The Adventures Of Sanehat

The hereditary prince, royal seal-bearer, confidential friend, judge,
keeper of the gate of the foreigners, true and beloved royal acquaintance,
the royal follower Sanehat says:

I attended my lord as a follower of the King, of the house of the
hereditary princess, the greatly favored, the royal wife,
Ankhet-Usertesen, who shares the dwelling of the royal son Amenemhat in
Kanefer.

In the thirtieth year, the month Paophi, the seventh day the god entered
his horizon, the King Sehotepabra flew up to heaven and joined the sun’s
disk, the follower of the god met his maker. The palace was silenced, and
in mourning, the great gates were closed, the courtiers crouching on the
ground, the people in hushed mourning.

His Majesty had sent a great army with the nobles to the land of the
Temehu (Lybia), his son and heir, the good god King Usertesen as their
leader. Now he was returning, and had brought away living captives and all
kinds of cattle without end. The councillors of the palace had sent to the
West to let the King know the matter that had come to pass in the inner
hall. The messenger was to meet him on the road, and reach him at the time
of evening: the matter was urgent. “A hawk had soared with his followers.”
Thus said he, not to let the army know of it. Even if the royal sons who
commanded in that army send a message, he was not to speak to a single one
of them. But I was standing near, and heard his voice while he was
speaking. I fled far away, my heart beating, my arms failing, trembling
had fallen on all my limbs. I turned about in running to seek a place to
hide me, and I threw myself between two bushes, to wait while they should
pass by. Then I turned me toward the south, not from wishing to come into
this place—for I knew not if war was declared—nor even thinking a wish to
live after this sovereign, I turned my back to the sycamore, I reached
Shi-Seneferu, and rested on the open field. In the morning I went on and
overtook a man, who passed by the edge of the road. He asked of me mercy,
for he feared me. By the evening I drew near to Kher-ahau (? old Cairo),
and I crossed the river on a raft without a rudder. Carried over by the
west wind, I passed over to the east to the quarries of Aku and the land
of the goddess Herit, mistress of the red mountain (Gebel Ahmar). Then I
fled on foot, northward, and reached the walls of the prince, built to
repel the Sati. I crouched in a bush for fear of being seen by the guards,
changed each day, who watch on the top of the fortress. I took my way by
night, and at the lighting of the day I reached Peten, and turned me
toward the valley of Kemur. Then thirst hasted me on; I dried up, and my
throat narrowed, and I said, “This is the taste of death.” When I lifted
up my heart and gathered strength, I heard a voice and the lowing of
cattle. I saw men of the Sati, and one of them—a friend unto Egypt—knew
me. Behold he gave me water and boiled me milk, and I went with him to his
camp; they did me good, and one tribe passed me on to another. I passed on
to Sun, and reached the land of Adim (Edom).

When I had dwelt there half a year Amu-an-shi—who is the Prince of the
Upper Tenu—sent for me and said: “Dwell thou with me that thou mayest hear
the speech of Egypt.” He said thus for that he knew of my excellence, and
had heard tell of my worth, for men of Egypt who were there with him bore
witness of me. Behold he said to me: “For what cause hast thou come
hither? Has a matter come to pass in the palace? Has the King of the two
lands, Sehetepabra, gone to heaven? That which has happened about this is
not known.” But I answered with concealment, and said: “When I came from
the land of the Tamahu, and my desires were there changed in me, if I fled
away it was not by reason of remorse that I took the way of a fugitive; I
have not failed in my duty, my mouth has not said any bitter words, I have
not heard any evil counsel, my name has not come into the mouth of a
magistrate. I know not by what I have been led into this land.” And
Amu-an-shi said: “This is by the will of the god (King of Egypt); for what
is a land like if it know not that excellent god, of whom the dread is
upon the lands of strangers, as they dread Sekhet in a year of
pestilence?” I spake to him, and replied: “Forgive me; his son now enters
the palace, and has received the heritage of his father. He is a god who
has none like him, and there is none before him. He is a master of wisdom,
prudent in his designs, excellent in his decrees, with good-will to him
who goes or who comes; he subdued the land of strangers while his father
yet lived in his palace, and he rendered account of that which his father
destined him to perform. He is a brave man, who verily strikes with his
sword; a valiant one, who has not his equal; he springs upon the
barbarians, and throws himself on the spoilers; he breaks the horns and
weakens the hands, and those whom he smites cannot raise the buckler. He
is fearless, and dashes the heads, and none can stand before him. He is
swift of foot, to destroy him who flies; and none who flees from him
reaches his home. His heart is strong in his time; he is a lion who
strikes with the claw, and never has he turned his back. His heart is
closed to pity; and when he sees multitudes, he leaves none to live behind
him. He is a valiant one who springs in front when he sees resistance; he
is a warrior who rejoices when he flies on the barbarians. He seizes the
buckler, he rushes forward, he never needs to strike again, he slays and
none can turn his lance; and when he takes the bow the barbarians flee
from his arms like dogs; for the great goddess has given to him to strike
those who know her not; and if he reaches forth he spares none, and leaves
naught behind. He is a friend of great sweetness, who knows how to gain
love; his land loves him more than itself, and rejoices in him more than
in its own god; men and women run to his call. A king, he has ruled from
his birth; he, from his birth, has increased births, a sole being, a
divine essence, by whom this land rejoices to be governed. He enlarges the
borders of the South; but he covets not the lands of the North: he does
not smite the Sati, nor crush the Nemau-shau. If he descends here, let him
know thy name, by the homage which thou wilt pay to his majesty. For he
refuses not to bless the land which obeys him.”

