{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_36887/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_36887","id":"gutenberg_36887","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36887","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Egyptian language -- Demotic, ca. 650 B.C.-450 A.D. -- Texts -- Translations into English","Egyptian literature -- Translations into English"],"text":"</pre>\n\n\n\nProduced by James Wright and the Online Distributed\nProofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net (This\nfile was produced from images generously made available\nby The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                             The Story of\n\n                             _NEFREKEPTA_\n\n                        FROM A DEMOTIC PAPYRUS\n\n                          Put into Verse by\n\n                           _GILBERT MURRAY_\n\n\n                                OXFORD\n                       AT THE CLARENDON PRESS\n                                MCMXI\n\n\n\n\n                           Henry Frowde, M.A.\n                Publisher to the University of Oxford\n                     London, Edinburgh, New York\n                        Toronto and Melbourne\n\n\n                         PRINTED IN ENGLAND\n\n\n\n\n                              PREFACE\n\n\nThe original of this tale is in Demotic Egyptian, in prose, on a\nfragmentary papyrus dated 'the first month of winter, in the fifteenth\nyear' of some king unnamed. Palaeographical evidence suggests some date\nabout 100 B.C. My own education has been neglected in the matter of\nDemotic, and I know the tale only from the literal translation which\naccompanies the text in Dr. Griffith's _Stories of the High Priests of\nMemphis_. In that form, however, it so fascinated me that I presently\nfound myself, to the neglect of more urgent duties, putting it into\nEnglish verse and filling up the gaps in the narrative. I have tried to\npreserve the style and often the exact words of the original, as\nrendered by Dr. Griffith, but in other respects temptations have been\ngreat and I have not resisted them.\n\nThe names present some difficulties. In Demotic, if I understand aright,\nthe vowels are not written and the consonants often do not mean what\nthey seem to mean. The hero's name is spelt, roughly speaking,\nN('y)-nfr-k'-Pth, the phantom lady's Ty-bwbwe; the priest's is written\nStne, but was probably pronounced, so Dr. Griffith tells me, S[)e]ton or\nS[)e]tan.\n\nWhile doing the verses I was constantly reminded of certain Egyptian\nilluminations by Miss Florence Kingsford, now Mrs. Sydney Cockerell,\nwhich I had seen some years ago, and she has been so kind as to provide\nthe book with a frontispiece and tail-piece.\n\nThose who desire further information about Setne will find it in the\nintroduction to Dr. Griffith's learned and delightful book (Clarendon\nPress, 1900).\n\nG. M.\n\n\n\n\nNEFREKEPTA\n\n\n\n\n_Introduction_\n\n\nSETNE KHAMUAS, son of RAMESES,\nHigh Priest of PTAH, beneath his garden trees\n  Dwelt with his wife and children; wise was he\nIn Books of power and ancient Masteries.\n\nAnd much he pondered on a tale they told,\nHow NEFREKEPTA, dead in days of old,\n  Held still the Book of HERMES which is THOTH\nHid in his tomb, and never loosed his hold.\n\nAnd longing for that Book so pierced him through\nHe called to him his brother AN-HERRU,\n  The son of MENKH-ART, saying: 'Brother mine,\nBe with me in a deed I have to do.'\n\nAnd he said: 'I am with thee till my doom\nFind me.' And SETNE said: 'I seek the tomb\n  Of NEFREKEPTA dead, and take the Book,\nThe Book of THOTH hid in its inmost room.'\n\nThat night they found the tomb, and AN-HERRU\nStayed at the door, but SETNE passing through\n  On seven great doors and seven windings spake\nHis spells, and found the room; and all was true.\n\nFor there lay NEFREKEPTA in his pride,\nThe Book beneath his head; and at his side\n  The ghosts sate of a woman and a boy,\nShadows beside the dead; and SETNE cried:\n\n'Ye throned Shadows, whosoe'er ye be,\nAnd thou, dead PHARAOH, tombed in majesty,\n  All hail! I, SETNE, scribe and Priest of PTAH,\nCommand thy Book be rendered up to me,\n\nThe Book of THOTH which lies beneath thy head.'\nThen never word nor sign came from the dead,\n  But the two Shadows lifted up their arms\nLamenting, and the woman swift outspread\n\nHer hand to save the Book, and cried: 'Aha!