egyptianhistory, though it occurs in modernEgyptian tales : and it looks as if itwere brought in here rather as a direhorror for the climax than as a probableincident. The place of the penalty, infront of the harem, or the private portionof the palace, was evidently for the intimi-dation of other ladies.At the close of each tale, King Khufu,

to whom it is told, orders funeraryofferings by the usual formula, to bepresented in honour of the king underwhom the wonder took place. On thetablets of the tombs in the early times,there is usually recorded the offeringor, rather, the pious desire that thereshould be offered thousands of loaves, ofoxen, of gazelles, of cranes, &c., for adeceased person. Such expression cost nomore by the thousand than by the dozen,so thousands came to be the usual ex-pression in all ordaining of offerings.


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fcEMARKS 53We are so accustomed to think oi

tedium as something modern, that it seemsstrange to find in the oldest talesin the world how the first king

of whom we know anything was boredby his pleasures. A reward for discover-ing a new pleasure is the very basis ofthe tale of Sneferu ; and the wise man'sremedy of a day in the country is stillthe best resource, though all that weknow as human history has tried itsexperiments in enjoyment since then. Theflavour of the ballet thrown in, by theintroduction of the damsels of the house-hold clad in fishing nets, is not yetobsolete in modern amusements ; and evenin this century Muhammed Ali had resourceto the same way of killing time, as hewas rowed about by his harem, but onan artificial lake.The ure of two large oars for steering

explains the detail of the story. The oarswere one on each side of the stern, and


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54 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSwere each managed by a steerer. From thetale we see that the steerer led the song ofthe rowers, and if the leader ceased, all thatside of the boat ceased also. The positionof the lost jewel upon the hair shows thatit was in a fillet set with inlaying, like thatseen on early figures, such as Nefert atMedum, who wears a fillet of rosettes toretain the hair ; and the position of thesteering oar attached to a post, with thehandle rising high in the air, explains how itcould strike the fillet and displace the jewel.

The last tale is really double, a tale withina tale. It begins with the wonders done by

Dedi, and then goes on with thePage 22. .history of the children about whom

he prophesied to Khufu.The village of Dedi was probably nearMedum, as in the temple of Sneferu atMedum an offering was found presented bya worshipper to the gods of Ded-sneferu :


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REMARKS 55hence the background which is here givenfor the scene of Hordedef leading oldDedi. The translation of "the designs ofthe dwelling of Tahuti " is not certain ; butthe passage seems to refer to some archi-tectural plan which was desired for thepyramid.The story of Rud-didet is remarkablehistorically. She is said to be wife of thepriest of Ra, her children are sons of Ra,and they are the first three kings of theVth dynasty, and supplanted the line ofKhufu. This points to the Vth Dynastyhaving been a priestly usurpation ; and onlooking at its history we see two confirma-tions of this. The title " Son of Ra " is socommon in most ages in Egypt that it istaken for granted, and is applied in lists toany second cartouche ; but it is not founduntil well into the Vth Dynasty ; the earlierkings were not descendants of Ra, and it isonly on arriving at this dynasty, whichclaimed descent from Ra, through the wife


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56 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSof the priest of Ra, that we find the claimof each

kingto be a " son of Ra." Another

confirmation of this priestly descent is theabundance of priesthoods established for thekings of the Vth Dynasty ; a care whichagrees with their having a priestly origin ;while in the tale it is particularly said thatthey would build up the temples, furnishthe altars with offerings, supply the tablesof libations, and increase the religious en-dowments.The names of the three children are a

play upon the names of the first three kingsof the Vth Dynasty. User-kaf is made intoUser-ref ; Sahu-ra is written Sah-ra ; andKaka is Kaku ; thus making allusions totheir births. The comparison of the hairto true lapis lazuli seems very strange ; butthere is often a confusion between blackand blue in uneducated races, and azrakmeans either dark blue or green, or black, atpresent in Arabic. Lapis lazuli is broughtin to the name of the queen of Ramessu


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REMARKS 5?VI., who was called " gold and lazuli,"Nub-khesdeb ; recalling the comparison hereof personal beauty to these precious materials.

It is noticeable here that in a tale of theVth Dynasty, certainly written as early asthe Xllth Dynasty, we find professionaldancers commonly recognised, and going ontravels through the country, with a porter.From this tale we also learn that Egyptianwomen underwent a purification of fourteendays, during which they kept apart and didnot attend to any household matters. Themistress of the house here inquires if thepreparations are made for the feast on herreturn to household affairs ; and hears thenhow the beer cannot be made for lack ofthe barley.The securing of the sack is just in accordwith the remains of this early period ; theuse of boxes, of thongs of leather for tyingand of

clay seal ings for securing property,were all familiar matters in the XllthDynasty, as we learn from Kahun.


