(9) This is on the copy which is in the books. It is written in yellow ink, on the sacred circle of gods in the boat of Rā, where offerings are made of victuals, geese, incense, in their presence, in order to revive the deceased, to make him powerful among the gods, and that he may not be repulsed nor driven back from the pylons of the Tuat. If thou readest it to the statue of this deceased in their presence, it causes him to have access to every hall of those which are in the books

(11) After this copy has been read, if the fourth hour is going round in the day, beware of what is threatening in the sky; but if thou hast read this book without any human being seeing it, it will widen the steps of the deceased in heaven or earth, and in the Tuat; because this book exalts the deceased more than any ceremony performed to him, henceforth, from this day undeviatingly for times infinite

(20) Leaf 8. Under the sun, moon, and Mercury are the words Three and One, an inference that the three are one. The words under the flower stems read: "Whiteness forty days after ashes." Under the blossoms is written: (left) "Minor time of the Stone"; (right) "The selected red." Between the arms of the central figure appears: "Let one pound of Mercury be placed." To the left is written: "If you who read shall have known this figure, you will possess the whole science of the Stone"; to the right: "And if you do not acknowledge it, you will be stiff-necked and dull." Above the sun is the word Father; above the satyr, "Ferment of the work." Beside the child is the sentence: "The son of the moon would threw the Stone into the fire--his mother." Above the flaming basket is written: "I am the true Stone." Under the central figure are the words: "A moderate fire is the master of the work."

(10) "Let your nature be known, Hunahpú-Vuch, Hunahpú-Utiú, twice-mother, twice-father, NimAc, Nima-Tziís, the master of emeralds, the worker in jewels, the sculptor, the carver, the maker of beautiful plates, the maker of green gourds, the master of resin, the master Toltecat, grandmother of the sun, grandmother of dawn, as you will be called by our works and our creatures. "Cast the lot with your grains of corn and tzité. Do it thus and we shall know if we are to make, or carve his mouth and eyes out of wood." Thus the diviners were told.

[...] [and he said to me: "Write down] [the things] that I shall [tell] you and of which I shall remind you for those who will be worthy after you. And you shall leave this book upon a mountain and you shall adjure the guardian: `Come, Dreadful One!'" And when he said these things, he separated from me.

(600) 1652 To say: O Atum-Khepri, when thou didst mount as a hill, 1652 and didst shine as bnw of the ben (or, benben) in the temple of the "phoenix" in Heliopolis, 1652 and didst spew out as Shu, and did spit out as Tefnut, 1653 (then) thou didst put thine arms about them, as the arm(s) of a ka, that thy ka might be in them. 1653 Atum, so put thine arms about N., 1653 about this temple, about this pyramid, as the arm (s) of a ka, 1653 that the ka of N. may be in it, enduring for ever and ever. 1654 O Atum, put thy protection upon N., 1654 upon this his pyramid, (upon) this temple of N.; 1654 prevent any evil thing happening to him for ever and ever; 1654 just as thy protection was put upon Shu and Tefnut. 1655 O Great Ennead who are in Heliopolis, 1655 Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Set, Nephthys, 1655 children of Atum--his heart is broad (glad) because of his children, in your name of "Nine [Bows]." 1656 no one among you separates himself from Atum, (when) he protects N., 1656 (when) he protects this pyramid of N., (when) he protects this his temple, 1656 against all the gods, against all the dead. 1656 He prevents any evil thing from happening to him for ever and ever. 1657 O Horus, this N. is Osiris; 1657 this pyramid of N. is Osiris; this his temple is Osiris; 1657 approach thyself to N.; 1657 be not far from him, in his name of "Pyramid." 1658 Thou wast complete, thou wast great, in thy name of "House of the Great black." 1658 Thot has put the gods under thee, because they are intact and just, 1658 in the dd-fortress, in the dm`-fortress. 1658 O Horus, like thy father, Osiris, in his name of, "He of the royal castle," 1659 Horus has given the gods to thee; he has caused them to ascend to thee, as (reed)-pens, 1659 that they may illuminate thy face (cheer thee) as temples. 41. A LITANY-LIKE INCANTATION FOR THE ENDURANCE OF A PYRAMID AND TEMPLE,

