c. 1800-1500 BCE
translated by Adolf Erman and Alyward M. Blackman
1927
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NOTE |
The Westcar Papyrus dates to the Hyksos period of Egyptian history (18th to 16th centuries BCE) and tells miracle stories about priests, magicians, and astrologers during the Old Kingdom. The frame story for the narrative takes place at the court of the Fourth Dynasty king Khufu, though some of the five miracle stories involve kings from before his time. The narrative depicts Khufu both as a ruthless authoritarian and as a curious and generous ruler, while implying that the Fifth Dynasty kings were pious by contrast. It seems reflective of Manetho’s claim 1,500 years later that Khufu had “conceived a contempt for the gods” and Greek stories about the cruelty of Khufu. The famous papyrus was first translated by Adolf Erman in 1890; his revised 1924 translation was published in The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians, which was translated into English and corrected by Alyward M. Blackman in 1927, from whose version I copy the text below, with Erman’s introductory notes. For clarity, I have moved the translator’s explanation of his style and symbols from the book’s introduction to the story’s.
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KING KHEOPS AND THE MAGICIANS
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This tale [...] does not belong to the higher literature. It is of a popular character, as is shown both by the simplicity of its style and of its matter, which, at times, is burlesque, and by the fact that it is written in the vernacular; it might well be ascribed to a public story-teller. In spite of the loss of the beginning and end of the book, the plot is easily reconstructed. King Kheops, the builder of the Great Pyramid (about 2900 B.C. at the latest), makes his sons tell him tales of the wonders which had been wrought by magicians in the past. Finally, one of his sons informs him of his acquaintanceship with a still living magician, who then works his miracles in the king’s presence. But unfortunately this sage also knows the future, and so the Pharaoh is informed by him, though unwillingly, of the disaster threatening his line: at this very time three children will come into the world who will drive it from the throne. The children are then actually born and — here the papyrus breaks off — grow up notwithstanding all Kheops’ machinations; it is the pious kings of the Fifth Dynasty whose origin is here recounted. In my translation I have indicated free renderings of passages and other interpolations by italics; brackets denote restorations. The gaps which I have been obliged to leave in the translation I could naturally not reproduce in their full length, which is often considerable. I have been content to distinguish between two kinds of such omissions: . . . means that a single word is omitted, while ---- indicates that a sentence, or a longer passage, is missing. |
The first of these tales deals with events in the reign of King Zoser, but only the conclusion is preserved, in which King Kheops, in recognition of their deeds, commands victuals to be presented to that king and his magician, a “chief kherheb,” i.e. to be placed in their tombs.
Then Prince Khephren stood up to speak and said: “I relate to thy majesty a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father King Nebka, when he went to the temple of Ptah of Memphis. Now when his majesty went to Memphis, he also visited (?) the chief kherheb Ubaoner ----.
Ubaoner had a wife who was in love with a townsman, and who kept in touch with him through the medium of a handmaid; she had also sent him a box full of clothes as a present, and he came with the handmaid.
And after many days had passed — now there was a pleasure-house in the lake of Ubaoner — the townsman said to the wife of Ubaoner: “ Why, there is a pleasure-house in the lake of Ubaoner. Behold, we will tarry therein.” And the wife of Ubaoner sent to the house-steward that had charge of the lake, saying: “Let the pleasure-house which is in the lake be furnished.” Then went she thither and passed the day there drinking with the townsman, until the sun set. Now when it was evening, he came and went down into the lake, and the handmaid waited on him as bath attendant. And the house-steward observed it. Now when the earth became light and the next day was come, the house-steward went and reported this matter to his master ----. And Ubaoner said: “Fetch me my . . . of ebony and gold,” and with this gear he made a waxen crocodile that was seven spans long. And he recited a spell over it and said: “Whoso cometh to bathe in my lake, him do thou seize.” And he gave it to the house-steward, and said unto him: “When the townsman goeth down into the lake according to his daily wont, then do thou throw the crocodile into the water behind him.” So the house-steward went his way and took the waxen crocodile with him.
And the wife of Ubaoner sent unto the house-steward that was in charge of the lake, saying: “Let the pleasure-house which is in the lake be furnished. Lo, I come to dwell therein.” And the pleasure-house was furnished with every good thing. Then they went and spent a mirthful day with the townsman.