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5 8 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSThe present close of the tale is evidently

only a stagein it, when the treacherous

maid meets with the common doom of thewicked in Egyptian romance. How it wascontinued is a matter of speculation, butKhufu ought certainly to reappear and toorder great rewards for Dedi, who up tothis has only had maintenance on his requi-site scale provided for him. Yet it is im-perative that the children shall be savedfrom his wrath, as they are the kings ofthe Vth Dynasty. There may be a longepisode lost of their flight and adventures.One reference to a date needs notice.The 25th of the month Tybi is said tobe the predicted birthday of the children ;and Khufu refers to going to Sakhebu aboutthat time apparently, when the banks of thecanal are cut and the land was drying afterthe inundation, whereon Dedi threatens thatthe water shall still be deep there. Thispoints to 25th Tybi being about the closeof the inundation. This would be about


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REMARKS 59the case both in the beginning of the IVthDynasty, and also in the XI 1th Dynasty,when the papyrus was perhaps written : hencethere is nothing conclusive to be drawn fromthis allusion so far. But when we comparethis tale with those following, we see goodground for its belonging to a time beforethe Xllth Dynasty The following tale ofthe peasant and the workman evidentlybelongs to the IXth or Xth Dynasties, whenHerakleopolis was the capital, and Sanehatis certainly of the Xllth Dynasty. Yet inthose we see character and incident made thebasis of interest, in place of the childishprofusion of marvels of the Tales of theMagicians. It seems impossible not to sup-pose that they belong to very different agesand canons of taste ; and hence we cannotrefer the crudities ot the Khufu tales to thetime of the far more elaborate and polishedrecital of the adventures of Sanehat in theXllth Dynasty. Being thus obliged tosuppose an earlier date for these tales, the


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60 TALES OF THE MAGICIANSallusion to the month Tybi throws us backto a very early period the IVth Dynastyfor their original outlines. Doubtless theywere modified by reciters, and probably tookshape in the Vth or Vlth Dynasties ; butyet we must regard them as belongingpractically to the age to which they refer.


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IN THE SEK1IET HEMAT

IXTH DYNASTYTHE PEASANT AND THE WORKMAN

dwelt in the Sekhet Hemat-JL or salt country a peasant called the

Sekhti, with his wife and children, his assesand his dogs ; and he trafficked in all goodthings of the Sekhet Hemat to Henenseten.Behold now he went] with rushes, natron, andsalt, with wood and pods, with stones andseeds, and all good products of the SekhetHemat. And this Sekhti journeyed to thesouth unto Henenseten ; and when he cameto the lands of the house of Fefa, north of

61


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62 SEKHTI AND HEMTIDenat, he found a man there standing on thebank, a man called Hemti the workmanson of a man called Asri, who was a serf ofthe High Steward Meruitensa. Now saidthis Hemti, when he saw the asses of Sekhti,that were pleasing in his eyes, " Oh thatsome good god would grant me to stealaway the goods of Sekhti from him ! "Now the Hemti's house was by the dykeof the tow-path, which was straitened, andnot wide, as much as the width of a waistcloth : on the one side of it was the water,and on the other side of it grew his corn.Hemti said then to his servant, " Hasten Ibring me a shawl from the house," and itwas brought instantly. Then spread he outthis shawl on the face of the dyke, and it laywith its fastening on the water and its fringeon the corn.Now Sekhti approached along the path

used by all men. Said Hemti, " Have acare, Sekhti ! you are not going to trampleon my clothes ! " Said Sekhti, " I will do


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THE TRESPASS


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PEASANT AND THE WORKMAN 65as you like, I will pass carefully/' Thenwent he up on the higher side. But Hemtisaid, u Go you over my corn, instead of thepath ?" Said Sekhti, " I am going carefully;this high field of corn is not my choice, butyou have stopped your path with yourclothes, and will you then not let us passby the side of the path ? " And one of theasses filled its mouth with a cluster of corn.Said Hemti, " Look you, I shall take awayyour ass, Sekhti, for eating my corn ; beholdit will have to pay according to the amountof the injury." Said Sekhti, " I am goingcarefully ; the one way is stopped, thereforetook I my ass by the enclosed ground, anddo you seize it for filling its mouth with acluster of corn ? Moreover, I know untowhom this domain belongs, even unto theLord Steward Meruitensa. He it is whosmites every robber in this whole land ; andshall I then be robbed in his domain ? "

Said Hemti, " This is the proverb whichmen speak : * A poor man's name is only his6


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66 SEKHTI AND HEMTIown matter.' I am he of whom you spake,even the Lord Steward of whom you think."Thereon he took to him branches of greentamarisk and scourged all his limbs, took hisasses, and drave them into the pasture. AndSekhti wept very greatly, by reason of thepain of what he had suffered. Said Hemti," Lift not up your voice, Sekhti, or youshall go to the Demon of Silence.' Sekhtianswered, " You beat me, you steal mygoods, and now would take away even myvoice, O demon of silence ! If you willrestore my goods, then will I cease to cryout at your violence."