(666) 1931-1(Nt. J�quier, XXIX 761). To say: O N. [pass?] the great lake (?), even this, to the spirits, 1931-2 (Nt. 762). this water (n) to the dead. 1931-3 (Nt. 762). Guard thyself against these its people, whose house (home) is that bush, 1931a (Nt. 762). the heavenly (?) d.t, in its name of "Dt.t," 1931b (Nt. 762). where they take not thy hand to that house (home) of the bush. 1932 (Nt. 763). He, he is a pyramid, he protects; 1932 + 1 (Nt. 763). he is the east, he is thy protector, he protects; a father, thy east, he is the Easterner. 1933a (Nt. 763). Go to D.w-'ib, brother of Seker, whom he loves; 1933b (Nt. 764). he will make a way for thee with them, 1933b + 1 (Nt. 764). where thou mayest eat bread with them, 1933b + 2 (Nt. 764). where thou mayest row the wd with them, 1933b + 3 (Nt. 764). where the sky trembles for thee, the earth quakes for thee, 1933b + 4 (Nt. 764-765). and the imperishable stars come to thee. 1934a (Nt. 763). And so, behold, he seized thy hand (at) the Nb-k.wfeast, at (in) the Marsh of Reeds (or, at inundation time?), 1934b (Nt. 765). (while thou) sittest upon thy firm throne, 1934c (Nt. 765). and judgest with the Two Enneads.

(40) Leaf 24. The words at the top read: "I, the bird [the adept], speak into thine ears from the Sun, Moon and Azoth. The work is perfected with little labor." The panel to the left describes the nature of primordial matter and the drink of the Philosophers. The text to the right reads: "This is my beloved Son whom I saw and loved. If he be resurrected, He will remain at home, and in that house the spirit will be the soul and the body; for Mercury may be called the son of the Sun and the Moon." Under the child's figure is added: "If he were not dead, I should not have been his mother. I bore him after death before he was born in the world; under my feet I have what was his, and out of me and my Son and the foundation of my feet the Philosopher's Stone is made." At the lower left the three constituents of the Stone are shown elevated upon a pedestal to signify their dignity.