Now when it was evening, the townsman came according to his daily wont. And the house-steward threw the waxen crocodile behind him into the water, and it became a crocodile of seven cubits, and it laid hold on the townsman ----. But Ubaoner tarried for seven days with the majesty of King Nebka, and meantime the townsman was in the water without breathing. Now when the seven days were passed, King Nebka came . . . and the chief kherheb Ubaoner presented himself before him. And Ubaoner said: “. . . May thy majesty come and view the wonder that hath come to pass in the time of thy majesty.” The king went with him, and Ubaoner called the crocodile and said: “Bring thou hither the townsman.” Then the crocodile came forth and brought him ----. And the majesty of King Nebka said: “Your pardon, but this crocodile is frightful (?).” Thereupon Ubaoner stooped down and took it, and it became a waxen crocodile in his hand.
Then the chief kherheb Ubaoner related unto the majesty of King Nebka this thing that the townsman had done in his house with his wife. And his majesty said unto the crocodile: “Take that is thine.” Then the crocodile went down into the depths (?) of the lake, and none knew the place whither he went with him.
And the majesty of King Nebka caused the wife of Ubaoner to be taken to the field to the north of the Residence, and he set fire to her, and (her ashes) were thrown into the river.
Lo, this is a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father Nebka, one of the deeds of the chief kherheb Ubaoner.
And the majesty of King Kheops said: “Let there be offered to King Nebka a thousand loaves of bread, a hundred jars of beer, one ox, and two measures of incense, and let there be given to the chief kherheb Ubaoner one cake, one jug of beer, a large piece of flesh, and one measure of incense, for I have seen an example of his learning.” And it was done, according to all that his majesty commanded.
Then Prince Baufrē stood up to speak, and said: “I relate to thy majesty a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father Snefru, one of the deeds of the chief kherheb Zazamonkh, One day King Snefru was sad. So he assembled the officers of the palace in order to seek for him a diversion, but he found none. Then said he: ‘Go, bring me the chief kherheb, the scribe of the book, Zazamonkh.’ And he was brought unto him straightway. And his majesty said unto him: ‘I had assembled the officers of the palace together in order to seek for me a diversion, but I could find none.’ And Zazamonkh said unto him: ‘If thy majesty would but betake thee to the lake of the Great House! Man thee a boat with all fair damsels from the inner apartments of thy palace. Then will the heart of thy majesty be diverted, when thou shalt see how they row to and fro. Then, as thou viewest the pleasant nesting-places of thy lake, and viewest its fields and its pleasant banks, thine heart will be diverted thereby.’ His majesty said unto him: ‘I will do this; get thee back to thine house (?), but I will go boating. Have brought to me twenty paddles of ebony inwrought with gold, the handles thereof being of sekeb-wood inwrought with fine gold. Have brought to me twenty women, of those with the fairest limbs, and with (beauteous) breasts and braided tresses, such as have not yet given birth, and moreover have brought to me twenty nets, and give these nets to these women instead of their clothes.’ And it was done according to all that his majesty commanded. And they rowed to and fro, and the heart of his majesty was glad, when he beheld how they rowed.
“Then a leader became entangled (?) with her braided tress, and a fish-pendant of new malachite fell into the water. And she became silent and ceased rowing, and her side became silent and ceased rowing. Then said his majesty: ‘Is it that ye will not row then?’ And they said: ]Our leader is silent and roweth not.’ And his majesty said unto her: ‘Wherefore rowest thou not?’ She said: ‘It is the fish-pendant of new malachite that hath fallen into the water.’ He had another brought to her (?) and said: ‘I give thee this instead.’ And she said: ‘I want my pot down to its bottom.’
“Then said his majesty: ‘Go to, and bring me the chief kherheb Zazamonkh.’ And he was brought straightway. And his majesty said: ‘Zazamonkh, my brother, I have done as thou saidst, and the heart of my majesty was diverted when I beheld how they rowed. But a fish-pendant of new malachite belonging to a leader fell into the water, and she was silent and rowed not, and so she spoilt her side. And I said unto her: ‘Wherefore rowest thou not?’ And she said unto me: ‘It is a fish-pendant of new malachite that hath fallen into the water.’ And I said unto her: ‘ Row, and lo, I will replace it.’ And she said unto me: ‘I want my pot down to its bottom.’”
“Then the chief kherheb Zazamonkh said his say of magic, and he placed the one side of the water of the lake upon the other, and found the fish-pendant lying on a potsherd. And he brought it and gave it to its mistress.—Now as for the water, it was twelve cubits deep in the middle, and it reached twenty-four cubits after it was turned back. Then he said his say of magic, and he brought the waters of the lake back to their place.
“And his majesty spent the whole day in merriment with the entire palace, and he rewarded the chief kherheb Zazamonkh with all good things.
“Lo, it is a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father King Snefru, one of the deeds of the chief kherheb, the scribe of the book, Zazamonkh.”