Sekhti stayed the whole day petitioningHemti, but he would not give ear unto him.And Sekhti went his way to Khenensutento complain to the Lord Steward Meruitensa.He found him coming out from the door ofhis house to embark on his boat, that hemight go to the judgment hall. Sekhti said," Ho ! turn, that I may please thy heartwith this discourse. Now at this time let


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PEASANT AND THE WORKMAN 67one of thy followers whom thou wilt, cometo me that I may sendhim to thee concerning

it." The Lord StewardMeruitensa made hisfollower, whom hechose, go straight untohim, and Sekhti senthim back with an ac-

count of ailthese mat-

j, ters. Thenthe LordSteward

Meruitensa accusedHemti unto the nobleswho sat with him ; andthey said unto him, " Byyour leave : As to this


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68 SEKHTI AND HEMTISekhti of yours, let him bring a witness.Behold thou it is our custom with ourSekhtis ; witnesses come with them ; behold,that is our custom. Then it will be fittingto beat this Hemti for a trifle of natron anda trifle of salt ; if he is commanded to payfor it, he will pay for it." But the HighSteward Meruitensa held his peace ; for hewould not reply unto these nobles, butwould reply unto the Sekhti.Now Sekhti came to appeal to the LordSteward Meruitensa, and said, " O my Lord

Steward, greatest of the great, guide of theneedy :When thou embarkest on the lake of truth,Mayest thou sail upon it with a fair wind ;May thy mainsail not fly loose.May there not be lamentation in thy cabin ;May not misfortune come after thee.May not thy mainstays be snapped ;Mayest thou not run aground.May not the wave seize thee ;Mayest thou not taste the impurities of the river ;Mayest thou not see the face of fear.May the fish come to thee without escape ;Mayest thou reach unto plump waterfowl.


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PEASANT AND THE WORKMAN 6qFor thou art the orphan's father, the widow's husband,The desolate woman's brother, the garment of the

motherless.Let me celebrate thy name in this land for every

virtue.A guide without greediness of heart ;A great one without any meanness.Destroying deceit, encouraging justice;Coming to the cry, and allowing utterance.Let me speak, do thou hear and do justice ;

praised ! whom the praised ones praise.Abolish oppression, behold me, I am overladen,Reckon with me, behold me defrauded."Now the Sekhti made this speech in thetime of the majesty of the King Neb-ka-n-ra,blessed. The Lord Steward Meruitensawent away straight to the king and said," My lord, I have found one of these Sekhti,excellent of speech, in very truth ; stolen arehis goods, and he has come to complain tome of the matter."

His majesty said, " As thou wishest that1 may see health ! lengthen out his com-plaint, without replying to any of his


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16 SEKHTi AND HEMfIspeeches. He who desireth him to continuespeaking should be silent ; behold, bring ushis words in writing, that we may listen tothem. But provide for his wife and hischildren, and let the Sekhti himself also havea living. Thou must cause one to give himhis portion without letting him ktiow thatthou art he who is giving it to him."

There were given to him four loaves andtwo draughts of beer each day ; which theLord Steward Meruitensa provided for him,giving it to a friend of his, who furnished itunto him. Then the Lord Steward Merui-tensa sent the governor of the Sekhet Hematto make provision for the wife of the Sekhti,three rations of corn each day.Then came the Sekhti a second time, and

even a third time, unto the Lord StewardMeruitensa ; but he told two of his followersto go unto the Sekhti, and seize on him, andbeat him with staves. But he came againunto him, even unto six times, and said


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PEASAlsft AND tHE WORKMAN 73" My Lord Steward-Destroying deceit, and encouraging justice;Raising up every good thing, and crushing every evil >As plenty comes removing famine,As clothing covers nakedness,As clear sky after storm warms the shivering ;As fire cooks that which is raw,As water quenches the thirst ;Look with thy face upon my lot; do not covet, butcontent me without fail j do the right and do not

evil."

But yet Meruitensa would not hearkenunto his complaint ; and the Sekhti came yet,and yet again, even unto the ninth time.Then the Lord Steward told two of hisfollowers to go unto the Sekhti ; and theSekhti feared that he should be beaten as atthe third request. But the Lord StewardMeruitensa then sa'd unto him, " Fear not,Sekhti, for what thou has done. The Sekhtihas made many speeches, delightful to theheart of his majesty and I take an oath as Ieat bread, and as I drink water that thoushalt be remembered to eternity." Said theLord Steward, " Moreover, thou shalt be satis-


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74 SEKHTI AND HEMT1fied when thou shalt hear of thy complaints/*He caused to be written on a clean roll ofpapyrus each petition to the end, and theLord Steward Meruitensa sent it to themajesty of the King Neb-ka-n-ra, blessed,and it was good to him more than anythingthat is in the whole land : but his majestysaid to Meruitensa, " Judge it thyself; I donot desire it.*'The Lord Steward Meruitensa made two

of his followers to go to the Sekhet Hemat,and bring a list of the household of theSekhti ; and its amount was six persons,beside his oxen and his goats, his wheatand his barley, his asses and his dogs ; andmoreover he gave all that which belongedunto the Hemti to the Sekhti, even all hisproperty and his offices, and the Sekhti wasbeloved of the king more than all his over-seers, and ate of all the good things of theking, with ail his household.