(610) 1710 To say: Wake up for Horus; stand up before Set; 1710 raise thyself up, eldest son of Geb, 1710 before whom the Two Enneads tremble. 1711 (The keeper) of the palace stands up before thee, so that the three beginnings (of the divisions of the year) may be celebrated for thee. 1711 Thou dawnest on the (first of the) month; thou purifiest thyself on the day of the new-moon. 1711 The great mni.t (-stake) mourns for him, 1711 as for "Thee who standest without being tired," who resides in Abydos. 1712 Earth, hear that which the gods have spoken, what Horus says as he spiritualizes his father, 1712 like Horus- and like Min (or, Amn), 1712 like Seker who is at the head of Pdw-s. 1713 The earth speaks to thee: "The door of Aker is open for thee; the double doors of Geb are open for thee. 1713 Thou goest forth at the voice (of Anubis), for he has spiritualized thee, 1713 like Thot, (or) like Anubis, prince of the court of justice (or, divine court), 1714 that thou mayest judge, that thou mayest lean upon the Two Enneads, 1714 who are between the two sceptres, in this thy dignity of spirit, commanded by the gods to be in thee. 1715 If thou goest, Horus goes; if thou speakest, Set speaks; 1715 if thy step be hindered, the step of the gods will be hindered. 1716 Thou approachest the lake; thou advancest to the t wr, the Thinite nome; 1716 thou passest through Abydos, in this thy dignity of spirit., commanded by the gods to be in thee. 1717 A ramp is trodden for thee to the D.t to the place where is. 1717 The ox of heaven seizes thine arm; 1717 thou nourishest thyself with the food of the gods. 1718 The odour of Ddwn is on thee, the Upper Egyptian Youth, who is come from Nubia; 1718 he gives thee the incense wherewith the gods cense themselves. 1719 The two children (twins?) of the king of Lower Egypt have given birth to thee-- 1719 (they) who are on (his) head, (he) the lord of the great crown. 1719 R` calls to thee out of the 'iskn of heaven, 1719 as the jackal (god), nome-governor (of the Bows), the Two Enneads, 1719 as Horus who presides over his, abode (or thigh-offering). 1719 He appoints thee as the morning star (lit. god of the morning) in the midst of the Marsh of Reeds. 1720 The portal of heaven is open for thee towards the horizon; 1720 the heart of the gods rejoice at thy approach, 1720 as a star which ferries over the ocean which is under the underpart of Nut, 1720 in this, thy dignity issuing from the mouth of R`. 1721 Thou sittest upon this thy firm throne, like the Great One who is in Heliopolis; 1721 thou leadest the spirits (spiritualized ones); thou satisfiest the imperishable stars. 1722 Thine abundance is in that herb in which the gods, abound, 1722 and on which the spirits nourish themselves; 1722 thine eyes are opened by the earth, thy limbs are gathered up by the lord of (bw.t) the rebel city. 1723 Raise thyself up (like) nti-m (chief of Letopolis), 1723 when the great bread and this wine-like water were given to him. 1723 The 'im-trees serve thee, the nb-tree, bows its head to thee; 1723 a royal offering will be given to thee, such as Anubis will do for thee. 46. TEXTS OF MISCELLANEOUS CONTENTS,

(15) Leaf 4. At the top: "Let them believe that . everything is possible. The art is fleeting, bright and rare, and not believed by the foolish." The words between the sun and crescent read "It is hidden," and on the panel across the body "The Book of life and true Treasury of the World." The panel to the left of the figure says "Moving almost all, and the soul of its body returns to the place from which it had fled, and ripens seven months or nine, and the King crowned with his diadem appears." The right panel states: "There are three Mercuries: animal, vegetable, and mineral." The text below is of such a cryptic nature that to translate it is well nigh impossible. It declares that by putting fire beneath the feet of the symbolic figure it is possible to extract therefrom the sun and the moon which the human body is shown elevating to a position of dignity above its head.

(21) This Chapter, taken from London 9900, is found complete in the pyramid of Unas (l. 166 ff.). Four other pyramids, those of Teta, Pepi I, Merenrā and Pepi II contain the greatest part of it; as also does a stele of the XIIth Dynasty found in Abydos, and belonging to a man called Nehi. Hatshepsu had it copied on both sides of the chamber of offering specially dedicated to her ( Deir el Bahari , Vol. IV, pl. CIX-XIII and p. 8). In the pyramids as well as at the temple this text is connected with offerings. The representation in the temple may be considered as the vignette to this chapter. We see there the queen sitting before an altar of offerings called

(3) Here am I, as the Scribe; I bring the remains of Osiris; and the writing which I have made upon them is decreed by the great god to be good, daily, among the good. Thou hast decreed, Horus of the Two Horizons, that I shall be the author of Maāt and tend it daily to Rā