And the majesty of King Kheops said: “Let there be offered to the majesty of King Snefru a thousand loaves of bread, a hundred jars of beer, one ox, and two measures of incense, and let there be given to the chief kherheb, the scribe of the book, Zazamonkh, one cake, one jug of beer, and one measure of incense, for I have seen an example of his learning.” And it was done according to all that his majesty commanded.
Then Prince Hardedef stood up to speak and said: “Hitherto hast thou heard only examples of what they knew that have gone before (us), and one knoweth not the truth from falsehood. But even in thine own time there is a magician.” Then said his majesty: “Who is that, Har[dedef, my son?” And Prince Har]dedef said: “There is a townsman, Dedi by name, and he dwelleth in Ded-snefru. He is a townsman of no years, and he eateth five hundred loaves of bread, a haunch of beef in the way of meat, and drinketh one hundred jugs of beer, unto this very day. He knoweth how to put on again a head that hath been cut off, and he knoweth how to make a lion follow after him, with its leash trailing on the ground. He knoweth the number (?) of the locks (?) of the sanctuary of Thōth.” — Now the majesty of King Kheops was always seeking for himself the locks (?) of the sanctuary of Thōth, to make for himself the like thereof for his Horizon [i.e., his pyramid].
Then said his majesty: “Thou thyself, Hardedef, my son, shalt bring him to me.” And ships were made ready for Prince Hardedef, and he voyaged upstream to Ded-snefru. Now when the ships were moored to the bank, he went journeying by land, and sat in a carrying-chair of ebony, the poles of which were of sesenem-wood and overlaid with gold.
And when he was come to Dedi, the chair was set down. And he stood up to salute him, and found him lying on a mat on the threshold of his house, and a servant held his head and was stroking it for him, and another was rubbing his feet.
And Prince Hardedef said: “Thy condition is like life before growing old and before (?) old age, the place of decease, the place of enwrapping, the place of burial; (thou art still) one that sleepeth on into the daylight, free from sickness, and without becoming old in abhorrence. Greetings, revered one! I am come hither to summon thee with a message from my father Kheops, that thou mayest eat the dainties that the king giveth, the victuals of them that are in his service, that he may bring thee at a good time of life to thy fathers, who are in the realms of the dead.” Said this Dedi: “In peace, in peace, Hardedef, thou king’s son whom his father loveth! May thy father Kheops reward thee! May he advance thy station among the elders! May thy ka contend with thine adversary! May thy soul know the . . . way to the portal of Him-that-hideth-Weakness! Greetings, king’s son!”
And Prince Hardedef held out his hands to him and helped him up; and then he went with him to the riverside, giving him his hand the while. And Dedi said: “Let a ship be given me, that it may bring me the children together with my books.” And two vessels with their crews were put at his service; but Dedi voyaged downstream in the ship in which was Prince Hardedef.
Now when he reached the Residence, Prince Hardedef entered in to make report to the majesty of King Kheops. And Prince Hardedef said: “O king, my lord, I have brought Dedi.” Said his majesty: “Go, bring him to me.” Then his majesty proceeded to the pillared hall of the palace, and Dedi was brought in unto him. And his majesty said: “How is it, Dedi, that I have never seen thee before?” And Dedi said: “It is he who is summoned that cometh. The Sovereign summoned me, and lo, I am come.” And his majesty said: “Is it true, what is said, that thou canst put on again a head that hath been cut off? ’’ And Dedi said: “Yea, that I can, O king, my lord.” And his majesty said: “Have brought unto me a prisoner that is in the prison, that his punishment may be inflicted.” And Dedi said: “But not on a man, O king, my lord! Lo, is not such a thing rather commanded to be done to the august cattle?”
And a goose was brought unto him, and its head was cut off; and the goose was placed on the western side of the hall, and its head on the eastern side of the hall. And Dedi said his say of magic, and thereupon the goose stood up and waddled, and its head likewise. Now when one part had reached the other, the goose stood up and cackled. And he had a duck brought unto him, and there was done unto it the like. And his majesty had an ox brought to him, and its head was made to tumble to the ground. And Dedi said his say of magic, and the ox stood up behind him, while its leash fell to the ground.
