"Teach him according to the words of former days; let him do what is
admirable for the sons of the nobles, so that to enter and listen unto
his words will be the due training of every heart; and that which he
saith shall not be a thing producing satiety."
[Title and aim of the proverbs.]
Beginning of the proverbs of good words spoken by the _ha_-prince,[273]
the father of the god who loves the god,[274] the King's eldest son of
his body, the governor of the city and wazir, Ptahhetep, as teaching the
ignorant to know according to the rule of good words, expounding the
profit to him who shall hearken unto it, and the injury to him who shall
transgress it. He saith unto his son:--