\nSETNE KHAMUAS, is the will of RA\n  Not yet fulfilled upon us? This is I,\nAHURE of the race of MERNAB-PTAH.\n\n\n_Ahure's Story_\n\nTherefore give ear, and let the Book of Gold\nTempt thee no more, till all my tale be told.--\n  It happened in the days of MERNAB-PTAH,\nThe long days, when the King was very old,\n\nAnd had no son nor daughter; in their room\nA son's son and a daughter's daughter, whom\n  Thou seest, NEFREKEPTA the Good Scribe,\nAnd me who watch beside him in this tomb.\n\nAnd PHARAOH mused and spake: 'Go near and far,\nBring me the lordliest of my chiefs of war\n  With all their daughters and their sons, to make\nFeast on the third day; call me all that are.'\n\nSo PHARAOH spake; but lo, exceedingly\nDid I love NEFREKEPTA and he me.\n  And much I feared that PHARAOH at that feast\nWould take some youth and maid of high degree,\n\nA war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son,\nAnd fast bind NEFREKEPTA to the one,\n  And me to the other; so his race would grow,\nBut we two meet no more beneath the sun.\n\nNow PHARAOH'S ancient Steward loved me well,\nAnd NEFREKEPTA too; and it befell,\n  One day he watched me and the second day\nHe spoke: 'AHURE, surely I can spell\n\nA story that is written in four eyes.\nThou lovest NEFREKEPTA and likewise\n  He loveth thee.' And I cried out: 'O friend,\nSpeak unto PHARAOH quick, ere this day dies!\n\nPray that he give me to my cousin straight,\nNor seek to make us two live separate.'\n  And he said: 'I will speak; for so the law\nCommandeth, by long ages consecrate;\n\nThe King's sons wed the daughters of the King.'\nThen all my heart was like a water-spring\n  Leaping; and soon he went and soon returned\nSad, and reported of his counselling:\n\n'I spake to PHARAOH, saying: \"Lord, may life\nLike RA'S be thine and glory in all strife!\n  Is it not meet that NEFREKEPTA take\nBy ancient rule AHURE to his wife?\n\nLet PHARAOH wed with PHARAOH; so shall pure\nPHARAOH be born:--the rule doth still endure.\"\n  And PHARAOH spoke not, but his brow grew dark\nWith trouble; and I said: \"O King, for sure\n\nThou hast some grief; say what doth vex thy brow?\"\nAnd PHARAOH said: \"None vexeth me but thou.\n  I have but two, and if those two be wed\nAll PHARAOH'S fruit is hanging on one bough.\n\nNay, search and find me one great war-lord's son,\nAnother war-lord's daughter. With the one\n  And other let these children twain be wed.\nSo PHARAOH'S line on many threads shall run.\"\n\nNext day the hours passed and the feast was set\nBefore the King; and I was called ere yet\n  The Lords came. And I stood before the King\nNot as of old, my heart being desolate.\n\nAnd PHARAOH spake: 'AHURE, was it thou\nDidst send that message that hath made my brow\n  Troubled, that with thy brother thou wouldst wed?'\nAnd I said: 'Hath the King not made a vow,\n\nA war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son--\nBehold us!--Let my brother take the one,\n  And let the other take AHURE; so\nShall PHARAOH'S race be great beneath the sun.'\n\nAnd there I laughed; and PHARAOH laughed again,\nAnd called the Steward of the King's domain:\n  'Steward, this night to NEFREKEPTA'S house\nThe maid AHURE take and all her train;\n\nAnd all things beautiful go with her there.'\nThus I to NEFREKEPTA'S house did fare,\n  And PHARAOH sent wrought silver and fine gold,\nAnd PHARAOH'S servants stood about my chair.\n\nAnd NEFREKEPTA took with me delight,\nAnd feasted PHARAOH'S servants; and that night\n  Was made our marriage, and we knew great joy,\nAnd never, never, failed I in his sight;\n\nFor each his fellow loved exceedingly.\nAnd when my time of bearing came to be\n  I bore the son who lieth in this tomb,\nMERAB; a name in the Kings' Book is he.\n\n\n_The Book of Thoth_\n\nAnd thus it fell, that of all things on earth\nMy brother NEFREKEPTA most of worth\n  Did hold the wisdom that in Books is writ.\nThe tablets of the House of Death and Birth,\n\nAnd all that on the temple walls is said,\nAnd all the lore of the Kings' Tombs he read,\n  And ever walked in Memphis on the Hill\nOf Kings, and stored the wisdom of the dead.\n\nNow one day was a high procession sent\nTo PTAH'S great house; and NEFREKEPTA went\n  And walked therein; right slow he walked, and read\nAll that was writ on wall and pediment.\n\nAnd, watching him, behold, an aged Priest\nLaughed. And he said: 'God's mercy be increased!