And King Kheops said: “It hath been said that thou knowest the number (?) of the locks (?) 2 of the sanctuary of Thoth.” And Dedi said: “So it please thee (?), I know not the number thereof, O king, my lord, but I know the place where they are.” And his majesty said: “Where is that?” And Dedi said: " There is a chest of flint in the chamber named ‘The Inventory’ in Heliopolis. (Lo, they are) in the chest.” And Dedi said: “O king, my lord, lo, it is not I that bring it thee.” And his majesty said: “Who then will bring it me?” And Dedi said: “It is the eldest of the three children who are in the belly of Red-dedet that will bring it thee.” And his majesty said: “But I desire that (?) thou say who she is, this Reddedet.” And Dedi said: “It is the wife of a priest of Re of Sakhebu, that hath conceived three children of Re, lord of Sakhebu. He hath told her that they will exercise this excellent office in this entire land, and that the eldest of them will be high priest in Heliopolis.” Then his majesty's heart grew sad thereat. And Dedi said: “Pray, what is this mood, O king, my lord? Is it because of the three children? Then I say unto thee: thy son, his son, and then one of them.” And his majesty said: “When will she give birth, pray, (this) Reddedet?” (And Dedi said): “She will give birth on the fifteenth day of the first winter month.” And his majesty said: “She . . . the region (?) of the Canal of the Two Fishes; I myself would set foot (?) there; I will see the temple of Re, lord of Sakhebu.” And Dedi said: “Then will I cause the water to stand four cubits deep over the region (?) of the Canal of the Two Fishes.”
Then his majesty betook himself to his palace. And his majesty said: “Let the ... be instructed (to consign) Dedi to the house of Prince Hardedef, that he may dwell with him. Fix his allowance at a thousand loaves of bread, an hundred jars of beer, one ox, and an hundred bunches of leeks.” And it was done according to all that his majesty commanded.
Now on one of these days it came to pass that Red-dedet suffered the pangs of childbirth. Then said the majesty of Re of Sakhebu to Isis, Nephthys, Mesekhent, Heket, and Khnum: “Up, go ye and deliver Red-dedet of the three children that are in her womb, that will exercise this excellent office in this entire land. They will build your temples, they will furnish your altars with victuals, they will replenish your libation-tables, and they will make great your offerings.” Then these deities went, when they had taken on the forms of dancing-girls, and Khnum was with them and bore their carrying-chair (?).
And they came to the house of Rewoser and found him standing with loin-cloth hanging down. Then they presented to him their necklaces and rattles. And he said unto them: “My mistresses, behold there is a lady here who is in travail.” And they said: “Let us see her; lo, we understand midwifery.” And he said unto them: “Come.” Then they entered in before Red-dedet, and shut (the door of) the room upon them and her. And Isis placed herself in front of her, and Nephthys behind her, and Heket hastened the birth. And Isis said: “Be not lusty in her womb as truly as thou art named User-ref.” This child slipped forth on to her hands, a child of one cubit with strong bones; the royal titulary of his limbs was of gold, and his head-cloth of true lapis lazuli. They washed him, cut his navel-string, and laid him on a sheet upon (?) a brick. And Mesekhent drew near unto him and she said: “A king that will exercise the kingship in the entire land.” And Khnum gave health to his body.
The birth of the two other children is then related, both times in the same words and in the same detail. But the adjurations are of course different: “Draw not near in her womb, as truly as thou art named Sah-re,” and “Be not dark in her womb, as truly as thou art named Keku.”
And these divinities went forth, after that they had delivered Red-dedet of the three children. And they said: “Let thy heart be glad, Rewoser! Behold, three children are born unto thee.” And he said unto them: “My mistresses, what can I do for you? I pray you give this one measure of barley to your chairman, and take it away for yourselves as payment into (your) vessels (?).” 4 So Khnum loaded himself with the barley.
Now when they had gone their way to the place whence they had come, Isis said unto these deities: “What meaneth it, that we have come to her and yet have worked no wonder for these children, that we may make report to their father who sent us forth?” So they fashioned three royal crowns, and they placed them in the barley. And they caused storm and rain to come in the sky, and they went back to the house.5 And they said: “We pray you, let us lay the barley here in a locked-up chamber until we come again ----. And they laid the barley in a locked-up chamber.
And Red-dedet purified herself with a fourteen days’ purification.1 And she said unto her handmaid: “Hath the house been made ready?” And she said: “It hath been made ready with every good thing, save for pots, which cannot be brought.” And Red-dedet said: “Wherefore, pray, cannot pots be brought?” And the handmaid said: “No good can be done here apart from the barley for the dancing-girls, and that is in a chamber bearing their seal.” And Red-dedet said: “Go down and fetch some of it, and Rewoser will recompense them therefore after he retumeth.”
So the handmaid went and opened the chamber. And she heard in the chamber the sound of singing, music, dancing, rejoicing (?), and all that is done in a king’s honour. Then she went and told Red-dedet all that she had heard. And she (Reddedet) went round the chamber, but could not find the place wherein it was being done. Then she laid her temple to the corn-bin, and she found that it was in this. And she put it in a chest, put this in another locker, corded it with hide, put it in a closet which contained her pots, and shut (the door) upon it.
And Rewoser came in from the field, and Red-dedet related unto him this matter. And he rejoiced greatly, and they sat them down and made merry.
