[The story of Sanehat is practically complete. A papyrus at
Berlin contains all the text except about twenty lines at the
beginning, the whole being written in about three hundred and
thirty short lines. Scraps of the missing portion were found in
the collection of Lord Amherst of Hackney; and these, added to
a complete but very corrupt text of about the first fifty
lines, enable one to restore the whole with tolerable
certainty. The story was written about the time of the XIIth or
XIIIth Dynasty, but was known at a much later period: one
extract from the beginning of the tale and one from the end
have been found written in ink on limestone flakes or "ostraca"
of about the XXth Dynasty (about 1150 B.C.). It seems to be a
straightforward relation of actual occurrences, a real piece of
biography. At any rate, it is most instructive as showing the
kind of intercourse that was possible between Egypt and
Palestine about 2500 B.C.]
The hereditary prince, royal seal-bearer, trusty companion, judge,
keeper of the gate of the foreigners, true and beloved royal
acquaintance, the attendant Sanehat says:--
I attended my lord as a servant of the king, of the household of the
hereditary princess, the greatly favored, the royal wife,
Ankhet-Usertesen [?], holding a place at Kanefer, the pyramid of King
Amenemhat.[19]
In the thirtieth year, the month Paophi, the seventh day, the god[20]
entered his horizon, the King Sehetepabra flew up to heaven; he joined
the sun's disk, he attended the god, he joined his Maker. The
Residence[21] was silenced, the hearts were weakened, the Great Portals
were closed, the courtiers crouching on the ground, the people in hushed
mourning.
Now his Majesty had sent a great army with the nobles to the land of the
Temehu,[22] his son and heir as their commander, the good King
Usertesen.[23] And now he was returning, and had brought away captives
and all kinds of cattle without end. The Companions of the Court sent to
the West Side[24] to let the king know the state of affairs that had
come about in the Audience Chamber.[25] The messenger found him on the
road; he reached him at the time of evening. "It was a time for him to
hasten greatly [was the message]: Let the Hawk[26] fly [hither] with his
attendants, without allowing the army to know of it." And when the royal
sons who commanded in that army sent messages, not one of them was
summoned to audience. Behold, I was standing [near]; I heard his voice
while he was speaking.[27] I fled far away, my heart beating, my arms
outspread; trembling had fallen on all my limbs. I ran hither and
thither[28] to seek a place to hide me, I threw myself amongst the
bushes: and when I found a road that went forward, I set out southward,
not indeed thinking to come to this Residence.[29] I expected that there
would be disturbance. I spake not of life after it.[30] I wandered
across my estate[31] [?] in the neighborhood of Nehat; I reached the
island [or lake] of Seneferu, and spent the day [resting?] on the open
field. I started again while it was yet day,[32] and came to a man
standing at the side of the road. He asked of me mercy, for he feared
me. By supper-time I drew near to the town of Negau. I crossed the river
on a raft without a rudder, by the aid of a west wind, and landed at the
quay [?] of the quarrymen of the Mistress at the Red Mountain.[33] Then
I fled on foot northward, and reached the Walls of the Ruler, built to
repel the Sati.[34] I crouched in a bush for fear, seeing the day-patrol
at its duty on the top of the fortress. At nightfall I set forth, and at
dawn reached Peten, and skirted the lake of Kemur.[35] Then thirst
hasted me on; I was parched, my throat was stopped, 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 an
alien amongst them--he who is [now?] in Egypt[36]--recognized me.
Behold, he gave me water, and boiled me milk, and I went with him to his
camp,--may a blessing be their portion! One tribe passed me on to
another: I departed to Sun [?], and came to Kedem.[37]
There I spent a year and a month [?]. But Ammui-nen-sha, Ruler of the
Upper Tenu,[38] took me and said to me:--"Comfort thyself with me, that
thou mayest hear the speech of Egypt." He said thus, for that he knew my
character, and had heard of my worth; for men of Egypt who were there
with him bore witness of me. Then he said to me:--"For what hast thou
come hither? what is it? Hath a matter come to pass in the Residence?
