Budge, Ernest A. Wallis: Some account of the collection of Egyptian antiquities in the possession of Lady Meux: of Theobalds Park, Waltham Cross (London, 1896)

STELE OF TA-HEBT.

127

" are favoured by thee, for I am one of those who
" venerated thee upon earth. Let me arrive at the
" land of eternity, let me attain unto the nome of
" everlastingness. Guide thou me, O Ra, and do
" thou give the sweet breath of life to me."

Following this petition is an address by
Ta-hebt to every priest, and scribe, and official,
entreating them when they pass along the way to her
tomb to make mention of her name so that it may be
proclaimed before the great god, the lord of the
underworld, "for," saith she, "the person whose
" name is mentioned liveth."

Of herself she then says, " My heart was right.
" I never put myself unduly forward; I gave bread
" to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, and clothes to
" the naked. My hand was open to all men. I
" honoured my father and loved my mother, I was
" affectionate to my brethren, and my heart was at
" one with my fellow-citizens. I kept the starving
" folk alive with provisions and clothes each year
" that the inundation of the Nile was low." Nor did
she confine her cares to the living, for she provided
for the ceremonies which were performed for the
benefit of those "whose souls had gone to heaven."
She had trodden the divine path from her earliest
childhood, and having rendered all praise and glory

s 2