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REMARKS J$

REMARKSOf the tale of the peasant and the work-man three copies, more or less imperfect,remain to us. At Berlin are two papyri,Nos. 2 and 4, containing parts of the tale,published in fascimile in the " Denkmaler "of Lepsius vi. 108-110 and 113; whileportions of another copy exist in the Butlerpapyrus ; and lately fragments of the samehave been collated in the collection of LordAmherst of Hackney. These last have beenpublished in the Proceedings of the Societyof Biblical Archaeology, xiv. 558. Thenumber of copies seem to show that this wasa popular tale in early times ; it certainly isof a more advanced type than the earlier talesof magic, though it belongs to a simpler stylethan the tales which follow. It has beentranslated partially by Chabas and Goodwin,and also by Maspero, but most completelyby Griffith in the Proceedings of the Societyof Biblical Archaeology, referred to above.


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76 SEKHTI ANDThe beginning of the tale is lost in all the

copies, and an introductory sentence is hereadded in brackets, to explain the position ofaffairs at the opening of the fragment. Theessence of the tale is the difference in socialposition between the Sekhti, or peasant, andthe Hemti, or workman the fellah and theclient of the noble ; and the impossibility ofgetting justice against a client, unless by someextraordinary means of attracting his patron'sattention, is the basis of the action. Thereis not a single point of incident here which'might not be true in modern times ; everyturn of it seems to live, as one reads it inview of country life in Egypt.The region of the tale is Henenseten, orHerakleopolis, now Ahnas, a little south ofthe Fayum. This was the seat of the IXthand Xth Dynasties, apparently ejected fromMemphis by a foreign invasion of the Delta ;and here it is that the High Steward livesand goes to speak to the king. The districtof the Sekhti is indicated by his travelling


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REMARKS 77south to Henenseten, and going with assesand not by boat. Hence we are led to lookfor the Sekhet Hemat, or salt country, in theborders of the Fayum Jake, whence thejourney would be southward, and across thedesert. This lake was not regulated artifici-ally until the Xllth Dynasty; and hence atthe period of this tale it was a large sheet ofwater, fluctuating with each rise and fall ofthe Nile, and bordered by lagoons whererushes would flourish, and where salt andnatron would accumulate during the dryseason of each year, At the present time thelake of the Fayum is brackish, and the cliffswhich border it contain so much salt that rainpools which collect on them are not drinkable.The paths and roads of Egypt are notprotected by law as in Western countries.Each person encroaches on a path or divertsit as may suit his purpose, only checked bythe liberties taken by passers-by in trespassingif a path be insufficient. Hence, it is veryusual to see a house built over half of a path,


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78 SEKHTI AND HEMTIand driving the traffic into the field or almostover the river bank. In this case the Hemtihad taken in as much of the path as he could,and left it but a narrow strip along the topof the canal bank. The frequent use of thepublic way for drying clothes, or spreadingout property, gave the idea of choking theway altogether, and leaving no choice buttrespassing on the crops. No sooner does adonkey pause, or even pass, by a field ofcorn than he snatches a mouthful, and in adelay or altercation such as this the beast issure to take the advantage. Donkeys carry-ing loads by cornfields are usually muzzledwith rope nets, to prevent their feeding ; andeven sheep and goats are also fended in thesame way.The proverb, " A poor man's name is only

his own matter," refers to the independentfellah having no patron or protector whowill take up and defend his name from accu-sations, as the interests of clients and serfswould be protected. This being the case,


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REMARKS -79Hernti therefore seizes on the property, anddrives the asses into his own pasture field.The scene of Meruitensa laying the case

before the nobles who sat with him is inter-esting as showing that even simple cases werenot decided by one judge, but referred to acouncil. Similarly, Una lays stress on theprivate trial of the queen being confided tohim and only one other judge. Apparently,referring cases to a bench of judges was themeans of preventing corruption.The speeches of the Sekhti were given atfull length in the papyrus, but owing toinjuries we cannot now entirely recoverthem ; they are all in much the samestrain, only the first and last are translatedhere, and the others are passed over. Thestyle of these speeches was evidently lockedon as eloquent in those days, and this papy-rus really seems to show the time when long-drawn comparisons and flowery wishes werein fashion. It is far different from later com-positions, as it is also from the earlier simple


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80 SEKHT1 AND HEMTInarration of crude marvels in the tales of themagicians.The close of the tale is defective, but fromthe remains it appears to have ended by thegift of the Hemti's property to the op-pressed Sekhti and the triumph of the injuredpeasant.


