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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:06:43 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36887-8.txt b/36887-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a44cef --- /dev/null +++ b/36887-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1391 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Nefrekepta, by Gilbert Murray + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of Nefrekepta + from a demotic papyrus + +Author: Gilbert Murray + +Release Date: July 28, 2011 [EBook #36887] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF NEFREKEPTA *** + + + + +Produced by James Wright and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + The Story of + + _NEFREKEPTA_ + + FROM A DEMOTIC PAPYRUS + + Put into Verse by + + _GILBERT MURRAY_ + + + OXFORD + AT THE CLARENDON PRESS + MCMXI + + + + + Henry Frowde, M.A. + Publisher to the University of Oxford + London, Edinburgh, New York + Toronto and Melbourne + + + PRINTED IN ENGLAND + + + + + 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 pronounced, so Dr. Griffith tells me, S[)e]tôn or +S[)e]tân. + +While doing the verses I was constantly reminded of certain Egyptian +illuminations by Miss Florence Kingsford, now Mrs. Sydney Cockerell, +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 passing 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 thronèd 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 passed 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; + +For each his fellow loved exceedingly. +And when my time of bearing came to be + I bore the son who lieth in this tomb, +MERAB; a name in the Kings' Book is he. + + +_The Book of Thoth_ + +And thus it fell, that of all things on earth +My brother NEFREKEPTA most of worth + Did hold the wisdom that in Books is writ. +The tablets of the House of Death and Birth, + +And all that on the temple walls is said, +And all the lore of the Kings' Tombs he read, + And ever walked in Memphis on the Hill +Of Kings, and stored the wisdom of the dead. + +Now one day was a high procession sent +To PTAH'S great house; and NEFREKEPTA went + And walked therein; right slow he walked, and read +All that was writ on wall and pediment. + +And, watching him, behold, an aged Priest +Laughed. And he said: 'God's mercy be increased! + Why laughest thou at me?' And he: 'I laugh +At no man, not the greatest nor the least; + +I laugh to think how thou shalt laugh anon, +When that which no man's eye hath looked upon, + The secret Book of HERMES which is THOTH, +Is opened to thine hand and called thine own. + +He wrote it, and the Gods before his face +Fled.--And it lies . . . If ever word of grace + Or spell of power thou need, come then to me +And speak. Thou shalt be guided to the place. + +Two leaves it hath, on which two sorceries +Are written. If thou read the first of these, + Thou shalt enchant the earth, the clouds above, +The underworld, the mountains and the seas; + +And all the words that wingèd things may say, +And creeping things, shall be made thine that day; + Yea, thou shalt see all fishes in the deep +And God's power guiding each upon his way. + +And if thou read the second, though there lies +Above thee all AMENTI, thou shalt rise + And take thy shape again, and see the MOON +And RA and all the children of the skies.' + +And NEFREKEPTA cried: 'O Priest and King! +I bless thee. Tell me every gorgeous thing + Thy soul desireth, they shall all be thine, +Wilt thou but guide my steps to that great spring.' + +Then smiled the Priest: 'My Prince, so let it be! +Send me an hundred bars of silver, free + Of all fault, for my burial when I die; +And two full priesthoods give me without fee.' + +And NEFREKEPTA called a youth, and bade +An hundred bars of silver pure be made, + And two new priesthoods named to THOTH and PTAH, +And sealed him priest to PTAH and THOTH unpaid. + +Then the man spoke: 'The Book of THOTH doth rest +In Coptos Sea, hid in a golden chest; + The gold doth lie in silver; that in wrought +Ebon and ivory, fitted nest in nest; + +That in sweet cedar; that in bronze doth lie; +The bronze in iron. 'Tis knotted with a ply + Of endless Snake; and round it for one league +Are scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die.' + +He spoke, and NEFREKEPTA no more knew +What place he stood in nor what breath he drew, + But forth he hied him in great joy, and caught +My hand, and all this tale he told me true; + +And cried: 'South, South to Coptos! None shall stay +Our going.' But I turned from him away + And found that aged Priest and said: 'Thou Priest, +May AMUN curse thee for thy words this day! + +The Book of THOTH, the serpents and the sea! +Most bitter striving thou hast made for me, + And bitter watching till my lord's return; +False art thou, and thy South all cruelty.' + +And much I prayed my brother not to sail +To Coptos, but my prayer might not avail, + For straight to PHARAOH'S throne he went, and spake +To PHARAOH of the Priest and all his tale. + +And PHARAOH said: 'What wilt thou I should do?' +'Give me thy ship of pleasure and its crew,' + He said: 'and with me let AHURE sail +To find the Book, and the boy MERAB too.' + +So PHARAOH'S pleasure-ship was brought, and all +Its crew; and southward in high festival + We sailed to Coptos; and the news went forth +Before us, and the folk stood on the wall. + +The Priests of ISIS and HARPOCRATES +And the Chief Priest of ISIS, all of these + Came down to NEFREKEPTA, and to me +The women of the Priests in their degrees. + +They led us to their Temple in a line; +And NEFREKEPTA gave ox, goose, and wine, + And brought to ISIS and HARPOCRATES +Rite and oblation and all dues divine. + +A temple beautiful exceedingly +Was over us, and there four days did he + Make with the Priests of ISIS holiday, +And the priests' women holiday with me. + +But when the morning of the fifth day came, +He called for wax made holy, without blame, + And shaped a boat with men, and spake a spell, +And breathed; and life woke in them like a flame. + +He went on board that boat, and heaped it high +With sand, and pushed it from the shore. And I + Sate on the shore alone, and said: 'I wait +Here till he comes, and if he dies I die.' + +He said: 'O Rowers, row me to the place +I wot of.' And the rowers rowed apace, + By day, by night, and ceased on the third day. +Then he took sand, and cast the sand a space + +Before him, and the water rose on both +Sides, and the floor below did ooze and froth + With scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die, +One league before the treasure chest of THOTH. + +And round the chest was coiled an endless Snake. +Then NEFREKEPTA took his charms, and spake + A spell on all that league of serpent things, +And down they sank, and slept, and could not wake. + +Then o'er the league of asps he walked, and fought +With the endless Snake and slew it; but it caught + Life as it fell, and joined again and flew +To tear him; and again its death he wrought; + +Then a third time it quickened, and again +He fought and smote the endless Snake in twain + The third time; and between the parts he cast +Fine sand; and it lay still, for ever slain. + +And on he strode and found the caskets, rolled +Each within each; iron the outmost fold, + Then bronze; then cedar; then came ivory +And ebon; then the silver; then the gold. + +He broke the gold, and kneeling on his knees +Read out the first of the two sorceries, + Enchanting all the earth, the clouds above, +The underworld, the mountains and the seas. + +And everything that bird or worm might say, +Or mountain beast, he heard and knew that day, + And saw all fishes moving in the deep, +And God's power guiding each upon its way. + +He read the second sorcery, and far +In heaven he saw the shining forth of RA, + And all his Children round him, and the MOON +Uprising, and the shape of every Star. + +And NEFREKEPTA shut the Book, and then +Went to his boat and called the magic men: + 'Row day, row night, and row me to the shore.' +So rowed they, and he reached the shore again. + +And found me sitting by the sea to wait +His coming. Seven full days and nights I sate, + And ate nor drank, but waited, and was grown +Like them they bear to the embalmer's gate. + +I said to him: 'My brother, let me see +The Book that wrought such pain on thee and me.' + He gave the Book into my hands, and slow +I read what there was writ of sorcery. + +I laid upon the earth and sky my spell, +The underworld, the hills, the ocean swell; + And understood what tales the birds of heaven +And mountain beasts and deep-sea fishes tell. + +Then did I read the second spell, and high +Above saw RA enthronèd in the sky, + And all his Children; and I saw the MOON +And all the Stars in all their shapes go by. + +And NEFREKEPTA bade them bring a roll +Of new papyrus, and wrote out the whole + Of those two charms, and melted it in wine, +And drank it. So the charm was in his soul. + +Then sacrifice we made and gifts of worth +Heaped high in all the temples, and set forth + On PHARAOH'S ship with singing and great joy, +One league, one league, from Coptos to the North. + +But THOTH himself had seen our deed, and, ah, +His wrath was hot! Before the throne of RA, + 'Judgement!' he cried, 'Give judgement between me +And NEFREKEPTA, son of MERNAB-PTAH, + +Who broke into my treasure-house this day, +And slew my Snake and stole my Book away.' + And RA said: 'Surely he is in thy hand, +O THOTH, both he and his, to spare or slay.' + +And lo, a Power of God went forth, and fell +On all the river and lay invisible; + And THOTH said: 'NEFREKEPTA shall come home +No more, nor one of those that with him dwell.' + +Then the boy MERAB, singing, from the shade +Of PHARAOH'S awning stepped; one step he made, + And, lo, the River took him, and his face +Was covered and the will of RA obeyed. + +Then all about us cried with a great cry. +But NEFREKEPTA from his awning high + Called with a spell, and the dead boy rose up; +But over him that Power of God did lie. + +Then NEFREKEPTA spake a written spell, +And the boy MERAB told all that befell + About him; yea, the very words which THOTH +Spake at the throne of RA he made him tell. + +Then slow to Coptos we returned, and bore +The boy MERAB to the embalmer's door; + And like a Prince he was embalmed and laid +On Coptos Hill with the great dead of yore. + +And NEFREKEPTA said: 'My sister, come +Quick; let us row till all the road be foam, + Lest PHARAOH hear what hath befallen us, +And his heart faint because we come not home.' + +We went on board, and northward rowed apace +One league from Coptos; and I saw the place + Where MERAB died, and from the canopy +Stepped, and the River took me; and my face + +Was covered and the will of RA obeyed. +Then all upon the boat great mourning made, + But NEFREKEPTA from his awning high +Called, and I knew a spell upon me laid; + +And I rose up, though o'er me still had hold +That Power of God. I rose and did unfold + All that befell me, yea, and every word +Which THOTH before RA'S throne had spoke I told. + +Then slow to Coptos he returned and bore +Me, his dead sister, to the embalmer's door; + And like a Queen I was embalmed, and laid +Where MERAB my dead child was laid before. + +He went on board, and down the stream apace +Rowed one league north from Coptos, to the place + Where MERAB died and I, AHURE, died; +And stood and communed with his heart a space: + +'Shall it be backward now, ere THOTH can slay? +Shall it be on to PHARAOH, come what may? + And, lo, when PHARAOH asks me where those two, +His children, are, what is it I shall say? + +"I took thy children to a burning land +And living let them die; and here I stand." + I will not speak it.'--Then he bade them bring +A band of finest linen, such a band + +As dead kings wear, to bind them at the last; +And seven times round his body made it fast, + And close against his body bound the Book +Firm; and from out the canopy he passed. + +And, lo, the River took him, and the will +Of RA was done. And they on board did fill + The air with wailing: 'Great woe! Grievous woe! +Dead, dead, is the Good Scribe and all his skill.' + +And down the stream the pleasure-ship sailed on +Toward Memphis, and to no man there was known + Where NEFREKEPTA lay; and when they came +Message was brought to PHARAOH on his throne. + +And PHARAOH came in robes of funeral, +And all the folk of Memphis, great and small, + And PTAH'S High Priest and all the Priests of PTAH, +And PHARAOH'S council and his household, all; + +And saw the ship, and, lo, beneath it drowned +Saw NEFREKEPTA lying, both hands wound + About the rudder, guiding still his ship; +So great a scribe was NEFREKEPTA found. + +They raised him, and against his body dead +They found the Book pressed close. And PHARAOH said: + 'Behold the Book he died for! Let it lie +In this King's grave, a pillow for his head.' + +Then sixteen days embalming did they keep +For NEFREKEPTA, thirty-five of deep + Wrapping; of burial threescore days and ten; +And here he resteth in the House of Sleep. + +And I, AHURE, far away must lie +In Coptos; but my heart within doth cry + For NEFREKEPTA, and our shadows come +Waking and watch beside him sleeplessly. + + +_The Contest for the Book_ + +And thou, SETNE KHAMUAS, who dost look +To take from us that which from THOTH we took, + Where hast thou paid the price?--These twain and I, +Our lives on earth were taken for this Book. + +But SETNE said: 'AHURE, none the less, +For all thy tale of old unhappiness, + Yield me the Book at NEFREKEPTA'S head: +I take it else by wrath and bitter stress.' + +Then NEFREKEPTA from his marble bed +Rose up: 'O thou to whom my wife hath said + Words vainly wise, and thou hast hearkened not, +How wilt thou win the Book beneath my head? + +Think'st thou to take it from me by the wit +Of a good scribe? Or wilt thou play for it + Four games of draughts, the fifty points and two?' +And SETNE said: 'The draughts'; and down did sit. + +Between them then the gaming board they drew +For the first game of fifty points and two; + And NEFREKEPTA won the game, and spake +A spell, and with the board he ruled it true. + +And SETNE ankle-deep into the floor +Sank. And again they played, and as before + Dead NEFREKEPTA won the second game; +And SETNE sank up to the thighs and more. + +Again they played; and NEFREKEPTA dead +Won the third game; and SETNE to his head + Sank, and the earth came close below his ears. +And SETNE lifted up his voice in dread: + +'Brother, where art thou? Brother AN-HERRU, +Bear word to PHARAOH of the deeds I do. + Pray PHARAOH the last amulets of PTAH +Be sent me. Haste! Haste!'