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

Dm xxv. THE STELA OF PIANKPII 399

where the work is planned with reference to the river which sur-
rounds it on the East. At that part no assault is possible. The
cattle-layers are full of oxen. The treasury is provided with all
that is needful, of silver, gold, bronze, woven stuffs, balsam, honey,
butter. I am advancing, I will give up their possessions to the
under-kings of the South country. I am (again) opening their
territories ; I will be (89) [their deliverer. Only wait during] the
days till my return.'

When he had mounted his horse—for he did not desire his
war-chariot—and when he had gone down the river through fear
of his Majesty, the earth grew light on (the next) morning very
early. Then his Majesty came to the city of Memphis, and he
landed on its north side, and he found the water reaching up to
the walls. The vessels came to land (90) at the harbour of Mem-
phis. Then his Majesty saw how strong the city was. The walls
were high, quite newly built, the battlements were formed strongly,
so that there was no means of assaulting it. Among the war-
riors of his Majesty every one spoke in conversation of all pos-
sible modes of attack, and every one said : ' Come now ! Let
us blockade (91) [the city.' Whereupon the king said :] ' The
soldiers must not make too many words about the passage to
it. We will raise the earth up to its wall; we will fasten wood-
works together ; we will set up masts; we will make a bridge
of the yard-arms, we will reach by help of them to all its parts
by means of the ladders and (92) [bridges] against its north side,
so as to raise up the earth to its wall. So shall we find a way
for our feet.

Then was his Majesty furious against them, like a panther. He
said : ' I swear, as truly as I love the Sun-god Ra, as truly as I
reverence my father Amen, I have found that all this happens
according to the will of Amen. But this comes from the fact that
the people say: (93) " [The king had an easy task] with the districts
of the South. They opened to him even from afar." They do not
regard Amen in their heart; they do not know that what he has
ordained must happen, in order that his presence may show itself,
and that his power may be manifest. I will come upon them like
a flood of water. What he commands me (94) [that shall happen].'

Then he ordered his ships and his warriors to advance, to fight
against the harbour of Memphis. They brought to him all the
vessels, all the barges, all the passenger-vessels and ships of burthen,
as many as there were of them. The landing took place at the
harbour of Memphis. The foremost landed at the houses [of the
port. (95) The inhabitants of it, great and] small, wept because
of all the army of his Majesty. Then came his Majesty in person,