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GOING TO WAWAT

XIlTH DYNASTYTHE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR

THE wise servant said, " Let thy heartbe satisfied, O my lord, for that wehave come back to the country ; afterwe have long been on board, and rowed much,the prow has at last touched land. All thepeople rejoice, and embrace us one afteranother. Moreover, we have come back ingood health, and not a man is lacking ;although we have been to the ends of Wawat,and gone through the land of Senmut, wehave returned in peace, and our land behold,we have come back to it. Hear me, my

7


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82 THE SHIPWRECKED SAILORlord ; I have no other refuge. Wash thee,and turn the water over thy ringers; thengo and tell the tale to the majesty."

His lord replied, " Thy heart continuesstill its wandering words ! but although themouth of a man may save him, his wordsmay also cover his face with confusion. Wiltthou do then as thy heart moves thee ? Thisthat thou wilt say, tell quietly "The sailor then answered, " Now I shall tellthat which has happened to me, to my veryself I was going to the mines of Pharaoh,and I went down on the sea on a ship of 150cubits long and 40 cubits wide, with 150sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seenheaven and earth, and whose hearts werestronger than lions. They had said that thewind would not be contrary, or that therewould be none. But as we approached theland the wind arose, and threw up waveseight cubits high. As for me, I seized a pieceof wood ; but those who were in the vesselperished, without one remaining. A wave


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THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR 83threw me on an island, after that I had beenthree days alone, without a companion besidemy own heart. I laid me in a thicket, andthe shadow covered me. Then stretched I mylimbs to try to find something for my mouth.I found there figs and grapes, all manner ofgood herbs, berries and grain, melons of allkinds, fishes and birds. Nothing was lacking.And I satisfied myself ; and left on theground that which was over, of what myarms had been filled withal. I dug a pit,I lighted a fire, and I made a burntofferingunto the gods." Suddenly I heard a noise as of thunder,which I thought to be that of a wave of thesea. The trees shook, and the earth wasmoved. I uncovered my face, and I saw thata serpent drew near. He was thirty cubitslong, and his beard greater than two cubits ;his body was as overlayed with gold, and hiscolour as that of true lazuli. He coiledhimself before me.

" Then he opened his mouth, while that I


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84 THE SHIPWRECKED SAILORlay on my face before him, and he said to me,' What has brought thee, what has broughtthee, little one, what has brought thee ? Ifthou sayest not speedily what has broughtthee to this isle, I will make thee know thy-self; as a flame thou shalt vanish, if thoutellest me not something I have not heard,or which I knew not, before thee/" Then he took me in his mouth andcarried me to his resting-place, and layedme down without any hurt. I was wholeand sound, and nothing was gone from me.Then he opened his mouth against me, whilethat I lay on my face before him, and hesaid, ' What has brought thee, what hasbrought thee, little one, what has broughtthee to this isle which is in the sea, and ofwhich the shores are in the midst of thewaves ? '

" Then I replied to him, and holding myarms low before him, I said to him, ' I wasembarked for the mines by the order of themajesty, in a ship, 150 cubits was its length,


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THE INQUIRY


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THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR 87and the width of it 40 cubits. It had 150sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seenheaven and earth, and the hearts of whomwere stronger than lions. They said thatthe wind would not be contrary, or thatthere would be none. Each of them ex-ceeded his companion in the prudence of hisheart and the strength of his arm, and I wasnot beneath any of them. A storm came uponus while we were on the sea. Hardly couldwe reach to the shore when the wind waxed yetgreater, and the waves rose even eight cubits.As for me, I seized a piece of wood, whilethose who were in the boat perished withoutone being left with me for three days. Be-hold me how before thee, for I was broughtto this isle by a wave of the sea/" Then said he to me, c Fear not, fear not,little one, and make not thy face sad. Ifthou hast come to me, it is God who has letthee live. For it is He who has broughtthee to this isle of the blest, where nothing islacking, and which is filled with all good


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88 THE SHIPWRECKED SA1LOPthings. See now, thou shalt pass one month

after another, until thoushalt be four months inthis isle. Then a ship shallcome from thy land withsailors, and thou shalt leavewith them and go to thycountry, and thou shalt diein thytown.

"'Con-verse ispleasing, BRETHREN AND CHILDRENand he who tastes of it passes over his misery,


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THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR 89I will therefore tell thee of that which is inthis isle. I am here with my brethren andmy children around me ; we are seventy-fiveserpents, children, and kindred ; withoutnaming a young girl who was brought untome by chance, and on whom the fire ofheaven fell, and burnt her to ashes." ' As for thee if thou art strong, and ifthy heart waits patiently, thou shalt press thyinfants to thy bosom and embrace thy wife.Thou shalt return to thy house which is fullof all good things, thou shalt see thy land,where thou shalt dwell in the midst of thykindred/

" Then I bowed, in my obeisance, and Itouched the ground before him. ' Beholdnow that which I have told thee before. Ishall tell of thy presence unto Pharaoh, Ishall make him to know of thy greatness,and I will bring to thee of the sacred oils andperfumes, and of incense of the temples withwhich all gods are honoured. I shall tell,moreover, of that which I do now see


