Dirge Of Menephtah

Dirge Of MenephtahTranslated by S. Birch, LL.D.The following short poetical eulogium of a king, apparently of Menephtah or Seti II of the nineteenth dynasty, is found in Papyrus Anastasi 4 of the British Museum. It is published inâ€œSelect Papyri,â€pl. lxxxiv, l. 2-9; lxxxv, l. 1. Although not divided by red dots it is clearly poetic in style, and is accordingly given in paragraphs. From the final line it appears to be addressed to the monarch after his death. Although the titles do not exactly correspond with those of Rameses II, or Menephtah, it appears to relate to him, as the papyrus is of his reign and that of Seti II of the same dynasty. It may indeed refer to this later monarch; but as no cartouche is given and the titles after the palatial or so-called Horus ones are doubtful, it is uncertain whom the monarch is to whom it refers. It has been translated by M. Chabas (â€œL'Egypt aux temps de l'exode,â€Chalons, 1873, p. 118).Dirge of Menephtah1 Amen gave thy heart pleasure,2 he gave thee a good old age,3 a lifetime of pleasure followed thee4 blessed was thy lip, sound thy arm5 strong thy eye to see afar6 thou hast been clothed in linen.4637 Thou hast guided thy horse and chariot8 of gold with thy hand9 the whip in thy hand, yoked were the steeds10 the Xaru,464and Nahsi,465marched before thee11 a proof of what thou hadst done12 thou hast proceeded to thy boat ofas466wood13 a boat made of it before and behind14 thou hast approached the beautiful tower which15 thou thyself made[pg 335]16 thy mouth was full of wine, beer, bread and flesh17 were slaughtered cattle and wine opened:18 the sweet song was made before thee19 thy head anointer anointed thee withkami46720 the chief of thy garden pools brought crown21 the superintendent of thy fields brought birds22 thy fisherman brought fish23 thy galley came from Xaru468laden with good things24 thy stable was full of horses46925 thy female slaves were strong47026 thy enemies were placed fallen27 thy word no one opposed28 Thou hast gone before the gods the victor the justified!471Hymn To The NileTranslated by Rev. F. C. CookThis hymn is important as bearing witness to the state of religious thought in Egypt in the time of Merneptah, the son of Rameses II, nineteenth dynasty, according to the generality of Egyptologers, contemporary with Moses. It is extant in two papyri,â€œSallier,â€ii, p. 11,â€œSelect Papyri,â€pls. xx-xxiii, andâ€œAnastasi,â€vii.â€œSelect Papyri,â€pls. cxxxiv-cxxxix, published by the trustees of the British Museum.The name of the author Enna is well known. He wrote theâ€œRomance of the Two Brothersâ€and other works preserved in theâ€œSelect Papyri,â€and partially translated by Mr. Goodwin, inâ€œCambridge Essays,â€1858, p. 257, and M. G. Maspero, inâ€œGenre Ã©pistolaire chez les anciens Egyptiens,â€Paris, 1872.A translation of this hymn was published by Maspero (â€œHymne au Nilâ€), in 1868, with an introduction and critical notes of great value.The attention of the reader is specially called to the metrical structure of this poem. The stanzas, containing upon an[pg 336]average ten couplets, are distinctly marked in the original, the first word in each being written in red letters; hence the origin of rubricated MSS. Each clause also has a red point at the close. The resemblance with the earliest Hebrew poems has been pointed out by the translator in theâ€œIntroduction to the Book of Psalms,â€and in theâ€œNotes on Exodus,â€in theâ€œSpeaker's Commentary on the Bible.â€Hymn to the NileI.StropheAdoration of the Nile1 Hail to thee O Nile!2 Thou showest thyself in this land,3 Coming in peace, giving life to Egypt:4 O Ammon, (thou) leadest night unto day,4725 A leading that rejoices the heart!6 Overflowing the gardens created by RÄ.4737 Giving life to all animals;8 Watering the land without ceasing:9 The way of heaven descending:47410 Lover offood, bestower of corn,11 Giving light to every home, O Ptah!II.1 Lord of fishes, when the inundation returns2 No fowls fall on the cultures.4753 Maker of spelt; creator of wheat:4 who maintaineth the temples!5 Idle hands he loathes4766 For myriads, for all the wretched.[pg 337]7 If the gods in heaven are grieved,4778 Then sorrow cometh on men.III.1 He maketh the whole land open to the oxen,4782 And the great and the small are rejoicing;3 The response of men at his coming!4794 His likeness is Num!4805 He shineth, then the land exulteth!6 All bellies are in joy!7 Every creature receives nourishment!8 All teeth get food.IV.1 Bringer of food! Great lord of provisions!2 Creator of all good things!3 Lord of terrors481and of choicest joys!4 All are combined in him.5 He produceth grass for the oxen;6 Providing victims for every god.7 The choice incense is that which he supplies.8 Lord in both regions,9 He filleth the granaries, enricheth the storehouses,10 He careth for the state of the poor.V.1 He causeth growth to fulfil all desires,2 He never wearies of it.3 He maketh his might a buckler.4824 He is not graven in marble,4835 As an image bearing the double crown.6 He is not beheld:[pg 338]7 He hath neither ministrants nor offerings:8 He is not adored in sanctuaries:9 His abode is not known:10 No shrine is found with painted figures.484VI.1 There is no building that can contain him!4852 There is no counsellor486in thy heart!3 Thy youth delight in thee, thy children:4 Thou directest487them as King.5 Thy law is established in the whole land,6 In the presence of thy servants in the North:4887 Every eye is satisfied with him:4898 He careth for the abundance of his blessings.VII.1 The