(587) 1587 To say: Greetings to thee, Atum. 1587 Greetings to thee, Khepri, who created himself. 1587 Thou art high, in this thy name of "." 1587 Thou comest into being, in thy name of "Khepri." 1588 Greetings to thee, eye of Horus, which he adorned with his two hands completely. 1588 He does not make thee hearken to the West; 1588 he does not make thee hearken to the East; 1588 he does not make thee hearken to the South; 1588 he does not make thee hearken to the North; 1588 he does not make thee hearken to those who are in the middle of the land; 1589 (but) thou harkenest to Horus. 1589 It is he who adorned thee; it is he who built thee; it is he who settled thee; 1590 thou doest for him everything which he says unto thee, in every place whither he goes. 1590 Thou carriest to him the fowl-bearing waters which are in thee; 1590 thou carriest to him the fowl-bearing waters which are to be in thee; 1591 thou carriest to him the gifts which are in thee; 1591 thou carriest to him every tree which is to be in thee; 1591 thou carriest to him the food which is in thee; 1591 thou carriest to him the food (in thee) which is to be in thee; 1592 thou carriest to him the gifts which are in thee; 1592 thou carriest to him the gifts which are to be in thee; 1592 thou carriest to him everything which is in thee; 1592 thou carriest to him everything which is to be in thee; 1592 thou carriest (it) to him to every place wherein his heart desires to be. 1593 The doors stand fast upon thee like Inmutef; 1593 they open not to the West; they open not to the East; 1593 they open not to the North; they open not to the South; 1593 they open not to those who are in the middle of the land; 1594 (but) they are open to Horus. It was, he who made them; it was he who made them stand fast; 1594 it was he who rescued them from every evil which Set did to them; 1595 it was he who settled thee, in this thy name of "Settlements" ("Colonies"); 1595 it was he who went, doing obeisance; after thee, in this thy name of "City"; 1595 it was he who rescued thee from every evil which Set did to thee. 1596 Go, go, Nut. 1596 Geb commanded that thou go, in thy name of "City." 1596 N. is Horus, who adorned his eye with his two hands completely. 1597 N. adorned thee with an adornment; 1597 N. settled for thee these his settlements; 1597 N. built thee (as) a city of N., 1597 that thou mayest do for N. every good thing which the heart of N. loves, 1597 that thou mayest do (it) for N., in every place where he goes. 1598 Thou shalt not hearken to the West; thou shalt not hearken to the East; 1598 thou shalt not hearken to the North; thou shalt not hearken to the South; 1598 thou shalt not hearken to those who are in the middle of the land; 1599 (but) thou shalt hearken to N.; it is N. who adorned thee; 1599 it is N. who built thee; it is he who settled thee. 1600 Thou doest for him everything which he says unto thee in every place whither N. goes. 1600 Thou carriest to him the fowl-bearing waters which are in thee; 1600 thou carriest to him the fowl-bearing waters which are to be in thee; 1601 thou carriest to him every tree which is in thee; 1601 thou carriest to him every tree which is to be in thee; 1601 thou carriest to him the food which is in thee; 1601 thou carriest to him all food which is to be in thee; 1602 thou carriest to N. the gifts which are in thee; 1602 thou carriest to N. the gifts which are to be in thee; 1602 thou carriest to him everything which is in thee; 1602 thou carriest (it) to N. to the place wherein the heart of N. desires to be. 1603 The doors stand fast upon thee like Inmutef; 1603 they open not to the West; they open not to the East; 1603 they open not to the North; they open not to the South; 1603 they open not to those who are in the middle of the land; 1604 (but) [they are open to] N. 1604 It was he who made them; it was he who made them fast; 1604 it was he who rescued them from all the evil which men did to them; 1605 it was N. who [settled thee], in this thy name of "Settlements" ("Colonies"); 1605 it was N. who went, doing obeisance, after thee, in this thy name of "City"; 1605 it was N. who rescued thee from all the [evil which men did] to thee. 1606 Hearken to N. alone; it is N. who made thee. 1606 Thou shalt not hearken to the malefactor. 40. TEXTS OF MISCELLANEOUS CONTENTS,

(1) Oh mighty one, who seest thy father, and who hast charge of the Book of Thoth

(19) The nineteenth pylon: she who directs the morning light in her time, and observes the midday heat, the lady of the books written by Thoth himself. She will prepare the enwrapping of the dead

