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

270 RAMSES II. oh. xii.

the poem the peculiar cast of Egyptian thought is
clearly visible; subjoined is a translation of it:—

THE HEROIC POEM OP PENTAUR.

Beginning of the victory of King Ramses Meri-Amen—may he
live for ever !—which he obtained over the people of the Kheta, of
Naharain, of Malunna, of Pidasa, of the Dardani, over the people
of Masa, of Karkisha, of Qasuatan, of Qarqamish, of Kati, of
Anaugas, over the people of Akerith and Mushanath.

The youthful king with the bold hand has not his equal. His
arms are powerful, his heart is firm, his strength is like that of the
god of war, Mentu, in the midst [of the fight. He leads] his war-
riors to unknown peoples. He seizes his weapons, and is a wall [of
iron for his warriors], their shield in the day of battle. He seizes
his bow, and no one is equal to him. Mightier than a hundred

thousand united together goes he forwards.............

......His courage is firm like that of a bull which seizes [the

.......He has smitten] all peoples who had united themselves

together. ISTo man knows the thousands of men who fell down, nor
the hundreds of thousands that sank before his glance. Terrible is
he when his war-cry resounds; bolder than the whole world; [dread-
ful] as the grim lion in the valley of the gazelles. His command
[will be performed. No opponent dares] to speak against him
Wise is his counsel. Complete are his decisions, when he wears the
royal crown Atef and declares his will, a protector of his people
[against unrighteousness]. His heart is like a mountain of iron
Such is King Ramses Meri-Amen.

After the king had armed his people and his chariots, and in

like manner the Shardonians, which were once his prisoners ....

then was the order given them for the battle. The king took

his way downwards, and his people and his chariots accompanied

him, and followed the best road on their march.

In the fifth year, on the ninth day of the month Payni, the fort-
ress of Khetam (Etham) of the land of Zar opened to the king

.....As if he had been the god of war, Mentu himself, the

whole world trembled [at his approach], and terror seized all enemies
who came near to bow themselves before the king. And his war-
riors passed by the path of the desert, and went on along the roads
of the north.

Many days after this the king was in the city of Ramses Meri-
Amen [which is situated in Zahi]. After the king had marched

upwards, he reached.....and arrived as far as Kadesh. Then

the king passed by in their sight like his father Mentu, the lord