The King of the Two Lands, Sehetepabra, hath gone to heaven, and one
knoweth not what may have happened thereon." But I answered with
concealment and said:--"I returned with an expedition from the land of
the Temehu; my desire was redoubled, my heart leaped, there was no
satisfaction within me. This drove me to the ways of a fugitive. I have
not failed in my duty, my mouth hath not uttered any bitter words, I
have not hearkened to any evil plot, my name hath not been heard in the
mouth of the informer. I know not what hath brought me into this
country." [And the Ruler Ammui-nen-sha said:][39] "This is like the
disposition of God. And now what is that land like if it know not that
excellent god,[40] of whom the dread was over the nations like
Sekhemt[41] in a year of pestilence?" I spake [thus] to him, and replied
to him:--"Nay, but his son hath entered the palace, and taken the
heritage of his father, and he is a god without an equal, nor was there
any other before him [like unto him]. He is a master of wisdom, prudent
in his designs, excellent in his decrees; coming out and going in is at
his command. It was he that curbed the nations while his father remained
within the palace, and he reported the execution of that which was laid
upon him [to perform]. He is a mighty man also, working with his strong
arm; a valiant one, who hath not his equal. See him when he springeth
upon the barbarians, and throweth himself on the spoilers; he breaketh
the horns and weakeneth the hands; his enemies cannot wield their
weapons. He is fearless and dasheth heads to pieces; none can stand
before him. He is swift of going, to destroy him who fleeth; and none
turning his back to him reacheth his home. He is sturdy of heart in the
moment [of stress]; he is a lion that striketh with the claw; never hath
he turned his back. He is stout of heart when he seeth multitudes, he
letteth none repose beyond what his desire would spare. He is bold of
face when he seeth hesitation: his joy is to fall on the barbarians. He
seizeth the buckler, and leapeth forward; he repeateth not his stroke,
he slayeth, and none can turn his lance; without his bow being drawn the
barbarians flee from his arms like dogs; for the great goddess hath
granted him to war against those who know not his name; he is thorough,
he spareth not and leaveth naught behind. He is full of grace and
sweetness, a love-winner; his city loveth him more than itself, it
rejoiceth in him more than in its own god; men and women go their ways,
calling their children by his name. For he is a king that took the
kingdom while he was in the egg, and ruled from his birth. He is a
multiplier of offspring. And he is One Alone, the essence of God; this
land rejoiceth in his government. He is one that enlargeth his borders;
he will take the lands of the South, but he will not design to hold the
countries of the North: yet he prepareth to smite the Sati, to crush the
Wanderers of the Sand. When he cometh here, let him know thy name;
dispute not, but go over to his command[42]: for he will not fail to
treat well the country that floateth with his stream."
Said he, agreeing to me:--"Verily, Egypt is excellent in its stream[43]
beyond anything, and it flourisheth; behold, as long as thou art with me
I will do good unto thee." He placed me at the head of his children, he
married me with his eldest daughter. He allowed me to choose for myself
from his land, and from the choicest of what he possessed on the border
of the next land. It was a goodly land; Iaa[44] is its name. Therein
were figs and grapes; its wine was more plentiful than water; abundant
was its honey, many were its oil-trees, and all fruits were upon its
trees; there too was barley and spelt, and cattle of all kinds without
end. Great honors also were granted to me, flowing from his love to me;
he set me as sheikh of a tribe in a choice portion of his country. There
were made for me rations of bread, wine from day to day, cooked meat and
roasted fowl, besides wild game snared for me or brought to me, as well
as what my hunting dogs caught. They made me many dainties, and milk
food cooked in all manner of ways. Thus I passed many years; my children
became valiant men, each one the conqueror of a tribe. When a messenger
came north or went south to the Residence,[45] he tarried with me; for I
gave all men gifts; I gave water to the thirsty, I set the strayed
wanderer on his road, and I rescued those who were carried off captive.
The Sati who went to war or to repel the kings of the nations, I
commanded their expeditions; for this Ruler of the Tenu made me to spend
many years as captain of his army. Every land to which I turned I
overcame. I destroyed its green fields and its wells, I captured its
cattle, I took captive its inhabitants, I deprived them of their
provisions, and I slew much people of them by my sword, my bow, my
marchings, and my good devices. Thus my excellence was in his heart; he
loved me and he knew my valor; until he set me at the head of his sons,
when he saw the success of my handiwork.