\n  Why laughest thou at me?' And he: 'I laugh\nAt no man, not the greatest nor the least;\n\nI laugh to think how thou shalt laugh anon,\nWhen that which no man's eye hath looked upon,\n  The secret Book of HERMES which is THOTH,\nIs opened to thine hand and called thine own.\n\nHe wrote it, and the Gods before his face\nFled.--And it lies . . . If ever word of grace\n  Or spell of power thou need, come then to me\nAnd speak. Thou shalt be guided to the place.\n\nTwo leaves it hath, on which two sorceries\nAre written. If thou read the first of these,\n  Thou shalt enchant the earth, the clouds above,\nThe underworld, the mountains and the seas;\n\nAnd all the words that winged things may say,\nAnd creeping things, shall be made thine that day;\n  Yea, thou shalt see all fishes in the deep\nAnd God's power guiding each upon his way.\n\nAnd if thou read the second, though there lies\nAbove thee all AMENTI, thou shalt rise\n  And take thy shape again, and see the MOON\nAnd RA and all the children of the skies.'\n\nAnd NEFREKEPTA cried: 'O Priest and King!\nI bless thee. Tell me every gorgeous thing\n  Thy soul desireth, they shall all be thine,\nWilt thou but guide my steps to that great spring.'\n\nThen smiled the Priest: 'My Prince, so let it be!\nSend me an hundred bars of silver, free\n  Of all fault, for my burial when I die;\nAnd two full priesthoods give me without fee.'\n\nAnd NEFREKEPTA called a youth, and bade\nAn hundred bars of silver pure be made,\n  And two new priesthoods named to THOTH and PTAH,\nAnd sealed him priest to PTAH and THOTH unpaid.\n\nThen the man spoke: 'The Book of THOTH doth rest\nIn Coptos Sea, hid in a golden chest;\n  The gold doth lie in silver; that in wrought\nEbon and ivory, fitted nest in nest;\n\nThat in sweet cedar; that in bronze doth lie;\nThe bronze in iron. 'Tis knotted with a ply\n  Of endless Snake; and round it for one league\nAre scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die.'\n\nHe spoke, and NEFREKEPTA no more knew\nWhat place he stood in nor what breath he drew,\n  But forth he hied him in great joy, and caught\nMy hand, and all this tale he told me true;\n\nAnd cried: 'South, South to Coptos! None shall stay\nOur going.' But I turned from him away\n  And found that aged Priest and said: 'Thou Priest,\nMay AMUN curse thee for thy words this day!\n\nThe Book of THOTH, the serpents and the sea!\nMost bitter striving thou hast made for me,\n  And bitter watching till my lord's return;\nFalse art thou, and thy South all cruelty.'\n\nAnd much I prayed my brother not to sail\nTo Coptos, but my prayer might not avail,\n  For straight to PHARAOH'S throne he went, and spake\nTo PHARAOH of the Priest and all his tale.\n\nAnd PHARAOH said: 'What wilt thou I should do?'\n'Give me thy ship of pleasure and its crew,'\n  He said: 'and with me let AHURE sail\nTo find the Book, and the boy MERAB too.'\n\nSo PHARAOH'S pleasure-ship was brought, and all\nIts crew; and southward in high festival\n  We sailed to Coptos; and the news went forth\nBefore us, and the folk stood on the wall.\n\nThe Priests of ISIS and HARPOCRATES\nAnd the Chief Priest of ISIS, all of these\n  Came down to NEFREKEPTA, and to me\nThe women of the Priests in their degrees.\n\nThey led us to their Temple in a line;\nAnd NEFREKEPTA gave ox, goose, and wine,\n  And brought to ISIS and HARPOCRATES\nRite and oblation and all dues divine.\n\nA temple beautiful exceedingly\nWas over us, and there four days did he\n  Make with the Priests of ISIS holiday,\nAnd the priests' women holiday with me.\n\nBut when the morning of the fifth day came,\nHe called for wax made holy, without blame,\n  And shaped a boat with men, and spake a spell,\nAnd breathed; and life woke in them like a flame.\n\nHe went on board that boat, and heaped it high\nWith sand, and pushed it from the shore. And I\n  Sate on the shore alone, and said: 'I wait\nHere till he comes, and if he dies I die.'\n\nHe said: 'O Rowers, row me to the place\nI wot of.' And the rowers rowed apace,\n  By day, by night, and ceased on the third day.\nThen he took sand, and cast the sand a space\n\nBefore him, and the water rose on both\nSides, and the floor below did ooze and froth\n  With scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die,\nOne league before the treasure chest of THOTH.\n\nAnd round the chest was coiled an endless Snake.\nThen NEFREKEPTA took his charms, and spake\n  A spell on all that league of serpent things,\nAnd down they sank, and slept, and could not wake.