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go THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR(thanks to him), and there shall be rendered-to thee praises before the fulness of all theland. I shall slay asses for thee in sacrifice, Ishall pluck for thee the birds, and 1 shallbring for thee ships full of all kinds of thetreasures of Egypt, as is comely to do unto agod, a friend of men in a far country, ofwhich men know not/

" Then he smiled at my speech, because ofthat which was in his heart, for he said tome, c Thou art not rich in perfumes, for allthat thou hast is but common incense. Asfor me I am prince of the land of Punt, andI have perfumes. Only the oil which thousayedst thou wouldest bring is not common inthis isle. But, when thou shalt depart fromthis place, thou shalt never more see this isle ;it shall be changed into waves/" And, behold, when the ship drew near,according to all that he had told me before, Igot me up into an high tree, to strive to seethose who were within it. Then I came andtold to him this matter ; but it was already


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THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR 91known unto hwn before. Then he said tome. ' Farewell, farewell, go to thy house,little one, see again thy children, and let thyname be good in thy town ; these are mywishes for thee.'

THE FAREWELL"Then I bowed myself before him, and

held my arms low before him, and he, hegave me gifts of precious perfumes, of cassia,pf sweet woods, of kohl, of cypress, a.n


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92 THE SHIPWRECKED SAILORabundance of incense, of ivory tusks, ofbaboons, of apes, and all kind of preciousthings. I embarked all in the ship whichwas come, and bowing myself, I prayed Godfor him.

" Then he said to me, * Behold thou shaltcome to thy country in two months, thoushalt press to thy bosom thy children, andthou shalt rest in thy tomb/ After this Iwent down to the shore unto the ship, and Icalled to the sailors who were there. Thenon the shore I rendered adoration to themaster of this isle and to those who dwelttherein.

" When we shall come, in our return, tothe house of Pharaoh, in the second month,according to all that the serpent has said, weshall approach unto the palace. And I shallgo in before Pharaoh, I shall bring the giftswhich I have brought from this isle into thecountry. Then he shall thank me before thefulness of all the land. Grant then unto mea follower, and lead me to the courtiers of


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REMARKS 93the king. Cast thy eye upon me, after thatI am come to land again, after that I haveboth seen and proved this. Hear my prayer,for it is good to listen to people. It wassaid unto me, ' Become a wise man, and thoushalt come to honour,' and behold I havebecome such."

This is finished from its beginning unto itsend, even as it was found in a writing. It iswritten by the scribe of cunning fingersAmeni-amen-aa ; may he live in life, wealth,and health ! REMARKS

This tale is only known in one copy,preserved in the Hermitage collection atSt. Petersburg. The papyrus has not yetbeen published, either in facsimile or tran-scription. But two translations of it haveappeared by M. Golenischeff : from theearlier a modified translation is given byMaspero in the " Contes Populaires," 2ndedit., pp. 133 146, and the later trans-lation is in M. GolenischefFs excellent


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94 THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR" Inventaire de la collection Egyptienne(Ermitage Imperial)/' p. 177-182.The tale is that of a returned sailor,speaking to his superior and telling hisadventures, to induce him to send him onwith an introduction to the king. At firsthis master professes to disbelieve him, andthen the sailor protests that this happenedto himself, and gives his narrative. Theidea of an enchanted island, which has risenfrom the waves and will sink

again,is here

found to be one of the oldest plots for atale of marvels. But the construction is farmore advanced than that of the tales of themagicians. The family of serpents and themanner of the great serpent is well con-ceived, and there are many fine touches ofliterary quality : such as noise as of thunder,the trees shaking and the earth being movedat the appearance of the great serpent thespeeches of the serpent and his threat thesailors who had seen heaven and earth thecontempt of the serpent for his offerings,


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REMARKS 95" As for me, I am prince of the land ofPunt, and I have perfumes " and the sceneof departure. All of these points show afirm hand and practised taste, although thereis still a style of simplicity clinging to itwhich

agreeswell to its date in the Xllth

Dynasty.The great serpent is not of a type usualin Egyptian designs. The human-headeduraeus is seldom bearded ; and the bestexample of such a monster is on anEthiopian temple, where a great uraeushas human arms and a lion's head. Thecolours again repeat the favourite combina-tion expressive of splendour gold andlazuli. Though lazuli is very rare inearly times, yet it certainly was known inthe Xllth Dynasty, as shown by the formsof some beads of lazuli.The slaughter of asses in sacrifice is a

very peculiar offering, and no sign of thisis found in any representations or groups ofofferings.


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96 THE SHIPWRECKED SAILORThe colophon of the copyist at the end

shows by the style of the name that itbelongs to the earlier part of the XllthDynasty, and if so, the composition mightbe referred to the opening of foreign tradeunder Sankhkara or Amenemhat I.


