I was a
henchman who followed his lord, a servant of the Royal harim attending
on the hereditary princess, the highly-praised Royal Consort of
Sesostris in the pyramid-town of Khnem-esut, the Royal Daughter of
Amenemmes in the Pyramid-town of Ka-nofru, even Nofru, the revered.
In year
30, third month of Inundation, day 7, the god attained his horizon,
the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Sehetepebre. He flew to heaven and
was united with the sun's disk; the flesh of the god was merged in
him, who made him. Then was the Residence hushed; hearts were filled
with mourning; the Great Portals were closed; the courtiers crouched
head on lap; the people grieved.
In year
30, third month of Inundation, day 7, the god attained his horizon,
the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Sehetepebre. He flew to heaven and
was united with the sun's disk; the flesh of the god was merged in
him, who made him. Then was the Residence hushed; hearts were filled
with mourning; the Great Portals were closed; the courtiers crouched
head on lap; the people grieved.
Now His
Majesty had dispatched an army to the land of the Temhi, and his
eldest son was the captain thereof, the good god Sesostris. Even now
he was returning, having carried away captives of the Tehenu and
cattle of all kinds beyond number. And the Companions of the Royal
Palace sent to the western border to acquaint the king's son with the
matters that had come to pass at the Court. And the messengers met him
on the road, they reached him at time of night. Not a moment did he
wait; the Falcon flew away with his henchmen, not suffering it to be
known to his army. Howbeit, message had been sent to the Royal
Children who were with him in this army, and one of them had been
summoned. And lo, I stood and heard his voice as he was speaking,
being a little distance aloof; and my heart became distraught, my arms
spread apart, trembling having fallen on all my limbs. Leaping I
betook myself thence to seek me a hiding-place, and placed me between
two brambles so as to sunder the road from its traveller.
I set
out southward, yet purposed not to approach the Residence; for I
thought there would be strife, and I had no mind to live after him. I
crossed the waters of Mewoti hard by the Sycamore, and arrived in
Island-of-Snofru. I tarried there in the open fields, and was afoot
early, when it was day. I met a man who rose up in my path; he showed
dismay of me and feared. When the time of supper came, I drew nigh to
the town of Gu.
I
ferried over in a barge without a rudder, by the help of a western
breeze; and passed on by the East of the quarry in the district
Mistress-of-the-Red-Mountain. I gave a road to my feet northward and
attained the Wall of the Prince, which was made to repel the Setiu and
to crush the Sandfarers. I bowed me down in a thicket through fear
lest the watcher on the wall for the day might see.
I went
on at time of night, and when it dawned I reached Petni. I halted at
the Island-of-Kemwer. An attack of thirst overtook me; I was parched,
my throat burned, and I said: This is the taste of death. Then I
lifted my heart, and gathered up my body. I heard the sound of the
lowing of cattle, and espied men of the Setiu.
A
sheikh among them, who was aforetime in Egypt, recognized me, and gave
me water; he boiled for me milk. I went with him to his tribe, and
they entreated me kindly.
Land
gave me to land. I set forth to Byblos, I pushed on to Kedme. I spent
half a year there; then Enshi son of Amu, prince of Upper Retenu, took
me and said to me: Thou farest well with me, for thou hearest the
tongue of Egypt. This he said, for that he had become aware of my
qualities, he had heard of my wisdom; Egyptian folk, who were there
with him, had testified concerning me. And he said to me: Wherefore
art thou come hither? Hath aught befallen at the Residence? And I said
to him: Sehetepebre is departed to the horizon, and none knoweth what
has happened in this matter. And I spoke again dissembling: I came
from the expedition to the land of the Temhi, and report was made to
me, and my understanding reeled, my heart was no longer in my body; it
carried me away on the path of the wastes. Yet none had spoken evil of
me, none had spat in my face. I had heard no reviling word, my name
had not been heard in the mouth of the herald. I know not what brought
me to this country. It was like the dispensation of God. (...)
