Egyptian Literature Part 31

27 B.-This is the longest letter in the collection, including six lines in Aramaic, and 512 lines in Dusratta's native language (see "Journal Royal Asiatic Society," October, 1892, for my translation). The important pa.s.sages of the letter appear to me to read as follows, and the meaning is confirmed by statements in other letters by this writer concerning his daughter's marriage. The letter was addressed to Amenophis III, and sent by the same two envoys, _Mani_ and _Gilias_,(378) already noticed.

"_Gilias_ the envoy, who takes the messages is ordered to utter it, his duty being to go out, because Amenophis III the Egyptian (ally?) rules a far off land, and I rule in the city _Ikhibin_(379) the city of the G.o.d _Simigis_(380) the paternal deity.

"To proceed: as _Mani_ my brother's envoy says, it is understood that my brother is very desirous that it should be speedily completed.

"Brother, I gladly empower the envoy to take back this woman, whom _Mani_ says my brother commanded him to bring, when he was ordered as an envoy.

"Understanding that my brother desires now to take her home, is it not necessary, understanding this decision to be preferred; as twenty-three months have gone by, is not her taking home to be hastened? My Court having decided to accept, and being satisfied as well as my wife, and resolved to accept the agreement; and the girl being heartily pleased-how happy she is words cannot tell-the decision is from the G.o.ds, brother, for me the decision is from the mighty G.o.ds, my brother. Surely you know whether I do not desire that she should be so brilliantly exalted, the girl being so fortunately (married): surely you know that I shall be glad.

"Proclaim thou for me that whatever people of _Khalci_,(381) west of the _Minyan_(382) country-whatever people of _Khalci_ I have conquered, are made subject.

"I being the great chief of the power of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_ taking to me, my brother, all the people that are conquered. Let it extend to the city of _Harran_(383) and let the land possessed by no king be taxed.

"My son-in-law being married in the city of Thebes in presence of the image of the deity."

"Is it not thus that _Dusratta_ dwelling afar arranges the marriage of _Tadukhipa_(384)-_Dusratta_ the favored (friend?) from the Minyan land, consenting to the wish of _Amenophis III_ the Egyptian (friend) that the son of _Amenophis III_ be so married to her, in the presence of the image of the deity."

As this letter is written in what is called by scholars an "unknown language," these renderings may be questioned. The dialect appears, however, to be closely related to the Akkadian and to other Mongol dialects of western Asia, and to be also the same used (B. 10) by the Hitt.i.tes.

10 B. M.-Written, as the Egyptian docket at the bottom of the tablet on the back states, in the thirty-sixth year of Amenophis III which appears to have been probably the last of his reign.

"To Amenophis III King of Egypt my brother, my kinsman whom I love, and who loves me, by letter thus _Dusratta_ King of _Mitani_ who loves thee, thy kinsman. I am at peace. Peace be to thee, to thy house, to the woman _Tachikhipa_ my daughter to the wife thou lovest be peace.(385) To thy wives, to thy sons, to thy Lords, to thy chariots, to thy horses, to thy army, to thy land, and to all that is thine, be much, much, much peace.

"Thus (I say) _Istar_ of _Nineveh_, the lady of the lands, is kind of heart to the land of _Egypt_. In the land that I love do not they walk after her?(386) Do not they cry aloud to her? Now behold it has brought thee prosperity.

"Now from the time of my father they have besought _Istar_ in her land for thy prosperity; and, as of old so now, it continues. They honor her.

"And now may my brother receive of her ten times more than before. Let my brother receive with joy: let it be hastened for him: let it endure.

"_Istar_ is the Lady of Heaven my brother, and as for me let me be guarded by her for a hundred years; and may great joy be given. Let it be granted by her that I may not fail; and as you desire may it (befall?).

"Is not _Istar_ my G.o.d, and has not she (prospered?) my brother (or been with my brother?)."