\n\nThen o'er the league of asps he walked, and fought\nWith the endless Snake and slew it; but it caught\n  Life as it fell, and joined again and flew\nTo tear him; and again its death he wrought;\n\nThen a third time it quickened, and again\nHe fought and smote the endless Snake in twain\n  The third time; and between the parts he cast\nFine sand; and it lay still, for ever slain.\n\nAnd on he strode and found the caskets, rolled\nEach within each; iron the outmost fold,\n  Then bronze; then cedar; then came ivory\nAnd ebon; then the silver; then the gold.\n\nHe broke the gold, and kneeling on his knees\nRead out the first of the two sorceries,\n  Enchanting all the earth, the clouds above,\nThe underworld, the mountains and the seas.\n\nAnd everything that bird or worm might say,\nOr mountain beast, he heard and knew that day,\n  And saw all fishes moving in the deep,\nAnd God's power guiding each upon its way.\n\nHe read the second sorcery, and far\nIn heaven he saw the shining forth of RA,\n  And all his Children round him, and the MOON\nUprising, and the shape of every Star.\n\nAnd NEFREKEPTA shut the Book, and then\nWent to his boat and called the magic men:\n  'Row day, row night, and row me to the shore.'\nSo rowed they, and he reached the shore again.\n\nAnd found me sitting by the sea to wait\nHis coming. Seven full days and nights I sate,\n  And ate nor drank, but waited, and was grown\nLike them they bear to the embalmer's gate.\n\nI said to him: 'My brother, let me see\nThe Book that wrought such pain on thee and me.'\n  He gave the Book into my hands, and slow\nI read what there was writ of sorcery.\n\nI laid upon the earth and sky my spell,\nThe underworld, the hills, the ocean swell;\n  And understood what tales the birds of heaven\nAnd mountain beasts and deep-sea fishes tell.\n\nThen did I read the second spell, and high\nAbove saw RA enthroned in the sky,\n  And all his Children; and I saw the MOON\nAnd all the Stars in all their shapes go by.\n\nAnd NEFREKEPTA bade them bring a roll\nOf new papyrus, and wrote out the whole\n  Of those two charms, and melted it in wine,\nAnd drank it. So the charm was in his soul.\n\nThen sacrifice we made and gifts of worth\nHeaped high in all the temples, and set forth\n  On PHARAOH'S ship with singing and great joy,\nOne league, one league, from Coptos to the North.\n\nBut THOTH himself had seen our deed, and, ah,\nHis wrath was hot! Before the throne of RA,\n  'Judgement!' he cried, 'Give judgement between me\nAnd NEFREKEPTA, son of MERNAB-PTAH,\n\nWho broke into my treasure-house this day,\nAnd slew my Snake and stole my Book away.'\n  And RA said: 'Surely he is in thy hand,\nO THOTH, both he and his, to spare or slay.'\n\nAnd lo, a Power of God went forth, and fell\nOn all the river and lay invisible;\n  And THOTH said: 'NEFREKEPTA shall come home\nNo more, nor one of those that with him dwell.'\n\nThen the boy MERAB, singing, from the shade\nOf PHARAOH'S awning stepped; one step he made,\n  And, lo, the River took him, and his face\nWas covered and the will of RA obeyed.\n\nThen all about us cried with a great cry.\nBut NEFREKEPTA from his awning high\n  Called with a spell, and the dead boy rose up;\nBut over him that Power of God did lie.\n\nThen NEFREKEPTA spake a written spell,\nAnd the boy MERAB told all that befell\n  About him; yea, the very words which THOTH\nSpake at the throne of RA he made him tell.\n\nThen slow to Coptos we returned, and bore\nThe boy MERAB to the embalmer's door;\n  And like a Prince he was embalmed and laid\nOn Coptos Hill with the great dead of yore.\n\nAnd NEFREKEPTA said: 'My sister, come\nQuick; let us row till all the road be foam,\n  Lest PHARAOH hear what hath befallen us,\nAnd his heart faint because we come not home.'\n\nWe went on board, and northward rowed apace\nOne league from Coptos; and I saw the place\n  Where MERAB died, and from the canopy\nStepped, and the River took me; and my face\n\nWas covered and the will of RA obeyed.\nThen all upon the boat great mourning made,\n  But NEFREKEPTA from his awning high\nCalled, and I knew a spell upon me laid;\n\nAnd I rose up, though o'er me still had hold\nThat Power of God. I rose and did unfold\n  All that befell me, yea, and every word\nWhich THOTH before RA'S throne had spoke I told.\n\nThen slow to Coptos he returned and bore\nMe, his dead sister, to the embalmer's door;\n  And like a Queen I was embalmed, and laid\nWhere MERAB my dead child was laid before.