Then
said he to me: How shall yon land fare without him, the beneficent
god, the fear of whom was throughout the lands like Sakhmet in a year
of plague? Spake I to him and answered him: Of a truth his son has
entered the Palace and has taken the inheritance of his father. A god
is he without a peer; none other surpasses him. A master of prudence
is he, excellent in counsel, efficacious in decrees. Goings and
comings are at his command. It is he who subdued the foreign lands
while his father was within his Palace, and reported to him what was
ordered him to do. Valiant is he, achieving with his strong arm;
active, and none is like to him, when he is seen charging down on Ro-pedtiu,
or approaching the mellay. A curber of horns is he, a weakener of
hands; his enemies cannot marshal their ranks. Vengeful is he, a
smasher of foreheads; none can stand in his neighbourhood. Long of
stride is he, destroying the fugitive; these is no ending for any that
turns his back to him. Stout of heart is he when he sees a multitude;
he suffers not sloth to encompass his heart. Headlong is he when he
falls upon the Easterners; his joy is to plunder the Ro-pedtiu. He
seizes the buckles, he tramples under foot; he repeats not his blow in
order to kill. None can turn his shaft or bend his bow. The Pedtiu
flee before him as before the might of the Great Goddess. He fights
without end; he spares not and these is no remnant. He is a master of
grace, great in sweetness; he conquers through love. His city loves
him more than itself, it rejoices over him more than over its god. Men
and women pass by in exultation concerning him, now that he is king.
He conquered while yet in the egg; his face has been set toward
kingship ever since he was born. He is one who multiplies those who
were born with him. He is unique, god-given. This land that he rules
rejoices. He is one who enlarges his borders. He will conquer the
southern lands, but he heeds not the northern lands. He was made to
smite the Setiu, and to crush the Sandfarers. Send to him, let him
know thy name. Utter no curse against His Majesty. He fails not to do
good to the land that is loyal to him.
Said he
to me: Of a truth Egypt is happy, since it knows that he prospers. But
thou, behold, thou art here; thou shalt dwell with me, and I will
entreat thee kindly.
And he
placed me even before his children, and mated me with his eldest
daughter. He caused me to choose for myself of his country, of the
best that belonged to him on his border to another country. It was a
goodly land called Yaa. Figs were in it and grapes, and its wine was
more abundant than its water. Plentiful was its honey, many were its
olives; all manner of fruits were upon its trees. Wheat was in it and
spelt, and limitless cattle of all kinds. Great also was that which
fell to my portion by reason of the love bestowed on me. He made me
ruler of a tribe of the best of his country. Food was provided me for
my daily fare, and wine for my daily portion, cooked meat and roast,
fowl, over and above the animals of the desert; for men hunted and
laid before me in addition to the quarry of my dogs. And there were
made for me many dainties, and milk prepared in every way.
I spent
many years, and my children grew up as mighty men, each one
controlling his tribe. The messenger who fared north, or south to the
Residence, tarried with me, for I caused all men to tarry. I gave
water to the thirsty, and set upon the road him who was strayed; I
rescued him who was plundered. When the Setiu waxed insolent to oppose
the chieftains of the deserts, I counselled their movements; for this
prince of Retenu caused me to pass many years as commander of his
host. Every country against which I marched, when I made my assault it
was driven from its pastures and wells. I spoiled its cattle, I made
captive its inhabitants, I took away their food, I slew people in it;
by my strong arm, by my bow, by my movements and by my excellent
counsels. I found favour in his heart and he loved me, he marked my
bravery and placed me even before his children, when he had seen that
my hands prevailed.
There
came a mighty man of Retenu and flaunted me in my tent. He was a
champion without a peer, and had subdued the whole of Retenu. He vowed
that he would fight with me, he planned to rob me, he plotted to spoil
my cattle, by the counsel of his tribesfolk. The prince communed with
me and I said: I know him not, forsooth I am no confederate of his,
nor one who strode about his encampment. Yet have I ever opened his
door, or overthrown his fence ? Nay, it is envy because he sees me
doing thy behest. Assuredly, I am like a wandering bull in the midst
of a strange herd, and the steer of those cattle charges him, a
long-horn attacks him. Is there a humble man who is beloved in the
condition of a master? There is no Pedti that makes cause with a man
of the Delta. What can fasten the papyrus to the rock? Does a bull
love combat and shall then a stronger bull wish to sound the retreat
through dread lest that one might equal him? If his heart be toward
fighting, let him speak his will. Does God ignore what is ordained for
him, or knows he how the matter stands ?
