The Story of Nefrekepta Part 1

The Story of Nefrekepta.

by Gilbert Murray.

PREFACE

The original of this tale is in Demotic Egyptian, in prose, on a fragmentary papyrus dated 'the first month of winter, in the fifteenth year' of some king unnamed. Palaeographical evidence suggests some date about 100 B.C. My own education has been neglected in the matter of Demotic, and I know the tale only from the literal translation which accompanies the text in Dr. Griffith's _Stories of the High Priests of Memphis_. In that form, however, it so fascinated me that I presently found myself, to the neglect of more urgent duties, putting it into English verse and filling up the gaps in the narrative. I have tried to preserve the style and often the exact words of the original, as rendered by Dr. Griffith, but in other respects temptations have been great and I have not resisted them.

The names present some difficulties. In Demotic, if I understand aright, the vowels are not written and the consonants often do not mean what they seem to mean. The hero's name is spelt, roughly speaking, N('y)-nfr-k'-Pth, the phantom lady's Ty-bwbwe; the priest's is written Stne, but was probably p.r.o.nounced, so Dr. Griffith tells me, S[)e]ton or S[)e]tan.

While doing the verses I was constantly reminded of certain Egyptian illuminations by Miss Florence Kingsford, now Mrs. Sydney c.o.c.kerell, which I had seen some years ago, and she has been so kind as to provide the book with a frontispiece and tail-piece.

Those who desire further information about Setne will find it in the introduction to Dr. Griffith's learned and delightful book (Clarendon Press, 1900).

G. M.

NEFREKEPTA

_Introduction_

SETNE KHAMUAS, son of RAMESES, High Priest of PTAH, beneath his garden trees Dwelt with his wife and children; wise was he In Books of power and ancient Masteries.

And much he pondered on a tale they told, How NEFREKEPTA, dead in days of old, Held still the Book of HERMES which is THOTH Hid in his tomb, and never loosed his hold.

And longing for that Book so pierced him through He called to him his brother AN-HERRU, The son of MENKH-ART, saying: 'Brother mine, Be with me in a deed I have to do.'

And he said: 'I am with thee till my doom Find me.' And SETNE said: 'I seek the tomb Of NEFREKEPTA dead, and take the Book, The Book of THOTH hid in its inmost room.'

That night they found the tomb, and AN-HERRU Stayed at the door, but SETNE pa.s.sing through On seven great doors and seven windings spake His spells, and found the room; and all was true.

For there lay NEFREKEPTA in his pride, The Book beneath his head; and at his side The ghosts sate of a woman and a boy, Shadows beside the dead; and SETNE cried:

'Ye throned Shadows, whosoe'er ye be, And thou, dead PHARAOH, tombed in majesty, All hail! I, SETNE, scribe and Priest of PTAH, Command thy Book be rendered up to me,

The Book of THOTH which lies beneath thy head.'

Then never word nor sign came from the dead, But the two Shadows lifted up their arms Lamenting, and the woman swift outspread

Her hand to save the Book, and cried: 'Aha!

SETNE KHAMUAS, is the will of RA Not yet fulfilled upon us? This is I, AHURE of the race of MERNAB-PTAH.

_Ahure's Story_

Therefore give ear, and let the Book of Gold Tempt thee no more, till all my tale be told.-- It happened in the days of MERNAB-PTAH, The long days, when the King was very old,

And had no son nor daughter; in their room A son's son and a daughter's daughter, whom Thou seest, NEFREKEPTA the Good Scribe, And me who watch beside him in this tomb.

And PHARAOH mused and spake: 'Go near and far, Bring me the lordliest of my chiefs of war With all their daughters and their sons, to make Feast on the third day; call me all that are.'

So PHARAOH spake; but lo, exceedingly Did I love NEFREKEPTA and he me.

And much I feared that PHARAOH at that feast Would take some youth and maid of high degree,

A war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son, And fast bind NEFREKEPTA to the one, And me to the other; so his race would grow, But we two meet no more beneath the sun.

Now PHARAOH'S ancient Steward loved me well, And NEFREKEPTA too; and it befell, One day he watched me and the second day He spoke: 'AHURE, surely I can spell

A story that is written in four eyes.

Thou lovest NEFREKEPTA and likewise He loveth thee.' And I cried out: 'O friend, Speak unto PHARAOH quick, ere this day dies!

Pray that he give me to my cousin straight, Nor seek to make us two live separate.'

And he said: 'I will speak; for so the law Commandeth, by long ages consecrate;

The King's sons wed the daughters of the King.'

Then all my heart was like a water-spring Leaping; and soon he went and soon returned Sad, and reported of his counselling:

'I spake to PHARAOH, saying: "Lord, may life Like RA'S be thine and glory in all strife!

Is it not meet that NEFREKEPTA take By ancient rule AHURE to his wife?

Let PHARAOH wed with PHARAOH; so shall pure PHARAOH be born:--the rule doth still endure."

And PHARAOH spoke not, but his brow grew dark With trouble; and I said: "O King, for sure

Thou hast some grief; say what doth vex thy brow?"

And PHARAOH said: "None vexeth me but thou.

I have but two, and if those two be wed All PHARAOH'S fruit is hanging on one bough.

Nay, search and find me one great war-lord's son, Another war-lord's daughter. With the one And other let these children twain be wed.

So PHARAOH'S line on many threads shall run."

Next day the hours pa.s.sed and the feast was set Before the King; and I was called ere yet The Lords came. And I stood before the King Not as of old, my heart being desolate.

And PHARAOH spake: 'AHURE, was it thou Didst send that message that hath made my brow Troubled, that with thy brother thou wouldst wed?'

And I said: 'Hath the King not made a vow,

A war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son-- Behold us!--Let my brother take the one, And let the other take AHURE; so Shall PHARAOH'S race be great beneath the sun.'

And there I laughed; and PHARAOH laughed again, And called the Steward of the King's domain: 'Steward, this night to NEFREKEPTA'S house The maid AHURE take and all her train;

And all things beautiful go with her there.'

Thus I to NEFREKEPTA'S house did fare, And PHARAOH sent wrought silver and fine gold, And PHARAOH'S servants stood about my chair.

And NEFREKEPTA took with me delight, And feasted PHARAOH'S servants; and that night Was made our marriage, and we knew great joy, And never, never, failed I in his sight;