(601) 1660 To say: O Great Ennead, who are in Heliopolis, make N. endure; 1660 make this pyramid of N. endure, and this his temple, for ever and ever, 1660 as the name of Atum, chief of the Great Ennead, endures. 1661 As the name of Shu, lord of the upper mn.t in Heliopolis, endures, 1661 so may the name of N. endure, 1661 so may this his pyramid endure, and this his temple, likewise, for ever and ever. 1662 As the name of Tefnut, lady of the lower mn.t in Heliopolis, is established, 1662 so may the name of N. be established, 1662 so may this pyramid be established, likewise, for ever and ever. 1663 As the name of Geb, even the soul of the earth, endures, 1663 so may the name of N. endure, 1663 so may this pyramid of N. endure, 1663 so may this his temple endure, likewise, even for ever and ever. 1664 As the name of Nut, in the encircled mansion in Heliopolis, endures, 1664 so may the name of N. endure, 1664 so may this his pyramid endure, 1664 so may this his temple endure, likewise, for ever and ever. 1665 As the name of Osiris, in Abydos, endures, 1665 so may the name of N. endure, 1665 so may this pyramid of N. endure, 1665 so may this his temple endure, likewise, even for ever and ever. 1666 As the name of Osiris, as First of the Westerners, endures, 1666 so may the name of N. endure, 1666 so may this pyramid of N. endure, 1666 so may this his temple endure, likewise, for ever and ever. 1667 As the name of Set, in Ombos, endures, 1667 so may the name of N. endure, 1667 so may this pyramid of N. endure, 1667 so may this his temple endure, likewise, for ever and ever. 1668 As the name of Horus endures, in Buto, 1668 so may the name of N. endure, 1668 so may this pyramid of N. endure, 1668 so may this his temple endure, likewise, for ever and ever. 1669 As the name of R`, on the horizon, endures, 1669 so may the name of N. endure, 1669 so may this pyramid of N. endure, 1669 so may this his temple endure, likewise, for ever and ever. 1670 As the name of Mnti-'irti, of Letopolis, is established, 1670 so may the name of N. endure, 1670 so may this his pyramid endure, 1670 so may this temple of N. endure, likewise, for ever and ever. 1671 As the name of Wd.t, in Buto, endures, 1671 so may the name of N. endure, 1671 so may this pyramid of N. endure, 1671 so may this his temple endure, likewise, for ever and ever. 42. TEXTS OF MISCELLANEOUS CONTENTS,

(214) 136 O N., beware of the ocean (sea?). To say four times. 136 The messengers of thy ka are come for thee; the messengers of thy father are come for thee; the messengers of R` are come for thee. 137 Go after (pursue) thy sun (days); purify thyself, 137 (for) thy bones are (those of) female-falcons, goddesses, who are in heaven, 137 that thou mayest be at the side of the god; that thou mayest leave thy house to thy son 137 who is thine heir. Everyone who speaks, evil against the name of N., 138 when he ascends, Geb reckons him as an evil-doer in his own city, 138 so that he weakens, he falters. Thou purifiest thyself in the dew of the stars; 138 thou descendest on firm (copper?) cables, on the shoulders of Horus in his name of "He who is in the nw-boat." 139 The blessed dead (?) lament for thee (after) the imperishable stars bore thee (away). 139 Enter the abode of thy father, to the abode of Geb, 139 that he may give to thee that which is on the brow of Horus, that thou mayest be a ba thereby, that thou mayest be a m thereby, 139 that thou mayest be a nti-'imntiw thereby.