At
night-time I strung my bow, and tried my arrows. I drew out my dagger,
and polished my weapons. Day dawned and Retenu was already come; it
had stirred up its tribes and had assembled the countries of a half of
it, it had planned this fight. Forth he came against me where I stood,
and I posted myself near him. Every heart burned for me. Women and men
jabbered. Every heart was sore for me, saying: Is there another mighty
man who can fight against him? Then his shield, his battle-axe and his
armful of javelins fell, when I had escaped from his weapons and had
caused his arrows to pass by me, uselessly sped; while one approached
the other. I shot him, my arrow sticking in his neck. He cried aloud,
and fell on his nose. I laid him low with his own battle-axe, and
raised my shout of victory over his back. Every 'A'am shrieked. I gave
thanks to Montu, but his serfs mourned for him. This prince Enshi, son
of Amu, took me to his embrace. Then carried I off his possessions,
and spoiled his cattle. What he had devised to do unto me, that did I
unto him. I seized what was in his tent, I ransacked his encampment.
I
became great thereby, I grew large in my riches, I became abundant in
my flocks. Thus God hath done, so as to shew mercy to him whom he had
condemned, whom he had made wander to another land. For today is his
heart satisfied. A fugitive fled in his season; now the report of me
is in the Residence. A laggard lagged because of hunger; now give I
bread to my neighbour. A man left his country because of nakedness;
but I am clad in white raiment and linen. A man sped for lack of one
whom he should send; but I am a plenteous owner of slaves. Beautiful
is my house, wide my dwelling-place; the remembrance of me is in the
Palace.
O God,
whosoever thou art that didst ordain this flight, show mercy and bring
me to the Residence! Peradventure thou wilt grant me to see the place
where my heart dwelleth. What matter is greater than that my corpse
should be buried in the land wherein I was born? Come to my aid! A
happy event has befallen. I have caused God to be merciful. May he do
the like again so as to ennoble the end of him whom he had abased, his
heart grieving for him whom he had compelled to live abroad. If it so
be that today he is merciful, may he hear the prayer of one afar off,
may he restore him whom he had stricken to the place whence he took
him.
O may
the King of Egypt show mercy to me, that I may live by his mercy. May
I salute the Lady of the Land who is in his Palace. May I hear the
behests of her children. O let my flesh grow young again, for old age
has befallen, feebleness has overtaken me, mine eyes are heavy, my
hands are weak, my legs refuse to follow, my heart is weary, and death
approaches me, when they shall bear me to the city of Eternity. Let me
serve my Sovereign Lady. O let her discourse to me of her children's
beauty. May she spend an eternity over me!
Now it
was told the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Kheperkere concerning this
pass wherein I was. Thereupon His Majesty sent to me with gifts of the
Royal bounty, and gladdened the heart of this his servant, as it had
been the prince of any foreign country. And the Royal Children who
were within his Palace caused me to hear their behests.
COPY OF THE DECREE WHICH WAS
BROUGHT TO HIS HUMBLE SERVANT CONCERNING HIS RETURN TO EGYPT
Horus,
Life-of-Births; Two Goddesses, Life-of-Births; King of Upper and Lower
Egypt, Kheperkere; Son of Re, Sesostris, living for ever and ever. A
Royal decree unto the henchman Sinuhe. Behold, this decree of the King
is brought to thee to instruct thee as following: - Thou hast
traversed the foreign lands and art gone forth from Kedme to Retenu;
land gave thee to land, self-counselled by thine own heart. What hadst
thou done, that aught should be done against thee? Thou hadst not
blasphemed, that thy words should be reproved. Thou hadst not spoken
in the council of the nobles, that thy utterances should be banned.
This determination, it seized thine own heart, it was not in my heart
against thee. This thy Heaven, who is in the Palace, is established
and prospereth daily; she hath her part in the kingship of the land,
her children are at the Court. Mayest thou long enjoy the goodly
things that they shall give thee; mayest thou live by their bounty.
Come thou to Egypt, that thou mayst see the Residence where thou didst
grow, that thou mayst kiss the earth at the Great Portals and have thy
lot among the Companions. For today already thou hast begun to be old,
thy manhood is spent. Bethink thee of the day of burial, the passing
into beatitude: how that the night shall be devoted to thee with
ointments, with bandages from the hands of Tayt; and a funeral
procession shall be made for thee on the day of joining the earth; the
mummy-shell of gold, with head of lazuli; and a heaven above thee; and
thou placed upon the hearse, oxen dragging thee, musicians in front of
thee; and there shall be performed the dance of the Muu at the door of
thy tomb; and the offering-list shall be invoked for thee and
slaughterings made beside thy stele; thy columns being shapen of white
stone amid the tombs of the Royal Children. Thus shalt thou not die
abroad. 'A'amu shall not escort thee. Thou shalt not he placed in a
sheep-skin, when thy mound is made. Yea, all these things shall fall
to the ground. Wherefore think of thy corpse, and come.