inundation comes, (then) cometh rejoicing;2 Every heart exulteth:3 The tooth of the crocodiles, the children of Neith4904 (Even) the circle of the gods who are counted with thee.5 Doth not its outburst water the fields,6 Overcoming mortals (with joy):7 Watering one to produce another.4918 There is none who worketh with him;9 He produces food without the aid of Neith.49210 Mortals he causes to rejoice.VIII.1 He giveth light on his coming from darkness:4932 In the pastures of his cattle[pg 339]3 His might produceth all:4 What was not, his moisture bringeth to life,5 Men are clothed to fill his gardens:6 He careth for his laborers.7 He maketh even and noontide,8 He is the infinite Ptah and Kabes.4949 He createth all works therein,10 All writings, all sacred words,11 All his implements in the North.495IX.1 He enters with words the interior of his house,4962 When he willeth he goeth forth from his mystic fane.3 Thy wrath is destruction of fishes.4974 Then498men implore thee for the waters of the season.5â€œThat the Thebaid may be seen like the Delta.6 That every man be seen bearing his tools,7 No man left behind his comrade!8 Let the clothed be unclothed,9 No adornments for the sons of nobles,10No circle of gods in the night!â€11 The response (of the god) is refreshing water,12 Filling all men with fatness.X.1 Establisher of justice! men rejoice2 With flattering words to worship499thee,3 Worshipped together with the mighty water!4 Men present offerings of corn,5 Adoring all the gods:6 No fowls fall on the land.5007 Thy hand is adorned with gold,501[pg 340]8 As moulded of an ingot of gold,9 Precious as pure lapis lazuli,50210 Corn in its state of germination is not eaten.503XI.1 The hymn is addressed to thee with the harp;2 It is played with a (skilful) hand to thee!3 The youths rejoice at thee!4 Thy own children.5 Thou hast rewarded their labor.6 There is a great one adorning the land;7 An enlightener, a buckler in front of men,8 Quickening the heart in depression.9 Loving the increase of all his cattle.XII.1 Thou shinest in the city of the King;2 Then the householders are satiated with good things,3 The poor man laughs at the lotus.5044 All things are perfectly ordered.5 Every kind of herb for thy children.6 If food should fail,7 All enjoyment is cast on the ground,8 The land falls in weariness.XIII.1 O inundation of Nile, offerings are made to thee:2 Oxen are slain to thee:3 Great festivals are kept for thee;4 Fowls are sacrificed to thee;5 Beasts of the field are caught for thee6 Pure flames are offered to thee;7 Offerings are made to every god,8 As they are made unto Nile.9 Incense ascends unto heaven,10 Oxen, bulls, fowls are burnt![pg 341]11 Nile makes for himself chasms in the Thebaid;50512 Unknown is his name in heaven,13 He doth not manifest his forms!14 Vain are all representations!506XIV.1 Mortals extol (him), and the cycle of gods!2 Awe is felt by the terrible ones;3 His son507is made Lord of all,4 To enlighten all Egypt.5085 Shine forth, shine forth, O Nile! shine forth!6 Giving life to men by his oxen:7 Giving life to his oxen by the pastures!8 Shine forth in glory, O Nile.The Solemn Festal Dirge Of The EgyptiansTranslated by C. W. Goodwin, M.A.This dirge or hymn, which is that alluded to by Herodotus,509is contained in one of theâ€œHarris Papyriâ€(No. 500), the same from which I have already translated theâ€œStory of the Doomed Prince.â€The first line of the hymn ascribes it to the authorship of King Antuf, one of the Pharaohs of the eleventh dynasty. The papyrus itself is, however, of the time of Thothmes III, eighteenth dynasty, but that is no reason why all the texts in the MSS. should be of the latter date. The translation here given was printed by myself for the first time in theâ€œTransactions of the Society of Biblical ArchÃ¦ology,â€Vol. III, part 1, but the hieroglyphic text remains yet to be published. A fragment of another copy of this identical hymn is to be found in theâ€œMonumens[pg 342]du MusÃ©e de Leide,â€part iii, pl. 12, and from it several words which were wanting in the Harris papyrus have been restored.Festal Dirge1 (Wanting.)2 The song of the house of King Antuf, deceased, which is (written) in front of3 the player on the harp.510All hail to the good Prince,the worthy good (man),the body is fated(?) to pass away,the atoms5114 remain, ever since the time of the ancestors.The gods who were beforetime rest in their tombs, themummies5 of the saints likewise are enwrapped in their tombs.They who build houses, and they who have no houses, see!6 what becomes of them.I have heard the words of Imhotep512and Hartatef.513It is said in their sayings,7 After all, what is prosperity?Their fenced walls are dilapidated.Their houses are as that which has never existed.8 No man comes from thencewho tells of their sayings,who tells of their affairs,who encourages our hearts.Ye go9 to the place whence they return not.514Strengthen thy heart to forget how thou hast enjoyed thyself,fulfil thy desire whilst thou livest.[pg 343]10 Put oils upon thy headclothe thyself with fine linen adorned with precious metals11 with thegiftsof Godmultiply thy good things,yield to thy desire,fulfil thy desire with thy good things12 (whilst thou art) upon earth,according to the dictation of thy heart.The day will come to thee,when one hears not the voicewhen the one who is at rest hears not13 their voices.515Lamentations deliver not him who is in the tomb.51614 Feast in tranquillityseeing that there is no one who carries away his goods with him.Yea, behold, none who goes thither comes back again.