(606) 1683 To say: Arise for me, father; stand up for me, Osiris N. 1683 It is I; I am thy son; I am Horus. 1684 I have come to thee, that I may purify thee, that I may cleanse thee, 1684 that I may revivify thee, that I may assemble for thee thy bones, 1684 that I may collect for thee thy flesh, that I may assemble for thee thy dismembered limbs, 1685 for I am as Horus his avenger, I have smitten for thee him who smote thee; 1685 I have avenged thee, father Osiris N., on him who did thee evil. 1686 I have come to thee by order of rw; 1686 (for) he has appointed thee, father Osiris N., (to be) upon the throne of R`-Atum, 1686 that thou mayest lead the blessed dead(?). 1687 Thou shalt embark into the boat of R`, in which the gods love to ascend, 1687 in which the gods love to descend, in which R` is rowed to the horizon; 1687 N. shall embark into it, like R`. 1688 Thou shalt seat thyself upon this throne of R`, that thou mayest command the gods, 1688 for thou art indeed R`, who comes forth from Nut, who gives birth to R` every day. 1688 N. is born every day like R`. 1689 Take to thyself the heritage of thy father Geb before the corporation of the Ennead in Heliopolis. 1689 "Who is equal to him?", 1689 say the Two great and mighty Enneads who are at the head of the Souls of Heliopolis. 1690 These two great and mighty gods have appointed thee 1690 --those who are chiefs of the Marsh of Reeds--upon the throne of rw, 1690 as their eldest son; 1691 they placed Shu at thy left (east side), Tefnut at thy right (west side), 1691 Nun before thee (at thy south side), Nnt behind thee (at thy north side); 1692 they lead thee to these their places, beautiful and pure, 1692 which they made for R` when they placed him upon their thrones (his throne). 1693 N., they make thee live, 1693 so that thou mayest surpass the years of Horus of the horizon, 1693 when they make thy (for "his") name, "Withdraw not thyself from the gods." 1694 They recite for thee this chapter, which they recited for R`Atum who shines every day; 1694 they have appointed N. to their thrones (his throne) 1694 at the head of every Ennead, as R` and as his deputy. 1695 They cause N. to come into being as R`, in this, his name of "Khepri." 1695 Thou mountest to them as R`, in this his name of "R`"; 1695 thou turnest back again from their face as R`, in this his name of "Atum." 1696 The Two Enneads shall rejoice, O father; 1696 when thou approachest, O father, Osiris N., they say: 1696 "Our; brother is come to us." 1696 The Two Enneads say to Osiris N.: "King, Osiris N., 1697 one of us is come to us." 1697 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1698 the eldest son of his father is come to us." 1698 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1698 he is the eldest son of his mother." 1698 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1699 he to whom evil was done by his brother Set comes to us." 1699 The Two Enneads say: 1699 "And we shall not permit that Set be delivered from carrying thee for ever, king, Osiris N." 1699 The Two Enneads say to thee: "King, Osiris N., 1700. raise thyself up, king, Osiris N.; thou livest." 44. TEXTS OF MISCELLANEOUS CONTENTS,