--Then the dead man drew + +The board up close, and the fourth game began. +And AN-HERRU far off had heard, and ran, + Ran unto PHARAOH'S throne and told his tale. +And PHARAOH said: 'To save a sinking man + +Take the last amulets!' And AN-HERRU +Flew with them to the dead man's gate, and flew + Through all the windings, all the doors, and, lo, +The game was playing still between those two. + +He laid the amulets on SETNE'S head, +And SETNE shivered in the earth, and said + A great spell; then, upstriving from the ground, +Reached out his arm, and caught the Book, and fled. + +Light went before him, and behind great gloom +Closed, and he heard AHURE for her doom + Wailing: 'King Darkness, come! King Light, farewell! +Gone, gone, is the last comfort of the Tomb.' + +But NEFREKEPTA on his marble bed +Lay back and laughed: 'A little while,' he said, + 'O Shadow of my Sister, and this man +Shall come again. Therefore be comforted. + +His dreams shall bring him back, before mine ire +Kneeling, to do the worst of our desire, + A fork upon his neck, a rod between +His hands, and on his head a bowl of fire.' + + +_Ta-Buvuë, and the Return of the Book_ + +But SETNE out into the light above +Returned, and saw the light with a great love; + And sealed the tomb, and stood at PHARAOH'S throne +And told his doings and the end thereof. + +And PHARAOH said to SETNE: 'These be vain +Doings. Go back and give the dead again + His book, as a wise man to a wise man, +Now, lest thou give it some day with much pain.' + +But SETNE hearkened not. By day and night +He read the Book and took therein delight, + And showed it at his feasts; and all his days +Were sweet to SETNE and his breath was light. + +'Twas joy to read, joy also when he made +Mirth with his sons, joy when he rose and prayed + In PTAH'S great Temple; till one day, behold, +In PTAH'S great Temple, through the colonnade, + +A troop of damsels fair exceedingly, +And one who led them. Beautiful was she, + And not like other women; good beyond +All he had seen or ever thought to see. + +Her girdle was of gold and gold her hood, +And all that touched her fragrant was and good, + And maids behind her fifty walked and two; +And, seeing, SETNE wist not where he stood, + +But called the Slave that served him: 'Haste thee, go +To where yon woman worships; I would know + What need hath brought her and what name she bears. +Go swiftly.' And the servant bowed him low, + +And found a handmaiden who walked aside: +'Damsel, thy mistress cometh in much pride; + Say by what name men call her, and what need +Brings her to Memphis.' And the maid replied: + +'This is the child of the Chief Vision Seer +Of Bast, Queen of the Far World and the Near; + Her name is TA-BUVUË, and a vow +To PTAH, your mighty God, hath brought her here.' + +The slave returned and told to SETNE all +The handmaid spoke; and SETNE said: 'Go, call + This handmaid secretly behind the rest; +Greet her from me and speak my name withal: + +"SETNE KHAMUAS, son of RAMESES, +Greets thee: he sends ten gold Arsinoës; + And more, if any man hath done thee wrong, +SETNE the judge will right thine injuries; + +All this, if thou wilt speak with him an hour, +And help him. To a great and secret tower + Thou shalt go in, where none shall do thee hurt +Nor know thy name; so great is SETNE'S power."' + +The slave returned and all of SETNE'S word +Told to the handmaid; and her wrath was stirred, + And loud she railed, as though 'twere blasphemies +His lips had spoke; and TA-BUVUË heard, + +And called him: 'Strive not with this foolish one; +But hither, tell to me what wrong is done.' + But quick the handmaid ran before, and cried: +'He bringeth words of shame from PHARAOH'S son: + +Thus saying: "SETNE, son of RAMESES, +Greets thee, and sends ten gold Arsinoës; + And more, if any man hath done thee wrong, +SETNE the judge will right thine injuries"; + +All this, if I will speak with him an hour +And help him. To a great and secret tower + I shall go in, where none shall do me hurt +Nor know my name; so great is SETNE'S power!' + +Then TA-BUVUË laughed: 'I think he spake +This word to thee for TA-BUVUË'S sake.-- + Go, speak to SETNE, saying: "Who am I +That thou shouldst send my bondmaid gifts to take? + +I am no common woman; I am one +Born of great kings, who walk my ways alone, + Priestess of Bast, the Queen of the Two Worlds, +And seeking no man's gift and fearing none. + +If me thou seekest, I will speak within +Mine own house: knock and thou shalt enter in: + In Per-Bast, by the Houses of the Dead, +Past Kemi, where the desert doth begin. + +There ask for TA-BUVUË. I go hence +Now with my maids to make magnificence + Before thee. And no man shall watch thy way +Into my house, nor mark thy coming thence."' + +The Slave returned, and SETNE'S heart did fail +For very joy at hearing of the tale. + He called his servants: 'Make me a swift boat +Ready, with rowers and a silken sail.' + +And SETNE marvelled in his heart a space, +And in his mirror looked; and, lo, his face + Seemed beautiful again, and all his limbs +Light, like a young man when he runs a race. + +So walked he to the boat and entered in, +And bade them row as ne'er they rowed, to win + Per-Bast, beyond the Houses of the Dead, +Past Kemi, where the desert doth begin. + +And there, behold, a tower exceeding tall +Set in a pleasant place; and a great wall + Was round it, and a garden to the north +With many trees. And SETNE gave a call: + +'Whose is this tower?' And heard an answer: 'Here +Dwells TA-BUVUË, daughter of the Seer + Of Bast, she who is named The Beautiful.' +And SETNE entered and no man was near. + +And up the garden ways he went, and cast +His eyes on all and marvelled as he passed: + And TA-BUVUË came and held his hand +And spoke: 'Now by the Holiness of Bast, + +This day is happiness. Come to mine high +Chamber, we two alone amid the sky.' + So up the stair they went, to a cool room +Of turquoise wrought and lapis lazuli. + +Couches were there, decked with fair linen strand +Like PHARAOH'S couch; and cups of gold did stand + On a great dresser, and a cup of gold +Was filled with wine and laid in SETNE'S hand. + +And TA-BUVUË said: 'Take wine and meat.' +But he said: 'Love, how could I drink or eat?' + Then in a censer burning gums they brought +And spices rare and unguent for his feet. + +Lo, none was like her, none that bore the name +Of woman! And his heart rose like a flame: + 'O TA-BUVUË, let the end be now: +Let us make perfect that for which we came!' + +'Is not this house thine own and I thy bride?' +Said she: 'Yet one thing first shalt thou decide. + I am no common woman, but to Bast +Pure, and full-filled of majesty and pride. + +Thy present wife put from thee, that no soul +Near me may stand; and write it in a scroll. + And all thy wealth of Priesthoods and of Powers, +With me alone thou shalt divide the whole.' + +Said SETNE: 'Call a scribe.' And at their call +The scribe came; and he wrote a scroll withal + And cast off SETNE'S wife; and SETNE'S wealth, +With TA-BUVUË did he share it all. + +And in that hour one spoke to SETNE: 'Lo, +Thy children, waiting in the court below, + Sit with the dogs and curling cats of Bast.' +And SETNE said: 'Bring them, and let them know.' + +Then TA-BUVUË laid her raiment proud +Off, and put on soft linen, like one vowed + To bridal; and her body through the robe +Shone, as the moon shines through a little cloud. + +And back she turned to him and poured him wine, +And said: 'These children must not strive with mine. + Make them to sign the scroll, too, and give up +Their part in thee.' And SETNE made them sign. + +The fine, fine, linen robed her like a mist +Which robeth RA in pearl and amethyst; + And SETNE marvelled gazing; and again +She spoke, and SETNE'S hand she took and kissed: + +'These children, knowing all to me thou art, +Hate me.--Let them be mine to take apart + And do my will upon them.' And he said: +'Do all the abomination of thy heart.' + +She slew them then, and from her window fine +Cast them. And far below he heard the whine + Of dogs that tore and curling cats of Bast +Which lapped their blood. And SETNE drank his wine. + +He said: 'Those children that were slain had birth +By me. O Woman, thou hast made much dearth + About me. Give me that for which I came, +Else have I nothing, nothing, on this earth.' + +'Hast thou not me,' she said, 'in place of all? +Come, therefore!' And she led him through the hall + To a fair couch, ebon and ivory; +And down he lay, and spread swift arms withal + +To clasp her; and within his arms outspread, +Behold, she withered, withered; and her head + It had no eyes, and downward all her jaw +Dropped, like the jaws of the uncared-for dead. + +And SETNE strove to rise, but cloud on cloud +Held him: hot wind and hate and laughter loud, + And one that wept for a world's glory gone, +And dust, dust, dust: and SETNE shrieked aloud: + +And saw: and, lo, all naked in the day +In a waste place of bricks and shards he lay, + And clutched a burning kiln. And near him passed +The way and much folk jeering on the way, + +Soldiers and priests, beggars and men of pride. +And SETNE rolled him in the dust and cried: + 'My children!' And a great lord rose in wrath: +'Thy children stand this hour at PHARAOH'S side, + +Thou naked man! Thou Priest whom none shall bless! +And ask for thee. What? Is it drunkenness?' + And SETNE said: 'They live.' And said: 'O King, +Throw me, I pray, some robe in this distress, + +Wrought by dead NEFREKEPTA in his ire. +I go to yield him up his worst desire, + A fork upon my neck, between my hands +A rod, and on my head a bowl of fire.' + +One of the bondmen threw him, at that call, +A poor man's robe; and on to PHARAOH'S Hall + He journeyed with them, and stretched out his arms +And clasped his sons, and told to PHARAOH all. + +'Yea, take the Book, take quickly,' PHARAOH said, +'The rod, the fork, the fire upon thine head, + And seek dead NEFREKEPTA in his tomb, +And kneel and pray the pardon of the dead.' + +And SETNE heard; and quick ere set of sun +He stood before the Tomb, and one by one + Passed the great doors, and opened the last door, +And, lo, a light through all the chamber shone, + +A great light, like the going forth of RA. +And while he stood the Woman cried: 'Aha, + SETNE, thou com'st! And if thou com'st alive +'Tis PTAH hath saved thee and the grace of PTAH.' + +But NEFREKEPTA laughed. And SETNE came +Kneeling: 'O King, with rod and fork and flame + I come,' he said; 'and yield thee up thy Book. +What is thy judgement? Is it further shame?' + +But NEFREKEPTA laughed: 'I would not now +Make thee my slave, nor smite, nor burn thy brow. + This was enough.--Yet one thing lacketh me +Still, and thereto I bind thee by a vow. + +Far off in a strange grave 'mid much annoy +My wife AHURE lieth and the boy + MERAB; 'tis but their shadows, by the art +Of a good scribe, dwell here and have no joy. + +Therefore I charge upon thee my behest: +Go, bring from Coptos to this House of Rest + My wife AHURE and MERAB the boy.' +And SETNE rose and took on him the quest. + +And straightway before PHARAOH bowed his head +And told him all the tale. And PHARAOH said: + 'I give thee mine own pleasure-ship to sail +To Coptos and bring back those ancient dead.' + +So PHARAOH'S pleasure-ship with all its crew +Was brought, and southward on the wind they flew + To Coptos; and the High Priest saw the ship, +And all the Priests, and came in haste thereto. + +The Priests of ISIS and HARPOCRATES +And the Chief Priest; SETNE to all of these + Gave ox and goose and wine, and with them walked +On Coptos Hill amid the tombs and trees. + +Three days and nights among the tombs they trod +In Coptos on the Hill, and every sod + They turned and marked, and every graven stone, +And the Scribes' writings in the House of God. + +But never could they find by night nor day +The tomb where MERAB and AHURE lay. + And NEFREKEPTA knew they found it not, +And sent his shadow forth to guide their way. + +Like an old man, a bent and aged Priest, +It sate. And SETNE said: 'Joy be increased, + O Father! Thou dost know the things of old; +Three days and nights we search, and have not ceased, + +To find the tomb which holds AHURE dead +And MERAB.' Then the old man raised his head: + 'The father of my grandsire in old days +Spoke of it to my grandsire; and he said + +The father of his grandsire once had told +His grandsire how those two were laid of old + Far in the southmost corner, where the house +Now stands in which the scrivener tells his gold.' + +And SETNE said: 'Old man, methinks I see +Some hate here. Hath the scrivener injured thee, + That thou wouldst wreck his house and dig beneath?' +He answered: 'Have a watch set over me; + +Then raze the scrivener's house, and, under ground +By the south corner, if there be not found + Both MERAB and AHURE, have me slain!' +So there they held him and a guard stood round. + +The scrivener's house was razed; and that same day +They found where MERAB and AHURE lay, + And, like great PHARAOHS, down to PHARAOH'S boat +Bore them 'mid Priests and Princes in array. + +And SETNE sought that ancient man, and, lo, +He was not. By that sign did SETNE know + This too was NEFREKEPTA. Then they built +The scrivener's house again, and turned to go: + +And went on board, and back to Memphis bore +Those PHARAOHS home, with stream and wind and oar; + Singing they went, and PHARAOH heard them sing; +And PHARAOH rose and met them by the shore, + +And led those Mighty Ones in robes of pride +To NEFREKEPTA'S tomb, and sanctified + Their entering in, and made a mound above; +And there for ever sleep they, side by side. + +And there is finished all that fell between +SETNE and NEFREKEPTA and his Queen + AHURE and the boy MERAB. 'Twas writ +In the first month of winter, Year XV. + + +[Illustration: 5 black cats by Florence Kingsford.] + + +Oxford: Horace Hart, M.A. +Printer to the University + + + +Transcriber's Note:- + +Original spelling and punctuation retained. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Nefrekepta, by Gilbert Murray + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF NEFREKEPTA *** + +***** This file should be named 36887-8.txt or 36887-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/8/36887/ + +Produced by James Wright and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of Nefrekepta + from a demotic papyrus + +Author: Gilbert Murray + +Release Date: July 28, 2011 [EBook #36887] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF NEFREKEPTA *** + + + + +Produced by James Wright and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i_title.jpg" width="500" height="676" alt="" title="Title page" /> +</div> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> + +<h2>The Story of</h2> + +<h1><i>NEFREKEPTA</i></h1> + +<h3>FROM A DEMOTIC PAPYRUS</h3> + +<h2>Put into Verse by</h2> + +<h3><i>GILBERT MURRAY</i></h3> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> +<h3>OXFORD</h3> +<h4>AT THE CLARENDON PRESS<br /> +MCMXI</h4> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> + +<p class="smcen">Henry Frowde, M.A.<br /> +Publisher to the University of Oxford<br /> +London, Edinburgh, New York<br /> +Toronto and Melbourne</p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="vsmcen">PRINTED IN ENGLAND</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="toc"> +<a href="#Preface">Preface</a><br /> +<a href="#Introduction">Introduction</a><br /> +<a href="#Ahure">Ahure's Story</a><br /> +<a href="#Thoth">The Book of Thoth</a><br /> +<a href="#Contest">The Contest for the Book</a><br /> +<a href="#Return">Ta-Buvuë, and the Return of the Book</a> +</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + +<h4><a name="Preface" id="Preface">PREFACE</a></h4> + +<p>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 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> 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 <i>Stories of the High Priests of +Memphis</i>. 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.</p> + +<p>The names present some difficulties. In Demotic, if I understand aright, +the vowels are not written and the consonants often do not mean what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span> +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 pronounced, so Dr. Griffith tells me, Sětôn or +Sětân.</p> + +<p>While doing the verses I was constantly reminded of certain Egyptian +illuminations by Miss Florence Kingsford, now Mrs. Sydney Cockerell, +which I had seen some years ago, and she has been so kind as to provide +the book with a frontispiece and tail-piece.</p> + +<p>Those who desire further information about Setne will find it in the +introduction to Dr. Griffith's learned and delightful book (Clarendon +Press, 1900).</p> + +<p class="author">G. M.</p> + +<p><br /></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h2>NEFREKEPTA</h2> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<h4><a name="Introduction" id="Introduction"><i>Introduction</i></a></h4> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Setne Khamuas</span>, son of <span class="smcap">Rameses</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">High Priest of <span class="smcap">Ptah</span>, beneath his garden trees<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Dwelt with his wife and children; wise was he<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Books of power and ancient Masteries.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And much he pondered on a tale they told,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span>, dead in days of old,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Held still the Book of <span class="smcap">Hermes</span> which is <span class="smcap">Thoth</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hid in his tomb, and never loosed his hold.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And longing for that Book so pierced him through<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He called to him his brother <span class="smcap">An-Herru</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The son of <span class="smcap">Menkh-Art</span>, saying: 'Brother mine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Be with me in a deed I have to do.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And he said: 'I am with thee till my doom<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Find me.' And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: 'I seek the tomb<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Of <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> dead, and take the Book,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Book of <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> hid in its inmost room.