Part 4

[3] This is a rather dark saying, but apparently the author means that although the duly instructed guest will only partake moderately of the abundance before him, what he eats is as good as the rest. His portion will be equal to the whole as regards quality, though inferior as regards quantity.

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APPENDIX

The Instruction of Amenemhê'et I. is here given as a contrast to the foregoing. It is a Testament, however, rather than an Instruction, and contains more historical matter than didactic. It is written in a terse and pointed style, combined with the parallelism and antithesis which was the prevailing vehicle of poetic thought in Egyptian. The rank of its author and the exceeding bitterness of his mood make it a document of great interest. There is no reason to doubt its authenticity.

This King was the founder of the glorious Twelfth Dynasty, a period which has been called the Golden Age of Egypt. He ruled from about 2778-2748 B.C., and, although he describes himself as over-lenient, was really one of the most vigorous and powerful of all the Sons of the Sun who for five thousand years wore the double crown of the Two Egypts.

The circumstances in which the new dynasty arose are not known; nor have we any other record of the attempt on his life, here recounted. {66} In the twentieth year of his reign he associated his son, Senwesert I., with him in a co-regency which lasted ten years. From §8 we gather that the attempted assassination took place just before the dual rule; while the Instruction was evidently penned shortly before the writer's death. The 'house' referred to is presumably his pyramid-tomb, called Ke'-nôfer-amenemhê'et. _Amenemhê'et is exalted and good_. The site of this building is not known.

This Instruction was popular as a school exercise in the 'New Kingdom,' and we possess several copies or parts of copies. There is no good text for the latter part (§§ 12 _ff_), which is corrupt in such MSS. as contain it.

I have used the critical text of Mr. Griffith, published in the _Zeitschrift für ägyptische Sprache_, 1896.

It is hoped that the Bibliography will be useful to students of the books of Ptah-hotep and Ke'gemni.

B. G. G.

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THE INSTRUCTION OF AMENEMHE'ET

A Palace Conspiracy--Hail and Farewell

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

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

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

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

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

5. My images are among the living; and my achievements are among men. But I have made an heroic story that hath not been heard; a great feat of arms that hath not been seen. Surely one fighteth for a lassoed ox that forgetteth yesterday;[3] and good fortune is of no avail unto one that cannot perceive it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IT IS FINISHED.

[1] A ceremonial title applied to deceased persons, analogous to our "the late." "Justified" is not an exact rendering, but it is usual, and will serve.

[2] Literally, _heart_.

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

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

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

[6] Referring to the attempted assassination.

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

[8] The god of corn.

[9] Or, unborn souls (_hmmw_).

{72}

AN EXPLANATION OF NAMES OCCURRING IN THIS BOOK.

AMENEMHÊ'ET . . . . _The God Amôn is to the fore_.

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

Isôsi . . . . . . . Of unknown meaning.

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

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

SEHÔTEP-'EB-RÊ' . . _Contenting the heart of the God Ra_.

SENFÔRU . . . . . . _The beautifier_.

SENWESERT . . . . . Of doubtful meaning; connected with _The Goddess Wesert_.

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

{73}

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brugsch, H. _Hieroglyphisches-demotisches Wörterbuch_ ... vols. v.-vii. Leipzig, 1880 _ff._ Contains explanations of many difficult passages.

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

Chabas, F. _Le plus ancien livre du monde; étude sur le papyrus Prisse_. Revue archéologique, première série, xv. anno. Paris, 1857. Contains a discussion of the text, etc., and partial translation.

Chabas, F. _Le papyrus Prisse_. Zeitschrift für ëgyptische Sprache. Berlin, 1870. Discusses the meaning of various words.

Chabas, F. _Le plus ancien livre du monde; étude sur le papyrus Prisse_. Bibliothèque orientale, vol. ii. Paris, 1872. The work of 1857 recast.

Dumichen, J. _Les sentences de Kakemni_. Les Bibles et les initiateurs religieux de l'humanité, vol. ii. part i. Paris, 1884. Contains a translation of Kg.

Griffith, F. L. _Notes on Egyptian Texts of the Middle Kingdom_, iii. Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, vol. xiii. London, 1890. Discusses the text, correcting some previous errors in transcription. Translation of Kg. and §§ A, B of Ph.

Griffith, F. L. _Egyptian Literature_. A Library of the {74} World's Best Literature. New York, 1898-9. Contains translation of many sections.

Heath, D. I. _On a MS. of the Phoenician King Assa, ruling in Egypt before Abraham: A Record of the Patriarchal Age; or The Proverbs of Aphobis_, B.C. 1900; _now first fully translated_. _Monthly Review_. London, July, 1866. The first 'translation' of Kg. and Ph. Afterwards issued as a pamphlet, London, 1858.

Lauth, F. J. _Der Autor Kadjimna vor 5400 Jahren_. Sitzungsberichte der kgl. bayer. _Akademie der Wissenschaften_. Munchen, 1869, ii. Contains an analysis of Kg.

Lauth, F. J. _Der Prim Ptah-hotep über das Alter: Ptah-hoteps Ethik_. Sitzungsberichte der kgl. bayer. Akademie der Wissenschaften. München, 1870, ii, Heft i, Beilage. Contains analysis and translation into Latin and German of the greater part of Ph.

Mahaffy, J. P. _Prolegomena to Ancient History_, part ii. London, 1871. Contains translations from Lauth's rendering.

Myer, T. _The Oldest Books in the World_. New York, 1900. Contains Virey's translation and notes.

Petrie, W. M. F. _Religion and Conscience in Ancient Egypt_. London, 1898. Contains translations of many sections by F. L. Griffith.

Prisse d'Avennes, E. _Facsimile d'un papyrus égyptien, trouvé à Thebes, donné à la Bibliothèque Royale de Paris, et publié par E. P. d'A_. Paris, 1847.

Rawnsley, H. D. _Notes for the Nile, together with a Metrical Rendering of the Hymns of Ancient Egypt, and of the Precepts of Ptah-hotep_ (the Oldest Book in the World). London, 1892.

Revillout, E. _Les deux préfaces du papyrus Prisse_. Revue égyptologique, tome vii. Paris, 1896. Contains translation of Kg. and § A of Ph.

Revillout, E. _Les Maximes de Ptah-hotep_. Revue égyptologique, tome x. Paris, 1902. Contains translation and text of Ph.

Virey, P. _Études sur le papyrus Prisse, le livre de Kagimna et les leçons de Ptah-hotep_. Bibliothèque de {75} l'École des Hautes-Études, fasc. 70. Paris, 1887. Contains complete translation and elaborate discussion of the text; also glossary.

Virey, P. _The Precepts of Ptah-hotep_ (_the Oldest Book in the World_). Records of the Past, new series, vol. iii. London, 1890. Contains a translation of Ph.

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