(534) 1264 To say by Horus: May Geb make an offering. 1264 Be gone, flee (thou) whom Horus guards, whom Set protects; 1264 be gone, flee, (thou) whom Osiris guards, whom Hrti protects; 1265 be gone, flee, (thou) whom Isis guards, whom Nephthys protects; 1265 flee, chief, (thou) whom Mnti-'irti guards, whom Thot protects; 1265 be gone, flee (thou) whom the .tiw guard, whom the 'imi.w'iw.w protect. 1266 I have come; I have dedicated this house to N.; 1266 purer is this broad-hall than b.w; 12 66 at its door (or, entrance) is an obelisk; the door is double (i.e. with two leaves), and is sealed with two evil eyes. 1267 Let not Osiris come in this his evil coming; 1267 do not open to him thine arms. 1267 Let him be gone; let (him) go to Ndi.t; at once; let him be gone to `d. 1268 Let not Horus come in this his evil coming; 1268 do not open to him thine arms; that which is said to him is his name of Sp-'iri--s.w. 1268 Let him go to `np.t; at once; let him go to Ntr. 1269 Let not Set come in this his evil coming; 1269 do not open to him thine arms; that which is said to him is his name of s`. 1269 Let him go to dw.t; at once; let him go to n.t. 1270 If Mnti-'irti comes in this his evil coming; 1270 do not open to him thine arms; that which is said to him is his name of ns (driveller). 1270 Let him go to Ddnw-(him whom) they found in (the condition of) quaking; 1270 at once; let him go to m. 1271 If Thot comes in this his evil coming; 1271 do not open to him thine arms; that which is said to him is his name of "thou hast no mother." 1271 Let him go; let him be gone to his (?) two 'int.wi; let him go to Buto, to Hri-Dwti. 1272 If Isis comes in this her evil coming; 1272 do not open to her thine arms; that which is said to her is her name (of) "wide of w-t (evil-smelling)." 1272 Let her (lit. him) be gone; let her go to the houses of Mnw; 1272 at once; let her go to db.t, to the place where thou hast (she has) been struck. 1273 If Nephthys comes in this her evil coming; 1273 that which. is said to her is this her name of "substitute without vulva." 1273 Go thou to the house of eret, to the place where thou didst strike thy two `nn.twi (thighs?). 1274 If enemies come with those who are among the elders 1274 that which is said to them (lit. her) is this their (lit. her) name of Sp-s.w. 1274 Go to ---- tw.t. 1275 If N. comes with his ka; 1275 the mouth of his gods opens: "(If) he desires to descend to the [underworld, let him descend] 1275 to the place where there are gods." 1276 If N. comes with his ka, open thou thine arms to him; 1276 the mouth of his gods opens: "(If) he desires to ascend to heaven, let him ascend." 1277 I am come as judge; may Geb make offerings, and Atum. 1277 I consecrate this pyramid, this temple, to N. and to his ka; 1277 that which this pyramid, this temple, contains is for N. and for his ka; 1277 pure is this eye (pyramid enclosure) of Horus, 1278 O may it be pleasing to thee. He who puts his finger against this pyramid, this temple of N. and of his ka; 1278 he who will put his finger against the house of Horus in b.w, 1278 may Nephthys and Isis go against him -------- Geb. 1279 His case will be heard by the Ennead, 1279 he will be without support, his house will be without support; 1279 he is accursed; he is one who eats his (own) body. 27. TEXTS OF MISCELLANEOUS CONTENTS,

(68) The seventeenth chapter is one of the most remarkable in the whole collection, and it has been preserved from times previous to the XIIth dynasty. The very earliest monuments which have preserved it have handed it down accompanied with scholia and other commentaries interpolated into the text. Some of the monuments enable us to some extent to divide the original text from the additions, in consequence of the latter being written in red. But there is really only one text where the additions are suppressed, and which therefore offers the most ancient form, as far as we know it, of the chapter. This is the copy on the wall of the tomb of Horhotep. The sarcophagus itself of Horhotep contains a copy of the text along with the additions. The chapter must already at the time have been of the most venerable antiquity. Besides these two copies of the chapter we have those from the sarcophagi of Hora and Sit-Bastit (published, like those of Horhotep, by M. Maspero [24] ), two from the sarcophagi of Mentuhotep, and one from that of Sebek-āa (the three latter published by Lepsius in his Aelteste Texte ). The British Museum has Sir Gardner Wilkinson’s copy of the texts inscribed on the coffin of Queen Mentuhotep of the XIth dynasty, and also a fragment (6636 a) of the coffin of a prince named Hornefru. Here then we have an abundance of witnesses of the best period. They unfortunately do not agree. The progress of corruption had no doubt begun long before, and the variants are not simply differences of orthography but positively different readings. The differences however are chiefly in the scholia. Even when the explanations of the text are identical, the form differs. The latest recensions have retained the form ; the ancient added the feminine . What is that? But some of the ancient texts give the equivalent words , and Horhotep does without them altogether. These words were evidently additions not merely to the text but to the scholia