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That night they found the tomb, and <span class="smcap">An-Herru</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stayed at the door, but <span class="smcap">Setne</span> passing through<br /></span> +<span class="i1">On seven great doors and seven windings spake<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His spells, and found the room; and all was true.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For there lay <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> in his pride,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Book beneath his head; and at his side<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The ghosts sate of a woman and a boy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shadows beside the dead; and <span class="smcap">Setne</span> cried:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Ye thronèd Shadows, whosoe'er ye be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And thou, dead <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span>, tombed in majesty,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">All hail! I, <span class="smcap">Setne</span>, scribe and Priest of <span class="smcap">Ptah</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Command thy Book be rendered up to me,<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Book of <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> which lies beneath thy head.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then never word nor sign came from the dead,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But the two Shadows lifted up their arms<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lamenting, and the woman swift outspread<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Her hand to save the Book, and cried: 'Aha!<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Setne Khamuas</span>, is the will of <span class="smcap">Ra</span><br /></span> +<span class="i1">Not yet fulfilled upon us? This is I,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Ahure</span> of the race of <span class="smcap">Merneb-Ptah</span>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h4><a name="Ahure" id="Ahure"><i>Ahure's Story</i></a></h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Therefore give ear, and let the Book of Gold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tempt thee no more, till all my tale be told.—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">It happened in the days of <span class="smcap">Merneb-Ptah</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The long days, when the King was very old,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And had no son nor daughter; in their room<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A son's son and a daughter's daughter, whom<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thou seest, <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> the Good Scribe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And me who watch beside him in this tomb.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> mused and spake: 'Go near and far,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bring me the lordliest of my chiefs of war<br /></span> +<span class="i1">With all their daughters and their sons, to make<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Feast on the third day; call me all that are.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> spake; but lo, exceedingly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Did I love <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> and he me.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And much I feared that <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> at that feast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Would take some youth and maid of high degree,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And fast bind <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> to the one,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And me to the other; so his race would grow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But we two meet no more beneath the sun.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> ancient Steward loved me well,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> too; and it befell,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">One day he watched me and the second day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He spoke: '<span class="smcap">Ahure</span>, surely I can spell<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A story that is written in four eyes.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou lovest <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> and likewise<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He loveth thee.' And I cried out: 'O friend,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Speak unto <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> quick, ere this day dies!<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Pray that he give me to my cousin straight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor seek to make us two live separate.'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And he said: 'I will speak; for so the law<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Commandeth, by long ages consecrate;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The King's sons wed the daughters of the King.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then all my heart was like a water-spring<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Leaping; and soon he went and soon returned<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sad, and reported of his counselling:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'I spake to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span>, saying: "Lord, may life<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like <span class="smcap">Ra's</span> be thine and glory in all strife!<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Is it not meet that <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> take<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By ancient rule <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> to his wife?<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Let <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> wed with <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span>; so shall pure<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> be born:—the rule doth still endure."<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> spoke not, but his brow grew dark<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With trouble; and I said: "O King, for sure<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thou hast some grief; say what doth vex thy brow?"<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> said: "None vexeth me but thou.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I have but two, and if those two be wed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> fruit is hanging on one bough.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Nay, search and find me one great war-lord's son,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Another war-lord's daughter. With the one<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And other let these children twain be wed.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> line on many threads shall run."<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Next day the hours passed and the feast was set<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Before the King; and I was called ere yet<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The Lords came. And I stood before the King<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not as of old, my heart being desolate.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> spake: '<span class="smcap">Ahure</span>, was it thou<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Didst send that message that hath made my brow<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Troubled, that with thy brother thou wouldst wed?'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I said: 'Hath the King not made a vow,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Behold us!—Let my brother take the one,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And let the other take <span class="smcap">Ahure</span>; so<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> race be great beneath the sun.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And there I laughed; and <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> laughed again,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And called the Steward of the King's domain:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Steward, this night to <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta's</span> house<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The maid <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> take and all her train;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And all things beautiful go with her there.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus I to <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta's</span> house did fare,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> sent wrought silver and fine gold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> servants stood about my chair.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> took with me delight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And feasted <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> servants; and that night<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Was made our marriage, and we knew great joy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And never, never, failed I in his sight;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For each his fellow loved exceedingly.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when my time of bearing came to be<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I bore the son who lieth in this tomb,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Merab</span>; a name in the Kings' Book is he.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h4><a name="Thoth" id="Thoth"><i>The Book of Thoth</i></a></h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And thus it fell, that of all things on earth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My brother <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> most of worth<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Did hold the wisdom that in Books is writ.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tablets of the House of Death and Birth,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And all that on the temple walls is said,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the lore of the Kings' Tombs he read,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And ever walked in Memphis on the Hill<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of Kings, and stored the wisdom of the dead.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now one day was a high procession sent<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To <span class="smcap">Ptah's</span> great house; and <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> went<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And walked therein; right slow he walked, and read<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All that was writ on wall and pediment.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And, watching him, behold, an aged Priest<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Laughed. And he said: 'God's mercy be increased!<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Why laughest thou at me?' And he: 'I laugh<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At no man, not the greatest nor the least;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I laugh to think how thou shalt laugh anon,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When that which no man's eye hath looked upon,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The secret Book of <span class="smcap">Hermes</span> which is <span class="smcap">Thoth</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is opened to thine hand and called thine own.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He wrote it, and the Gods before his face<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fled.—And it lies . . . If ever word of grace<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Or spell of power thou need, come then to me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And speak. Thou shalt be guided to the place.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Two leaves it hath, on which two sorceries<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are written. If thou read the first of these,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thou shalt enchant the earth, the clouds above,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The underworld, the mountains and the seas;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And all the words that wingèd things may say,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And creeping things, shall be made thine that day;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Yea, thou shalt see all fishes in the deep<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And God's power guiding each upon his way.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And if thou read the second, though there lies<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Above thee all <span class="smcap">Amenti</span>, thou shalt rise<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And take thy shape again, and see the <span class="smcap">Moon</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Ra</span> and all the children of the skies.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> cried: 'O Priest and King!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I bless thee. Tell me every gorgeous thing<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thy soul desireth, they shall all be thine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wilt thou but guide my steps to that great spring.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then smiled the Priest: 'My Prince, so let it be!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Send me an hundred bars of silver, free<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Of all fault, for my burial when I die;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And two full priesthoods give me without fee.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> called a youth, and bade<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An hundred bars of silver pure be made,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And two new priesthoods named to <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> and <span class="smcap">Ptah</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And sealed him priest to <span class="smcap">Ptah</span> and <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> unpaid.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then the man spoke: 'The Book of <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> doth rest<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Coptos Sea, hid in a golden chest;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The gold doth lie in silver; that in wrought<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ebon and ivory, fitted nest in nest;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That in sweet cedar; that in bronze doth lie;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The bronze in iron. 'Tis knotted with a ply<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Of endless Snake; and round it for one league<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He spoke, and <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> no more knew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What place he stood in nor what breath he drew,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But forth he hied him in great joy, and caught<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My hand, and all this tale he told me true;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And cried: 'South, South to Coptos! None shall stay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our going.' But I turned from him away<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And found that aged Priest and said: 'Thou Priest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May <span class="smcap">Amun</span> curse thee for thy words this day!