Sekhet Hemat, and bring a list of the household of the Sekhti; and its
amount was six persons, beside his oxen and his goats, his wheat and his
barley, his asses and his dogs; and moreover he gave all that which
belonged unto the Hemti to the Sekhti, even all his property and his
offices, and the Sekhti was beloved of the king more than all his
overseers, and ate of all the good things of the king, with all his
household.
Remarks
Of the tale of the peasant and the workman three copies, more or less
imperfect, remain to us. At Berlin are two papyri, Nos. 2 and 4,
containing parts of the tale, published in facsimile in the "Denkmaler"
of Lepsius vi. 108-110 and 113; while portions of another copy exist in
the Butler papyrus; and lately fragments of the same have been collated
in the collection of Lord Amherst of Hackney. These last have been
published in the Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology,
xiv. 558. The number of copies seem to show that this was a popular tale
in early times; it certainly is of a more advanced type than the earlier
tales of magic, though it belongs to a simpler style than the tales
which follow. It has been translated partially by Chabas and Goodwin,
and also by Maspero, but most completely by Griffith in the Proceedings
of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, referred to above.
The beginning of the tale is lost in all the copies, and an introductory
sentence is here added in brackets, to explain the position of affairs
at the opening of the fragment. The essence of the tale is the
difference in social position between the Sekhti, or peasant, and the
Hemti, or workman--the _fellah_ and the client of the noble; and the
impossibility of getting justice against a client, unless by some
extraordinary means of attracting his patron's attention, is the basis
of the action. There is not a single point of incident here which might
not be true in modern times; every turn of it seems to live, as one
reads it in view of country life in Egypt.
The region of the tale is Henenseten, or Herakleopolis, now Ahnas, a
little south of the Fayum. This was the seat of the IXth and Xth
Dynasties, apparently ejected from Memphis by a foreign invasion of the
Delta; and here it is that the High Steward lives and goes to speak to
the king. The district of the Sekhti is indicated by his travelling
south to Henenseten, and going with asses and not by boat. Hence we are
led to look for the Sekhet Hemat, or salt country, in the borders of the
Fayum lake, whence the journey would be southward, and across the
desert. This lake was not regulated artificially until the XIIth
Dynasty; and hence at the period of this tale it was a large sheet of
water, fluctuating with each rise and fall of the Nile, and bordered by
lagoons where rushes would flourish, and where salt and natron would
accumulate daring the dry season of each year. At the present time the
lake of the Fayum is brackish, and the cliffs which border it contain so
much salt that rain pools which collect on them are not drinkable. The
paths and roads of Egypt are not protected by law as in Western
countries. Each person encroaches on a path or diverts it as may suit
his purpose, only checked by the liberties taken by passers-by in
trespassing if a path be insufficient. Hence, it is very usual to see a
house built over half of a path, and driving the traffic into the
field or almost over the river bank. In this case the Hemti had taken
in as much of the path as he could, and left it but a narrow strip
along the top of the canal bank. The frequent use of the public way
for drying clothes, or spreading out property, gave the idea of
choking the way altogether, and leaving no choice but trespassing on
the crops. No sooner does a donkey pause, or even pass, by a field of
corn than he snatches a mouthful, and in a delay or altercation such
as this the beast is sure to take the advantage. Donkeys carrying
loads by cornfields are usually muzzled with rope nets, to prevent
their feeding; and even sheep and goats are also fended in the same
way.
The proverb, "A poor man's name is only his own matter," refers to the
independent _fellah_ having no patron or protector who will take up and
defend his name from accusations, as the interests of clients and serfs
would be protected. This being the case, Hemti therefore seizes on the
property, and drives the asses into his own pasture field.
The scene of Meruitensa laying the case before the nobles who sat with
him is interesting as showing that even simple cases were not decided by
one judge, but referred to a council. Similarly, Una lays stress on the
private trial of the queen being confided to him and only one other
judge. Apparently, referring cases to a bench of judges was the means of
preventing corruption.
The speeches of the Sekhti were given at full length in the papyrus, but
owing to injuries we cannot now entirely recover them; they are all in
much the same strain, only the first and last are translated here, and
the others are passed over. The style of these speeches was evidently
looked on as eloquent in those days, and this papyrus really seems to
show the time when long-drawn comparisons and flowery wishes were in
fashion. It is far different from later compositions, as it is also from
the earlier simple narration of crude marvels in the tales of the
magicians.