There came a champion of the Tenu to defy me in my tent; a bold man
without equal, for he had vanquished all his rivals. He said, "Let
Sanehat fight with me." He thought to overcome me; he designed to take
my cattle, being thus counseled by his tribe. This ruler [Ammui-nen-sha]
conferred with me. I said:--"I know him not. I assuredly am no associate
of his; I hold me far from his place. Have I ever opened his door, or
leaped over his fence? It is perverseness of heart from seeing me doing
his work. Forsooth, I am as it were a stranger bull among the cows,
which the bull of the herd charges, and the strong bull catches! But
shall a wretched beggar desire to attain to my fortune? A common soldier
cannot take part as a counselor. Then what pray shall establish the
assembly?[46] But is there a bull that loveth battle, a courageous bull
that loveth to repeat the charge in terrifying him whose strength he
hath measured? If he hath stomach to fight, let him speak what he
pleaseth. Will God forget what is ordained for him? How shall fate be
known?" The night long I strung my bow, I made ready my arrows; I made
keen my dagger, I furbished my arms. At daybreak the Tenu came together;
it had gathered its tribes and collected the neighboring peoples. Its
thoughts were on this combat; every bosom burned for me, men and women
crying out; every heart was troubled for me; they said, "Is there yet
another champion to fight with him?" Then [he took] his buckler, his
battle-axe, and an armful of javelins. But thereon I avoided his
weapons, and turned aside his arrows to the ground, useless. One drew
near to the other and he rushed upon me. I shot at him and my arrow
stuck in his neck; he cried out, and fell upon his nose: I brought down
upon him his own battle-axe, and raised my shout of victory on his back.
All the Asiatics roared, and I and his vassals whom he had oppressed
gave thanks unto Mentu; this Ruler, Ammui-nen-sha, took me to his
embrace. Then I took his goods, I seized his cattle. What he had thought
to do to me, I did it unto him; I seized that which was in his tent, I
spoiled his dwelling. I grew great thereby, I increased in my
possessions. I abounded in cattle.
"May[47] the god be disposed to pardon him in whom he had trusted, and
who deserted to a foreign country. Now is his anger quenched. I who at
one time fled away a fugitive, my guarantee is now in the Residence.
Having wandered a starved wanderer, now I give bread to those around.
Having left my land in rags, now I shine in fine linen. Having been a
fugitive without followers, now I possess many serfs. My house is fair,
my dwelling large, I am spoken of in the palace. All the gods destined
me this flight. Mayest thou be gracious; may I be restored to the
Residence; favor me that I may see the place in which my heart dwelleth.
Behold how great a thing is it that my body should be embalmed in the
land where I was born! Come; if afterwards there be good fortune, I will
give an offering to God that he may work to make good the end of his
suppliant, whose heart is heavy at long absence in a strange land. May
he be gracious; may he hear the prayer of him who is afar off, that he
may revisit the place of his birth, and the place from which he removed.
"May the King of Egypt be gracious to me, by whose favor men live. I
salute the mistress of the land, who is in his palace; may I hear the
news of her children, and may my body renew its vigor thereby. But old
age cometh, weakness hasteneth me on, the eyes are heavy, my arms are
failing, my feet have ceased to follow the heart. Weariness of going on
approacheth me; may they convey me to the cities of eternity. May I
serve the mistress of all.[48] Oh that she may tell me the beauties of
her children; may she bring eternity to me."
Now the Majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheper-ka-ra,
justified, spake concerning this condition in which I was. His Majesty
sent unto me with presents from before the king, that he might make glad
the heart of your servant,[49] as he would unto the Ruler of any
country; and the royal sons who were in his palace caused me to hear
their news.
_Copy of the command which was brought to the humble servant to bring
him back to Egypt._
"THE HORUS, LIFE OF BIRTHS, LORD OF THE CROWNS, LIFE OF BIRTHS, KING OF
UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT, KHEPER-KA-RA, SON OF THE SUN, USERTESEN[50] EVER
LIVING UNTO ETERNITY. Royal Command for the attendant, Sanehat.
"Behold, this command of the king is sent to thee to give thee
information: Whereas thou didst go round strange lands from Kedem[51] to
Tenu, one country passed thee on to another as thy heart devised for
thee. Behold, what thou hast done hath been done unto thee: Thou hast
not blasphemed, so also the accusation against thee hath been repelled.
So also thy sayings have been respected; thou hast not spoken against
the Council of the Nobles. But this matter carried away thy heart; it
was not [devised] in thy heart.