<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Book of <span class="smcap">Thoth</span>, the serpents and the sea!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Most bitter striving thou hast made for me,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And bitter watching till my lord's return;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">False art thou, and thy South all cruelty.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And much I prayed my brother not to sail<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Coptos, but my prayer might not avail,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For straight to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> throne he went, and spake<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> of the Priest and all his tale.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> said: 'What wilt thou I should do?'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Give me thy ship of pleasure and its crew,'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He said: 'and with me let <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> sail<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To find the Book, and the boy <span class="smcap">Merab</span> too.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> pleasure-ship was brought, and all<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Its crew; and southward in high festival<br /></span> +<span class="i1">We sailed to Coptos; and the news went forth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Before us, and the folk stood on the wall.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Priests of <span class="smcap">Isis</span> and <span class="smcap">Harpocrates</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the Chief Priest of <span class="smcap">Isis</span>, all of these<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Came down to <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span>, and to me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The women of the Priests in their degrees.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">They led us to their Temple in a line;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> gave ox, goose, and wine,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And brought to <span class="smcap">Isis</span> and <span class="smcap">Harpocrates</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rite and oblation and all dues divine.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A temple beautiful exceedingly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was over us, and there four days did he<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Make with the Priests of <span class="smcap">Isis</span> holiday,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the priests' women holiday with me.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But when the morning of the fifth day came,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He called for wax made holy, without blame,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And shaped a boat with men, and spake a spell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And breathed; and life woke in them like a flame.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He went on board that boat, and heaped it high<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With sand, and pushed it from the shore. And I<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Sate on the shore alone, and said: 'I wait<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here till he comes, and if he dies I die.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He said: 'O Rowers, row me to the place<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I wot of.' And the rowers rowed apace,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">By day, by night, and ceased on the third day.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then he took sand, and cast the sand a space<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Before him, and the water rose on both<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sides, and the floor below did ooze and froth<br /></span> +<span class="i1">With scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One league before the treasure chest of <span class="smcap">Thoth</span>.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And round the chest was coiled an endless Snake.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> took his charms, and spake<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A spell on all that league of serpent things,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And down they sank, and slept, and could not wake.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then o'er the league of asps he walked, and fought<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the endless Snake and slew it; but it caught<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Life as it fell, and joined again and flew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To tear him; and again its death he wrought;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then a third time it quickened, and again<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He fought and smote the endless Snake in twain<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The third time; and between the parts he cast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fine sand; and it lay still, for ever slain.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And on he strode and found the caskets, rolled<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each within each; iron the outmost fold,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Then bronze; then cedar; then came ivory<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And ebon; then the silver; then the gold.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He broke the gold, and kneeling on his knees<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Read out the first of the two sorceries,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Enchanting all the earth, the clouds above,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The underworld, the mountains and the seas.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And everything that bird or worm might say,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or mountain beast, he heard and knew that day,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And saw all fishes moving in the deep,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And God's power guiding each upon its way.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He read the second sorcery, and far<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In heaven he saw the shining forth of <span class="smcap">Ra</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And all his Children round him, and the <span class="smcap">Moon</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Uprising, and the shape of every Star.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> shut the Book, and then<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Went to his boat and called the magic men:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Row day, row night, and row me to the shore.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So rowed they, and he reached the shore again.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And found me sitting by the sea to wait<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His coming. Seven full days and nights I sate,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And ate nor drank, but waited, and was grown<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like them they bear to the embalmer's gate.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I said to him: 'My brother, let me see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Book that wrought such pain on thee and me.'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He gave the Book into my hands, and slow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I read what there was writ of sorcery.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I laid upon the earth and sky my spell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The underworld, the hills, the ocean swell;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And understood what tales the birds of heaven<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mountain beasts and deep-sea fishes tell.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then did I read the second spell, and high<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Above saw <span class="smcap">Ra</span> enthronèd in the sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And all his Children; and I saw the <span class="smcap">Moon</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the Stars in all their shapes go by.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> bade them bring a roll<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of new papyrus, and wrote out the whole<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Of those two charms, and melted it in wine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And drank it. So the charm was in his soul.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then sacrifice we made and gifts of worth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Heaped high in all the temples, and set forth<br /></span> +<span class="i1">On <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> ship with singing and great joy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One league, one league, from Coptos to the North.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> himself had seen our deed, and, ah,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His wrath was hot! Before the throne of <span class="smcap">Ra</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Judgement!' he cried, 'Give judgement between me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span>, son of <span class="smcap">Merneb-Ptah</span>,<br /></span> +</div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who broke into my treasure-house this day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And slew my Snake and stole my Book away.'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Ra</span> said: 'Surely he is in thy hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O <span class="smcap">Thoth</span>, both he and his, to spare or slay.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And lo, a Power of God went forth, and fell<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On all the river and lay invisible;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> said: '<span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> shall come home<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No more, nor one of those that with him dwell.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then the boy <span class="smcap">Merab</span>, singing, from the shade<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> awning stepped; one step he made,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And, lo, the River took him, and his face<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was covered and the will of <span class="smcap">Ra</span> obeyed.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then all about us cried with a great cry.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> from his awning high<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Called with a spell, and the dead boy rose up;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But over him that Power of God did lie.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> spake a written spell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the boy <span class="smcap">Merab</span> told all that befell<br /></span> +<span class="i1">About him; yea, the very words which <span class="smcap">Thoth</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spake at the throne of <span class="smcap">Ra</span> he made him tell.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then slow to Coptos we returned, and bore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The boy <span class="smcap">Merab</span> to the embalmer's door;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And like a Prince he was embalmed and laid<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On Coptos Hill with the great dead of yore.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> said: 'My sister, come<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Quick; let us row till all the road be foam,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Lest <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> hear what hath befallen us,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And his heart faint because we come not home.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">We went on board, and northward rowed apace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One league from Coptos; and I saw the place<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Where <span class="smcap">Merab</span> died, and from the canopy<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stepped, and the River took me; and my face<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Was covered and the will of <span class="smcap">Ra</span> obeyed.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then all upon the boat great mourning made,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> from his awning high<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Called, and I knew a spell upon me laid;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And I rose up, though o'er me still had hold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That Power of God. I rose and did unfold<br /></span> +<span class="i1">All that befell me, yea, and every word<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> before <span class="smcap">Ra's</span> throne had spoke I told.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then slow to Coptos he returned and bore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Me, his dead sister, to the embalmer's door;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And like a Queen I was embalmed, and laid<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where <span class="smcap">Merab</span> my dead child was laid before.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He went on board, and down the stream apace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rowed one league north from Coptos, to the place<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Where <span class="smcap">Merab</span> died and I, <span class="smcap">Ahure</span>, died;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And stood and communed with his heart a space:<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Shall it be backward now, ere <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> can slay?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall it be on to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span>, come what may?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And, lo, when <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> asks me where those two,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His children, are, what is it I shall say?<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I took thy children to a burning land<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And living let them die; and here I stand."<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I will not speak it.'—Then he bade them bring<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A band of finest linen, such a band<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">As dead kings wear, to bind them at the last;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And seven times round his body made it fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And close against his body bound the Book<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Firm; and from out the canopy he passed.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And, lo, the River took him, and the will<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of <span class="smcap">Ra</span> was done. And they on board did fill<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The air with wailing: 'Great woe! Grievous woe!