24 B.-The second longest of Dusratta's letters, 185 lines in all, is unfortunately very much damaged, as it is perhaps the most important, giving as it does historical information extending over three generations, during which the kings of Egypt and of Mitani were allied by marriage.

"To ... _ya_(387) my kinsman, whom I love and who loves me ... the great King (King of) _Mitani_ thy kinsman who loves thee. I am at peace ... to the Lady _Teie_ ... to _Tadukhipa_ my daughter thy wife be peace, to ...

be peace. To thy sons, to thy Lords, to thy chariots, to thy horses, to thy ... and to all that is thine, be much, much, much peace ... of _Amenophis III_ thy father he sent to me; he explained ... of all that he sent there was no message at all that I ... to your father as to what he sent to me; and _Teie_ the chief wife of _Amenophis III_ your mother knew all of them. All these have been seen by _Teie_ your mother ... the messages that your father caused to be addressed to me.

"... and ten times more than with _Amenophis III_ your father caused him to tell me whatsoever wish ... and whatever message I spoke, faithfully in the same day ... he himself did not turn away his heart from any message ... but faithfully in the same day he caused it to be done.

"... the father of _Amenophis III_ sent to _Sitatama_(388) my grandfather, and ... a daughter. He sent to my grandfather five or six times, and he was not given her, when ... he sent; and at length he was given her.

_Amenophis III_ your father sent (humbly?) to _Sut(tarna)_ my father ...

and so for my father's daughter, my own sister, his heart was desirous; and five (or six) times he ... her: when he had sent five or six times at length he was given her. So _Amenophis III_ ... sent to me, and so desired a daughter(389) and I ... I said in ... of his envoy 'Thus I say I have (sworn?) to give her: by our wish ... to take, and the ... which he has known: and she is a sister so it is lawful;' and I give ... _Amenophis III_ thy (father's) ... if these are not truths ... heaven and earth bear witness ... to give her; and _Khai_(390) the envoy of my brother ... to the (Queen?) and to _Amenophis III_ I sent with her ... in three months with the greatest speed ... and the gold ... truly was not ... which I sent.

"When you favored a daughter, and so (sent for) her, and as _Amenophis III_ your father knew her ... I rejoiced being exceeding glad, and he said 'My brother, is not it thy wish thus to give the handmaid'; and he made public agreement with this his land, in presence of my envoy ... so men ... when they beheld; and I received from him; and _Amenophis III_ established us ... for the future; and so receiving ... I was made great; and in the cities which for _Tadukhipa_ ... in all of them he made us dwell as conquerors,(391) and among the envoys who went down ... none that _Gilia_ ... the gold of one (_limzu_) was given by weight. Truly to _Amenophis III_ for _Tadukhipa_ it was given; and _Tadukhipa_ ... was given ... and ... my envoys _Amenophis III_ with ... I received; there was no one ... _Amenophis III_ sent _Nizik_ his envoy ... myself; and he ...

(refusing?) to my face the ... of gold ... the gold which ... of _Gilia_ and ... he established us ... my envoys ... to be despatched ... he did not cease to (deny?) ... and ... he took her... I was not able to refuse to please him ... he sent this to me ... they sent was wonderful, and then ... _Amenophis III_ your father in every message ... the lord of the place to protect her. Did not he order all these as I say ... do not I say that _Teie_(392) ... has known ... and _Teie_ is your mother, ask her if, among the messages that I spake, there is one message which is not vindicated by her, as to these (messages) to _Amenophis III_ your father ... if to _Amenophis III_ your father brotherhood was made by me: if it was said by _Amenophis III_ your father 'If at all (there is) gold that ... in the land of _Khani Rabbe_ I will despatch it; and order thou thus the ... do not I desire to cause it to be sent': the ... bore what was ordered to be given of _Amenophis III_ your father; and _Amenophis III_ said to me '...

the treasures of gold ... all that my ... desires is sent ... and ... to do this I have sent to thee' ... there by _Amenophis III_ with a message.

Never was there a message without a reply. I never refused any of the messages.

