The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep and the Instruction of Ke'Gemni Part 5

THE INSTRUCTION OF AMENEMHE'ET

A Palace Conspiracy--Hail and Farewell

Beginneth here the Instruction made by the Majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt SEHOTEP-'EB-Re', Son of the Sun AMENEMHe'ET, the Justified.[1] He speaketh thus in discovering words of truth unto his Son, the Lord of the World:

1. Shine forth, he saith, even as the G.o.d. Hearken to that which I say unto thee: that thou may reign over the land, that thou may govern the world, that thou may excel in goodness.

2. Let one withdraw himself from his subordinates entirely. It befalleth that mankind give their hearts unto one that causeth them fear. Mix not among them alone; fill not thine heart with a brother; know not a trusted friend; make for thyself no familiar dependents; in these things is no satisfaction.

3. When thou liest down have care for thy very life,[2] since friends exist not for a man in the {68} day of misfortunes. I gave to the beggar, and caused the orphan to live; I made him that had not to attain, even as he that had.

4. But it was the eater of my food that made insurrection against me; to whom I gave mine hands, he created disturbance thereby; they that arrayed them in my fine linen regarded me a shadow; and it was they that anointed themselves with my spices that entered my harem.

5. My images are among the living; and my achievements are among men.

But I have made an heroic story that hath not been heard; a great feat of arms that hath not been seen. Surely one fighteth for a la.s.soed ox that forgetteth yesterday;[3] and good fortune is of no avail unto one that cannot perceive it.

6. It was after the evening meal, and night was come. I took for myself an hour of ease. I lay down upon my bed, for I was weary. My heart began to wander (?). I slept. And lo! weapons were brandished, and there was conference concerning me. I acted as the serpent of the desert.[4]

7. I awoke to fight; I was alone. I found one struck down, it was the captain of the guard. Had I received quickly the arms from his hand, {69} I had driven back the dastards by smiting around. But he was not a brave man on that night, nor could I fight alone; an occasion of prowess cometh not to one surprised. Thus was I.

8. Behold, then, vile things came to pa.s.s, for I was without thee; the courtiers knew not that I had pa.s.sed on to thee [my power], I sat not with thee on the throne.[5] Let me, then, make thy plans. Because I awed them not I was not unmindful of them; but mine heart bringeth not to remembrance the slackness of servants.

9. Is it the custom of women to gather together a.s.sailants? are a.s.sa.s.sins reared within my palace? was the opening done by cutting through the ground? The underlings were deceived as to what they did.[6] But misfortunes have not come in my train since my birth; nor hath there existed the equal of me as a doer of valiance.

10. I forced my way up to Elephantine, I went down unto the coast-lakes;[7] I have stood upon the boundaries of the land, and I have seen its centre. I have set the limits of might by my might in my deeds.

11. I raised corn, I loved Nopi[8]; the Nile begged of me every valley. In my reign none {70} hungered; none thirsted therein. They were contented in that which I did, saying concerning me, 'Every commandment is meet.'

12. I overcame lions; I carried off crocodiles. I cast the Nubians under my feet; I carried off the Southern Nubians; I caused the Asiatics to flee, even as hounds.

13. I have made me an house, adorned with gold, its ceiling with _lapis lazuli_, its walls having deep foundations. Its doors are of copper, their bolts are of bronze. It is made for ever-lasting; eternity is in awe of it. I know every dimension thereof, O Lord of the World!

14. There are divers devices in buildings. I know the p.r.o.nouncements of men when inquiring into its beauties; but they know not that it was without thee, O my son, Senwesert; life, safe and sound, be to thee--by thy feet do I walk; thou art after mine own heart; by thine eyes do I see; born in an hour of delight, with spirits[9] that rendered thee praise.

15. Behold, that which I have done at the beginning, let me set it in order for thee at the end; let me be the landing-place of that which is in thine heart. All men together set the White Crown on the Offspring of the G.o.d, fixing it unto its due place. I shall begin thy praises when in the Boat of Ra. Thy kingdom hath been from primeval time; not by my doing, {71} who have done valiant things. Raise up monuments, make beautiful thy tomb. I have fought against him whom thou knowest; for I desire not that he should be beside thy Majesty. Life, safe and sound, be to thee."

IT IS FINISHED.

[1] A ceremonial t.i.tle applied to deceased persons, a.n.a.logous to our "the late." "Justified" is not an exact rendering, but it is usual, and will serve.

[2] Literally, _heart_.

[3] An allusion to the people of Egypt, whom he had freed from the foreign oppressors.

[4] _i.e._ he remained quiet but watchful.

[5] Referring to the co-regency with his son.

[6] Referring to the attempted a.s.sa.s.sination.

[7] The limits, south and north, of his kingdom.

[8] The G.o.d of corn.

[9] Or, unborn souls (_hmmw_).

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AN EXPLANATION OF NAMES OCCURRING IN THIS BOOK.

AMENEMHe'ET . . . . _The G.o.d Amon is to the fore_.

HEUNI . . . . . . . _I have smitten_.

Isosi . . . . . . . Of unknown meaning.

KE'GEMNI . . . . . . _I have found a soul_; or, _A soul is found for me_.

PTAH-HOTEP . . . . . _The G.o.d Ptah is satisfied_, alluding either to the belief that to beget a child was pleasing to the G.o.d, or to the dedication of the child to the G.o.d.

SEHoTEP-'EB-Re' . . _Contenting the heart of the G.o.d Ra_.

SENFoRU . . . . . . _The beautifier_.

SENWESERT . . . . . Of doubtful meaning; connected with _The G.o.ddess Wesert_.

Other spellings of these names are: _Amenemhat; Huna; a.s.sa, 'Esse'; Ptahhetep; Sehetepabra, Rasehetepab; Seneferu; Usertesen_.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brugsch, H. _Hieroglyphisches-demotisches Worterbuch_ ... vols.

v.-vii. Leipzig, 1880 _ff._ Contains explanations of many difficult pa.s.sages.

Budge, E. A. W. _An Egyptian Reading Book_. London, 1888. Second edition, with transliteration into italics and vocabulary, London, 1896. Contains the most convenient transcript of the P.P. Follows throughout that of Virey (see below). For some amendments see Griffith in Proc. S.B.A. (below). The first edition is more accurate (for this text) than the second. The vocabulary needs revision.