The following short poetical eulogium of a king, apparently of Menephtah or Seti II of the nineteenth dynasty, is found in Papyrus Anastasi 4 of the British Museum. It is published inâ€œSelect Papyri,â€pl. lxxxiv, l. 2-9; lxxxv, l. 1. Although not divided by red dots it is clearly poetic in style, and is accordingly given in paragraphs. From the final line it appears to be addressed to the monarch after his death. Although the titles do not exactly correspond with those of Rameses II, or Menephtah, it appears to relate to him, as the papyrus is of his reign and that of Seti II of the same dynasty. It may indeed refer to this later monarch; but as no cartouche is given and the titles after the palatial or so-called Horus ones are doubtful, it is uncertain whom the monarch is to whom it refers. It has been translated by M. Chabas (â€œL'Egypt aux temps de l'exode,â€Chalons, 1873, p. 118).

Dirge of Menephtah1 Amen gave thy heart pleasure,2 he gave thee a good old age,3 a lifetime of pleasure followed thee4 blessed was thy lip, sound thy arm5 strong thy eye to see afar6 thou hast been clothed in linen.4637 Thou hast guided thy horse and chariot8 of gold with thy hand9 the whip in thy hand, yoked were the steeds10 the Xaru,464and Nahsi,465marched before thee11 a proof of what thou hadst done12 thou hast proceeded to thy boat ofas466wood13 a boat made of it before and behind14 thou hast approached the beautiful tower which15 thou thyself made[pg 335]16 thy mouth was full of wine, beer, bread and flesh17 were slaughtered cattle and wine opened:18 the sweet song was made before thee19 thy head anointer anointed thee withkami46720 the chief of thy garden pools brought crown21 the superintendent of thy fields brought birds22 thy fisherman brought fish23 thy galley came from Xaru468laden with good things24 thy stable was full of horses46925 thy female slaves were strong47026 thy enemies were placed fallen27 thy word no one opposed28 Thou hast gone before the gods the victor the justified!471

Dirge of Menephtah

1 Amen gave thy heart pleasure,2 he gave thee a good old age,3 a lifetime of pleasure followed thee4 blessed was thy lip, sound thy arm5 strong thy eye to see afar6 thou hast been clothed in linen.4637 Thou hast guided thy horse and chariot8 of gold with thy hand9 the whip in thy hand, yoked were the steeds10 the Xaru,464and Nahsi,465marched before thee11 a proof of what thou hadst done12 thou hast proceeded to thy boat ofas466wood13 a boat made of it before and behind14 thou hast approached the beautiful tower which15 thou thyself made[pg 335]16 thy mouth was full of wine, beer, bread and flesh17 were slaughtered cattle and wine opened:18 the sweet song was made before thee19 thy head anointer anointed thee withkami46720 the chief of thy garden pools brought crown21 the superintendent of thy fields brought birds22 thy fisherman brought fish23 thy galley came from Xaru468laden with good things24 thy stable was full of horses46925 thy female slaves were strong47026 thy enemies were placed fallen27 thy word no one opposed28 Thou hast gone before the gods the victor the justified!471

1 Amen gave thy heart pleasure,

2 he gave thee a good old age,

3 a lifetime of pleasure followed thee

4 blessed was thy lip, sound thy arm

5 strong thy eye to see afar

6 thou hast been clothed in linen.463

7 Thou hast guided thy horse and chariot

8 of gold with thy hand

9 the whip in thy hand, yoked were the steeds

10 the Xaru,464and Nahsi,465marched before thee

11 a proof of what thou hadst done

12 thou hast proceeded to thy boat ofas466wood

13 a boat made of it before and behind

14 thou hast approached the beautiful tower which

15 thou thyself made

16 thy mouth was full of wine, beer, bread and flesh

17 were slaughtered cattle and wine opened:

18 the sweet song was made before thee

19 thy head anointer anointed thee withkami467

20 the chief of thy garden pools brought crown

21 the superintendent of thy fields brought birds

22 thy fisherman brought fish

23 thy galley came from Xaru468laden with good things

24 thy stable was full of horses469

25 thy female slaves were strong470

26 thy enemies were placed fallen

27 thy word no one opposed

28 Thou hast gone before the gods the victor the justified!471

Hymn To The NileTranslated by Rev. F. C. CookThis hymn is important as bearing witness to the state of religious thought in Egypt in the time of Merneptah, the son of Rameses II, nineteenth dynasty, according to the generality of Egyptologers, contemporary with Moses. It is extant in two papyri,â€œSallier,â€ii, p. 11,â€œSelect Papyri,â€pls. xx-xxiii, andâ€œAnastasi,â€vii.â€œSelect Papyri,â€pls. cxxxiv-cxxxix, published by the trustees of the British Museum.The name of the author Enna is well known. He wrote theâ€œRomance of the Two Brothersâ€and other works preserved in theâ€œSelect Papyri,â€and partially translated by Mr. Goodwin, inâ€œCambridge Essays,â€1858, p. 257, and M. G. Maspero, inâ€œGenre Ã©pistolaire chez les anciens Egyptiens,â€Paris, 1872.A translation of this hymn was published by Maspero (â€œHymne au Nilâ€), in 1868, with an introduction and critical notes of great value.The attention of the reader is specially called to the metrical structure of this poem. The stanzas, containing upon an[pg 336]average ten couplets, are distinctly marked in the original, the first word in each being written in red letters; hence the origin of rubricated MSS. Each clause also has a red point at the close. The resemblance with the earliest Hebrew poems has been pointed out by the translator in theâ€œIntroduction to the Book of Psalms,â€and in theâ€œNotes on Exodus,â€in theâ€œSpeaker's Commentary on the Bible.â€Hymn to the NileI.StropheAdoration of the Nile1 Hail to thee O Nile!2 Thou showest thyself in this land,3 Coming in peace, giving life to Egypt:4 O Ammon, (thou) leadest night unto day,4725 A leading that rejoices the heart!6 Overflowing the gardens created by RÄ.4737 Giving life to all animals;8 Watering the land without ceasing:9 The way of heaven descending:47410 Lover offood, bestower of corn,11 Giving light to every home, O Ptah!II.1 Lord of fishes, when the inundation returns2 No fowls fall on the cultures.4753 Maker of spelt; creator of wheat:4 who maintaineth the temples!5 Idle hands he loathes4766 For myriads, for all the wretched.[pg 337]7 If the gods in heaven are grieved,4778 Then sorrow cometh on men.III.1 He maketh the whole land open to the oxen,4782 And the great and the small are rejoicing;3 The response of men at his coming!4794 His likeness is Num!4805 He shineth, then the land exulteth!6 All bellies are in joy!7 Every creature receives nourishment!8 All teeth get food.IV.1 Bringer of food! Great lord of provisions!2 Creator of all good things!3 Lord of terrors481and of choicest joys!4 All are combined in him.5 He produceth grass for the oxen;6 Providing victims for every god.7 The choice incense is that which he supplies.8 Lord in both regions,9 He filleth the granaries, enricheth the storehouses,10 He careth for the state of the poor.V.1 He causeth growth to fulfil all desires,2 He never wearies of it.3 He maketh his might a buckler.4824 He is not graven in marble,4835 As an image bearing the double crown.6 He is not beheld:[pg 338]7 He hath neither ministrants nor offerings:8 He is not adored in sanctuaries:9 His abode is not known:10 No shrine is found with painted figures.484VI.1 There is no building that can contain him!4852 There is no counsellor486in thy heart!3 Thy youth delight in thee, thy children:4 Thou directest487them as King.5 Thy law is established in the whole land,6 In the presence of thy servants in the North:4887 Every eye is satisfied with him:4898 He careth for the abundance of his blessings.VII.1 The inundation comes, (then) cometh rejoicing;2 Every heart exulteth:3 The tooth of the crocodiles, the children of Neith4904 (Even) the circle of the gods who are counted with thee.5 Doth not its outburst water the fields,6 Overcoming mortals (with joy):7 Watering one to produce another.4918 There is none who worketh with him;9 He produces food without the aid of Neith.49210 Mortals he causes to rejoice.VIII.1 He giveth light on his coming from darkness:4932 In the pastures of his cattle[pg 339]3 His might produceth all:4 What was not, his moisture bringeth to life,5 Men are clothed to fill his gardens:6 He careth for his laborers.7 He maketh even and noontide,8 He is the infinite Ptah and Kabes.4949 He createth all works therein,10 All writings, all sacred words,11 All his implements in the North.495IX.1 He enters with words the interior of his house,4962 When he willeth he goeth forth from his mystic fane.3 Thy wrath is destruction of fishes.4974 Then498men implore thee for the waters of the season.5â€œThat the Thebaid may be seen like the Delta.6 That every man be seen bearing his tools,7 No man left behind his comrade!8 Let the clothed be unclothed,9 No adornments for the sons of nobles,10No circle of gods in the night!â€11 The response (of the god) is refreshing water,12 Filling all men with fatness.X.1 Establisher of justice! men rejoice2 With flattering words to worship499thee,3 Worshipped together with the mighty water!4 Men present offerings of corn,5 Adoring all the gods:6 No fowls fall on the land.5007 Thy hand is adorned with gold,501[pg 340]8 As moulded of an ingot of gold,9 Precious as pure lapis lazuli,50210 Corn in its state of germination is not eaten.503XI.1 The hymn is addressed to thee with the harp;2 It is played with a (skilful) hand to thee!3 The youths rejoice at thee!4 Thy own children.5 Thou hast rewarded their labor.6 There is a great one adorning the land;7 An enlightener, a buckler in front of men,8 Quickening the heart in depression.9 Loving the increase of all his cattle.XII.1 Thou shinest in the city of the King;2 Then the householders are satiated with good things,3 The poor man laughs at the lotus.5044 All things are perfectly ordered.5 Every kind of herb for thy children.6 If food should fail,7 All enjoyment is cast on the ground,8 The land falls in weariness.XIII.1 O inundation of Nile, offerings are made to thee:2 Oxen are slain to thee:3 Great festivals are kept for thee;4 Fowls are sacrificed to thee;5 Beasts of the field are caught for thee6 Pure flames are offered to thee;7 Offerings are made to every god,8 As they are made unto Nile.9 Incense ascends unto heaven,10 Oxen, bulls, fowls are burnt![pg 341]11 Nile makes for himself chasms in the Thebaid;50512 Unknown is his name in heaven,13 He doth not manifest his forms!14 Vain are all representations!506XIV.1 Mortals extol (him), and the cycle of gods!2 Awe is felt by the terrible ones;3 His son507is made Lord of all,4 To enlighten all Egypt.5085 Shine forth, shine forth, O Nile! shine forth!6 Giving life to men by his oxen:7 Giving life to his oxen by the pastures!8 Shine forth in glory, O Nile.

This hymn is important as bearing witness to the state of religious thought in Egypt in the time of Merneptah, the son of Rameses II, nineteenth dynasty, according to the generality of Egyptologers, contemporary with Moses. It is extant in two papyri,â€œSallier,â€ii, p. 11,â€œSelect Papyri,â€pls. xx-xxiii, andâ€œAnastasi,â€vii.â€œSelect Papyri,â€pls. cxxxiv-cxxxix, published by the trustees of the British Museum.

The name of the author Enna is well known. He wrote theâ€œRomance of the Two Brothersâ€and other works preserved in theâ€œSelect Papyri,â€and partially translated by Mr. Goodwin, inâ€œCambridge Essays,â€1858, p. 257, and M. G. Maspero, inâ€œGenre Ã©pistolaire chez les anciens Egyptiens,â€Paris, 1872.

A translation of this hymn was published by Maspero (â€œHymne au Nilâ€), in 1868, with an introduction and critical notes of great value.