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dead, dead, is the Good Scribe and all his skill.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And down the stream the pleasure-ship sailed on<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Toward Memphis, and to no man there was known<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Where <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> lay; and when they came<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Message was brought to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> on his throne.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> came in robes of funeral,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the folk of Memphis, great and small,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Ptah's</span> High Priest and all the Priests of <span class="smcap">Ptah</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> council and his household, all;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And saw the ship, and, lo, beneath it drowned<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Saw <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> lying, both hands wound<br /></span> +<span class="i1">About the rudder, guiding still his ship;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So great a scribe was <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> found.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">They raised him, and against his body dead<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They found the Book pressed close. And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> said:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Behold the Book he died for! Let it lie<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In this King's grave, a pillow for his head.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then sixteen days embalming did they keep<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span>, thirty-five of deep<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Wrapping; of burial threescore days and ten;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And here he resteth in the House of Sleep.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And I, <span class="smcap">Ahure</span>, far away must lie<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Coptos; but my heart within doth cry<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span>, and our shadows come<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Waking and watch beside him sleeplessly.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h4><a name="Contest" id="Contest"><i>The Contest for the Book</i></a></h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And thou, <span class="smcap">Setne Khamuas</span>, who dost look<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To take from us that which from <span class="smcap">Thoth</span> we took,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Where hast thou paid the price?—These twain and I,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our lives on earth were taken for this Book.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: '<span class="smcap">Ahure</span>, none the less,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For all thy tale of old unhappiness,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Yield me the Book at <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta's</span> head:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I take it else by wrath and bitter stress.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> from his marble bed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rose up: 'O thou to whom my wife hath said<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Words vainly wise, and thou hast hearkened not,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How wilt thou win the Book beneath my head?<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Think'st thou to take it from me by the wit<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of a good scribe? Or wilt thou play for it<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Four games of draughts, the fifty points and two?'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: 'The draughts'; and down did sit.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Between them then the gaming board they drew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the first game of fifty points and two;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> won the game, and spake<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A spell, and with the board he ruled it true.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> ankle-deep into the floor<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sank. And again they played, and as before<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Dead <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> won the second game;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> sank up to the thighs and more.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Again they played; and <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> dead<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Won the third game; and <span class="smcap">Setne</span> to his head<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Sank, and the earth came close below his ears.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> lifted up his voice in dread:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Brother, where art thou? Brother <span class="smcap">An-Herru</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bear word to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> of the deeds I do.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Pray <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> the last amulets of <span class="smcap">Ptah</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Be sent me. Haste! Haste!'—Then the dead man drew<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The board up close, and the fourth game began.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">An-Herru</span> far off had heard, and ran,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Ran unto <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> throne and told his tale.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> said: 'To save a sinking man<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Take the last amulets!' And <span class="smcap">An-Herru</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flew with them to the dead man's gate, and flew<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Through all the windings, all the doors, and, lo,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The game was playing still between those two.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He laid the amulets on <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> head,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> shivered in the earth, and said<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A great spell; then, upstriving from the ground,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Reached out his arm, and caught the Book, and fled.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Light went before him, and behind great gloom<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Closed, and he heard <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> for her doom<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Wailing: 'King Darkness, come! King Light, farewell!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gone, gone, is the last comfort of the Tomb.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> on his marble bed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lay back and laughed: 'A little while,' he said,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'O Shadow of my Sister, and this man<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall come again. Therefore be comforted.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">His dreams shall bring him back, before mine ire<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Kneeling, to do the worst of our desire,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A fork upon his neck, a rod between<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His hands, and on his head a bowl of fire.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h4><a name="Return" id="Return"><i>Ta-Buvuë, and the Return of the Book</i></a></h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Setne</span> out into the light above<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Returned, and saw the light with a great love;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And sealed the tomb, and stood at <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> throne<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And told his doings and the end thereof.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> said to <span class="smcap">Setne</span>: 'These be vain<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Doings. Go back and give the dead again<br /></span> +<span class="i1">His book, as a wise man to a wise man,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now, lest thou give it some day with much pain.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Setne</span> hearkened not. By day and night<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He read the Book and took therein delight,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And showed it at his feasts; and all his days<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Were sweet to <span class="smcap">Setne</span> and his breath was light.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Twas joy to read, joy also when he made<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mirth with his sons, joy when he rose and prayed<br /></span> +<span class="i1">In <span class="smcap">Ptah's</span> great Temple; till one day, behold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In <span class="smcap">Ptah's</span> great Temple, through the colonnade,<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A troop of damsels fair exceedingly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And one who led them. Beautiful was she,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And not like other women; good beyond<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All he had seen or ever thought to see.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Her girdle was of gold and gold her hood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all that touched her fragrant was and good,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And maids behind her fifty walked and two;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, seeing, <span class="smcap">Setne</span> wist not where he stood,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But called the Slave that served him: 'Haste thee, go<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To where yon woman worships; I would know<br /></span> +<span class="i1">What need hath brought her and what name she bears.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Go swiftly.' And the servant bowed him low,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And found a handmaiden who walked aside:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Damsel, thy mistress cometh in much pride;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Say by what name men call her, and what need<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Brings her to Memphis.' And the maid replied:<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'This is the child of the Chief Vision Seer<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of Bast, Queen of the Far World and the Near;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Her name is <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span>, and a vow<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To <span class="smcap">Ptah</span>, your mighty God, hath brought her here.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The slave returned and told to <span class="smcap">Setne</span> all<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The handmaid spoke; and <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: 'Go, call<br /></span> +<span class="i1">This handmaid secretly behind the rest;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Greet her from me and speak my name withal:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"<span class="smcap">Setne Khamuas</span>, son of <span class="smcap">Rameses</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Greets thee: he sends ten gold Arsinoës;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And more, if any man hath done thee wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Setne</span> the judge will right thine injuries;<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">All this, if thou wilt speak with him an hour,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And help him. To a great and secret tower<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thou shalt go in, where none shall do thee hurt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor know thy name; so great is <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> power."'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The slave returned and all of <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> word<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Told to the handmaid; and her wrath was stirred,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And loud she railed, as though 'twere blasphemies<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His lips had spoke; and <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span> heard,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And called him: 'Strive not with this foolish one;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But hither, tell to me what wrong is done.'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But quick the handmaid ran before, and cried:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'He bringeth words of shame from <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> son:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thus saying: "<span class="smcap">Setne</span>, son of <span class="smcap">Rameses</span>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Greets thee, and sends ten gold Arsinoës;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And more, if any man hath done thee wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Setne</span> the judge will right thine injuries";<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">All this, if I will speak with him an hour<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And help him. To a great and secret tower<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I shall go in, where none shall do me hurt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor know my name; so great is <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> power!'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span> laughed: 'I think he spake<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This word to thee for <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë's</span> sake.—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Go, speak to <span class="smcap">Setne</span>, saying: "Who am I<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That thou shouldst send my bondmaid gifts to take?<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am no common woman; I am one<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Born of great kings, who walk my ways alone,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Priestess of Bast, the Queen of the Two Worlds,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And seeking no man's gift and fearing none.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">If me thou seekest, I will speak within<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mine own house: knock and thou shalt enter in:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">In Per-Bast, by the Houses of the Dead,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Past Kemi, where the desert doth begin.