Now after certain days had passed by, Red-dedet was enraged with her handmaid about a matter, and had her punished with a beating. And the handmaid said unto the people that were in the house: “Shalt thou do the . . .? She has born three kings. I will go and tell it unto the majesty of King Kheops." So she went and found her eldest brother by her mother 3 binding yam of flax on the threshing-floor. And he said unto her: “Whither art thou bound, little maiden?” Then she related unto him this matter. And her brother said unto her: “And so thou art come even unto me (?), and I am to take part in the betrayal (?)!” And he took a . . . of flax to her, and dealt her a grievous blow. Then the handmaid went to fetch her a handful of water, and a crocodile seized her.”
Then her brother went to tell it to Red-dedet, and he found Red-dedet sitting with her head upon her knee and her heart exceeding heavy. And he said unto her: “Wherefore art thou so troubled?” And she said: “It is this girl, that hath grown up in the house. Lo, she is even now gone forth, saying: ‘I will go to reveal it!’” And he hung down (?) his head and said: “ My mistress, she came and said unto me ---- beside me, and I dealt her a grievous blow. And she went to draw her some water and a crocodile seized her.”
(Here the manuscript breaks off.)
Then Prince Khephren stood up to speak and said: “I relate to thy majesty a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father King Nebka, when he went to the temple of Ptah of Memphis. Now when his majesty went to Memphis, he also visited (?) the chief kherheb Ubaoner ----.
Ubaoner had a wife who was in love with a townsman, and who kept in touch with him through the medium of a handmaid; she had also sent him a box full of clothes as a present, and he came with the handmaid.
And after many days had passed — now there was a pleasure-house in the lake of Ubaoner — the townsman said to the wife of Ubaoner: “ Why, there is a pleasure-house in the lake of Ubaoner. Behold, we will tarry therein.” And the wife of Ubaoner sent to the house-steward that had charge of the lake, saying: “Let the pleasure-house which is in the lake be furnished.” Then went she thither and passed the day there drinking with the townsman, until the sun set. Now when it was evening, he came and went down into the lake, and the handmaid waited on him as bath attendant. And the house-steward observed it. Now when the earth became light and the next day was come, the house-steward went and reported this matter to his master ----. And Ubaoner said: “Fetch me my . . . of ebony and gold,” and with this gear he made a waxen crocodile that was seven spans long. And he recited a spell over it and said: “Whoso cometh to bathe in my lake, him do thou seize.” And he gave it to the house-steward, and said unto him: “When the townsman goeth down into the lake according to his daily wont, then do thou throw the crocodile into the water behind him.” So the house-steward went his way and took the waxen crocodile with him.
And the wife of Ubaoner sent unto the house-steward that was in charge of the lake, saying: “Let the pleasure-house which is in the lake be furnished. Lo, I come to dwell therein.” And the pleasure-house was furnished with every good thing. Then they went and spent a mirthful day with the townsman.
Now when it was evening, the townsman came according to his daily wont. And the house-steward threw the waxen crocodile behind him into the water, and it became a crocodile of seven cubits, and it laid hold on the townsman ----. But Ubaoner tarried for seven days with the majesty of King Nebka, and meantime the townsman was in the water without breathing. Now when the seven days were passed, King Nebka came . . . and the chief kherheb Ubaoner presented himself before him. And Ubaoner said: “. . . May thy majesty come and view the wonder that hath come to pass in the time of thy majesty.” The king went with him, and Ubaoner called the crocodile and said: “Bring thou hither the townsman.” Then the crocodile came forth and brought him ----. And the majesty of King Nebka said: “Your pardon, but this crocodile is frightful (?).” Thereupon Ubaoner stooped down and took it, and it became a waxen crocodile in his hand.
Then the chief kherheb Ubaoner related unto the majesty of King Nebka this thing that the townsman had done in his house with his wife. And his majesty said unto the crocodile: “Take that is thine.” Then the crocodile went down into the depths (?) of the lake, and none knew the place whither he went with him.
And the majesty of King Nebka caused the wife of Ubaoner to be taken to the field to the north of the Residence, and he set fire to her, and (her ashes) were thrown into the river.
Lo, this is a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father Nebka, one of the deeds of the chief kherheb Ubaoner.
And the majesty of King Kheops said: “Let there be offered to King Nebka a thousand loaves of bread, a hundred jars of beer, one ox, and two measures of incense, and let there be given to the chief kherheb Ubaoner one cake, one jug of beer, a large piece of flesh, and one measure of incense, for I have seen an example of his learning.” And it was done, according to all that his majesty commanded.