"(And when) _Amenophis III_ was obliged to be taken to his fate, and they told (me) ... I tore my cheeks, and I mourned on that same day; I sat (in the dust?); I (took) no food or water that same day; and I was grieved ...

I said 'Let me perish myself from earth, and from my ... and that he loved me G.o.d knows, and he was loved' (and because of) these things we are cast down in our hearts."

"... to me the eldest son of _Amenophis III_ by his wife _Teie_ ... was made, and I said 'Has not _Amenophis III_ died ... the eldest son of his chief wife _Teie_ (is) in his stead ... shall not we be sent news ... from her abode as of old.'

"... I say thus _Amenophis IV_ is my brother whom we shall love in our hearts ... the son of _Amenophis III_ more than his father, because of _Teie_ his mother, who was the wife ... as she desires a message to the presence of _Amenophis IV_ (_Abkhuriya_) the son of _Amenophis III_ her husband. I (rejoice) very exceeding much that we shall be friends

"(As they have sent me this message?) As they have ordered it, _Gilias_ is humbly (sent?) ... they have sent _Mani_ (as an envoy?), and treasures of woods (or trees) my brother has sent, and gold ... without gold and without..."

The next pa.s.sage is too broken to read, but refers to the continuance of friends.h.i.+p since the time of the ancestors of both kings, and for the future. The back of the tablet is very much broken, the whole of one paragraph, and the greater part of the next, which refers to _Teie_ as the mother of _Amenophis IV_ being destroyed. It continues:

"... the message of your mother which to _Gilias_ ... He has desired a message to be despatched and (as he desires) ... have not I sent my envoys, and have not I ... (and it is not my fault?) and the treasures ...

which he asked of him I have caused to be given, not being desired ... my envoys four years since you(393) ..."

Eight lines are here almost entirely destroyed, referring to some speedy message, and to the former king, with a reference to certain persons, including the "father of _Teie_ (your elders?) with me," with professions of friends.h.i.+p. The end of the paragraph (lines 40, 41) contains the words, "as thus he set us up over all her many lands ... all the lands are all hers in his sight."(394) The next paragraph continues:

"... the (treasures?) of gold (allowed to be despatched?) previously by _Amenophis III_ ... he has sent. Lo! very exceedingly my brother has desired that treasures ... to us; and much of his gold ... very exceedingly my brother ... as intending for me ... whatever among ... and your father; was not he given by me; and lo! now let my brother see that I was not at all ... to your father: the treasures that he desired were given, and lo! ... I am sending back my message: there shall be nothing done to cause the heart to turn away ... all the messages ... _Teie_ has been a witness, and _Teie_ your mother ... plenty. Lo! I asked your father, and did not your father grant me? and ... let this gold be given, and let not my brother's heart ... let him not turn from my ... when the (loan?) ... was not made, and what had ...

"... Let _Gilia_ know this day what my brother's heart desires. I have made Gilia travel ... thus I have made my brother's envoys to obey him, travelling with speed. If ever, my brother, my envoys ... if ever I send my envoys ... (the fault is not mine?) ... I have sent _Mani_ and _Gilia_ to my brother as before. If at all by my brother my envoys to him, and if by us they shall be received, I also shall so hasten him ... Lo! as regards messages from my brother, which he makes about anything as to my brother's intentions ... thence; and on the throne of his father he sits this day; and let me do my brother's will.

"I say thus, my brother, have not I sent my envoys, and much in their keeping which is for thee; and my brother let ... which is for thee.

_Mazipalali_(395) my envoy is the paternal uncle of _Gilia_ and for ... my brother I have sent him, and my brother am not I (the surer?) as _Gilia_ is not ... And the other envoy whom I shall send to my brother is the brother of _Gilia_ the son of his mother(396) ... I sent him. So my brother have not I despatched him speedily without stopping, and, my brother, as to my wishes that I wish (it is not my fault?) and because of these things did not I send _Gilia_ ... for security, and for all this am not I the surer.