This
decree reached me as I stood in the midst of my tribesfolk. It was
read aloud to me, and I laid me on my belly and touched the soil, I
strewed it on my hair. And I went about my encampment rejoicing, and
saying: How should such things be done to a servant whom his heart led
astray to barbarous lands? Fair in sooth is the graciousness which
delivereth me from death; inasmuch as thy ka will grant me to
accomplish the ending of my body at home.
COPY OF THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
THIS DECREE
The
servant of the harim Sinuhe says: - Fair hail! Discerned is this
flight that thy servant made in his witlessness, yea even by thy ka,
thou good god, lord of the two lands, whom Re loves and Montu, lord of
Thebes, praises Amun lord of Karnak, Sobk, Re, Horus, Hathor, Atum
with his Ennead, Sopdu, Neferbaiu, Semseru, Horus of the East, the
Lady of Imet who rests on thy head, the Conclave upon the waters, Min
in the midst of the deserts, Wereret lady of Punt, Har-uer-re, and all
the gods of Ti-muri and of the islands of the sea: they give life and
strength to thy nose, they endue thee with their gifts, they give to
thee eternity illimitable, time without bourn; the fear of thee is
bruited abroad in corn-lands and desert-hills, thou hast subdued all
the circuit of the sun.
This
thy servant's prayer to his lord to rescue him in the West, the lord
of Perception, who perceiveth lowly folk, he perceived it in his noble
Palace. Thy servant feared to speak it; now it is like some grave
circumstance to repeat it. Thou great god, peer of Re in giving
discretion to one toiling for himself, this thy servant is in the hand
of a good counsellor in his behoof; verily I am placed beneath his
guidance. For Thy Majesty is the victorious Horus, thy hands are
strong against all lands. Let now Thy Majesty cause to be brought Maki
from Kedme, Khentiaush from Khentkesh, Menus from the lands of the
Fenkhu. They are renowned princes, who have grown up in love of thee,
albeit unremembered. Retenu is thine, like to thy hounds.
But as
touching this thy servant's flight, I planned it not, it was not in my
heart, I conceived it not, I know not what sundered me from my place.
It was the manner of a dream, as when a Delta-man sees himself in
Elephantine, a man of the marshes in Ta-seti. I had not feared. None
had pursued after me. I had heard no reviling word. My name had not
been heard in the mouth of the herald. Nay, but my body quivered, my
feet began to scurry, my heart directed me, the god who ordained this
flight drew me away. Yet am I not stiff-backed, inasmuch as suffering
the fear of a man that knows his land. For Re has set the fear of thee
throughout the land, the dread of thee in every foreign country.
Whether I be at home or whether I be in this place, it is thou that
canst obscure yon horizon. The sun riseth at thy pleasure, the water
in the rivers is drunk at thy will, the air in heaven is breathed at
thy word. Thy servant will hand over the viziership which thy servant
hath held in this place. But let Thy Majesty do as pleaseth thee. Men
live by the breath that thou givest. Re, Horus and Hathor love this
thy august nose, which Montu, lord of Thebes, wills shall live
eternally.
Envoys
came to this servant, and I was suffered to spend a day in Yaa to hand
over my possessions to my children, my eldest son taking charge of my
tribe, all my possessions being in his hand, my serfs and all my
cattle, my fruit and every pleasant tree of mine. Then came this
humble servant southward and halted at Paths-of-Horus. The commander
who was there, in charge of the frontier-patrol sent a message to the
Residence to bear tidings. And His Majesty sent a trusty head-fowler
of the Palace, having with him ships laden with presents of the Royal
bounty for the Setiu that were come with me to conduct me to Paths-of-Horus.
And I named each several one of them by his name. Brewers kneaded and
strained in my presence, and every serving-man made busy with his
task.
Then I
set out and sailed, until I reached the town of Ithtoue. And when the
land was lightened and it was morning there came men to summon me, ten
coming and ten going to convey me to the Palace. And I pressed my
forehead to the ground between the sphinxes, the Royal Children
standing in the gateway against my coming. The Companions that had
been ushered into the forecourt showed me the way to the Hall of
Audience. And I found His Majesty on a throne in a gateway of gold;
and I stretched myself on my belly and my wit forsook me in his
presence, albeit this god greeted me joyously. Yea, I was like a man
caught in the dusk; my soul fled, my flesh quaked, and my heart was
not in my body, that I should know life from death.