Then Prince Baufrē stood up to speak, and said: “I relate to thy majesty a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father Snefru, one of the deeds of the chief kherheb Zazamonkh, One day King Snefru was sad. So he assembled the officers of the palace in order to seek for him a diversion, but he found none. Then said he: ‘Go, bring me the chief kherheb, the scribe of the book, Zazamonkh.’ And he was brought unto him straightway. And his majesty said unto him: ‘I had assembled the officers of the palace together in order to seek for me a diversion, but I could find none.’ And Zazamonkh said unto him: ‘If thy majesty would but betake thee to the lake of the Great House! Man thee a boat with all fair damsels from the inner apartments of thy palace. Then will the heart of thy majesty be diverted, when thou shalt see how they row to and fro. Then, as thou viewest the pleasant nesting-places of thy lake, and viewest its fields and its pleasant banks, thine heart will be diverted thereby.’ His majesty said unto him: ‘I will do this; get thee back to thine house (?), but I will go boating. Have brought to me twenty paddles of ebony inwrought with gold, the handles thereof being of sekeb-wood inwrought with fine gold. Have brought to me twenty women, of those with the fairest limbs, and with (beauteous) breasts and braided tresses, such as have not yet given birth, and moreover have brought to me twenty nets, and give these nets to these women instead of their clothes.’ And it was done according to all that his majesty commanded. And they rowed to and fro, and the heart of his majesty was glad, when he beheld how they rowed.
“Then a leader became entangled (?) with her braided tress, and a fish-pendant of new malachite fell into the water. And she became silent and ceased rowing, and her side became silent and ceased rowing. Then said his majesty: ‘Is it that ye will not row then?’ And they said: ]Our leader is silent and roweth not.’ And his majesty said unto her: ‘Wherefore rowest thou not?’ She said: ‘It is the fish-pendant of new malachite that hath fallen into the water.’ He had another brought to her (?) and said: ‘I give thee this instead.’ And she said: ‘I want my pot down to its bottom.’
“Then said his majesty: ‘Go to, and bring me the chief kherheb Zazamonkh.’ And he was brought straightway. And his majesty said: ‘Zazamonkh, my brother, I have done as thou saidst, and the heart of my majesty was diverted when I beheld how they rowed. But a fish-pendant of new malachite belonging to a leader fell into the water, and she was silent and rowed not, and so she spoilt her side. And I said unto her: ‘Wherefore rowest thou not?’ And she said unto me: ‘It is a fish-pendant of new malachite that hath fallen into the water.’ And I said unto her: ‘ Row, and lo, I will replace it.’ And she said unto me: ‘I want my pot down to its bottom.’”
“Then the chief kherheb Zazamonkh said his say of magic, and he placed the one side of the water of the lake upon the other, and found the fish-pendant lying on a potsherd. And he brought it and gave it to its mistress.—Now as for the water, it was twelve cubits deep in the middle, and it reached twenty-four cubits after it was turned back. Then he said his say of magic, and he brought the waters of the lake back to their place.
“And his majesty spent the whole day in merriment with the entire palace, and he rewarded the chief kherheb Zazamonkh with all good things.
“Lo, it is a wonder that came to pass in the time of thy father King Snefru, one of the deeds of the chief kherheb, the scribe of the book, Zazamonkh.”
And the majesty of King Kheops said: “Let there be offered to the majesty of King Snefru a thousand loaves of bread, a hundred jars of beer, one ox, and two measures of incense, and let there be given to the chief kherheb, the scribe of the book, Zazamonkh, one cake, one jug of beer, and one measure of incense, for I have seen an example of his learning.” And it was done according to all that his majesty commanded.
Then Prince Hardedef stood up to speak and said: “Hitherto hast thou heard only examples of what they knew that have gone before (us), and one knoweth not the truth from falsehood. But even in thine own time there is a magician.” Then said his majesty: “Who is that, Har[dedef, my son?” And Prince Har]dedef said: “There is a townsman, Dedi by name, and he dwelleth in Ded-snefru. He is a townsman of no years, and he eateth five hundred loaves of bread, a haunch of beef in the way of meat, and drinketh one hundred jugs of beer, unto this very day. He knoweth how to put on again a head that hath been cut off, and he knoweth how to make a lion follow after him, with its leash trailing on the ground. He knoweth the number (?) of the locks (?) of the sanctuary of Thōth.” — Now the majesty of King Kheops was always seeking for himself the locks (?) of the sanctuary of Thōth, to make for himself the like thereof for his Horizon [i.e., his pyramid].
Then said his majesty: “Thou thyself, Hardedef, my son, shalt bring him to me.” And ships were made ready for Prince Hardedef, and he voyaged upstream to Ded-snefru. Now when the ships were moored to the bank, he went journeying by land, and sat in a carrying-chair of ebony, the poles of which were of sesenem-wood and overlaid with gold.