The attention of the reader is specially called to the metrical structure of this poem. The stanzas, containing upon an[pg 336]average ten couplets, are distinctly marked in the original, the first word in each being written in red letters; hence the origin of rubricated MSS. Each clause also has a red point at the close. The resemblance with the earliest Hebrew poems has been pointed out by the translator in theâ€œIntroduction to the Book of Psalms,â€and in theâ€œNotes on Exodus,â€in theâ€œSpeaker's Commentary on the Bible.â€

Hymn to the NileI.StropheAdoration of the Nile1 Hail to thee O Nile!2 Thou showest thyself in this land,3 Coming in peace, giving life to Egypt:4 O Ammon, (thou) leadest night unto day,4725 A leading that rejoices the heart!6 Overflowing the gardens created by RÄ.4737 Giving life to all animals;8 Watering the land without ceasing:9 The way of heaven descending:47410 Lover offood, bestower of corn,11 Giving light to every home, O Ptah!II.1 Lord of fishes, when the inundation returns2 No fowls fall on the cultures.4753 Maker of spelt; creator of wheat:4 who maintaineth the temples!5 Idle hands he loathes4766 For myriads, for all the wretched.[pg 337]7 If the gods in heaven are grieved,4778 Then sorrow cometh on men.III.1 He maketh the whole land open to the oxen,4782 And the great and the small are rejoicing;3 The response of men at his coming!4794 His likeness is Num!4805 He shineth, then the land exulteth!6 All bellies are in joy!7 Every creature receives nourishment!8 All teeth get food.IV.1 Bringer of food! Great lord of provisions!2 Creator of all good things!3 Lord of terrors481and of choicest joys!4 All are combined in him.5 He produceth grass for the oxen;6 Providing victims for every god.7 The choice incense is that which he supplies.8 Lord in both regions,9 He filleth the granaries, enricheth the storehouses,10 He careth for the state of the poor.V.1 He causeth growth to fulfil all desires,2 He never wearies of it.3 He maketh his might a buckler.4824 He is not graven in marble,4835 As an image bearing the double crown.6 He is not beheld:[pg 338]7 He hath neither ministrants nor offerings:8 He is not adored in sanctuaries:9 His abode is not known:10 No shrine is found with painted figures.484VI.1 There is no building that can contain him!4852 There is no counsellor486in thy heart!3 Thy youth delight in thee, thy children:4 Thou directest487them as King.5 Thy law is established in the whole land,6 In the presence of thy servants in the North:4887 Every eye is satisfied with him:4898 He careth for the abundance of his blessings.VII.1 The inundation comes, (then) cometh rejoicing;2 Every heart exulteth:3 The tooth of the crocodiles, the children of Neith4904 (Even) the circle of the gods who are counted with thee.5 Doth not its outburst water the fields,6 Overcoming mortals (with joy):7 Watering one to produce another.4918 There is none who worketh with him;9 He produces food without the aid of Neith.49210 Mortals he causes to rejoice.VIII.1 He giveth light on his coming from darkness:4932 In the pastures of his cattle[pg 339]3 His might produceth all:4 What was not, his moisture bringeth to life,5 Men are clothed to fill his gardens:6 He careth for his laborers.7 He maketh even and noontide,8 He is the infinite Ptah and Kabes.4949 He createth all works therein,10 All writings, all sacred words,11 All his implements in the North.495IX.1 He enters with words the interior of his house,4962 When he willeth he goeth forth from his mystic fane.3 Thy wrath is destruction of fishes.4974 Then498men implore thee for the waters of the season.5â€œThat the Thebaid may be seen like the Delta.6 That every man be seen bearing his tools,7 No man left behind his comrade!8 Let the clothed be unclothed,9 No adornments for the sons of nobles,10No circle of gods in the night!â€11 The response (of the god) is refreshing water,12 Filling all men with fatness.X.1 Establisher of justice! men rejoice2 With flattering words to worship499thee,3 Worshipped together with the mighty water!4 Men present offerings of corn,5 Adoring all the gods:6 No fowls fall on the land.5007 Thy hand is adorned with gold,501[pg 340]8 As moulded of an ingot of gold,9 Precious as pure lapis lazuli,50210 Corn in its state of germination is not eaten.503XI.1 The hymn is addressed to thee with the harp;2 It is played with a (skilful) hand to thee!3 The youths rejoice at thee!4 Thy own children.5 Thou hast rewarded their labor.6 There is a great one adorning the land;7 An enlightener, a buckler in front of men,8 Quickening the heart in depression.9 Loving the increase of all his cattle.XII.1 Thou shinest in the city of the King;2 Then the householders are satiated with good things,3 The poor man laughs at the lotus.5044 All things are perfectly ordered.5 Every kind of herb for thy children.6 If food should fail,7 All enjoyment is cast on the ground,8 The land falls in weariness.XIII.1 O inundation of Nile, offerings are made to thee:2 Oxen are slain to thee:3 Great festivals are kept for thee;4 Fowls are sacrificed to thee;5 Beasts of the field are caught for thee6 Pure flames are offered to thee;7 Offerings are made to every god,8 As they are made unto Nile.9 Incense ascends unto heaven,10 Oxen, bulls, fowls are burnt![pg 341]11 Nile makes for himself chasms in the Thebaid;50512 Unknown is his name in heaven,13 He doth not manifest his forms!14 Vain are all representations!506XIV.1 Mortals extol (him), and the cycle of gods!2 Awe is felt by the terrible ones;3 His son507is made Lord of all,4 To enlighten all Egypt.5085 Shine forth, shine forth, O Nile! shine forth!6 Giving life to men by his oxen:7 Giving life to his oxen by the pastures!8 Shine forth in glory, O Nile.

Hymn to the Nile

I.StropheAdoration of the Nile

I.Strophe

Adoration of the Nile

1 Hail to thee O Nile!2 Thou showest thyself in this land,3 Coming in peace, giving life to Egypt:4 O Ammon, (thou) leadest night unto day,4725 A leading that rejoices the heart!6 Overflowing the gardens created by RÄ.4737 Giving life to all animals;8 Watering the land without ceasing:9 The way of heaven descending:47410 Lover offood, bestower of corn,11 Giving light to every home, O Ptah!