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XIlTH DYNASTYTHE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT

THE hereditary prince, royal seal-bearer,confidential friend, judge, keeper ofthe gate of the foreigners, true andbeloved royal acquaintance, the royal followerSanehat says :

I attended my lord as a follower of theking, of the house of the hereditary princess,the greatly favoured, the royal wife, Ankhet-Usertesen, who shares the dwelling ot theroyal son Amenemhat in Kanefer.

In the thirtieth year, the month Paophi,the seventh day the god entered his horizon,the king Sehotepabra flew up to heaven andjoined the sun's disc, the follower of the god

8 97


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98 THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHATmet his maker. The palace was silenced,and in mourning, the great gates were closed,the courtiers crouching on the ground, thepeople in hushed mourning.

His majesty had sent a great armywith the nobles to the land of the Temehu(Lybia), his son and heir, the good god kingUsertesen as their leader. Now he wasreturning, and had brought away livingcaptives and all kinds of cattle without end.The councillors of the palace had sent to theWest to let the king know the matter thathad come to pass in the inner hall. Themessenger was to meet him on the road, andreach him at the time of evening : thematter was

urgent."A hawk had soared

with his followers/' Thus said he, not tolet the army know of it. Even if the royalsons who commanded in that army send amessage, he was not to speak to a single oneof them. But I was standing near, andheard his voice while he was speaking. 1fled far away, my heart beating, my arms


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THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT 99failing, trembling had fallen on all my limbs.I turned about in running to seek a place tohide me, and I threw myself between twobushes, to wait while they should pass by.

THE FLIGHTThen I turned me toward the south, notfrom wishing to come into this palace forI knew not if war was declared nor eventhinking a wish to live after this sovereign,


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ioo THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHATI turned my back to the sycamore, I reachedShi-Seneferu, and rested on the open field.In the morning I went on and overtook aman, who passed by the edge of the road.He asked of me mercy, for he feared me.By tke evening I drew near to Kher-ahau(? old Cairo), and I crossed the river on a

THE CROSSINGraft without a rudder. Carried over bythe west wind, I passed over to the east tothe quarries of Aku and the land of thegoddess Herit, mistress of the red mountain(Gebel Ahmar). Then I fled on foot, north-ward, and reached the walls of the prince,built to repel the Sati. I crouched in a bush


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THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAf 101for fear of

beingseen

by the guards, changedeach day, who watch on the top of thefortress. I took my way by night, and atthe lighting or the day I reached Peten, andturned me toward the valley of Kemur.Then thirst hasted me on ; I dried up, andmy throat narrowed, and I said, " This is the

THE RESCUEtaste of death." When I lifted up my heartand gathered strength, I heard a voice andthe lowing of cattle. I saw men of the Sati,and one of them a friend unto Egyptknew me. Behold he gave me water andboiled me milk, and I went with him to hiscamp ; they did me good, and one tribepassed me on to another. I passed on


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ioa THE ADVENTURES Of SANEMATto Sun, and reached the land of Adim(Edom).When I had dwelt there half a year Amu-an shi who is the prince of the Upper Tenu

sent for me and said: "Dwell thou with methat thou mayest hear the speech of Egypt-"He said thus for that he knew of myexcellence, and had heard tell of my worth,for men of Egypt who were there with himbore witness of me. Behold he said to me,"For what cause hast thou come hither?Has a matter come to pass in the palace ?Has the king of the two lands, Sehetep-abra gone to heaven ? That which hashappened about this is not known.'* ButI answered with concealment, and said," When I came from the land of theTamahu, and my desires were there changedin me, if I fled away it was not by reason ofremorse that I took the way of a fugitive ; Ihave not failed in my duty, my mouth hasnot said any bitter words, I have not heardany evil counsel, my name has not come into


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THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT 103the mouth of a magistrate. I know not bywhat I have been led into this land." AndAmu-an-shi said, " This is by the will of thegod (king of Egypt), for what is a land likeif it know not that excellent god, of whomthe dread is upon the lands of strangers,as they dread Sekhet in a year of pestilence/'I spake to him, and replied, " Forgive me,his son now enters the palace, and has re-ceived the heritage of his father. He is a godwho has none like him, and there is nonebefore him. He is a master of wisdom,prudent in his designs, excellent in hisdecrees, with good-will to him who goes orwho comes ; he subdued the land of strangerswhile his father yet lived in his palace, andhe rendered account of that which his fatherdestined him to perform. He is a braveman, who verily strikes with his sword ; avaliant one, who has not his equal ; hesprings upon the barbarians, and throwshimself on the spoilers ; he breaks the hornsand weakens the hands, and those whom he