The close of the tale is defective, but from the remains it appears to
have ended by the gift of the Hemti's property to the oppressed Sekhti
and the triumph of the injured peasant.
GOING TO WAWAT, XIITH DYNASTY
THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR
The wise servant said, "Let thy heart be satisfied, O my lord, for
that we have come back to the country; after we have long been on board,
and rowed much, the prow has at last touched land. All the people
rejoice, and embrace us one after another. Moreover, we have come back
in good health, and not a man is lacking; although we have been to the
ends of Wawat, and gone through the land of Senmut, we have returned in
peace, and our land--behold, we have come back to it. Hear me, my
lord; I have no other refuge. Wash thee, and turn the water over thy
ringers; then go and tell the tale to the majesty."
His lord replied, "Thy heart continues still its wandering words! but
although the mouth of a man may save him, his words may also cover his
face with confusion. Wilt thou do then as thy heart moves thee? This
that thou wilt say, tell quietly."
The sailor then answered, "Now I shall tell that which has happened to
me, to my very self I was going to the mines of Pharaoh, and I went down
on the sea on a ship of 150 cubits long and 40 cubits wide, with 150
sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seen heaven and earth, and whose
hearts were stronger than lions. They had said that the wind would not
be contrary, or that there would be none. But as we approached the land
the wind arose, and threw up waves eight cubits high. As for me, I
seized a piece of wood; but those who were in the vessel perished,
without one remaining. A wave threw me on an island, after that I had
been three days alone, without a companion beside my own heart. I laid
me in a thicket, and the shadow covered me. Then stretched I my limbs
to try to find something for my mouth. I found there figs and grapes,
all manner of good herbs, berries and grain, melons of all kinds,
fishes and birds. Nothing was lacking. And I satisfied myself; and
left on the ground that which was over, of what my arms had been
filled withal. I dug a pit, I lighted a fire, and I made a
burnt-offering unto the gods.
"Suddenly I heard a noise as of thunder, which I thought to be that of a
wave of the sea. The trees shook, and the earth was moved. I uncovered
my face, and I saw that a serpent drew near. He was thirty cubits long,
and his beard greater than two cubits; his body was as overlayed with
gold, and his colour as that of true lazuli. He coiled himself before me.
"Then he opened his mouth, while that I lay on my face before him, and
he said to me, 'What has brought thee, what has brought thee, little
one, what has brought thee? If thou sayest not speedily what has
brought thee to this isle, I will make thee know thyself; as a flame
thou shalt vanish, if thou tellest me not something I have not heard,
or which I knew not, before thee.'
"Then he took me in his mouth and carried me to his resting-place, and
layed me down without any hurt. I was whole and sound, and nothing was
gone from me. Then he opened his mouth against me, while that I lay on
my face before him, and he said, 'What has brought thee, what has
brought thee, little one, what has brought thee to this isle which is in
the sea, and of which the shores are in the midst of the waves?'
"Then I replied to him, and holding my arms low before him, I said to
him,' I was embarked for the mines by the order of the majesty, in a
ship, 150 cubits was its length, and the width of it 40 cubits. It had
150 sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seen heaven and earth, and
the hearts of whom were stronger than lions. They said that the wind
would not be contrary, or that there would be none. Each of them
exceeded his companion in the prudence of his heart and the strength
of his arm, and I was not beneath any of them. A storm came upon us
while we were on the sea. Hardly could we reach to the shore when the
wind waxed yet greater, and the waves rose even eight cubits. As for
me, I seized a piece of wood, while those who were in the boat
perished without one being left with me for three days. Behold me now
before thee, for I was brought to this isle by a wave of the sea.'
"Then said he to me, 'Fear not, fear not, little one, and make not thy
face sad. If thou hast come to me, it is God who has let thee live. For
it is He who has brought thee to this isle of the blest, where nothing
is lacking, and which is filled with all good after another, until
thou shalt be four months in this isle. Then a ship shall come from
thy land with sailors, and thou shalt leave with them and go to thy
country, and thou shalt die in thy town.