And when he was come to Dedi, the chair was set down. And he stood up to salute him, and found him lying on a mat on the threshold of his house, and a servant held his head and was stroking it for him, and another was rubbing his feet.
And Prince Hardedef said: “Thy condition is like life before growing old and before (?) old age, the place of decease, the place of enwrapping, the place of burial; (thou art still) one that sleepeth on into the daylight, free from sickness, and without becoming old in abhorrence. Greetings, revered one! I am come hither to summon thee with a message from my father Kheops, that thou mayest eat the dainties that the king giveth, the victuals of them that are in his service, that he may bring thee at a good time of life to thy fathers, who are in the realms of the dead.” Said this Dedi: “In peace, in peace, Hardedef, thou king’s son whom his father loveth! May thy father Kheops reward thee! May he advance thy station among the elders! May thy ka contend with thine adversary! May thy soul know the . . . way to the portal of Him-that-hideth-Weakness! Greetings, king’s son!”
And Prince Hardedef held out his hands to him and helped him up; and then he went with him to the riverside, giving him his hand the while. And Dedi said: “Let a ship be given me, that it may bring me the children together with my books.” And two vessels with their crews were put at his service; but Dedi voyaged downstream in the ship in which was Prince Hardedef.
Now when he reached the Residence, Prince Hardedef entered in to make report to the majesty of King Kheops. And Prince Hardedef said: “O king, my lord, I have brought Dedi.” Said his majesty: “Go, bring him to me.” Then his majesty proceeded to the pillared hall of the palace, and Dedi was brought in unto him. And his majesty said: “How is it, Dedi, that I have never seen thee before?” And Dedi said: “It is he who is summoned that cometh. The Sovereign summoned me, and lo, I am come.” And his majesty said: “Is it true, what is said, that thou canst put on again a head that hath been cut off? ’’ And Dedi said: “Yea, that I can, O king, my lord.” And his majesty said: “Have brought unto me a prisoner that is in the prison, that his punishment may be inflicted.” And Dedi said: “But not on a man, O king, my lord! Lo, is not such a thing rather commanded to be done to the august cattle?”
And a goose was brought unto him, and its head was cut off; and the goose was placed on the western side of the hall, and its head on the eastern side of the hall. And Dedi said his say of magic, and thereupon the goose stood up and waddled, and its head likewise. Now when one part had reached the other, the goose stood up and cackled. And he had a duck brought unto him, and there was done unto it the like. And his majesty had an ox brought to him, and its head was made to tumble to the ground. And Dedi said his say of magic, and the ox stood up behind him, while its leash fell to the ground.
And King Kheops said: “It hath been said that thou knowest the number (?) of the locks (?) 2 of the sanctuary of Thoth.” And Dedi said: “So it please thee (?), I know not the number thereof, O king, my lord, but I know the place where they are.” And his majesty said: “Where is that?” And Dedi said: " There is a chest of flint in the chamber named ‘The Inventory’ in Heliopolis. (Lo, they are) in the chest.” And Dedi said: “O king, my lord, lo, it is not I that bring it thee.” And his majesty said: “Who then will bring it me?” And Dedi said: “It is the eldest of the three children who are in the belly of Red-dedet that will bring it thee.” And his majesty said: “But I desire that (?) thou say who she is, this Reddedet.” And Dedi said: “It is the wife of a priest of Re of Sakhebu, that hath conceived three children of Re, lord of Sakhebu. He hath told her that they will exercise this excellent office in this entire land, and that the eldest of them will be high priest in Heliopolis.” Then his majesty's heart grew sad thereat. And Dedi said: “Pray, what is this mood, O king, my lord? Is it because of the three children? Then I say unto thee: thy son, his son, and then one of them.” And his majesty said: “When will she give birth, pray, (this) Reddedet?” (And Dedi said): “She will give birth on the fifteenth day of the first winter month.” And his majesty said: “She . . . the region (?) of the Canal of the Two Fishes; I myself would set foot (?) there; I will see the temple of Re, lord of Sakhebu.” And Dedi said: “Then will I cause the water to stand four cubits deep over the region (?) of the Canal of the Two Fishes.”
Then his majesty betook himself to his palace. And his majesty said: “Let the ... be instructed (to consign) Dedi to the house of Prince Hardedef, that he may dwell with him. Fix his allowance at a thousand loaves of bread, an hundred jars of beer, one ox, and an hundred bunches of leeks.” And it was done according to all that his majesty commanded.