1 Hail to thee O Nile!

2 Thou showest thyself in this land,

3 Coming in peace, giving life to Egypt:

4 O Ammon, (thou) leadest night unto day,472

5 A leading that rejoices the heart!

6 Overflowing the gardens created by RÄ.473

7 Giving life to all animals;

8 Watering the land without ceasing:

9 The way of heaven descending:474

10 Lover offood, bestower of corn,

11 Giving light to every home, O Ptah!

II.

1 Lord of fishes, when the inundation returns2 No fowls fall on the cultures.4753 Maker of spelt; creator of wheat:4 who maintaineth the temples!5 Idle hands he loathes4766 For myriads, for all the wretched.[pg 337]7 If the gods in heaven are grieved,4778 Then sorrow cometh on men.

1 Lord of fishes, when the inundation returns

2 No fowls fall on the cultures.475

3 Maker of spelt; creator of wheat:

4 who maintaineth the temples!

5 Idle hands he loathes476

6 For myriads, for all the wretched.

7 If the gods in heaven are grieved,477

8 Then sorrow cometh on men.

III.

1 He maketh the whole land open to the oxen,4782 And the great and the small are rejoicing;3 The response of men at his coming!4794 His likeness is Num!4805 He shineth, then the land exulteth!6 All bellies are in joy!7 Every creature receives nourishment!8 All teeth get food.

1 He maketh the whole land open to the oxen,478

2 And the great and the small are rejoicing;

3 The response of men at his coming!479

4 His likeness is Num!480

5 He shineth, then the land exulteth!

6 All bellies are in joy!

7 Every creature receives nourishment!

8 All teeth get food.

IV.

1 Bringer of food! Great lord of provisions!2 Creator of all good things!3 Lord of terrors481and of choicest joys!4 All are combined in him.5 He produceth grass for the oxen;6 Providing victims for every god.7 The choice incense is that which he supplies.8 Lord in both regions,9 He filleth the granaries, enricheth the storehouses,10 He careth for the state of the poor.

1 Bringer of food! Great lord of provisions!

2 Creator of all good things!

3 Lord of terrors481and of choicest joys!

4 All are combined in him.

5 He produceth grass for the oxen;

6 Providing victims for every god.

7 The choice incense is that which he supplies.

8 Lord in both regions,

9 He filleth the granaries, enricheth the storehouses,

10 He careth for the state of the poor.

1 He causeth growth to fulfil all desires,2 He never wearies of it.3 He maketh his might a buckler.4824 He is not graven in marble,4835 As an image bearing the double crown.6 He is not beheld:[pg 338]7 He hath neither ministrants nor offerings:8 He is not adored in sanctuaries:9 His abode is not known:10 No shrine is found with painted figures.484

1 He causeth growth to fulfil all desires,

2 He never wearies of it.

3 He maketh his might a buckler.482

4 He is not graven in marble,483

5 As an image bearing the double crown.

6 He is not beheld:

7 He hath neither ministrants nor offerings:

8 He is not adored in sanctuaries:

9 His abode is not known:

10 No shrine is found with painted figures.484

VI.

1 There is no building that can contain him!4852 There is no counsellor486in thy heart!3 Thy youth delight in thee, thy children:4 Thou directest487them as King.5 Thy law is established in the whole land,6 In the presence of thy servants in the North:4887 Every eye is satisfied with him:4898 He careth for the abundance of his blessings.

1 There is no building that can contain him!485

2 There is no counsellor486in thy heart!

3 Thy youth delight in thee, thy children:

4 Thou directest487them as King.

5 Thy law is established in the whole land,

6 In the presence of thy servants in the North:488

7 Every eye is satisfied with him:489

8 He careth for the abundance of his blessings.

VII.

1 The inundation comes, (then) cometh rejoicing;2 Every heart exulteth:3 The tooth of the crocodiles, the children of Neith4904 (Even) the circle of the gods who are counted with thee.5 Doth not its outburst water the fields,6 Overcoming mortals (with joy):7 Watering one to produce another.4918 There is none who worketh with him;9 He produces food without the aid of Neith.49210 Mortals he causes to rejoice.

1 The inundation comes, (then) cometh rejoicing;

2 Every heart exulteth:

3 The tooth of the crocodiles, the children of Neith490

4 (Even) the circle of the gods who are counted with thee.

5 Doth not its outburst water the fields,

6 Overcoming mortals (with joy):

7 Watering one to produce another.491

8 There is none who worketh with him;

9 He produces food without the aid of Neith.492

10 Mortals he causes to rejoice.

VIII.

1 He giveth light on his coming from darkness:4932 In the pastures of his cattle[pg 339]3 His might produceth all:4 What was not, his moisture bringeth to life,5 Men are clothed to fill his gardens:6 He careth for his laborers.7 He maketh even and noontide,8 He is the infinite Ptah and Kabes.4949 He createth all works therein,10 All writings, all sacred words,11 All his implements in the North.495

1 He giveth light on his coming from darkness:493

2 In the pastures of his cattle

3 His might produceth all:

4 What was not, his moisture bringeth to life,

5 Men are clothed to fill his gardens:

6 He careth for his laborers.

7 He maketh even and noontide,

8 He is the infinite Ptah and Kabes.494

9 He createth all works therein,

10 All writings, all sacred words,

11 All his implements in the North.495

IX.

1 He enters with words the interior of his house,4962 When he willeth he goeth forth from his mystic fane.3 Thy wrath is destruction of fishes.4974 Then498men implore thee for the waters of the season.5â€œThat the Thebaid may be seen like the Delta.6 That every man be seen bearing his tools,7 No man left behind his comrade!8 Let the clothed be unclothed,9 No adornments for the sons of nobles,10No circle of gods in the night!â€11 The response (of the god) is refreshing water,12 Filling all men with fatness.