'"Converse is pleasing, and he who tastes of it passes over his
misery. I will therefore tell thee of that which is in this isle. I
am here with my brethren and my children around me; we are
seventy-five serpents, children, and kindred; without naming a young
girl who was brought unto me by chance, and on whom the fire of heaven
fell, and burnt her to ashes.
"'As for thee if thou art strong, and if thy heart waits patiently, thou
shalt press thy infants to thy bosom and embrace thy wife. Thou shalt
return to thy house which is full of all good things, thou shalt see thy
land, where thou shalt dwell in the midst of thy kindred.'
"Then I bowed, in my obeisance, and I touched the ground before him.
'Behold now that which I have told thee before. I shall tell of thy
presence unto Pharaoh, I shall make him to know of thy greatness, and I
will bring to thee of the sacred oils and perfumes, and of incense of
the temples with which all gods are honoured. I shall tell, moreover, of
that which I do now see (thanks to him), and there shall be rendered
to thee praises before the fulness of all the land. I shall slay asses
for thee in sacrifice, I shall pluck for thee the birds, and I shall
bring for thee ships full of all kinds of the treasures of Egypt, as
is comely to do unto a god, a friend of men in a far country, of which
men know not.'
"Then he smiled at my speech, because of that which was in his heart,
for he said to me, 'Thou art not rich in perfumes, for all that thou
hast is but common incense. As for me I am prince of the land of Punt,
and I have perfumes. Only the oil which thou sayedst thou wouldest bring
is not common in this isle. But, when thou shalt depart from this place,
thou shalt never more see this isle; it shall be changed into waves.'
"And, behold, when the ship drew near, according to all that he had told
me before, I got me up into an high tree, to strive to see those who
were within it. Then I came and told to him this matter; but it was already
known unto him before. Then he said to me. 'Farewell, farewell, go to
thy house, little one, see again thy children, and let thy name be good
in thy town; these are my wishes for thee.'"
THE FAREWELL
"Then I bowed myself before him, and held my arms low before him, and
he, he gave me gifts of precious perfumes, of cassia, of sweet woods, of
kohl, of cypress, an abundance of incense, of ivory tusks, of baboons,
of apes, and all kind of precious things. I embarked all in the ship
which was come, and bowing myself, I prayed God for him.
"Then he said to me, 'Behold thou shalt come to thy country in two
months, thou shalt press to thy bosom thy children, and thou shalt rest
in thy tomb.' After this I went down to the shore unto the ship, and I
called to the sailors who were there. Then on the shore I rendered
adoration to the master of this isle and to those who dwelt therein.
"When we shall come, in our return, to the house of Pharaoh, in the
second month, according to all that the serpent has said, we shall
approach unto the palace. And I shall go in before Pharaoh, I shall
bring the gifts which I have brought from this isle into the country.
Then he shall thank me before the fulness of all the land. Grant then
unto me a follower, and lead me to the courtiers of the king. Cast thy
eye upon me, after that I am come to land again, after that I have
both seen and proved this. Hear my prayer, for it is good to listen to
people. It was said unto me, 'Become a wise man, and thou shalt come
to honour,' and behold I have become such."
This is finished from its beginning unto its end, even as it was found
in a writing. It is written by the scribe of cunning fingers
Ameni-amen-aa; may he live in life, wealth, and health!
Remarks
This tale is only known in one copy, preserved in the Hermitage
collection at St. Petersburg. The papyrus has not yet been published,
either in facsimile or transcription. But two translations of it have
appeared by M. Golenischeff: from the earlier a modified translation is
given by Maspero in the "Contes Populaires," 2nd edit., pp. 133-146,
and the later translation is in M. Golenischeff's excellent
"Inventaire de la collection Egyptienne (Ermitage Imperial)," p.
177-182.
The tale is that of a returned sailor, speaking to his superior and
telling his adventures, to induce him to send him on with an
introduction to the king. At first his master professes to disbelieve
him, and then the sailor protests that this happened to himself, and
gives his narrative. The idea of an enchanted island, which has risen
from the waves and will sink again, is here found to be one of the
oldest plots for a tale of marvels. But the construction is far more
advanced than that of the tales of the magicians. The family of serpents
and the manner of the great serpent is well conceived, and there are
many fine touches of literary quality: such as noise as of thunder, the
trees shaking and the earth being moved at the appearance of the great
serpent--the speeches of the serpent and his threat--the sailors who had
seen heaven and earth--the contempt of the serpent for his offerings.