"_Mazipalali_ whom I shall send to my brother is the uncle of _Gilia_; and the treasures (allowed to be despatched?) ... and plenty of untold gold of the (loan?) which I desire from my brother let my brother give ... and let him not refuse; and with my brother gold in addition ... ten times more may it increase to me exceedingly ... let these things be ordered; and _Mani_ (with) my envoy my brother ... let be given of my brother; and let him send _Gilia_ to me; and ... and all the news about my brother's mother that they shall speak, and (especially?) let me (hear?) ... that they did.

And lo! as before I sent not to thee my brother, so let him ... me. Let not my brother ... and to my brother's pleasure ... and I meditate a message of consolation for my brother.

"Let both _Artessupa_(397) and ... thus relate in my brother's land this thing. I have been sent (under escort?) ... _Mani_ (brought?) before me all my wicked slaves, who have dwelt in _Egypt_, and I examined them(398) as to ... and they said ... and I said before them 'Why is your insolence so great?' ... So they put them in chains, and ... one of my ... one from my city who has angered the land ... and another ... did not I slay because of these things? My brother, did not he say ... was not I wroth?

Behold my brother they were wicked ... and ... my brother it was necessary and now let me (afflict them?).

"As to a present for my brother. My brother's presents (are)-a (weight?) of solid gold from the land _Ris Burkhis_, a weapon with a stone head(399) ... of precious stone ... (an ornament?) for the hands of precious stones, one part of gold: three cloths: three ... three ... (with fastenings?) of gold, ... of refined bronze (or copper) ... two ...

"As a present for _Teie_ your mother an (ornament?) for the hands of precious stones ... earrings ... two cloths.

"As a present for (_Tadukhipa_) my (daughter) an ornament for the hands ... earrings ... two cloths."

23 B.-The salutation is the same as in the last, being addressed to _Amenophis IV_, to _Teie_ and to _Tadukhipa_.

"_Mani_ my brother's envoy (has come) to (me). I have heard. I liked much the gifts that my brother ... I saw, and I rejoiced very much. My brother utters this message and (says) 'As with my father _Amenophis III_ you were friends, now behold this day be friends with me thy brother. You will continue to be kind,' and I have not delayed ... with my brother. Lo! ten times more than to your father I will be a friend.

"And your father _Amenophis III_ spoke this message in his letter (by your ...) _Mani_, 'Continue thou the friends.h.i.+p,'(400) and when my brother _Amenophis III_ said this, lo! what I had sent was nothing at all, and my brother shall not consider it anything. And I do not send this present, which behold I have sent to thee, as desiring to cause you to send; but (humbly?) whatever my brother desires to be given to his wife, they shall be made to take away. They shall see her,(401) and I will send ten times as much.

"And the treasures of gold (allowed to be despatched?) one treasure for me, and another treasure as the treasure of _Tadukhipa_ my daughter, lo! I asked of Amenophis III your father. And your father said 'Send for the gold that (remains to be remitted?) let the (rest) be given, and the precious stones that are to be given thee, and the gold, because we have increased the gift, which is marvellous with treasure to be given to you.'

And the gold of the treasures all my envoys who were in the land of _Egypt_ beheld with their eyes; and your father lavishly increased the treasures in presence of my envoys. He welcomed them on their way; he maintained them! and lavishly expended the ... on my envoys. They gazed, and so truly they beheld with their eyes his favor poured out.

"And more gold beside, which was marvellous, which he sent to me, he piled up; and he said to my envoys 'Behold the treasures, and behold the gold in plenty, and the possessions which are marvellous,(402) which I shall send to my brother: behold them also with your eyes.' And my envoys beheld with their eyes.

"But now, my brother, the treasures remitted, which your father sent, you shall not send, but the woods (or trees) have been received.(403) You are sending the possessions that your father sent to me. You shall not send them, but shall store them up very much.

"And thinking of all that one has known, how I rejoiced because of my brother, none ever brought salutation from him at any time, my brother, but the same day return was made to him.