1 He enters with words the interior of his house,496

2 When he willeth he goeth forth from his mystic fane.

3 Thy wrath is destruction of fishes.497

4 Then498men implore thee for the waters of the season.

5â€œThat the Thebaid may be seen like the Delta.

6 That every man be seen bearing his tools,

7 No man left behind his comrade!

8 Let the clothed be unclothed,

9 No adornments for the sons of nobles,

10No circle of gods in the night!â€

11 The response (of the god) is refreshing water,

12 Filling all men with fatness.

1 Establisher of justice! men rejoice2 With flattering words to worship499thee,3 Worshipped together with the mighty water!4 Men present offerings of corn,5 Adoring all the gods:6 No fowls fall on the land.5007 Thy hand is adorned with gold,501[pg 340]8 As moulded of an ingot of gold,9 Precious as pure lapis lazuli,50210 Corn in its state of germination is not eaten.503

1 Establisher of justice! men rejoice

2 With flattering words to worship499thee,

3 Worshipped together with the mighty water!

4 Men present offerings of corn,

5 Adoring all the gods:

6 No fowls fall on the land.500

7 Thy hand is adorned with gold,501

8 As moulded of an ingot of gold,

9 Precious as pure lapis lazuli,502

10 Corn in its state of germination is not eaten.503

XI.

1 The hymn is addressed to thee with the harp;2 It is played with a (skilful) hand to thee!3 The youths rejoice at thee!4 Thy own children.5 Thou hast rewarded their labor.6 There is a great one adorning the land;7 An enlightener, a buckler in front of men,8 Quickening the heart in depression.9 Loving the increase of all his cattle.

1 The hymn is addressed to thee with the harp;

2 It is played with a (skilful) hand to thee!

3 The youths rejoice at thee!

4 Thy own children.

5 Thou hast rewarded their labor.

6 There is a great one adorning the land;

7 An enlightener, a buckler in front of men,

8 Quickening the heart in depression.

9 Loving the increase of all his cattle.

XII.

1 Thou shinest in the city of the King;2 Then the householders are satiated with good things,3 The poor man laughs at the lotus.5044 All things are perfectly ordered.5 Every kind of herb for thy children.6 If food should fail,7 All enjoyment is cast on the ground,8 The land falls in weariness.

1 Thou shinest in the city of the King;

2 Then the householders are satiated with good things,

3 The poor man laughs at the lotus.504

4 All things are perfectly ordered.

5 Every kind of herb for thy children.

6 If food should fail,

7 All enjoyment is cast on the ground,

8 The land falls in weariness.

XIII.

1 O inundation of Nile, offerings are made to thee:2 Oxen are slain to thee:3 Great festivals are kept for thee;4 Fowls are sacrificed to thee;5 Beasts of the field are caught for thee6 Pure flames are offered to thee;7 Offerings are made to every god,8 As they are made unto Nile.9 Incense ascends unto heaven,10 Oxen, bulls, fowls are burnt![pg 341]11 Nile makes for himself chasms in the Thebaid;50512 Unknown is his name in heaven,13 He doth not manifest his forms!14 Vain are all representations!506

1 O inundation of Nile, offerings are made to thee:

2 Oxen are slain to thee:

3 Great festivals are kept for thee;

4 Fowls are sacrificed to thee;

5 Beasts of the field are caught for thee

6 Pure flames are offered to thee;

7 Offerings are made to every god,

8 As they are made unto Nile.

9 Incense ascends unto heaven,

10 Oxen, bulls, fowls are burnt!

11 Nile makes for himself chasms in the Thebaid;505

12 Unknown is his name in heaven,

13 He doth not manifest his forms!

14 Vain are all representations!506

XIV.

1 Mortals extol (him), and the cycle of gods!2 Awe is felt by the terrible ones;3 His son507is made Lord of all,4 To enlighten all Egypt.5085 Shine forth, shine forth, O Nile! shine forth!6 Giving life to men by his oxen:7 Giving life to his oxen by the pastures!8 Shine forth in glory, O Nile.

1 Mortals extol (him), and the cycle of gods!

2 Awe is felt by the terrible ones;

3 His son507is made Lord of all,

4 To enlighten all Egypt.508

5 Shine forth, shine forth, O Nile! shine forth!

6 Giving life to men by his oxen:

7 Giving life to his oxen by the pastures!

8 Shine forth in glory, O Nile.

The Solemn Festal Dirge Of The EgyptiansTranslated by C. W. Goodwin, M.A.This dirge or hymn, which is that alluded to by Herodotus,509is contained in one of theâ€œHarris Papyriâ€(No. 500), the same from which I have already translated theâ€œStory of the Doomed Prince.â€The first line of the hymn ascribes it to the authorship of King Antuf, one of the Pharaohs of the eleventh dynasty. The papyrus itself is, however, of the time of Thothmes III, eighteenth dynasty, but that is no reason why all the texts in the MSS. should be of the latter date. The translation here given was printed by myself for the first time in theâ€œTransactions of the Society of Biblical ArchÃ¦ology,â€Vol. III, part 1, but the hieroglyphic text remains yet to be published. A fragment of another copy of this identical hymn is to be found in theâ€œMonumens[pg 342]du MusÃ©e de Leide,â€part iii, pl. 12, and from it several words which were wanting in the Harris papyrus have been restored.Festal Dirge1 (Wanting.)2 The song of the house of King Antuf, deceased, which is (written) in front of3 the player on the harp.510All hail to the good Prince,the worthy good (man),the body is fated(?) to pass away,the atoms5114 remain, ever since the time of the ancestors.The gods who were beforetime rest in their tombs, themummies5 of the saints likewise are enwrapped in their tombs.They who build houses, and they who have no houses, see!6 what becomes of them.I have heard the words of Imhotep512and Hartatef.513It is said in their sayings,7 After all, what is prosperity?Their fenced walls are dilapidated.Their houses are as that which has never existed.8 No man comes from thencewho tells of their sayings,who tells of their affairs,who encourages our hearts.Ye go9 to the place whence they return not.514Strengthen thy heart to forget how thou hast enjoyed thyself,fulfil thy desire whilst thou livest.[pg 343]10 Put oils upon thy headclothe thyself with fine linen adorned with precious metals11 with thegiftsof Godmultiply thy good things,yield to thy desire,fulfil thy desire with thy good things12 (whilst thou art) upon earth,according to the dictation of thy heart.The day will come to thee,when one hears not the voicewhen the one who is at rest hears not13 their voices.515Lamentations deliver not him who is in the tomb.51614 Feast in tranquillityseeing that there is no one who carries away his goods with him.Yea, behold, none who goes thither comes back again.