"As for me, I am prince of the land of Punt, and I have perfumes"--and
the scene of departure. All of these points show a firm hand and
practised taste, although there is still a style of simplicity clinging
to it which agrees well to its date in the XIIth Dynasty.
The great serpent is not of a type usual in Egyptian designs. The
human-headed uraeus is seldom bearded; and the best example of such a
monster is on an Ethiopian temple, where a great uraeus has human arms
and a lion's head. The colours again repeat the favourite combination
expressive of splendour--gold and lazuli. Though lazuli is very rare in
early times, yet it certainly was known in the XIIth Dynasty, as shown
by the forms of some beads of lazuli.
The slaughter of asses in sacrifice is a very peculiar offering, and no
sign of this is found in any representations or groups of offerings.
The colophon of the copyist at the end shows by the style of the name
that it belongs to the earlier part of the XIIth Dynasty, and if so, the
composition might be referred to the opening of foreign trade under
Sankhkara or Amenemhat I.
XIITH DYNASTY
THE ADVENTURES OF SANEHAT
The hereditary prince, royal seal-bearer, confidential friend, judge,
keeper of the gate of the foreigners, true and beloved royal
acquaintance, the royal follower Sanehat says:--
I attended my lord as a follower of the king, of the house of the
hereditary princess, the greatly favoured, the royal wife,
Ankhet-Usertesen, who shares the dwelling of the royal son Amenemhat in
Kanefer.
In the thirtieth year, the month Paophi, the seventh day the god entered
his horizon, the king Sehotepabra flew up to heaven and joined the sun's
disc, the follower of the god met his maker. The palace was silenced,
and in mourning, the great gates were closed, the courtiers crouching
on the ground, the people in hushed mourning.
His majesty had sent a great army with the nobles to the land of the
Temehu (Lybia), his son and heir, the good god king Usertesen as their
leader. Now he was returning, and had brought away living captives and
all kinds of cattle without end. The councillors of the palace had sent
to the West to let the king know the matter that had come to pass in the
inner hall. The messenger was to meet him on the road, and reach him at
the time of evening: the matter was urgent. "A hawk had soared with his
followers." Thus said he, not to let the army know of it Even if the
royal sons who commanded in that army send a message, he was not to
speak to a single one of them. But I was standing near, and heard his
voice while he was speaking. I fled far away, my heart beating, my arms
failing, trembling had fallen on all my limbs. I turned about in running
to seek a place to hide me, and I threw myself between two bushes, to
wait while they should pass by.
THE FLIGHT
Then I turned me toward the south, not from wishing to come into this
palace--for I knew not if war was declared--nor even thinking a wish to
live after this sovereign.
I turned my back to the sycamore, I reached Shi-Seneferu, and rested on
the open field. In the morning I went on and overtook a man, who passed
by the edge of the road. He asked of me mercy, for he feared me. By
the evening I drew near to Kher-ahau (? old Cairo), and I crossed the
river on a raft without a rudder. Carried over by the west wind, I
passed over to the east to the quarries of Aku and the land of the
goddess Herit, mistress of the red mountain (Gebel Ahmar). Then I fled
on foot, northward, and reached the walls of the prince, built to
repel the Sati. I crouched in a bush for fear of being seen by the
guards, changed each day, who watch on the top of the fortress. I took
my way by night, and at the lighting or the day I reached Peten, and
turned me toward the valley of Kemur. Then thirst hasted me on; I
dried up, and my throat narrowed, and I said, "This is the taste of
death." When I lifted up my heart and gathered strength, I heard a
voice and the lowing of cattle. I saw men of the Sati, and one of
them--a friend unto Egypt--knew me. Behold he gave me water and boiled
me milk, and I went with him to his camp; they did me good, and one
tribe passed me on to another. I passed on to Sun, and reached the
land of Adim (Edom).
