The Story of Nefrekepta Part 2

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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d. 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 s.p.a.ce:

'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 pa.s.sed.

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-s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p, and, lo, beneath it drowned Saw NEFREKEPTA lying, both hands wound About the rudder, guiding still his s.h.i.+p; 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 s.h.i.+vered 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,