\n\nHe went on board, and down the stream apace\nRowed one league north from Coptos, to the place\n  Where MERAB died and I, AHURE, died;\nAnd stood and communed with his heart a space:\n\n'Shall it be backward now, ere THOTH can slay?\nShall it be on to PHARAOH, come what may?\n  And, lo, when PHARAOH asks me where those two,\nHis children, are, what is it I shall say?\n\n\"I took thy children to a burning land\nAnd living let them die; and here I stand.\"\n  I will not speak it.'--Then he bade them bring\nA band of finest linen, such a band\n\nAs dead kings wear, to bind them at the last;\nAnd seven times round his body made it fast,\n  And close against his body bound the Book\nFirm; and from out the canopy he passed.\n\nAnd, lo, the River took him, and the will\nOf RA was done. And they on board did fill\n  The air with wailing: 'Great woe! Grievous woe!\nDead, dead, is the Good Scribe and all his skill.'\n\nAnd down the stream the pleasure-ship sailed on\nToward Memphis, and to no man there was known\n  Where NEFREKEPTA lay; and when they came\nMessage was brought to PHARAOH on his throne.\n\nAnd PHARAOH came in robes of funeral,\nAnd all the folk of Memphis, great and small,\n  And PTAH'S High Priest and all the Priests of PTAH,\nAnd PHARAOH'S council and his household, all;\n\nAnd saw the ship, and, lo, beneath it drowned\nSaw NEFREKEPTA lying, both hands wound\n  About the rudder, guiding still his ship;\nSo great a scribe was NEFREKEPTA found.\n\nThey raised him, and against his body dead\nThey found the Book pressed close. And PHARAOH said:\n  'Behold the Book he died for! Let it lie\nIn this King's grave, a pillow for his head.'\n\nThen sixteen days embalming did they keep\nFor NEFREKEPTA, thirty-five of deep\n  Wrapping; of burial threescore days and ten;\nAnd here he resteth in the House of Sleep.\n\nAnd I, AHURE, far away must lie\nIn Coptos; but my heart within doth cry\n  For NEFREKEPTA, and our shadows come\nWaking and watch beside him sleeplessly.\n\n\n_The Contest for the Book_\n\nAnd thou, SETNE KHAMUAS, who dost look\nTo take from us that which from THOTH we took,\n  Where hast thou paid the price?--These twain and I,\nOur lives on earth were taken for this Book.\n\nBut SETNE said: 'AHURE, none the less,\nFor all thy tale of old unhappiness,\n  Yield me the Book at NEFREKEPTA'S head:\nI take it else by wrath and bitter stress.'\n\nThen NEFREKEPTA from his marble bed\nRose up: 'O thou to whom my wife hath said\n  Words vainly wise, and thou hast hearkened not,\nHow wilt thou win the Book beneath my head?\n\nThink'st thou to take it from me by the wit\nOf a good scribe? Or wilt thou play for it\n  Four games of draughts, the fifty points and two?'\nAnd SETNE said: 'The draughts'; and down did sit.\n\nBetween them then the gaming board they drew\nFor the first game of fifty points and two;\n  And NEFREKEPTA won the game, and spake\nA spell, and with the board he ruled it true.\n\nAnd SETNE ankle-deep into the floor\nSank. And again they played, and as before\n  Dead NEFREKEPTA won the second game;\nAnd SETNE sank up to the thighs and more.\n\nAgain they played; and NEFREKEPTA dead\nWon the third game; and SETNE to his head\n  Sank, and the earth came close below his ears.\nAnd SETNE lifted up his voice in dread:\n\n'Brother, where art thou? Brother AN-HERRU,\nBear word to PHARAOH of the deeds I do.\n  Pray PHARAOH the last amulets of PTAH\nBe sent me. Haste! Haste!'--Then the dead man drew\n\nThe board up close, and the fourth game began.\nAnd AN-HERRU far off had heard, and ran,\n  Ran unto PHARAOH'S throne and told his tale.\nAnd PHARAOH said: 'To save a sinking man\n\nTake the last amulets!' And AN-HERRU\nFlew with them to the dead man's gate, and flew\n  Through all the windings, all the doors, and, lo,\nThe game was playing still between those two.\n\nHe laid the amulets on SETNE'S head,\nAnd SETNE shivered in the earth, and said\n  A great spell; then, upstriving from the ground,\nReached out his arm, and caught the Book, and fled.\n\nLight went before him, and behind great gloom\nClosed, and he heard AHURE for her doom\n  Wailing: 'King Darkness, come! King Light, farewell!\nGone, gone, is the last comfort of the Tomb.'\n\nBut NEFREKEPTA on his marble bed\nLay back and laughed: 'A little while,' he said,\n  'O Shadow of my Sister, and this man\nShall come again. Therefore be comforted.