This dirge or hymn, which is that alluded to by Herodotus,509is contained in one of theâ€œHarris Papyriâ€(No. 500), the same from which I have already translated theâ€œStory of the Doomed Prince.â€The first line of the hymn ascribes it to the authorship of King Antuf, one of the Pharaohs of the eleventh dynasty. The papyrus itself is, however, of the time of Thothmes III, eighteenth dynasty, but that is no reason why all the texts in the MSS. should be of the latter date. The translation here given was printed by myself for the first time in theâ€œTransactions of the Society of Biblical ArchÃ¦ology,â€Vol. III, part 1, but the hieroglyphic text remains yet to be published. A fragment of another copy of this identical hymn is to be found in theâ€œMonumens[pg 342]du MusÃ©e de Leide,â€part iii, pl. 12, and from it several words which were wanting in the Harris papyrus have been restored.

Festal Dirge1 (Wanting.)2 The song of the house of King Antuf, deceased, which is (written) in front of3 the player on the harp.510All hail to the good Prince,the worthy good (man),the body is fated(?) to pass away,the atoms5114 remain, ever since the time of the ancestors.The gods who were beforetime rest in their tombs, themummies5 of the saints likewise are enwrapped in their tombs.They who build houses, and they who have no houses, see!6 what becomes of them.I have heard the words of Imhotep512and Hartatef.513It is said in their sayings,7 After all, what is prosperity?Their fenced walls are dilapidated.Their houses are as that which has never existed.8 No man comes from thencewho tells of their sayings,who tells of their affairs,who encourages our hearts.Ye go9 to the place whence they return not.514Strengthen thy heart to forget how thou hast enjoyed thyself,fulfil thy desire whilst thou livest.[pg 343]10 Put oils upon thy headclothe thyself with fine linen adorned with precious metals11 with thegiftsof Godmultiply thy good things,yield to thy desire,fulfil thy desire with thy good things12 (whilst thou art) upon earth,according to the dictation of thy heart.The day will come to thee,when one hears not the voicewhen the one who is at rest hears not13 their voices.515Lamentations deliver not him who is in the tomb.51614 Feast in tranquillityseeing that there is no one who carries away his goods with him.Yea, behold, none who goes thither comes back again.

Festal Dirge

1 (Wanting.)

2 The song of the house of King Antuf, deceased, which is (written) in front of

3 the player on the harp.510All hail to the good Prince,the worthy good (man),the body is fated(?) to pass away,the atoms511

3 the player on the harp.510

All hail to the good Prince,

the worthy good (man),

the body is fated(?) to pass away,

the atoms511

4 remain, ever since the time of the ancestors.The gods who were beforetime rest in their tombs, themummies

4 remain, ever since the time of the ancestors.

The gods who were beforetime rest in their tombs, the

mummies

5 of the saints likewise are enwrapped in their tombs.They who build houses, and they who have no houses, see!

5 of the saints likewise are enwrapped in their tombs.

They who build houses, and they who have no houses, see!

6 what becomes of them.I have heard the words of Imhotep512and Hartatef.513It is said in their sayings,

6 what becomes of them.

I have heard the words of Imhotep512and Hartatef.513

It is said in their sayings,

7 After all, what is prosperity?Their fenced walls are dilapidated.Their houses are as that which has never existed.

7 After all, what is prosperity?

Their fenced walls are dilapidated.

Their houses are as that which has never existed.

8 No man comes from thencewho tells of their sayings,who tells of their affairs,who encourages our hearts.Ye go

8 No man comes from thence

who tells of their sayings,

who tells of their affairs,

who encourages our hearts.

Ye go

9 to the place whence they return not.514Strengthen thy heart to forget how thou hast enjoyed thyself,fulfil thy desire whilst thou livest.

9 to the place whence they return not.514

Strengthen thy heart to forget how thou hast enjoyed thyself,

fulfil thy desire whilst thou livest.

10 Put oils upon thy headclothe thyself with fine linen adorned with precious metals

10 Put oils upon thy head

clothe thyself with fine linen adorned with precious metals

11 with thegiftsof Godmultiply thy good things,yield to thy desire,fulfil thy desire with thy good things

11 with thegiftsof God

multiply thy good things,

yield to thy desire,

fulfil thy desire with thy good things

12 (whilst thou art) upon earth,according to the dictation of thy heart.The day will come to thee,when one hears not the voicewhen the one who is at rest hears not

12 (whilst thou art) upon earth,

according to the dictation of thy heart.

The day will come to thee,

when one hears not the voice

when the one who is at rest hears not

13 their voices.515Lamentations deliver not him who is in the tomb.516

13 their voices.515

Lamentations deliver not him who is in the tomb.516

14 Feast in tranquillityseeing that there is no one who carries away his goods with him.Yea, behold, none who goes thither comes back again.

14 Feast in tranquillity

seeing that there is no one who carries away his goods with him.

Yea, behold, none who goes thither comes back again.

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