"This thy Heaven[52] who is in the palace is stablished and flourishing
even now: she herself shareth in the rule of the land, and her children
are in the Audience Chamber.[53]
"Leave the riches that thou hast, and in the abundance of which thou
livest. When thou comest to Egypt thou shalt visit the Residence in
which thou wast, thou shalt kiss the ground before the Great Portals,
thou shalt assume authority amongst the Companions. But day by day,
behold, thou growest old; thy vigor is lost; thou thinkest on thy day of
burial. Thou shalt be conducted to the blessed state; there shall be
assigned to thee a night of sacred oils and wrappings from the hands of
the goddess Tayt. There shall be held for thee a procession [behind thy
statues] and a visit [to the temple] on the day of burial, the mummy
case gilded, the head blue, the canopy above thee; the putting in the
skin-frame, oxen to draw thee, singers going before thee, the answering
chant, and mourners crouching at the door of thy tomb-chapel. Prayers
for offerings shall be recited for thee, victims shall be slaughtered at
the door portrayed upon thy tablet[54]; and thy mastaba shall be built
of white stone, in the company of the royal children. Thou shalt not die
in a strange land, nor be buried by the Amu; thou shalt not be put in a
sheepskin, thou shalt be well regarded. It is vain [?] to beat the
ground and think on troubles.
"Thou hast reached the end.[55]
When this order came to me, I stood in the midst of my tribe, and when
it was read unto me, I threw me on my belly; I bowed to the ground and
let the dust spread upon my breast. I strode around my tent rejoicing
and saying:--"How is this done to the servant, whose heart had
transgressed to a strange country of babbling tongue? But verily good is
compassion, that I should be saved from death. Thy _Ka_[56] it is that
will cause me to pass the end of my days in the Residence."
_Copy of the acknowledgment of this command._
"The servant of the royal house [?], Sanehat, says:--
"In most excellent peace! Known is it to thy _Ka_ that this flight of
thy servant was made in innocence. Thou the Good God, Lord of both
Lands, Beloved of Ra, Favored of Mentu, lord of Uast, and of Amen, lord
of the Thrones of the Two Lands, of Sebek, Ra, Horus, Hathor, Atmu and
his Ennead, of Sepdu, Neferbiu, Semsetu, Horus of the east, and of the
Mistress of the Cave[57] who resteth on thy head, of the chief circle of
the gods of the waters, Min, Horus of the desert, Urert mistress of
Punt, Nut, Harur-Ra, all the gods of the land of Egypt and of the isles
of the sea.[58] May they put life and strength to thy nostril, may they
present thee with their gifts, may they give to thee eternity without
end, everlastingness without bound. May the fear of thee be doubled in
the lands and in the foreign countries, mayest thou subdue the circuit
of the sun. This is the prayer of the servant for his master, who hath
delivered him from Amenti.[59]
"The possessor of understanding understandeth the higher order of men,
and the servant recognizeth the majesty of Pharaoh. But thy servant
feareth to speak it: it is a weighty matter to tell of. The great God,
like unto Ra, knoweth well the work which he himself hath wrought. Who
is thy servant that he should be considered, that words should be spent
upon him? Thy majesty is as Horus, and the strength of thy arms
extendeth to all lands.
"Then let his Majesty command that there be brought to him Meki of
Kedem, Khentiu-aaush of Khent-keshu, and Menus of the Two Lands of the
Fenkhu; these are chiefs as hostages that the Tenu act according to the
desire of thy _Ka_, and that Tenu will not covet what belongeth to thee
in it, like thy dogs.[60] Behold this flight that thy servant made: I
did not desire it, it was not in my heart; I do not boast of it; I know
not what took me away from my place; it was like the leading of a dream,
as a man of Adhu sees himself in Abu,[61] as a man of the Corn-land sees
himself in the Land of Gardens.[62] There was no fear, none was
hastening in pursuit of me; I did not listen to an evil plot, my name
was not heard in the mouth of the informer; but my limbs went, my feet
wandered, my heart drew me; a god ordained this flight, and led me on.
But I am not stiff-necked; a man feareth if he knoweth [?], for Ra hath
spread thy fear over the land, thy terrors in every foreign country.
Behold me in thy palace or behold me in this place,[63] still thou art
he who doth clothe this horizon. The sun riseth at thy pleasure, the
water in the rivers is drunk at thy will, the wind in heaven is breathed
at thy saying.
"Thy servant will leave to a successor the viziership which thy servant
hath held in this land. And when thy servant shall arrive[64] let thy
Majesty do as pleaseth him, for one liveth by the breath that thou
givest. O thou who art beloved of Ra, of Horus, and of Hathor! It is thy
august nostril that Mentu, lord of Uast, desireth should live for ever."