\n\nHis dreams shall bring him back, before mine ire\nKneeling, to do the worst of our desire,\n  A fork upon his neck, a rod between\nHis hands, and on his head a bowl of fire.'\n\n\n_Ta-Buvue, and the Return of the Book_\n\nBut SETNE out into the light above\nReturned, and saw the light with a great love;\n  And sealed the tomb, and stood at PHARAOH'S throne\nAnd told his doings and the end thereof.\n\nAnd PHARAOH said to SETNE: 'These be vain\nDoings. Go back and give the dead again\n  His book, as a wise man to a wise man,\nNow, lest thou give it some day with much pain.'\n\nBut SETNE hearkened not. By day and night\nHe read the Book and took therein delight,\n  And showed it at his feasts; and all his days\nWere sweet to SETNE and his breath was light.\n\n'Twas joy to read, joy also when he made\nMirth with his sons, joy when he rose and prayed\n  In PTAH'S great Temple; till one day, behold,\nIn PTAH'S great Temple, through the colonnade,\n\nA troop of damsels fair exceedingly,\nAnd one who led them. Beautiful was she,\n  And not like other women; good beyond\nAll he had seen or ever thought to see.\n\nHer girdle was of gold and gold her hood,\nAnd all that touched her fragrant was and good,\n  And maids behind her fifty walked and two;\nAnd, seeing, SETNE wist not where he stood,\n\nBut called the Slave that served him: 'Haste thee, go\nTo where yon woman worships; I would know\n  What need hath brought her and what name she bears.\nGo swiftly.' And the servant bowed him low,\n\nAnd found a handmaiden who walked aside:\n'Damsel, thy mistress cometh in much pride;\n  Say by what name men call her, and what need\nBrings her to Memphis.' And the maid replied:\n\n'This is the child of the Chief Vision Seer\nOf Bast, Queen of the Far World and the Near;\n  Her name is TA-BUVUE, and a vow\nTo PTAH, your mighty God, hath brought her here.'\n\nThe slave returned and told to SETNE all\nThe handmaid spoke; and SETNE said: 'Go, call\n  This handmaid secretly behind the rest;\nGreet her from me and speak my name withal:\n\n\"SETNE KHAMUAS, son of RAMESES,\nGreets thee: he sends ten gold Arsinoes;\n  And more, if any man hath done thee wrong,\nSETNE the judge will right thine injuries;\n\nAll this, if thou wilt speak with him an hour,\nAnd help him. To a great and secret tower\n  Thou shalt go in, where none shall do thee hurt\nNor know thy name; so great is SETNE'S power.\"'\n\nThe slave returned and all of SETNE'S word\nTold to the handmaid; and her wrath was stirred,\n  And loud she railed, as though 'twere blasphemies\nHis lips had spoke; and TA-BUVUE heard,\n\nAnd called him: 'Strive not with this foolish one;\nBut hither, tell to me what wrong is done.'\n  But quick the handmaid ran before, and cried:\n'He bringeth words of shame from PHARAOH'S son:\n\nThus saying: \"SETNE, son of RAMESES,\nGreets thee, and sends ten gold Arsinoes;\n  And more, if any man hath done thee wrong,\nSETNE the judge will right thine injuries\";\n\nAll this, if I will speak with him an hour\nAnd help him. To a great and secret tower\n  I shall go in, where none shall do me hurt\nNor know my name; so great is SETNE'S power!'\n\nThen TA-BUVUE laughed: 'I think he spake\nThis word to thee for TA-BUVUE'S sake.--\n  Go, speak to SETNE, saying: \"Who am I\nThat thou shouldst send my bondmaid gifts to take?\n\nI am no common woman; I am one\nBorn of great kings, who walk my ways alone,\n  Priestess of Bast, the Queen of the Two Worlds,\nAnd seeking no man's gift and fearing none.\n\nIf me thou seekest, I will speak within\nMine own house: knock and thou shalt enter in:\n  In Per-Bast, by the Houses of the Dead,\nPast Kemi, where the desert doth begin.\n\nThere ask for TA-BUVUE. I go hence\nNow with my maids to make magnificence\n  Before thee. And no man shall watch thy way\nInto my house, nor mark thy coming thence.\"'\n\nThe Slave returned, and SETNE'S heart did fail\nFor very joy at hearing of the tale.\n  He called his servants: 'Make me a swift boat\nReady, with rowers and a silken sail.'\n\nAnd SETNE marvelled in his heart a space,\nAnd in his mirror looked; and, lo, his face\n  Seemed beautiful again, and all his limbs\nLight, like a young man when he runs a race.\n\nSo walked he to the boat and entered in,\nAnd bade them row as ne'er they rowed, to win\n  Per-Bast, beyond the Houses of the Dead,\nPast Kemi, where the desert doth begin.