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104 THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHATsmites cannot raise the buckler. He is fear-less, and dashes the heads, and none canstand before him. He is swift of foot, todestroy him who flies ; and none who fleesfrom him reaches his home. His heart isstrong in his time ; he is a lion who strikeswith the claw, and never has he turned hisback. His heart is closed to pity ; and whenhe sees multitudes, he leaves none to livebehind him. He is a valiant one whosprings in front when he sees resistance ; heis a warrior who rejoices when he flies on thebarbarians. He seizes the buckler, he rushesforward, he never needs to strike again, heslays and none can turn his lance ; and whenhe takes the bow the barbarians flee from hisarms like dogs ; for the great goddess hasgiven to him to strike those who know hernot ; and if he reaches forth he spares none,and leaves nought behind. He is a friend ofgreat sweetness, who knows how to gainlove ; his land loves him more than itself,and rejoices in him more than in its own


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THE ADVENTURES Of SANEtfAT 105god ; men and women run to his call. Aking, he has ruled from his birth ; he, fromhis birth, has increased births, a sole being, adivine essence, by whom this land rejoices tobe governed. He enlarges the borders ofthe South , but he covets not the lands ofthe North : he does not smite the Sati, norcrush the Nemau-shau, If he descends here,let him know thy name, by the homagewhich thou wilt pay to his majesty. For herefuses not to bless the land which obeyshim."And he replied to me, " Egypt isindeed happy and well settled ; beholdthou art far from it, but whilst thou artwith me I will do good unto thee." Andhe placed me before his children, he mar-ried his eldest daughter to me, and gaveme the choice of all his land, even amongthe best of that which he had oh the borderof the next land. It is a goodly land, laais its name, There are figs and grapes ;there is wine commoner than water ; abun-


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106 THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHATdant is the honey, many are its olives ; andall fruits are upon its trees ; there is barleyand wheat, and cattle of kinds without end.1 his was truly a great thing that he grantedme, when the prince came to invest me, and

SANEIIAT MEETING THE TENUestablish me as prince of a tribe in the best ofhis land. I had my continual portion ofbread and of wine each day, of cooked meat,of roasted fowl, as well as the wild gamewhich I took, or which was brought to me,


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THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT 107besides what my dogs captured. They mademe much butter, and prepared milk of allkinds. I passed many years, the childrenthat I had became great, each ruling his tribe.When a messenger went or came to thepalace, he turned aside from the way to cometo me ; for I helped every man. I gavewater to the thirsty, I set on his way himwho went astray, and I rescued the robbed.The Sati who went far, to strike and turnback the princes of other lands, I ordainedtheir goings ; for the Prince of the Tenu formany years appointed me to be general of hissoldiers. In every land which I attacked Iplayed the champion, I took the cattle, I ledaway the vassals, I carried off the slaves, Islew the people, by my sword, my bow, mymarches and my good devices. I wasexcellent to the heart of my prince ; heloved me when he knew my power, and setme over his children when he saw thestrength of my arms.A champion of the Tenu came to defy


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THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT 109furbished my arms. At dawn the land ofthe Tenu came together ; it had gatheredits tribes and called all the neighbouringpeople, it spake of nothing but the fight.Each heart burnt for me, men and womencrying out ; for each heart was troubled for

THE COMBATme, and they said, " Is there another strongone who would fight with him ? Behold theadversary has a buckler, a battle axe, and anarmful of javelins." Then I drew him tothe attack ; I turned aside his arrows, andthey struck the ground in vain. One drew


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i io THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHATnear to the other, and he fell on me, andthen I shot him. My arrow fastened in hisneck, he cried out, and fell on his face : Idrove his lance into him, and raised myshout of victory on his back. Whilst allthe men of the land rejoiced, I, and hisvassals whom he had oppressed, gave thanksunto Mentu. This prince, Amu-an-shi,embraced me. Then I carried off his goodsand took his cattle, that which he had wishedto do to me, I did even so unto him ; Iseized that which was in his tent, I spoiledhis dwelling. As time went on I increasedthe richness of my treasures and the numberof my cattle.

Petition to the king of Egypt." Now behold what the god has done forme who trusted in him. Having once fled

away, yet now there is a witness of me inthe palace. Once having fled away, as afugitive, now all in the palace give untome a good name. After that I had been


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THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT indying of hunger, now I give bread to thosearound. I had left my land naked, and nowI am clothed in fine linen. After havingbeen a wanderer without followers, now Ipossess many serfs. My house is fine, myland wide, my memory is established in thetemple of all the gods. And let thisflight obtain thy forgiveness ; that I may beappointed in the palace ; that I may see theplace where my heart dwells. How great athing is it that my body should be embalmedin the land where I was born ! To returnthere is happiness. I have made offering toGod to grant me this thing. His heartsuffers who has run away unto a strangeland. Let him hear the prayer of him whois afar off", that he may revisit the place ofhis birth, and the place from which heremoved.

" May the king of Egypt be gracious to methat I may live of his favour. And I rendermy homage to the mistress of the land, whois in his palace ; may I hear the news of her


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ii2 THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHATchildren. Thus will my limbs grow youngagain. Now old age comes, feeblenessseizes me, my eyes are heavy, my arms arefeeble, my legs will not move,

Documents

Egyptian Tales - vol.1 - IVth to XIIth Dynasty