* * * * *
It was granted that I should spend a day in Iaa,[65] to pass over my
goods to my children, my eldest son leading my tribe, and all my goods
in his hand, my people and all my cattle, my fruit, and all my pleasant
trees. When thy humble servant[66] journeyed to the south, and arrived
at the Roads of Horus, the officer who was over the frontier-patrol sent
a report to the Residence to give notice. His Majesty sent the good
overseer of the peasants of the king's domains, and ships with him laden
with presents from the king for the Sati who had come with me to convey
me to the Roads of Horus. I spoke to each one by his name, each officer
according to his rank. I received and I returned the salutation, and I
continued thus[67] until I reached Athtu.[68]
When the land was lightened, and the second day came,[69] there came
some to summon me, four men in coming, four men in going,[70] to carry
[?] me to the palace. I alighted on the ground between the gates of
reception [?]; the royal children stood at the platform to greet [?] me;
the Companions and those who ushered to the hall brought me on the way
to the royal chamber.
I found his Majesty on the great throne on a platform of pale gold. Then
I threw myself on my belly; this god, in whose presence I was, knew me
not while he questioned me graciously; but I was as one caught in the
night; my spirit fainted, my limbs shook, 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 falleth on thee, old age
hath reached thee; it is no small thing that thy body should be
embalmed, that thou shalt not be buried by foreign soldiers.[71] Do not,
do not, be silent and speechless; tell thy name; is it fear that
preventeth thee?" I answered with the answer of one terrified, "What is
it that my lord hath said? O that I might answer it! It was not my act:
it was the hand of God; it was a terror that was in my body, as it were
causing a flight that had been foreordained. 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 hath come as an Amu, whom the Sati have produced."
She shrieked aloud, and the royal children joined in one cry, and said
before his Majesty, "Verily it is not he, O king, my lord." Said his
Majesty, "It is verily he." Then they brought their tinkling
bead-strings, their wands, and their sistra in their hands, and waved
them[72] before his Majesty [and they sang]:--
"May thy hands prosper, O King;
May the graces of the Lady of Heaven continue.
May the goddess Nub[73] give life to thy nostril;
May the mistress of the stars favor thee, that which is north of her
going south and that which is south of her going north.
All wisdom is in the mouth of thy Majesty;
The staff [?] is put upon thy forehead, driving away from thee the
beggarly [?]
Thou art pacified, O Ra, lord of the lands;
They call on thee as on the Mistress of all.
Strong is thy horn; let fall thine arrow.
Grant the breath of life to him who is without it;
Grant thy favor to this alien Samehit,[74] the foreign soldier born
in the land of Egypt,
Who fled away from fear of thee,
And left the land from thy terrors.
The face shall not grow pale, of him who beholdeth thy countenance;
The eye shall not fear which looketh upon thee."
Said his Majesty:--"He shall not fear; let him be freed from terror. He
shall be a Companion amongst the nobles; 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 Audience Chamber, the royal children offered
their hands to me; and we walked afterwards to the Great Portals. I was
placed in a house of a king's son, in which were fine things; there was
a cool bower therein, fruits of the granary, treasures of the White
House,[75] clothes of the king's guard-robe, frankincense, the finest
perfumes of the king and the nobles whom he loves, in every chamber; and
every kind of servitor in his proper office. Years were removed from my
limbs: I was shaved, and my locks of hair were combed; the foulness was
cast to the desert, with the garments of the Nemausha.[76] I clothed me
in fine linen, and anointed myself with the best oil; 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 house of Neb-mer [?], which had belonged to a
Companion. There were many craftsmen building it; all its woodwork was
strengthened anew. Portions were brought to me from the palace thrice
and four times a day, besides the gifts of the royal children; there was
not a moment's ceasing from them. There was built for me a pyramid of
stone amongst the pyramids. The overseer of the architects measured its
ground; the chief treasurer drew it; the sacred masons did the
sculpture; the chief of the laborers in the necropolis brought the
bricks; and all the instruments applied to a tomb were there employed.
There were given to me fields; there was made for me a necropolis
garden, the land in it better than a farm estate; even as is done for
the chief Companion. My statue was overlaid with gold, its girdle with
pale gold; his Majesty caused it to be made. Such is not done to a man
of low degree.
Thus am I in the favor of the king until the day of death shall come.
_This is finished from beginning to end, as was found in the writing._
Translation of F. Ll. Griffith.