Brugsch, Heinrich: Egypt under the pharaohs: a history derived entirely from the monuments (London, 1891)

200 INSCRIPTION ON THE SPHINX oh. ix.

The inscription on the Sphinx runs thus :—

Once upon a time he practised a spear-throwing for his pleasure
on the territory of the Memphite nome, in its southern and northern
extent, where he slung brazen bolts at the target, and hunted lions
in the valley of the gazelles. He rode in his two-horsed chariot,
and his horses were swifter than the wind. With him were two of
his attendants. No man knew them.

Then was the hour in which he granted rest to his servants.
He took advantage of it to present to Horemkhu, near the (temple
of) Sekar in the city of the dead, and to the goddess Eannu, an
offering of the seeds of the flowers on the heights [and to pray to
the great mother Isis, the lady of] the north wall and the lady of
the south wall, and to Sekhet of Xois, and to Set. For a great
enchantment rests on this place from the beginning of time, as far
as the districts of the lords of Babylon, the sacred road of the gods
to the western horizon of On-Heliopolis, because the form of the
Sphinx is a likeness of Kheper-Ba, the very great god who abides at
this place, the greatest of all spirits, the most venerable being who
rests upon it. To him the inhabitants of Memphis and of all towns
in his district raise their hands to pray before his countenance, and
to offer him rich sacrifices.

On one of these days it happened, when the king's son Tehuti-
mes had arrived on his journey about the time of mid-day, and had
stretched himself to rest in the shade of this great god, that sleep
overtook him.

He dreamt in his slumber at the moment when the sun was at
the zenith, and it seemed to him as though this great god spoke to
him with his own mouth, just as a father speaks to his son, address-
ing him thus :—

' Behold me, look at me, thou, my son Tehuti-mes. I am thy
father Horemkhu, Kheper, Ea, Tmu. The kingdom shall be given
to thee .... and thou shalt wear the white crown and the red
crown on the throne of the earth-god Seb, the youngest (among the
gods). The world shall be thine in its length and in its breadth, as
far as the light of the eye of the lord of the universe shines. Plenty
and riches shall be thine ; the best from the interior of the land,
and rich tributes from all nations ; long years shall be granted
thee as thy term of life. My countenance is gracious towards thee,
and my heart clings to thee ; [I will give thee] the best of all
things.

' The sand of the district in which I have my existence has
covered me up. Promise me that thou wilt do what I wish in my
heart; then shall I know whether thou art my son, my helper. Go
forward : let me be united to thee. I am . . . .'