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There ask for <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span>. I go hence<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now with my maids to make magnificence<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Before thee. And no man shall watch thy way<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Into my house, nor mark thy coming thence."'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Slave returned, and <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> heart did fail<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For very joy at hearing of the tale.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He called his servants: 'Make me a swift boat<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ready, with rowers and a silken sail.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> marvelled in his heart a space,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in his mirror looked; and, lo, his face<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Seemed beautiful again, and all his limbs<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Light, like a young man when he runs a race.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So walked he to the boat and entered in,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And bade them row as ne'er they rowed, to win<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Per-Bast, beyond the Houses of the Dead,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Past Kemi, where the desert doth begin.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And there, behold, a tower exceeding tall<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Set in a pleasant place; and a great wall<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Was round it, and a garden to the north<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With many trees. And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> gave a call:<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Whose is this tower?' And heard an answer: 'Here<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dwells <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span>, daughter of the Seer<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Of Bast, she who is named The Beautiful.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> entered and no man was near.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And up the garden ways he went, and cast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His eyes on all and marvelled as he passed:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span> came and held his hand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spoke: 'Now by the Holiness of Bast,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">This day is happiness. Come to mine high<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Chamber, we two alone amid the sky.'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">So up the stair they went, to a cool room<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of turquoise wrought and lapis lazuli.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Couches were there, decked with fair linen strand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> couch; and cups of gold did stand<br /></span> +<span class="i1">On a great dresser, and a cup of gold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was filled with wine and laid in <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> hand.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span> said: 'Take wine and meat.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But he said: 'Love, how could I drink or eat?'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Then in a censer burning gums they brought<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spices rare and unguent for his feet.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lo, none was like her, none that bore the name<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of woman! And his heart rose like a flame:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'O <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span>, let the end be now:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let us make perfect that for which we came!'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Is not this house thine own and I thy bride?'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Said she: 'Yet one thing first shalt thou decide.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I am no common woman, but to Bast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pure, and full-filled of majesty and pride.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thy present wife put from thee, that no soul<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Near me may stand; and write it in a scroll.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And all thy wealth of Priesthoods and of Powers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With me alone thou shalt divide the whole.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Said <span class="smcap">Setne</span>: 'Call a scribe.' And at their call<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The scribe came; and he wrote a scroll withal<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And cast off <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> wife; and <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> wealth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span> did he share it all.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And in that hour one spoke to <span class="smcap">Setne</span>: 'Lo,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy children, waiting in the court below,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Sit with the dogs and curling cats of Bast.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: 'Bring them, and let them know.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then <span class="smcap">Ta-Buvuë</span> laid her raiment proud<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Off, and put on soft linen, like one vowed<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To bridal; and her body through the robe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shone, as the moon shines through a little cloud.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And back she turned to him and poured him wine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And said: 'These children must not strive with mine.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Make them to sign the scroll, too, and give up<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their part in thee.' And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> made them sign.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The fine, fine, linen robed her like a mist<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which robeth <span class="smcap">Ra</span> in pearl and amethyst;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> marvelled gazing; and again<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She spoke, and <span class="smcap">Setne's</span> hand she took and kissed:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'These children, knowing all to me thou art,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hate me.—Let them be mine to take apart<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And do my will upon them.' And he said:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Do all the abomination of thy heart.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She slew them then, and from her window fine<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cast them. And far below he heard the whine<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Of dogs that tore and curling cats of Bast<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which lapped their blood. And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> drank his wine.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He said: 'Those children that were slain had birth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By me. O Woman, thou hast made much dearth<br /></span> +<span class="i1">About me. Give me that for which I came,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Else have I nothing, nothing, on this earth.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Hast thou not me,' she said, 'in place of all?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come, therefore!' And she led him through the hall<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To a fair couch, ebon and ivory;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And down he lay, and spread swift arms withal<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To clasp her; and within his arms outspread,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Behold, she withered, withered; and her head<br /></span> +<span class="i1">It had no eyes, and downward all her jaw<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dropped, like the jaws of the uncared-for dead.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> strove to rise, but cloud on cloud<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Held him: hot wind and hate and laughter loud,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And one that wept for a world's glory gone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And dust, dust, dust: and <span class="smcap">Setne</span> shrieked aloud:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And saw: and, lo, all naked in the day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In a waste place of bricks and shards he lay,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And clutched a burning kiln. And near him passed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The way and much folk jeering on the way,<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Soldiers and priests, beggars and men of pride.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> rolled him in the dust and cried:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'My children!' And a great lord rose in wrath:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Thy children stand this hour at <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> side,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thou naked man! Thou Priest whom none shall bless!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And ask for thee. What? Is it drunkenness?'<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: 'They live.' And said: 'O King,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Throw me, I pray, some robe in this distress,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Wrought by dead <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> in his ire.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I go to yield him up his worst desire,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">A fork upon my neck, between my hands<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A rod, and on my head a bowl of fire.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">One of the bondmen threw him, at that call,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A poor man's robe; and on to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> Hall<br /></span> +<span class="i1">He journeyed with them, and stretched out his arms<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And clasped his sons, and told to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> all.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Yea, take the Book, take quickly,' <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> said,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'The rod, the fork, the fire upon thine head,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And seek dead <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> in his tomb,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And kneel and pray the pardon of the dead.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> heard; and quick ere set of sun<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He stood before the Tomb, and one by one<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Passed the great doors, and opened the last door,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, lo, a light through all the chamber shone,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A great light, like the going forth of <span class="smcap">Ra</span>.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And while he stood the Woman cried: 'Aha,<br /></span> +<span class="i1"><span class="smcap">Setne</span>, thou com'st! And if thou com'st alive<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis <span class="smcap">Ptah</span> hath saved thee and the grace of <span class="smcap">Ptah</span>.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> laughed. And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> came<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Kneeling: 'O King, with rod and fork and flame<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I come,' he said; 'and yield thee up thy Book.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What is thy judgement? Is it further shame?'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> laughed: 'I would not now<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Make thee my slave, nor smite, nor burn thy brow.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">This was enough.—Yet one thing lacketh me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still, and thereto I bind thee by a vow.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Far off in a strange grave 'mid much annoy<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My wife <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> lieth and the boy<br /></span> +<span class="i1"><span class="smcap">Merab</span>; 'tis but their shadows, by the art<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of a good scribe, dwell here and have no joy.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Therefore I charge upon thee my behest:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Go, bring from Coptos to this House of Rest<br /></span> +<span class="i1">My wife <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> and <span class="smcap">Merab</span> the boy.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> rose and took on him the quest.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And straightway before <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> bowed his head<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And told him all the tale. And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> said:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'I give thee mine own pleasure-ship to sail<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Coptos and bring back those ancient dead.'<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> pleasure-ship with all its crew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was brought, and southward on the wind they flew<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To Coptos; and the High Priest saw the ship,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the Priests, and came in haste thereto.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Priests of <span class="smcap">Isis</span> and <span class="smcap">Harpocrates</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the Chief Priest; <span class="smcap">Setne</span> to all of these<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Gave ox and goose and wine, and with them walked<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On Coptos Hill amid the tombs and trees.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Three days and nights among the tombs they trod<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In Coptos on the Hill, and every sod<br /></span> +<span class="i1">They turned and marked, and every graven stone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the Scribes' writings in the House of God.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But never could they find by night nor day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tomb where <span class="smcap">Merab</span> and <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> lay.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> knew they found it not,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And sent his shadow forth to guide their way.<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Like an old man, a bent and aged Priest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It sate. And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: 'Joy be increased,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O Father! Thou dost know the things of old;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Three days and nights we search, and have not ceased,<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To find the tomb which holds <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> dead<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Merab</span>.' Then the old man raised his head:<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'The father of my grandsire in old days<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spoke of it to my grandsire; and he said<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The father of his grandsire once had told<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His grandsire how those two were laid of old<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Far in the southmost corner, where the house<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now stands in which the scrivener tells his gold.'<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> said: 'Old man, methinks I see<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some hate here. Hath the scrivener injured thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">That thou wouldst wreck his house and dig beneath?'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He answered: 'Have a watch set over me;<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then raze the scrivener's house, and, under ground<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By the south corner, if there be not found<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Both <span class="smcap">Merab</span> and <span class="smcap">Ahure</span>, have me slain!'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So there they held him and a guard stood round.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The scrivener's house was razed; and that same day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They found where <span class="smcap">Merab</span> and <span class="smcap">Ahure</span> lay,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And, like great <span class="smcap">Pharaohs</span>, down to <span class="smcap">Pharaoh's</span> boat<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bore them 'mid Priests and Princes in array.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Setne</span> sought that ancient man, and, lo,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He was not. By that sign did <span class="smcap">Setne</span> know<br /></span> +<span class="i1">This too was <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span>. Then they built<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The scrivener's house again, and turned to go:<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And went on board, and back to Memphis bore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Those <span class="smcap">Pharaohs</span> home, with stream and wind and oar;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Singing they went, and <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> heard them sing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <span class="smcap">Pharaoh</span> rose and met them by the shore,<br /></span> +</div> + +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And led those Mighty Ones in robes of pride<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta's</span> tomb, and sanctified<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Their entering in, and made a mound above;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And there for ever sleep they, side by side.<br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And there is finished all that fell between<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Setne</span> and <span class="smcap">Nefrekepta</span> and his Queen<br /></span> +<span class="i1"><span class="smcap">Ahure</span> and the boy <span class="smcap">Merab</span>. 'Twas writ<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the first month of winter, Year <span class="smcap">XV</span>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/047_illo.jpg" width="250" height="179" alt="" title="cats by Florence Kingsford" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /><br /><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="smcen"> +Oxford: Horace Hart, M.A.<br /> +Printer to the University</p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center"><b>Transcriber's Note:-</b></p> + +<p>Original spelling and punctuation retained.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Nefrekepta, by Gilbert Murray + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF NEFREKEPTA *** + +***** This file should be named 36887-h.htm or 36887-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/8/36887/ + +Produced by James Wright and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of Nefrekepta + from a demotic papyrus + +Author: Gilbert Murray + +Release Date: July 28, 2011 [EBook #36887] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF NEFREKEPTA *** + + + + +Produced by James Wright and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + The Story of + + _NEFREKEPTA_ + + FROM A DEMOTIC PAPYRUS + + Put into Verse by + + _GILBERT MURRAY_ + + + OXFORD + AT THE CLARENDON PRESS + MCMXI + + + + + Henry Frowde, M.A. + Publisher to the University of Oxford + London, Edinburgh, New York + Toronto and Melbourne + + + PRINTED IN ENGLAND + + + + + 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 pronounced, 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 Cockerell, +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 passing 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 passed 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; + +For each his fellow loved exceedingly. +And when my time of bearing came to be + I bore the son who lieth in this tomb, +MERAB; a name in the Kings' Book is he. + + +_The Book of Thoth_ + +And thus it fell, that of all things on earth +My brother NEFREKEPTA most of worth + Did hold the wisdom that in Books is writ. +The tablets of the House of Death and Birth, + +And all that on the temple walls is said, +And all the lore of the Kings' Tombs he read, + And ever walked in Memphis on the Hill +Of Kings, and stored the wisdom of the dead. + +Now one day was a high procession sent +To PTAH'S great house; and NEFREKEPTA went + And walked therein; right slow he walked, and read +All that was writ on wall and pediment. + +And, watching him, behold, an aged Priest +Laughed. And he said: 'God's mercy be increased! + Why laughest thou at me?' And he: 'I laugh +At no man, not the greatest nor the least; + +I laugh to think how thou shalt laugh anon, +When that which no man's eye hath looked upon, + The secret Book of HERMES which is THOTH, +Is opened to thine hand and called thine own. + +He wrote it, and the Gods before his face +Fled.--And it lies . . . If ever word of grace + Or spell of power thou need, come then to me +And speak. Thou shalt be guided to the place. + +Two leaves it hath, on which two sorceries +Are written. If thou read the first of these, + Thou shalt enchant the earth, the clouds above, +The underworld, the mountains and the seas; + +And all the words that winged things may say, +And creeping things, shall be made thine that day; + Yea, thou shalt see all fishes in the deep +And God's power guiding each upon his way. + +And if thou read the second, though there lies +Above thee all AMENTI, thou shalt rise + And take thy shape again, and see the MOON +And RA and all the children of the skies.' + +And NEFREKEPTA cried: 'O Priest and King! +I bless thee. Tell me every gorgeous thing + Thy soul desireth, they shall all be thine, +Wilt thou but guide my steps to that great spring.' + +Then smiled the Priest: 'My Prince, so let it be! +Send me an hundred bars of silver, free + Of all fault, for my burial when I die; +And two full priesthoods give me without fee.' + +And NEFREKEPTA called a youth, and bade +An hundred bars of silver pure be made, + And two new priesthoods named to THOTH and PTAH, +And sealed him priest to PTAH and THOTH unpaid. + +Then the man spoke: 'The Book of THOTH doth rest +In Coptos Sea, hid in a golden chest; + The gold doth lie in silver; that in wrought +Ebon and ivory, fitted nest in nest; + +That in sweet cedar; that in bronze doth lie; +The bronze in iron. 'Tis knotted with a ply + Of endless Snake; and round it for one league +Are scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die.' + +He spoke, and NEFREKEPTA no more knew +What place he stood in nor what breath he drew, + But forth he hied him in great joy, and caught +My hand, and all this tale he told me true; + +And cried: 'South, South to Coptos! None shall stay +Our going.' But I turned from him away + And found that aged Priest and said: 'Thou Priest, +May AMUN curse thee for thy words this day! + +The Book of THOTH, the serpents and the sea! +Most bitter striving thou hast made for me, + And bitter watching till my lord's return; +False art thou, and thy South all cruelty.' + +And much I prayed my brother not to sail +To Coptos, but my prayer might not avail, + For straight to PHARAOH'S throne he went, and spake +To PHARAOH of the Priest and all his tale. + +And PHARAOH said: 'What wilt thou I should do?' +'Give me thy ship of pleasure and its crew,' + He said: 'and with me let AHURE sail +To find the Book, and the boy MERAB too.' + +So PHARAOH'S pleasure-ship was brought, and all +Its crew; and southward in high festival + We sailed to Coptos; and the news went forth +Before us, and the folk stood on the wall. + +The Priests of ISIS and HARPOCRATES +And the Chief Priest of ISIS, all of these + Came down to NEFREKEPTA, and to me +The women of the Priests in their degrees. + +They led us to their Temple in a line; +And NEFREKEPTA gave ox, goose, and wine, + And brought to ISIS and HARPOCRATES +Rite and oblation and all dues divine. + +A temple beautiful exceedingly +Was over us, and there four days did he + Make with the Priests of ISIS holiday, +And the priests' women holiday with me. + +But when the morning of the fifth day came, +He called for wax made holy, without blame, + And shaped a boat with men, and spake a spell, +And breathed; and life woke in them like a flame. + +He went on board that boat, and heaped it high +With sand, and pushed it from the shore. And I + Sate on the shore alone, and said: 'I wait +Here till he comes, and if he dies I die.' + +He said: 'O Rowers, row me to the place +I wot of.' And the rowers rowed apace, + By day, by night, and ceased on the third day. +Then he took sand, and cast the sand a space + +Before him, and the water rose on both +Sides, and the floor below did ooze and froth + With scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die, +One league before the treasure chest of THOTH. + +And round the chest was coiled an endless Snake. +Then NEFREKEPTA took his charms, and spake + A spell on all that league of serpent things, +And down they sank, and slept, and could not wake. + +Then o'er the league of asps he walked, and fought +With the endless Snake and slew it; but it caught + Life as it fell, and joined again and flew +To tear him; and again its death he wrought; + +Then a third time it quickened, and again +He fought and smote the endless Snake in twain + The third time; and between the parts he cast +Fine sand; and it lay still, for ever slain. + +And on he strode and found the caskets, rolled +Each within each; iron the outmost fold, + Then bronze; then cedar; then came ivory +And ebon; then the silver; then the gold. + +He broke the gold, and kneeling on his knees +Read out the first of the two sorceries, + Enchanting all the earth, the clouds above, +The underworld, the mountains and the seas. + +And everything that bird or worm might say, +Or mountain beast, he heard and knew that day, + And saw all fishes moving in the deep, +And God's power guiding each upon its way. + +He read the second sorcery, and far +In heaven he saw the shining forth of RA, + And all his Children round him, and the MOON +Uprising, and the shape of every Star. + +And NEFREKEPTA shut the Book, and then +Went to his boat and called the magic men: + 'Row day, row night, and row me to the shore.' +So rowed they, and he reached the shore again. + +And found me sitting by the sea to wait +His coming. Seven full days and nights I sate, + And ate nor drank, but waited, and was grown +Like them they bear to the embalmer's gate. + +I said to him: 'My brother, let me see +The Book that wrought such pain on thee and me.' + He gave the Book into my hands, and slow +I read what there was writ of sorcery. + +I laid upon the earth and sky my spell, +The underworld, the hills, the ocean swell; + And understood what tales the birds of heaven +And mountain beasts and deep-sea fishes tell. + +Then did I read the second spell, and high +Above saw RA enthroned in the sky, + And all his Children; and I saw the MOON +And all the Stars in all their shapes go by. + +And NEFREKEPTA bade them bring a roll +Of new papyrus, and wrote out the whole + Of those two charms, and melted it in wine, +And drank it. So the charm was in his soul. + +Then sacrifice we made and gifts of worth +Heaped high in all the temples, and set forth + On PHARAOH'S ship with singing and great joy, +One league, one league, from Coptos to the North. + +But THOTH himself had seen our deed, and, ah, +His wrath was hot! Before the throne of RA, + 'Judgement!' he cried, 'Give judgement between me +And NEFREKEPTA, son of MERNAB-PTAH, + +Who broke into my treasure-house this day, +And slew my Snake and stole my Book away.' + And RA said: 'Surely he is in thy hand, +O THOTH, both he and his, to spare or slay.' + +And lo, a Power of God went forth, and fell +On all the river and lay invisible; + And THOTH said: 'NEFREKEPTA shall come home +No more, nor one of those that with him dwell.' + +Then the boy MERAB, singing, from the shade +Of PHARAOH'S awning stepped; one step he made, + And, lo, the River took him, and his face +Was covered and the will of RA obeyed. + +Then all about us cried with a great cry. +But NEFREKEPTA from his awning high + Called with a spell, and the dead boy rose up; +But over him that Power of God did lie. + +Then NEFREKEPTA spake a written spell, +And the boy MERAB told all that befell + About him; yea, the very words which THOTH +Spake at the throne of RA he made him tell. + +Then slow to Coptos we returned, and bore +The boy MERAB to the embalmer's door; + And like a Prince he was embalmed and laid +On Coptos Hill with the great dead of yore. + +And NEFREKEPTA said: 'My sister, come +Quick; let us row till all the road be foam, + Lest PHARAOH hear what hath befallen us, +And his heart faint because we come not home.' + +We went on board, and northward rowed apace +One league from Coptos; and I saw the place + Where MERAB died, and from the canopy +Stepped, and the River took me; and my face + +Was covered and the will of RA obeyed. +Then all upon the boat great mourning made, + But NEFREKEPTA from his awning high +Called, and I knew a spell upon me laid; + +And I rose up, though o'er me still had hold +That Power of God. I rose and did unfold + All that befell me, yea, and every word +Which THOTH before RA'S throne had spoke I told. + +Then slow to Coptos he returned and bore +Me, his dead sister, to the embalmer's door; + And like a Queen I was embalmed, and laid +Where MERAB my dead child was laid before. + +He went on board, and down the stream apace +Rowed one league north from Coptos, to the place + Where MERAB died and I, AHURE, died; +And stood and communed with his heart a space: + +'Shall it be backward now, ere THOTH can slay? +Shall it be on to PHARAOH, come what may? + And, lo, when PHARAOH asks me where those two, +His children, are, what is it I shall say? + +"I took thy children to a burning land +And living let them die; and here I stand." + I will not speak it.'