And he replied to me: “Egypt is indeed happy and well settled; behold thou
art far from it, but whilst thou art with me I will do good unto thee.”
And he placed me before his children, he married his eldest daughter to
me, and gave me the choice of all his land, even among the best of that
which he had on the border of the next land. It is a goodly land, Iaa is
its name. There are figs and grapes; there is wine commoner than water;
abundant is the honey, many are its olives; and all fruits are upon its
trees: there are barley and wheat, and cattle of kinds without end. This
was truly a great thing that he granted me, when the prince came to invest
me, and establish me as prince of a tribe in the best of his land. I had
my continual portion of bread and of wine each day, of cooked meat, of
roasted fowl, as well as the wild game which I took, or which was brought
to me, beside what my dogs captured. They made me much butter, and
prepared milk of all kinds. I passed many years, the children that I had
became great, each ruling his tribe. When a messenger went or came to the
palace, he turned aside from the way to come to me; for I helped every
man. I gave water to the thirsty, I set on his way him who went astray,
and I rescued the robbed. The Sati who went far, to strike and turn back
the princes of other lands, I ordained their goings; for the Prince of the
Tenu for many years appointed me to be general of his soldiers. In every
land which I attacked I played the champion, I took the cattle, I led away
the vassals, I carried off the slaves, I slew the people, by my sword, my
bow, my marches and my good devices. I was excellent to the heart of my
prince; he loved me when he knew my power, and set me over his children
when he saw the strength of my arms.

A champion of the Tenu came to defy me in my tent: a bold man without
equal, for he had vanquished the whole country. He said, “Let Sanehat
fight with me”; for he desired to overthrow me; he thought to take my
cattle for his tribe. The prince counselled with me. I said: “I know him
not. I certainly am not of his degree, I hold me far from his place. Have
I ever opened his door, or leaped over his fence? It is some envious
jealousy from seeing me; does he think that I am like some steer among the
cows, whom the bull overthrows? If this is a wretch who thinks to enrich
himself at my cost, not a Bedawi and a Bedawi fit for fight, then let us
put the matter to judgment. Verily a true bull loves battle, but a
vainglorious bull turns his back for fear of contest; if he has a heart
for combat, let him speak what he pleases. Will God forget what he has
ordained, and how shall that be known?” I lay down; and when I had rested
I strung my bow, I made ready my arrows, I loosened my poniard, I
furbished my arms. At dawn the land of the Tenu came together; it had
gathered its tribes and called all the neighboring people, it spake of
nothing but the fight. Each heart burnt for me, men and women crying out;
for each heart was troubled for me, and they said: “Is there another
strong one who would fight with him? Behold the adversary has a buckler, a
battle-axe, and an armful of javelins.” Then I drew him to the attack; I
turned aside his arrows, and they struck the ground in vain. One drew near
to the other, and he fell on me, and then I shot him. My arrow fastened in
his neck, he cried out, and fell on his face: I drove his lance into him,
and raised my shout of victory on his back. While all the men of the land
rejoiced, I, and his vassals whom he had oppressed, gave thanks unto
Mentu. This prince, Amu-an-shi, embraced me. Then I carried off his goods
and took his cattle, that which he had wished to do to me, I did even so
unto him; I seized that which was in his tent, I spoiled his dwelling. As
time went on I increased the richness of my treasures and the number of my
cattle.

Petition To The King Of Egypt

“Now behold what the god has done for me who trusted in him. Having once
fled away, yet now there is a witness of me in the palace. Once having
fled away, as a fugitive—now all in the palace give unto me a good name.
After that I had been dying of hunger, now I give bread to those around. I
had left my land naked, and now I am clothed in fine linen. After having
been a wanderer without followers, now I possess many serfs. My house is
fine, my land wide, my memory is established in the temple of all the
gods. And let this flight obtain thy forgiveness; that I may be appointed
in the palace; that I may see the place where my heart dwells. How great a
thing is it that my body should be embalmed in the land where I was born!
To return there is happiness. I have made offering to God to grant me this
thing. His heart suffers who has run away unto a strange land. Let him
hear the prayer of him who is afar off, that he may revisit the place of
his birth, and the place from which he removed.

“May the King of Egypt be gracious to me that I may live of his favor. And
I render my homage to the mistress of the land, who is in his palace; may
I hear the news of her children. Thus will my limbs grow young again. