Egyptian Literature Part 23

This is the prayer to his master of the humble servant who is saved from a foreign land.

"O wise King, the wise words which are p.r.o.nounced in the wisdom of the majesty of the sovereign, thy humble servant fears to tell. It is a great thing to repeat. O great G.o.d, like unto Ra in fulfilling that to which he has set his hand, what am I that he should take thought for me? Am I among those whom he regards, and for whom he arranges? Thy majesty is as Horus, and the strength of thy arms extends to all lands.

"Then let his Majesty bring Maki of Adma, Kenti-au-ush of Khenti-keshu, and Tenus from the two lands of the Fen-khu; these are the princes who bear witness of me as to all that has pa.s.sed, out of love for thyself.

Does not Tenu believe that it belongs to thee like thy dogs? Behold this flight that I have made: I did not have it in my heart; it was like the leading of a dream, as a man of Adehi (Delta) sees himself in Abu (Elephantine), as a man of the plain of Egypt who sees himself in the deserts. There was no fear, there was no hastening after me, I did not listen to an evil plot, my name was not heard in the mouth of the magistrate; but my limbs went, my feet wandered, my heart drew me; my G.o.d commanded this flight, and drew me on; but I am not stiff-necked. Does a man fear when he sees his own land? Ra spread thy fear over the land, thy terrors in every strange land. Behold me now in the palace, behold me in this place; and lo! thou art he who is over all the horizon; the sun rises at thy pleasure, the water in the rivers is drunk at thy will, the wind in heaven is breathed at thy saying.

"I who speak to thee shall leave my goods to the generations to follow in this land. And as to this messenger who is come even let thy majesty do as pleaseth him, for one lives by the breath that thou givest. O thou who art beloved of Ra, of Horus, and of Hathor; Mentu, lord of Thebes, desires that thy august nostril should live forever."

I made a feast in Iaa, to pa.s.s over my goods to my children. My eldest son was leading my tribe, all my goods pa.s.sed to him, and I gave him my corn and all my cattle, my fruit, and all my pleasant trees. When I had taken my road to the south, and arrived at the roads of Horus, the officer who was over the garrison sent a messenger to the palace to give notice. His Majesty sent the good overseer of the peasants of the King's domains, and boats laden with presents from the King for the Sati who had come to conduct me to the roads of Horus. I spoke to each one by his name, and I gave the presents to each as was intended. I received and I returned the salutation, and I continued thus until I reached the city of Thetu.

When the land was brightened, and the new day began, four men came with a summons for me; and the four men went to lead me to the palace. I saluted with both my hands on the ground; the royal children stood at the courtyard to conduct me: the courtiers who were to lead me to the hall brought me on the way to the royal chamber.

I found his Majesty on the great throne in the hall of pale gold. Then I threw myself on my belly; this G.o.d, in whose presence I was, knew me not.

He questioned me graciously, but I was as one seized with blindness, my spirit fainted, my limbs failed, my heart was no longer in my bosom, and I knew the difference between life and death. His Majesty said to one of the companions, "Lift him up, let him speak to me." And his Majesty said, "Behold thou hast come, thou hast trodden the deserts, thou hast played the wanderer. Decay falls on thee, old age has reached thee; it is no small thing that thy body should be embalmed, that the Pedtiu shall not bury thee. Do not, do not, be silent and speechless; tell thy name; is it fear that prevents thee?" I answered in reply, "I fear, what is it that my lord has said that I should answer it? I have not called on me the hand of G.o.d, but it is terror in my body, like that which brings sudden death. Now behold I am before thee; thou art life; let thy Majesty do what pleaseth him."

The royal children were brought in, and his Majesty said to the Queen, "Behold thou Sanehat has come as an Amu, whom the Sati have produced."

She cried aloud, and the royal children spake with one voice, saying, before his Majesty, "Verily it is not so, O King, my lord." Said his Majesty, "It is verily he." Then they brought their collars, and their wands, and their sistra in their hands, and displayed them before his Majesty; and they sang-

"May thy hands prosper, O King; May the ornaments of the Lady of Heaven continue.

May the G.o.ddess Nub give life to thy nostril; May the mistress of the stars favor thee, when thou sailest south and north.

All wisdom is in the mouth of thy Majesty; Thy uraeus is on thy forehead, thou drivest away the miserable.

Thou art pacified, O Ra, lord of the lands; They call on thee as on the mistress of all.

Strong is thy horn, Thou lettest fly thine arrow.

Grant the breath to him who is without it; Grant good things to this traveller, Samehit the Pedti, born in the land of Egypt, Who fled away from fear of thee, And fled this land from thy terrors.

Does not the face grow pale, of him who beholds thy countenance; Does not the eye fear, which looks upon thee."

Said his Majesty, "Let him not fear, let him be freed from terror. He shall be a Royal Friend amongst the n.o.bles; he shall be put within the circle of the courtiers. Go ye to the chamber of praise to seek wealth for him."

When I went out from the palace, the royal children offered their hands to me; we walked afterward to the Great Gates. I was placed in a house of a king's son, in which were delicate things, a place of coolness, fruits of the granary, treasures of the White House, clothes of the King's guardrobe, frankincense, the finest perfumes of the King and the n.o.bles whom he loves, in every chamber. All the servitors were in their several offices.

Years were removed from my limbs: I was shaved, and polled my locks of hair; the foulness was cast to the desert with the garments of the Nemau-sha. I clothed me in fine linen, and anointed myself with the fine oil of Egypt; I laid me on a bed. I gave up the sand to those who lie on it; the oil of wood to him who would anoint himself therewith. There was given to me the mansion of a lord of serfs, which had belonged to a royal friend. There many excellent things were in its buildings; all its wood was renewed. There were brought to me portions from the palace, thrice and four times each day; beside the gifts of the royal children, always without ceasing. There was built for me a pyramid of stone among the pyramids. The overseer of the architects measured its ground; the chief treasurer wrote it; the sacred masons cut the well; the chief of the laborers on the tombs brought the bricks; all things used to make a strong building were there used. There were given to me peasants; there were made for me a garden, and fields in it before my mansion, as is done for the chief royal friend. My statue was inlaid with gold, its girdle of pale gold; his majesty caused it to be made. Such is not done to a man of low degree.

May I be in the favor of the King until the day shall come of my death!

(_This is finished from beginning to end, as was found in the writing_.)

THE TELL AMARNA TABLETS

Translated by C. R. Conder, D.C.L., LL.D., M.R.A.S.

The Hitt.i.te Invasion Of Damascus

No. 36 B. M.-"To King _Annumuria_(127) (Amenophis III) Son of the Sun, my Lord thus (says) this thy servant _Akizzi_.(128) Seven times at the feet of my Lord I bow. My Lord in these my lands I am afraid. Mayst thou protect one who is thy servant under the yoke of my Lord. From the yoke of my Lord I do not rebel. Lo! there is fear of my foes. The people of this thy servant are under thy yoke: this country is among thy lands: the city _Katna_(129) is thy city: I am on the side of my Lord's rule (yoke). Lo!

the soldiers and the chariots of my Lord's government have received corn and drink, oxen and beasts (oil and honey?), meeting the soldiers and the chariots of my Lord's dominion (coming?) to me. And now let my Lord ask the great men of his dominion. My Lord, all lands tremble before thy soldiers and thy chariots. If these lands are under the dominion of my Lord's land, and they are seizing them, let him order his soldiers and his chariots this year, and let him take the land of _Marha.s.se_,(130) the whole of it, to the yoke of my Lord, when-my Lord-the soldiers of the slaves(131) are(132) ... For six days ago he went out into the land of _Hu(ba)_, and truly _Aziru_ is sending them, and if in this year my Lord does not send out the soldiers and the chariots of his government ... to meet _Aziru_ (and) make him flee ... all will rebel ... My Lord, know him.

My Lord (know) the men who are his foes ... And lo! now the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_ ... with pride rebels against his G.o.ds. And men who are destroyers serve the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_: he sends them forth. My Lord, my servants, the men of the city of _Katna_, _Aziru_ expels, and all that is theirs, out of the land of the dominion of my Lord; and behold (he takes?) the northern lands of the dominion of my Lord. Let (my Lord) save the ... of the men of the city _Katna_. My Lord truly they made ... he steals their gold my Lord; as has been said there is fear, and truly they give gold. My Lord-Sun G.o.d, my fathers'

G.o.d(133)-the men have made themselves your foes, and they have wasted from over against the abode of their camp (or fortress); and now behold-O Sun G.o.d of my fathers-the King of the _Hitt.i.tes_ makes them march. And know of them, my Lord-may the G.o.ds make slack their hand. As has been said there is fear. And lo! perchance the Sun G.o.d of my fathers will turn his heart toward me. My Lord's word is sure, and let the (increase or t.i.the of gold?) be given him, as we have purposed for the Sun G.o.d of my fathers. As has been said they have done to me; and they have destroyed the ... of my Lord. For this corner-the dwelling of their fortress (or camp)-is out of sight of the Sun G.o.d."

37 B. M.-"To King _Annumuria_, Son of the Sun, my Lord, thus (says) _Akizzi_ thy servant: seven times ... at the feet of my Lord I bow. My Lord, now there is flight and no breathing of the ... of the King my Lord.

And behold now the ... of this dominion of my Lord, in these lands ... and behold now ... the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_ ... sends forth ...

and the heart of ... smites him. And now behold the King my Lord sends to me, and is complaining ... with me as to the rule of the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_. And as for me ... the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_. As for me I am with the King my Lord, and with the land of Egypt. I sent and ... as to the rule of the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_."

This text is much damaged; it goes on to speak of _Aidugama_,(134)the Hitt.i.te King, in the country of the King of Egypt, who has taken various things-enumerated, but not intelligible-including, perhaps, s.h.i.+ps or boats, and dwellings; and it mentions _Neboyapiza_. It then continues:

"My Lord: _Teuiatti_ of the city of _Lapana_,(135) and _Arzuia_ of the city _Ruhizzi_,(136) minister before _Aidugama_; but this land is the land of the dominion of my Lord. He is burning it with fire. My Lord, as said, I am on the side of the King my Lord. I am afraid also because of the King of the land of _Marha.s.se_, and the King of the land of _Ni_, and the King of the land of _Zinzaar_,(137) and the King of the land of _Canaan_. And all of these are kings under the dominion (or, of the rule) of my Lord-chiefs who are servants. As said let the King my Lord live and become mighty, and so O King my Lord wilt not thou go forth? and let the King my Lord despatch the _bitati_(138) soldiers, let them expel (them) from this land. As said, my Lord, these kings have ... the chief of my Lord's government, and let him say what they are to do, and let them be confirmed. Because my Lord this land ministers heartily to the King my Lord. And let him speed soldiers, and let them march; and let the messengers of the dominion of the King my Lord arrive. For my Lord _Arzuia_ of the city _Ruhizzi_, and _Teuiatti_ of the city _Lapana_, dwelt in the land of _Huba_,(139) and _Dasru_ dwelt in the land _Amma_,(140) and truly my Lord has known them. Behold the land of _Hobah_ was at peace my Lord in the days of this government. They will be subject to _Aidugama_.

Because we ask, march thou here and mayest ... all the land of _Hobah_. My Lord, as said, the city _Timasgi_,(141) in the land of _Hobah_, is without sin at thy feet; and aid thou the city _Katna_ which is without sin at thy feet. It has been feeble. And my Lord in presence of my messenger the master shall ordain (our) fate. As has been said, have not I served in the presence of the _bitati_ soldiers of my Lord? Behold, as said, my Lord has promised soldiers to this my land, and they shall ... in the city _Katna_."

96 B., a letter mainly complimentary, from _Neboyapiza_(142) to the King of Egypt, ends as follows:

"Behold I myself, with my soldiers and my chariots, with my brethren and with (men of blood?) and with my people the men of my kindred go to meet the Egyptian soldiers, as far as the ground which the King my Lord will name."

142 B.-"To the King my Lord thus saith this thy servant. At the feet of my Lord my Sun seven times on my face, seven times I bow. My Lord I am thy servant, and they will devour me-_Neboyapiza_: we abide before thy face, my Lord, and lo! they will devour me in your sight. Behold every fortress of my fathers is taken, by the people out of the city _Gidisi_.(143) And my fortresses (say) 'Speed us avengers.' I make ready, and (because that?) the _Pakas_(144) of the King my Lord, and the chiefs of his land have known my faithfulness, behold I complain to the ruler being one approved; let the ruler consider that (_Neboyapiza_) has given proof ... for now they have cast thee out. As for me, I have (gathered?) all my brethren, and we have made the place strong for the King my Lord. I have caused them to march with my soldiers and with my chariots, and with all my people.

And behold _Neboyapiza_ has sped to all the fortresses of the King my Lord. Part of the men of blood are from the land _Ammusi_,(145) and (part) from the land of _Hubi_, and it is won (or reached). But march fast, thou who art a G.o.d(146) and a Sun in my sight, and restore the strongholds holds to the King my Lord from the men of blood. For they have cast him out; and the men of blood have rebelled, and are invaders of the King my Lord. We were obedient to thy yoke, and they have cast out the King my Lord, and all my brethren."