When I had dwelt there half a year Amu-an-shi--who is the prince of the
Upper Tenu--sent for me and said: "Dwell thou with me that thou mayest
hear the speech of Egypt." He said thus for that he knew of my
excellence, and had heard tell of my worth, for men of Egypt who were
there with him bore witness of me. Behold he said to me, "For what cause
hast thou come hither? Has a matter come to pass in the palace? Has the
king of the two lands, Sehetep-abra gone to heaven? That which has
happened about this is not known." But I answered with concealment, and
said, "When I came from the land of the Tamahu, and my desires were
there changed in me, if I fled away it was not by reason of remorse that
I took the way of a fugitive; I have not failed in my duty, my mouth has
not said any bitter words, I have not heard any evil counsel, my name
has not come into the mouth of a magistrate. I know not by what I have
been led into this land." And Amu-an-shi said, "This is by the will of
the god (king of Egypt), for what is a land like if it know not that
excellent god, of whom the dread is upon the lands of strangers, as
they dread Sekhet in a year of pestilence." I spake to him, and
replied, "Forgive me, his son now enters the palace, and has received
the heritage of his father. He is a god who has none like him, and
there is none before him. He is a master of wisdom, prudent in his
designs, excellent in his decrees, with good-will to him who goes or
who comes; he subdued the land of strangers while his father yet lived
in his palace, and he rendered account of that which his father
destined him to perform. He is a brave man, who verily strikes with
his sword; a valiant one, who has not his equal; he springs upon the
barbarians, and throws himself on the spoilers; he breaks the horns
and weakens the hands, and those whom he smites cannot raise the
buckler. He is fearless, and dashes the heads, and none can stand
before him. He is swift of foot, to destroy him who flies; and none
who flees from him reaches his home. His heart is strong in his time;
he is a lion who strikes with the claw, and never has he turned his
back. His heart is closed to pity; and when he sees multitudes, he
leaves none to live behind him. He is a valiant one who springs in
front when he sees resistance; he is a warrior who rejoices when he
flies on the barbarians. He seizes the buckler, he rushes forward, he
never needs to strike again, he slays and none can turn his lance; and
when he takes the bow the barbarians flee from his arms like dogs; for
the great goddess has given to him to strike those who know her not;
and if he reaches forth he spares none, and leaves nought behind. He
is a friend of great sweetness, who knows how to gain love; his land
loves him more than itself, and rejoices in him more than in its own
god; men and women run to his call. A king, he has ruled from his
birth; he, from his birth, has increased births, a sole being, a
divine essence, by whom this land rejoices to be governed. He enlarges
the borders of the South, but he covets not the lands of the North;
he does not smite the Sati, nor crush the Nemau-shau If he descends
here, let him know thy name, by the homage which thou wilt pay to his
majesty. For he refuses not to bless the land which obeys him."
And he replied to me, "Egypt is indeed happy and well settled; behold
thou art far from it, but whilst thou art with me I will do good unto
thee." And he placed me before his children, he married his eldest
daughter to me, and gave me the choice of all his land, even among the
best of that which he had on the border of the next land. It is a goodly
land, laa is its name. There are figs and grapes; there is wine commoner
than water; abundant is the honey, many are its olives; and all fruits
are upon its trees; there is barley and wheat, and cattle of kinds
without end. This was truly a great thing that he granted me, when the
prince came to invest me, and establish me as prince of a tribe in the
best of his land. I had my continual portion of bread and of wine each
day, of cooked meat, of roasted fowl, as well as the wild game which I
took, or which was brought to me, besides what my dogs captured. They
made me much butter, and prepared milk of all kinds. I passed many
years, the children that I had became great, each ruling his tribe.
When a messenger went or came to the palace, he turned aside from the
way to come to me; for I helped every man. I gave water to the
thirsty, I set on his way him who went astray, and I rescued the
robbed. The Sati who went far, to strike and turn back the princes of
other lands, I ordained their goings; for the Prince of the Tenu for
many years appointed me to be general of his soldiers. In every land
which I attacked I played the champion, I took the cattle, I led away
the vassals, I carried off the slaves, I slew the people, by my sword,
my bow, my marches and my good devices. I was excellent to the heart
of my prince; he loved me when he knew my power, and set me over his
children when he saw the strength of my arms.