Now on one of these days it came to pass that Red-dedet suffered the pangs of childbirth. Then said the majesty of Re of Sakhebu to Isis, Nephthys, Mesekhent, Heket, and Khnum: “Up, go ye and deliver Red-dedet of the three children that are in her womb, that will exercise this excellent office in this entire land. They will build your temples, they will furnish your altars with victuals, they will replenish your libation-tables, and they will make great your offerings.” Then these deities went, when they had taken on the forms of dancing-girls, and Khnum was with them and bore their carrying-chair (?).
And they came to the house of Rewoser and found him standing with loin-cloth hanging down. Then they presented to him their necklaces and rattles. And he said unto them: “My mistresses, behold there is a lady here who is in travail.” And they said: “Let us see her; lo, we understand midwifery.” And he said unto them: “Come.” Then they entered in before Red-dedet, and shut (the door of) the room upon them and her. And Isis placed herself in front of her, and Nephthys behind her, and Heket hastened the birth. And Isis said: “Be not lusty in her womb as truly as thou art named User-ref.” This child slipped forth on to her hands, a child of one cubit with strong bones; the royal titulary of his limbs was of gold, and his head-cloth of true lapis lazuli. They washed him, cut his navel-string, and laid him on a sheet upon (?) a brick. And Mesekhent drew near unto him and she said: “A king that will exercise the kingship in the entire land.” And Khnum gave health to his body.
The birth of the two other children is then related, both times in the same words and in the same detail. But the adjurations are of course different: “Draw not near in her womb, as truly as thou art named Sah-re,” and “Be not dark in her womb, as truly as thou art named Keku.”
And these divinities went forth, after that they had delivered Red-dedet of the three children. And they said: “Let thy heart be glad, Rewoser! Behold, three children are born unto thee.” And he said unto them: “My mistresses, what can I do for you? I pray you give this one measure of barley to your chairman, and take it away for yourselves as payment into (your) vessels (?).” 4 So Khnum loaded himself with the barley.
Now when they had gone their way to the place whence they had come, Isis said unto these deities: “What meaneth it, that we have come to her and yet have worked no wonder for these children, that we may make report to their father who sent us forth?” So they fashioned three royal crowns, and they placed them in the barley. And they caused storm and rain to come in the sky, and they went back to the house.5 And they said: “We pray you, let us lay the barley here in a locked-up chamber until we come again ----. And they laid the barley in a locked-up chamber.
And Red-dedet purified herself with a fourteen days’ purification.1 And she said unto her handmaid: “Hath the house been made ready?” And she said: “It hath been made ready with every good thing, save for pots, which cannot be brought.” And Red-dedet said: “Wherefore, pray, cannot pots be brought?” And the handmaid said: “No good can be done here apart from the barley for the dancing-girls, and that is in a chamber bearing their seal.” And Red-dedet said: “Go down and fetch some of it, and Rewoser will recompense them therefore after he retumeth.”
So the handmaid went and opened the chamber. And she heard in the chamber the sound of singing, music, dancing, rejoicing (?), and all that is done in a king’s honour. Then she went and told Red-dedet all that she had heard. And she (Reddedet) went round the chamber, but could not find the place wherein it was being done. Then she laid her temple to the corn-bin, and she found that it was in this. And she put it in a chest, put this in another locker, corded it with hide, put it in a closet which contained her pots, and shut (the door) upon it.
And Rewoser came in from the field, and Red-dedet related unto him this matter. And he rejoiced greatly, and they sat them down and made merry.
Now after certain days had passed by, Red-dedet was enraged with her handmaid about a matter, and had her punished with a beating. And the handmaid said unto the people that were in the house: “Shalt thou do the . . .? She has born three kings. I will go and tell it unto the majesty of King Kheops." So she went and found her eldest brother by her mother 3 binding yam of flax on the threshing-floor. And he said unto her: “Whither art thou bound, little maiden?” Then she related unto him this matter. And her brother said unto her: “And so thou art come even unto me (?), and I am to take part in the betrayal (?)!” And he took a . . . of flax to her, and dealt her a grievous blow. Then the handmaid went to fetch her a handful of water, and a crocodile seized her.”
Then her brother went to tell it to Red-dedet, and he found Red-dedet sitting with her head upon her knee and her heart exceeding heavy. And he said unto her: “Wherefore art thou so troubled?” And she said: “It is this girl, that hath grown up in the house. Lo, she is even now gone forth, saying: ‘I will go to reveal it!’” And he hung down (?) his head and said: “ My mistress, she came and said unto me ---- beside me, and I dealt her a grievous blow. And she went to draw her some water and a crocodile seized her.”
(Here the manuscript breaks off.)
Source: Adolf Erman, The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians, trans. Alyward M. Blackman (London: Methuen & Co., Ltd., 1927), xi, 36-47.