It appears, from other letters, that the city of this chief was the important town _c.u.midi_, now _Kamid_, in the southern Lebanon, at the south end of the Baalbek plain, west of Baal Gad. In Abu el Feda's time this town was the capital of the surrounding district.

189 B. is much broken. It is from _Arzana_, chief of the city _Khazi_.(147) He speaks of an attack on _Tusulti_, by b.l.o.o.d.y soldiers fighting against the place, and perhaps of the city _Bel Gidda_ (Baal Gad),(148) and mentions a _Paka_, or Egyptian official, called _Aman Khatbi_, named after the Egyptian G.o.d Amen. The foes are spoiling the valley (of Baalbek) in sight of the Egyptian general, and are attacking _Khazi_, his city. They had already taken _Maguzi_,(149) and are spoiling Baal Gad. It seems that he asks the King not to blame his general, and speaks finally of friendly and faithful men.

43 B. M., broken at the top, reads thus:

"... his horses and his chariots ... to men of blood and not ... As for me, I declare myself for the King my Lord, and a servant to preserve these to the King entirely. _Biridasia_ perceives this, and has betrayed it, and he has secretly pa.s.sed beyond my city _Maramma_;(150) and the great pa.s.s is open behind me. And he is marching chariots from the city _Astarti_,(151) and commands them for the men of blood, and does not command them for the King my Lord. Friendly to him is the King of the city _Buzruna_;(152) and the King of the city of _Khalavunni_(153) has made promises to him: both have fought with _Biridasia_ against me. Wickedly they vex us. I have marched our kinsmen-the people of _Neboyapiza_-but his success never fails ... and he rebels. As for me from ... and he sends out from ... the city _Dimasca_ (Damascus) behold ... they complain ... they afflict. I am complaining to the King of Egypt as a servant; and _Arzaiaia_ is marching to the city _Gizza_,(154) and _Azi_ (_ru_) takes soldiers ... The Lord of the city _Saddu_(155) declares for the men of blood, and her chief does not declare for the King my Lord; and as far as this tribe marches it has afflicted the land of _Gizza_. _Arzaiaia_ with _Biridasia_ afflicts the land (which is wretched? or _Abitu_), and the King witnesses the division of his land. Let not men who have been hired disturb her. Lo! my brethren have fought for me. As for me, I will guard the town of _c.u.midi_ (Kamid), the city of the King my Lord. But truly the King forgets his servant ... his servant, O King ... have arrayed kings ... the men of the wretched land" (or of the land _Abitu_).

152 B.-"... thus _Ara_ (_ga?_) chief of the city _c.u.midi_(156) (Kamid) ...

at the feet of the King my Lord seven times seven times I bow. Behold as to me I am thy faithful servant: let the King my Lord ask of his _Pakas_ (chiefs) as to me, a faithful servant of the King my Lord, one whom they have ruined. Truly I am a faithful servant of the King my Lord, and let the King my Lord excuse this dog, and let him (bear me in remembrance?).

But never a horse and never a chariot is mine, and let this be considered in sight of the King my Lord; and closely allied(157) is his servant; and to explain this I am despatching my son to the land of the King my Lord, and let the King my Lord deign to hear me."

46 B. M.-"At the feet of the King my Lord seven and seven (times) I bow.

Behold what this our saying tells, as to the land _Am_ (Ham) the fortresses of the King my Lord. A man named _Eda_ ... has arisen, a chief of the land _Cinza_ east of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_, to take the fortresses of the King my Lord ... and we made the fortresses for the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun, and we have lived in the fortresses of the King my Lord."

125 B.-"To the King my Lord thus _Arzaiaia_, chief of the city _Mikhiza_.(158) At the feet of my Lord I bow. King my Lord, I have heard as to going to meet the Egyptian (_bitati_) soldiers of the King my Lord who are with us, to meet the general (_Paka_) with (all the infantry?) ...

all who have marched to overthrow the King my Lord. Truly a (great strength to the people?) are the Egyptian (_bitati_) soldiers of the King my Lord, and his commander (_Paka_). As for me, do I not order all to ...

after them? Behold they have been speedy, O King my Lord, and his foes are delayed by them by the hand of the King my Lord."

126 B.-The same writer, in a broken letter, calls himself a faithful servant of the King. This was perhaps at an earlier period of the war, before the events recorded by Neboyapiza (189 B., 43 B. M.).

75 B. M.-A short letter from _Dasru_ to say he has heard the King's message. He lived in the land of _Ham_ (37 B. M.).

127 B. M.-The same writer says that all that the King does for his land is of good omen.