\n\nAnd there, behold, a tower exceeding tall\nSet in a pleasant place; and a great wall\n  Was round it, and a garden to the north\nWith many trees. And SETNE gave a call:\n\n'Whose is this tower?' And heard an answer: 'Here\nDwells TA-BUVUE, daughter of the Seer\n  Of Bast, she who is named The Beautiful.'\nAnd SETNE entered and no man was near.\n\nAnd up the garden ways he went, and cast\nHis eyes on all and marvelled as he passed:\n  And TA-BUVUE came and held his hand\nAnd spoke: 'Now by the Holiness of Bast,\n\nThis day is happiness. Come to mine high\nChamber, we two alone amid the sky.'\n  So up the stair they went, to a cool room\nOf turquoise wrought and lapis lazuli.\n\nCouches were there, decked with fair linen strand\nLike PHARAOH'S couch; and cups of gold did stand\n  On a great dresser, and a cup of gold\nWas filled with wine and laid in SETNE'S hand.\n\nAnd TA-BUVUE said: 'Take wine and meat.'\nBut he said: 'Love, how could I drink or eat?'\n  Then in a censer burning gums they brought\nAnd spices rare and unguent for his feet.\n\nLo, none was like her, none that bore the name\nOf woman! And his heart rose like a flame:\n  'O TA-BUVUE, let the end be now:\nLet us make perfect that for which we came!'\n\n'Is not this house thine own and I thy bride?'\nSaid she: 'Yet one thing first shalt thou decide.\n  I am no common woman, but to Bast\nPure, and full-filled of majesty and pride.\n\nThy present wife put from thee, that no soul\nNear me may stand; and write it in a scroll.\n  And all thy wealth of Priesthoods and of Powers,\nWith me alone thou shalt divide the whole.'\n\nSaid SETNE: 'Call a scribe.' And at their call\nThe scribe came; and he wrote a scroll withal\n  And cast off SETNE'S wife; and SETNE'S wealth,\nWith TA-BUVUE did he share it all.\n\nAnd in that hour one spoke to SETNE: 'Lo,\nThy children, waiting in the court below,\n  Sit with the dogs and curling cats of Bast.'\nAnd SETNE said: 'Bring them, and let them know.'\n\nThen TA-BUVUE laid her raiment proud\nOff, and put on soft linen, like one vowed\n  To bridal; and her body through the robe\nShone, as the moon shines through a little cloud.\n\nAnd back she turned to him and poured him wine,\nAnd said: 'These children must not strive with mine.\n  Make them to sign the scroll, too, and give up\nTheir part in thee.' And SETNE made them sign.\n\nThe fine, fine, linen robed her like a mist\nWhich robeth RA in pearl and amethyst;\n  And SETNE marvelled gazing; and again\nShe spoke, and SETNE'S hand she took and kissed:\n\n'These children, knowing all to me thou art,\nHate me.--Let them be mine to take apart\n  And do my will upon them.' And he said:\n'Do all the abomination of thy heart.'\n\nShe slew them then, and from her window fine\nCast them. And far below he heard the whine\n  Of dogs that tore and curling cats of Bast\nWhich lapped their blood. And SETNE drank his wine.\n\nHe said: 'Those children that were slain had birth\nBy me. O Woman, thou hast made much dearth\n  About me. Give me that for which I came,\nElse have I nothing, nothing, on this earth.'\n\n'Hast thou not me,' she said, 'in place of all?\nCome, therefore!' And she led him through the hall\n  To a fair couch, ebon and ivory;\nAnd down he lay, and spread swift arms withal\n\nTo clasp her; and within his arms outspread,\nBehold, she withered, withered; and her head\n  It had no eyes, and downward all her jaw\nDropped, like the jaws of the uncared-for dead.\n\nAnd SETNE strove to rise, but cloud on cloud\nHeld him: hot wind and hate and laughter loud,\n  And one that wept for a world's glory gone,\nAnd dust, dust, dust: and SETNE shrieked aloud:\n\nAnd saw: and, lo, all naked in the day\nIn a waste place of bricks and shards he lay,\n  And clutched a burning kiln. And near him passed\nThe way and much folk jeering on the way,\n\nSoldiers and priests, beggars and men of pride.\nAnd SETNE rolled him in the dust and cried:\n  'My children!' And a great lord rose in wrath:\n'Thy children stand this hour at PHARAOH'S side,\n\nThou naked man! Thou Priest whom none shall bless!\nAnd ask for thee. What? Is it drunkenness?'\n  And SETNE said: 'They live.' And said: 'O King,\nThrow me, I pray, some robe in this distress,\n\nWrought by dead NEFREKEPTA in his ire.\nI go to yield him up his worst desire,\n  A fork upon my neck, between my hands\nA rod, and on my head a bowl of fire.'