[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

make a lion follow him; and he knows the secrets of the habitation of the god Thoth, which Your Majesty has
desired to know so that you may design the chambers of your pyramid."
King Khufu said: "Go now and find this man for me, Hordadef."
The prince went down to the Nile, boarded a boat, and sailed southward until he reached the town called
Dedsnefru, where Dedi had his dwelling. He went ashore, and was carried in his chair of state towards the
magician, who was found lying at his door. When Dedi was awakened, the king's son saluted him and bade
him not to rise up because of his years. The prince said: "My royal father desires to honour you, and will
provide for you a tomb among your people."
Dedi blessed the prince and the king with thankfulness, and he said to Hordadef: "Greatness be thine; may
your Ka have victory over the powers of evil, and may your Khu follow the path which leads to Paradise."
Hordadef assisted Dedi to rise up, and took his arm to help him towards the ship. He sailed away with the
prince, and in another ship were his assistants and his magic books.
"Health and strength and plenty be thine," said Hordadef, when he again stood before his royal father King
Khufu. "I have come down stream with Dedi, the great magician."
His Majesty was well pleased, and said: "Let the man be brought into my presence."Dedi came and saluted
the king, who said: "Why have I not seen you before?"
"He that is called cometh," answered the old man; "you have sent for me and I am here."
"It is told," King Khufu said, "that you can restore the head that is taken from a live creature."
"I can indeed, Your Majesty," answered Dedi.
The king said: "Then let a prisoner be brought forth and decapitated."
"I would rather it were not a man," said Dedi; "I do not deal even with cattle in such a manner."
A duck was brought forth and its head was cut off, and the head was thrown to the right and the body to the
left. Dedi spoke magic words. Then the head and the body came together, and the duck rose up and quacked
loudly. The same was done with a goose.
King Khufu then caused a cow to be brought in, and its head was cut off. Dedi restored the animal to life
again, and caused it to follow him.
His Majesty then spoke to the magician and said: "It is told that you possess the secrets of the dwelling of the
god Thoth."
Dedi answered: "I do not possess them, but I know where they are concealed, and that is within a temple
chamber at Heliopolis. There the plans are kept in a box, but it is no insignificant person who shall bring
them to Your Majesty."
"I would fain know who will deliver them unto me," King Khufu said.
CHAPTER XI. Folk Tales of Fifty Centuries 79
 EGYPTIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
Dedi prophesied that three sons would be born to Rud-dedit, wife of the chief priest of Ra. The eldest would
become chief priest at Heliopolis and would
possess the plans. He and his brothers would one day sit upon the throne and rule over all the land.
King Khufu's heart was filled with gloom and alarm when he heard the prophetic words of the great magician.
Dedi then said: "What are your thoughts, O King? Behold your son will reign after you, and then his son. But
next one of these children will follow."
King Khufu was silent. Then he spoke and asked: "When shall these children be born?"
Dedi informed His Majesty, who said: "I will visit the temple of Ra at that time."
Dedi was honoured by His Majesty, and thereafterwards dwelt in the house of the Prince Hordadef. He was
given daily for his portion an ox, a thousand loaves of bread, a hundred jugs of beer, and a hundred bunches
of onions.
The day came when the sons of the woman Rud-dedit were to be born. Then the high priest of Ra, her
husband, prayed unto the goddess Isis and her sister Nepthys; to Meskhent, goddess of birth; and to the frog
goddess Hekt; and to the creator god Khnûmû, who gives the breath of life. These he entreated to have care
of the three babes who were to become three kings of Egypt, one after the other.
The deities heard him. Then came the goddesses as dancing girls, who went about the land, and the god
Khnûmû followed them as their burden bearer. When they reached the door of the high priest's dwelling they
danced before him. He entreated them to enter, and they did according to his desire, and shut themselves in
the room with the woman Rud-dedit.
Isis called the first child who was born Userkaf, and said: "Let no evil be done by him". The goddess
Meskhent prophesied that he would become King ofEgypt. Khnûmû, the creator god, gave the child strength.
The second babe was named Sahura by the goddess Isis. Meskhent prophesied that he also would become a
king. Khnûmû gave him his strength.
The third was called Kaka. Meskhent said: "He shall also be a king", and Khnûmû gave him strength.
Ere the dancing girls took their departure the high priest gave a measure of barley to their burden bearer, and
Khnûmû carried it away upon his shoulders.
They all went upon their way, and Isis said: "Now let us work a wonder on behalf of these children, so that
their father may know who hath sent us unto his house.
Royal crowns were fashioned and concealed in the measure of barley which had been given them. Then the
deities caused a great storm to arise, and in the midst of it they returned to the dwelling of the high priest, and
they put the barley in a cellar, and sealed it, saying they would return again and take it away.
It came to pass that after fourteen days Rud-dedit bade her servant to bring barley from the cellar so that beer
might be made.
The girl said: "There is none left save the measure which was given unto the dancing girls." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]