Nicholson, Charles: Aegyptiaca (London, 1891)

144

NOTES ON HIERATIC PAPYRUS.

over the world. He is life, and man lives through
him ; he is father and mother of all creatures ; he
begets, and is not begotten ; he is the creator, and
not created, the creator of his own form and builder
of his own body—the universe; the maker of all
that was, and is, and is not yet ; the original framer
(weaver) of the world, of heaven and earth and the
depths. Re hung the heavens and founded the
earth ; he let water (or moisture) come forth, and
built the mountains. He is Being itself, the endur-
ing one, who increaseth and is never lessened, the
one who multiplies himself millionfold, the many-
formed. He is father of the gods ; gods come forth
from the word of his mouth ; the great Master, the
original potter who moulds man and gods. He is
the weaver of the universe on the loom of life.
Heaven rests on his head, and earth bears his feet;
heaven conceals his spirit, earth his form, and the
depth covers his mystery. God is merciful to his
worshippers ; he heareth him who calleth upon him,
and protecteth the weak from the strong ; he heareth
the cry of him bound in chains ; he guardeth the
humble against the haughty, and is judge between
the powerful and the miserable. God acknowledged
him who confesseth him, rewardeth him who serveth
him, and guardeth him who followeth him."

" Hail to thee, our lord of truth, Amnion ! whose
shrine is hidden, Lord of gods, Creator sailing in
thy boat (the sun), at whose command the gods
were made ; Turn, the maker of men, who supporteth
their works, who giveth them life, who knoweth
how one differeth from another, M'ho listeneth to the