\n\nOne of the bondmen threw him, at that call,\nA poor man's robe; and on to PHARAOH'S Hall\n  He journeyed with them, and stretched out his arms\nAnd clasped his sons, and told to PHARAOH all.\n\n'Yea, take the Book, take quickly,' PHARAOH said,\n'The rod, the fork, the fire upon thine head,\n  And seek dead NEFREKEPTA in his tomb,\nAnd kneel and pray the pardon of the dead.'\n\nAnd SETNE heard; and quick ere set of sun\nHe stood before the Tomb, and one by one\n  Passed the great doors, and opened the last door,\nAnd, lo, a light through all the chamber shone,\n\nA great light, like the going forth of RA.\nAnd while he stood the Woman cried: 'Aha,\n  SETNE, thou com'st! And if thou com'st alive\n'Tis PTAH hath saved thee and the grace of PTAH.'\n\nBut NEFREKEPTA laughed. And SETNE came\nKneeling: 'O King, with rod and fork and flame\n  I come,' he said; 'and yield thee up thy Book.\nWhat is thy judgement? Is it further shame?'\n\nBut NEFREKEPTA laughed: 'I would not now\nMake thee my slave, nor smite, nor burn thy brow.\n  This was enough.--Yet one thing lacketh me\nStill, and thereto I bind thee by a vow.\n\nFar off in a strange grave 'mid much annoy\nMy wife AHURE lieth and the boy\n  MERAB; 'tis but their shadows, by the art\nOf a good scribe, dwell here and have no joy.\n\nTherefore I charge upon thee my behest:\nGo, bring from Coptos to this House of Rest\n  My wife AHURE and MERAB the boy.'\nAnd SETNE rose and took on him the quest.\n\nAnd straightway before PHARAOH bowed his head\nAnd told him all the tale. And PHARAOH said:\n  'I give thee mine own pleasure-ship to sail\nTo Coptos and bring back those ancient dead.'\n\nSo PHARAOH'S pleasure-ship with all its crew\nWas brought, and southward on the wind they flew\n  To Coptos; and the High Priest saw the ship,\nAnd all the Priests, and came in haste thereto.\n\nThe Priests of ISIS and HARPOCRATES\nAnd the Chief Priest; SETNE to all of these\n  Gave ox and goose and wine, and with them walked\nOn Coptos Hill amid the tombs and trees.\n\nThree days and nights among the tombs they trod\nIn Coptos on the Hill, and every sod\n  They turned and marked, and every graven stone,\nAnd the Scribes' writings in the House of God.\n\nBut never could they find by night nor day\nThe tomb where MERAB and AHURE lay.\n  And NEFREKEPTA knew they found it not,\nAnd sent his shadow forth to guide their way.\n\nLike an old man, a bent and aged Priest,\nIt sate. And SETNE said: 'Joy be increased,\n  O Father! Thou dost know the things of old;\nThree days and nights we search, and have not ceased,\n\nTo find the tomb which holds AHURE dead\nAnd MERAB.' Then the old man raised his head:\n  'The father of my grandsire in old days\nSpoke of it to my grandsire; and he said\n\nThe father of his grandsire once had told\nHis grandsire how those two were laid of old\n  Far in the southmost corner, where the house\nNow stands in which the scrivener tells his gold.'\n\nAnd SETNE said: 'Old man, methinks I see\nSome hate here. Hath the scrivener injured thee,\n  That thou wouldst wreck his house and dig beneath?'\nHe answered: 'Have a watch set over me;\n\nThen raze the scrivener's house, and, under ground\nBy the south corner, if there be not found\n  Both MERAB and AHURE, have me slain!'\nSo there they held him and a guard stood round.\n\nThe scrivener's house was razed; and that same day\nThey found where MERAB and AHURE lay,\n  And, like great PHARAOHS, down to PHARAOH'S boat\nBore them 'mid Priests and Princes in array.\n\nAnd SETNE sought that ancient man, and, lo,\nHe was not. By that sign did SETNE know\n  This too was NEFREKEPTA. Then they built\nThe scrivener's house again, and turned to go:\n\nAnd went on board, and back to Memphis bore\nThose PHARAOHS home, with stream and wind and oar;\n  Singing they went, and PHARAOH heard them sing;\nAnd PHARAOH rose and met them by the shore,\n\nAnd led those Mighty Ones in robes of pride\nTo NEFREKEPTA'S tomb, and sanctified\n  Their entering in, and made a mound above;\nAnd there for ever sleep they, side by side.\n\nAnd there is finished all that fell between\nSETNE and NEFREKEPTA and his Queen\n  AHURE and the boy MERAB. 'Twas writ\nIn the first month of winter, Year XV.\n\n\n[Illustration: 5 black cats by Florence Kingsford.]\n\n\nOxford: Horace Hart, M.A.\nPrinter to the University\n\n\n\nTranscriber's Note:-\n\nOriginal spelling and punctuation retained.","title":"The Story of Nefrekepta, from a Demotic Papyrus","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":6257}