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

urn xix. INSCRIPTION AT life AN 289

the divine benefactor, the lord of the south land, the radiant Hut-
Hor, a beautiful golden sparrow-hawk, he has spread out his wings
over Egypt, giving shade to the inhabitants in the protecting wall
of the strong and victorious. When he goes forth thence diffusing
terror, it is to (3) display his power for enlarging his boundaries.
The glittering brilliancy of colour has been granted to his body by
the victories of Mentu. He is the lord of the two crowns of Horus
and of Set. A shout of joy resounded in heaven on the day of his
birth. The gods (spake) thus : ' We have begotten him ;' (4) the
goddesses thus : ' He is born of us to govern the kingdom of Ra ;'
Amen thus : ' I am he who formed him, to put truth in its place.'
The land was set in order, the heaven quieted, the company of the
gods satisfied, through his piety. He is a mighty bull for the
miserable land of Cush, who pushes back (5) the conspirators from
the land of the negroes. His hoof crushes the Annu (the Cushites)
and his horn gores them. He has made himself master of the land
°f Nubia, and his terror, it has reached the land of Karu. His name
resounds in (6) all lands, because of the victories which his hands
have achieved. The gold appears on the mountains at his name, as
at the name of his father Horus, the lord of Baka, the well-beloved
m the land of the south, as at the name of Horus in the land of
Maama, the lord of Buhan (Boon). (7) Thus is King Ra-messu
Meri-Amen, the dispenser of life eternally and for ever, like his
father the everlasting Sun-god.

Then was the king in the city of Memphis to worship his
fathers, the gods, and the lords of South and North Egypt, that
they might grant him power and victory and a long duration of life
°f infinitely many (8) years. On one of these days it came to pass,
that the king sat there on his great throne of gold, attired with the
royal diadem, and with the ornament of the double plume, to con-
sult about the countries from which the gold is obtained, and to
consider the method and way of boring (9) wells on the roads, which
are accursed for want of water, since he had heard that there was
much gold existing in the land of Akita, but that the approach to
!t was accursed on account of the utter want of water. There were
taken some (10) gold-washers to the place where it was ; but those
who had gone thither had died of thirst on the road, together with
the asses which were with them. They could not find what was
required (11) for them to drink on their upward journey, unless it
happened that the rain fell from heaven. So could no gold be
obtained in this country, on account of the want of water.

Then spake the king to his nobleman, who stood beside him :
' Let the princes be called who are present. (12) I will take counsel
with them about this land, as to what measures should be taken.'