Thereupon
His Majesty said to one of those Companions: Raise him up, let him
speak to me. And His Majesty said: Lo, thou art come, thou hast
trodden the deserts, thou hast traversed the wastes; eld has prevailed
against thee, thou hast reached old age. It is no small matter that
thy corpse should be buried without escort of Pedtiu. But do not thus,
do not thus, staying ever speechless, when thy name is pronounced.
But
verily I feared punishment, and answered him with the answer of one
afraid: What speaketh my lord to me? Would I might answer it, and may
not. Lo, it is the hand of God, yea the dread that is in my body, like
that which caused this fateful flight. Behold, I am in thy presence.
Thine is life; may Thy Majesty do as pleaseth thee.
The
Royal Children were caused to be ushered in. Then His Majesty said to
the Royal Consort: Behold Sinuhe, who is come as an 'A'am, an
offspring of Setiu-folk. She gave a great cry, and the Royal Children
shrieked out all together. And they said to His Majesty: It is not
really he, O Sovereign, my lord. And His Majesty said: Yea, it is
really he.
Then
brought they their necklaces, their rattles and their sistra, and
presented them to His Majesty: - Thy hands be on the Beauteous one, O
enduring King, on the ornament of the Lady of Heaven. May Nub give
life to thy nose, may the Lady of the Stars join herself to thee. Let
the goddess of Upper Egypt fare north, and the goddess of Lower Egypt
fare south, united and conjoined in the name of T h y Majesty. May the
Uraeus be set upon thy brow. Thou hast delivered thy subjects out of
evil. May Re, lord of the lands, show thee grace. Hail to thee, and
also to our Sovereign Lady. The horn of thy bow is slacked, thine
arrow loosened. Give breath to one that is stifled, and grant us our
goodly guerdon in the person of this sheikh Si-mehyt, the Pedti born
in Ti-muri. He fled through fear of thee; he left this land through
dread of thee. But as for the face of him who sees Thy Majesty, it
blenches not; as for the eye that regardeth thee, it fears not.
Then
said His Majesty: Nay, but he shall not fear, he shall not dread. For
he shall be a Companion among the magistrates, he shall be set in the
midst of the nobles. Get you gone to the Chamber of Adornment to wait
upon him.
So when
I was gone forth from the Hall of Audience, the Royal Children giving
me their hands, we went together to the Great Portals, and I was
placed in the house of a Royal Son. There was noble equipment in it, a
bathroom and painted devices of the horizon; costly things of the
Treasury were in it. Garments of Royal stuff were in every chamber,
unguent and the fine oil of the King and of the courtiers whom he
loves; and every serving-man made busy with his task. Years were
caused to pass away from my flesh, I was shaved and my hair was
combed. A burden was given over to the desert, and clothing to the
Sandfarers. And I was clad in soft linen, and anointed with fine oil;
by night I lay upon a bed. I gave up the sand to them that dwell
therein, and oil of wood to him who smears himself with it. There was
given to me the house of a provincial governor, such as a Companion
may possess; many artificers built it, and all its woodwork was new
appointed. And meals were brought to me from the Palace three times,
yea four times, a day, over and above that which the Royal Children
gave, without remiss.
And
there was constructed for me a tomb of stone in the midst of the
tombs; the masons that hew tombs marked out its ground-plan; the
master-draughtsmen designed in it; the master-sculptors carved in it;
and the master-architects who are in the Necropolis bestowed their
care upon it. And all the gear that is placed in a tomb-shaft went to
its equipment. And ka-servants were given to me, and there was made
for me a sepulchral garden, in which were fields, in front of my
abode, even as is done for a chief Companion. And my statue was
overlaid with gold, and its apron was of real gold. It was His Majesty
caused it to be made.
There
is no poor man for whom the like hath been done; and I enjoyed the
favours of the Royal bounty until the day of death came.
IT IS FINISHED, FROM THE
BEGINNING TO THE END, ACCORDING AS IT WAS FOUND IN WRITING.
Source: Alan H. Gardiner, Notes
on the Story of Sinuhe, Librairie Honoré Champion, Paris, 1916