--Then he bade them bring +A band of finest linen, such a band + +As dead kings wear, to bind them at the last; +And seven times round his body made it fast, + And close against his body bound the Book +Firm; and from out the canopy he passed. + +And, lo, the River took him, and the will +Of RA was done. And they on board did fill + The air with wailing: 'Great woe! Grievous woe! +Dead, dead, is the Good Scribe and all his skill.' + +And down the stream the pleasure-ship sailed on +Toward Memphis, and to no man there was known + Where NEFREKEPTA lay; and when they came +Message was brought to PHARAOH on his throne. + +And PHARAOH came in robes of funeral, +And all the folk of Memphis, great and small, + And PTAH'S High Priest and all the Priests of PTAH, +And PHARAOH'S council and his household, all; + +And saw the ship, and, lo, beneath it drowned +Saw NEFREKEPTA lying, both hands wound + About the rudder, guiding still his ship; +So great a scribe was NEFREKEPTA found. + +They raised him, and against his body dead +They found the Book pressed close. And PHARAOH said: + 'Behold the Book he died for! Let it lie +In this King's grave, a pillow for his head.' + +Then sixteen days embalming did they keep +For NEFREKEPTA, thirty-five of deep + Wrapping; of burial threescore days and ten; +And here he resteth in the House of Sleep. + +And I, AHURE, far away must lie +In Coptos; but my heart within doth cry + For NEFREKEPTA, and our shadows come +Waking and watch beside him sleeplessly. + + +_The Contest for the Book_ + +And thou, SETNE KHAMUAS, who dost look +To take from us that which from THOTH we took, + Where hast thou paid the price?--These twain and I, +Our lives on earth were taken for this Book. + +But SETNE said: 'AHURE, none the less, +For all thy tale of old unhappiness, + Yield me the Book at NEFREKEPTA'S head: +I take it else by wrath and bitter stress.' + +Then NEFREKEPTA from his marble bed +Rose up: 'O thou to whom my wife hath said + Words vainly wise, and thou hast hearkened not, +How wilt thou win the Book beneath my head? + +Think'st thou to take it from me by the wit +Of a good scribe? Or wilt thou play for it + Four games of draughts, the fifty points and two?' +And SETNE said: 'The draughts'; and down did sit. + +Between them then the gaming board they drew +For the first game of fifty points and two; + And NEFREKEPTA won the game, and spake +A spell, and with the board he ruled it true. + +And SETNE ankle-deep into the floor +Sank. And again they played, and as before + Dead NEFREKEPTA won the second game; +And SETNE sank up to the thighs and more. + +Again they played; and NEFREKEPTA dead +Won the third game; and SETNE to his head + Sank, and the earth came close below his ears. +And SETNE lifted up his voice in dread: + +'Brother, where art thou? Brother AN-HERRU, +Bear word to PHARAOH of the deeds I do. + Pray PHARAOH the last amulets of PTAH +Be sent me. Haste! Haste!'--Then the dead man drew + +The board up close, and the fourth game began. +And AN-HERRU far off had heard, and ran, + Ran unto PHARAOH'S throne and told his tale. +And PHARAOH said: 'To save a sinking man + +Take the last amulets!' And AN-HERRU +Flew with them to the dead man's gate, and flew + Through all the windings, all the doors, and, lo, +The game was playing still between those two. + +He laid the amulets on SETNE'S head, +And SETNE shivered in the earth, and said + A great spell; then, upstriving from the ground, +Reached out his arm, and caught the Book, and fled. + +Light went before him, and behind great gloom +Closed, and he heard AHURE for her doom + Wailing: 'King Darkness, come! King Light, farewell! +Gone, gone, is the last comfort of the Tomb.' + +But NEFREKEPTA on his marble bed +Lay back and laughed: 'A little while,' he said, + 'O Shadow of my Sister, and this man +Shall come again. Therefore be comforted. + +His dreams shall bring him back, before mine ire +Kneeling, to do the worst of our desire, + A fork upon his neck, a rod between +His hands, and on his head a bowl of fire.' + + +_Ta-Buvue, and the Return of the Book_ + +But SETNE out into the light above +Returned, and saw the light with a great love; + And sealed the tomb, and stood at PHARAOH'S throne +And told his doings and the end thereof. + +And PHARAOH said to SETNE: 'These be vain +Doings. Go back and give the dead again + His book, as a wise man to a wise man, +Now, lest thou give it some day with much pain.' + +But SETNE hearkened not. By day and night +He read the Book and took therein delight, + And showed it at his feasts; and all his days +Were sweet to SETNE and his breath was light. + +'Twas joy to read, joy also when he made +Mirth with his sons, joy when he rose and prayed + In PTAH'S great Temple; till one day, behold, +In PTAH'S great Temple, through the colonnade, + +A troop of damsels fair exceedingly, +And one who led them. Beautiful was she, + And not like other women; good beyond +All he had seen or ever thought to see. + +Her girdle was of gold and gold her hood, +And all that touched her fragrant was and good, + And maids behind her fifty walked and two; +And, seeing, SETNE wist not where he stood, + +But called the Slave that served him: 'Haste thee, go +To where yon woman worships; I would know + What need hath brought her and what name she bears. +Go swiftly.' And the servant bowed him low, + +And found a handmaiden who walked aside: +'Damsel, thy mistress cometh in much pride; + Say by what name men call her, and what need +Brings her to Memphis.' And the maid replied: + +'This is the child of the Chief Vision Seer +Of Bast, Queen of the Far World and the Near; + Her name is TA-BUVUE, and a vow +To PTAH, your mighty God, hath brought her here.' + +The slave returned and told to SETNE all +The handmaid spoke; and SETNE said: 'Go, call + This handmaid secretly behind the rest; +Greet her from me and speak my name withal: + +"SETNE KHAMUAS, son of RAMESES, +Greets thee: he sends ten gold Arsinoes; + And more, if any man hath done thee wrong, +SETNE the judge will right thine injuries; + +All this, if thou wilt speak with him an hour, +And help him. To a great and secret tower + Thou shalt go in, where none shall do thee hurt +Nor know thy name; so great is SETNE'S power."' + +The slave returned and all of SETNE'S word +Told to the handmaid; and her wrath was stirred, + And loud she railed, as though 'twere blasphemies +His lips had spoke; and TA-BUVUE heard, + +And called him: 'Strive not with this foolish one; +But hither, tell to me what wrong is done.' + But quick the handmaid ran before, and cried: +'He bringeth words of shame from PHARAOH'S son: + +Thus saying: "SETNE, son of RAMESES, +Greets thee, and sends ten gold Arsinoes; + And more, if any man hath done thee wrong, +SETNE the judge will right thine injuries"; + +All this, if I will speak with him an hour +And help him. To a great and secret tower + I shall go in, where none shall do me hurt +Nor know my name; so great is SETNE'S power!' + +Then TA-BUVUE laughed: 'I think he spake +This word to thee for TA-BUVUE'S sake.-- + Go, speak to SETNE, saying: "Who am I +That thou shouldst send my bondmaid gifts to take? + +I am no common woman; I am one +Born of great kings, who walk my ways alone, + Priestess of Bast, the Queen of the Two Worlds, +And seeking no man's gift and fearing none. + +If me thou seekest, I will speak within +Mine own house: knock and thou shalt enter in: + In Per-Bast, by the Houses of the Dead, +Past Kemi, where the desert doth begin. + +There ask for TA-BUVUE. I go hence +Now with my maids to make magnificence + Before thee. And no man shall watch thy way +Into my house, nor mark thy coming thence."' + +The Slave returned, and SETNE'S heart did fail +For very joy at hearing of the tale. + He called his servants: 'Make me a swift boat +Ready, with rowers and a silken sail.' + +And SETNE marvelled in his heart a space, +And in his mirror looked; and, lo, his face + Seemed beautiful again, and all his limbs +Light, like a young man when he runs a race. + +So walked he to the boat and entered in, +And bade them row as ne'er they rowed, to win + Per-Bast, beyond the Houses of the Dead, +Past Kemi, where the desert doth begin. + +And there, behold, a tower exceeding tall +Set in a pleasant place; and a great wall + Was round it, and a garden to the north +With many trees. And SETNE gave a call: + +'Whose is this tower?' And heard an answer: 'Here +Dwells TA-BUVUE, daughter of the Seer + Of Bast, she who is named The Beautiful.' +And SETNE entered and no man was near. + +And up the garden ways he went, and cast +His eyes on all and marvelled as he passed: + And TA-BUVUE came and held his hand +And spoke: 'Now by the Holiness of Bast, + +This day is happiness. Come to mine high +Chamber, we two alone amid the sky.' + So up the stair they went, to a cool room +Of turquoise wrought and lapis lazuli. + +Couches were there, decked with fair linen strand +Like PHARAOH'S couch; and cups of gold did stand + On a great dresser, and a cup of gold +Was filled with wine and laid in SETNE'S hand. + +And TA-BUVUE said: 'Take wine and meat.' +But he said: 'Love, how could I drink or eat?' + Then in a censer burning gums they brought +And spices rare and unguent for his feet. + +Lo, none was like her, none that bore the name +Of woman! And his heart rose like a flame: + 'O TA-BUVUE, let the end be now: +Let us make perfect that for which we came!' + +'Is not this house thine own and I thy bride?' +Said she: 'Yet one thing first shalt thou decide. + I am no common woman, but to Bast +Pure, and full-filled of majesty and pride. + +Thy present wife put from thee, that no soul +Near me may stand; and write it in a scroll. + And all thy wealth of Priesthoods and of Powers, +With me alone thou shalt divide the whole.' + +Said SETNE: 'Call a scribe.' And at their call +The scribe came; and he wrote a scroll withal + And cast off SETNE'S wife; and SETNE'S wealth, +With TA-BUVUE did he share it all. + +And in that hour one spoke to SETNE: 'Lo, +Thy children, waiting in the court below, + Sit with the dogs and curling cats of Bast.' +And SETNE said: 'Bring them, and let them know.' + +Then TA-BUVUE laid her raiment proud +Off, and put on soft linen, like one vowed + To bridal; and her body through the robe +Shone, as the moon shines through a little cloud. + +And back she turned to him and poured him wine, +And said: 'These children must not strive with mine. + Make them to sign the scroll, too, and give up +Their part in thee.' And SETNE made them sign. + +The fine, fine, linen robed her like a mist +Which robeth RA in pearl and amethyst; + And SETNE marvelled gazing; and again +She spoke, and SETNE'S hand she took and kissed: + +'These children, knowing all to me thou art, +Hate me.--Let them be mine to take apart + And do my will upon them.' And he said: +'Do all the abomination of thy heart.' + +She slew them then, and from her window fine +Cast them. And far below he heard the whine + Of dogs that tore and curling cats of Bast +Which lapped their blood. And SETNE drank his wine. + +He said: 'Those children that were slain had birth +By me. O Woman, thou hast made much dearth + About me. Give me that for which I came, +Else have I nothing, nothing, on this earth.' + +'Hast thou not me,' she said, 'in place of all? +Come, therefore!' And she led him through the hall + To a fair couch, ebon and ivory; +And down he lay, and spread swift arms withal + +To clasp her; and within his arms outspread, +Behold, she withered, withered; and her head + It had no eyes, and downward all her jaw +Dropped, like the jaws of the uncared-for dead. + +And SETNE strove to rise, but cloud on cloud +Held him: hot wind and hate and laughter loud, + And one that wept for a world's glory gone, +And dust, dust, dust: and SETNE shrieked aloud: + +And saw: and, lo, all naked in the day +In a waste place of bricks and shards he lay, + And clutched a burning kiln. And near him passed +The way and much folk jeering on the way, + +Soldiers and priests, beggars and men of pride. +And SETNE rolled him in the dust and cried: + 'My children!' And a great lord rose in wrath: +'Thy children stand this hour at PHARAOH'S side, + +Thou naked man! Thou Priest whom none shall bless! +And ask for thee. What? Is it drunkenness?' + And SETNE said: 'They live.' And said: 'O King, +Throw me, I pray, some robe in this distress, + +Wrought by dead NEFREKEPTA in his ire. +I go to yield him up his worst desire, + A fork upon my neck, between my hands +A rod, and on my head a bowl of fire.' + +One of the bondmen threw him, at that call, +A poor man's robe; and on to PHARAOH'S Hall + He journeyed with them, and stretched out his arms +And clasped his sons, and told to PHARAOH all. + +'Yea, take the Book, take quickly,' PHARAOH said, +'The rod, the fork, the fire upon thine head, + And seek dead NEFREKEPTA in his tomb, +And kneel and pray the pardon of the dead.' + +And SETNE heard; and quick ere set of sun +He stood before the Tomb, and one by one + Passed the great doors, and opened the last door, +And, lo, a light through all the chamber shone, + +A great light, like the going forth of RA. +And while he stood the Woman cried: 'Aha, + SETNE, thou com'st! And if thou com'st alive +'Tis PTAH hath saved thee and the grace of PTAH.' + +But NEFREKEPTA laughed. And SETNE came +Kneeling: 'O King, with rod and fork and flame + I come,' he said; 'and yield thee up thy Book. +What is thy judgement? Is it further shame?' + +But NEFREKEPTA laughed: 'I would not now +Make thee my slave, nor smite, nor burn thy brow. + This was enough.--Yet one thing lacketh me +Still, and thereto I bind thee by a vow. + +Far off in a strange grave 'mid much annoy +My wife AHURE lieth and the boy + MERAB; 'tis but their shadows, by the art +Of a good scribe, dwell here and have no joy. + +Therefore I charge upon thee my behest: +Go, bring from Coptos to this House of Rest + My wife AHURE and MERAB the boy.' +And SETNE rose and took on him the quest. + +And straightway before PHARAOH bowed his head +And told him all the tale. And PHARAOH said: + 'I give thee mine own pleasure-ship to sail +To Coptos and bring back those ancient dead.' + +So PHARAOH'S pleasure-ship with all its crew +Was brought, and southward on the wind they flew + To Coptos; and the High Priest saw the ship, +And all the Priests, and came in haste thereto. + +The Priests of ISIS and HARPOCRATES +And the Chief Priest; SETNE to all of these + Gave ox and goose and wine, and with them walked +On Coptos Hill amid the tombs and trees. + +Three days and nights among the tombs they trod +In Coptos on the Hill, and every sod + They turned and marked, and every graven stone, +And the Scribes' writings in the House of God. + +But never could they find by night nor day +The tomb where MERAB and AHURE lay. + And NEFREKEPTA knew they found it not, +And sent his shadow forth to guide their way. + +Like an old man, a bent and aged Priest, +It sate. And SETNE said: 'Joy be increased, + O Father! Thou dost know the things of old; +Three days and nights we search, and have not ceased, + +To find the tomb which holds AHURE dead +And MERAB.' Then the old man raised his head: + 'The father of my grandsire in old days +Spoke of it to my grandsire; and he said + +The father of his grandsire once had told +His grandsire how those two were laid of old + Far in the southmost corner, where the house +Now stands in which the scrivener tells his gold.' + +And SETNE said: 'Old man, methinks I see +Some hate here. Hath the scrivener injured thee, + That thou wouldst wreck his house and dig beneath?' +He answered: 'Have a watch set over me; + +Then raze the scrivener's house, and, under ground +By the south corner, if there be not found + Both MERAB and AHURE, have me slain!' +So there they held him and a guard stood round. + +The scrivener's house was razed; and that same day +They found where MERAB and AHURE lay, + And, like great PHARAOHS, down to PHARAOH'S boat +Bore them 'mid Priests and Princes in array. + +And SETNE sought that ancient man, and, lo, +He was not. By that sign did SETNE know + This too was NEFREKEPTA. Then they built +The scrivener's house again, and turned to go: + +And went on board, and back to Memphis bore +Those PHARAOHS home, with stream and wind and oar; + Singing they went, and PHARAOH heard them sing; +And PHARAOH rose and met them by the shore, + +And led those Mighty Ones in robes of pride +To NEFREKEPTA'S tomb, and sanctified + Their entering in, and made a mound above; +And there for ever sleep they, side by side. + +And there is finished all that fell between +SETNE and NEFREKEPTA and his Queen + AHURE and the boy MERAB. 'Twas writ +In the first month of winter, Year XV. + + +[Illustration: 5 black cats by Florence Kingsford.] + + +Oxford: Horace Hart, M.A. +Printer to the University + + + +Transcriber's Note:- + +Original spelling and punctuation retained. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Nefrekepta, by Gilbert Murray + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF NEFREKEPTA *** + +***** This file should be named 36887.txt or 36887.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/8/8/36887/ + +Produced by James Wright and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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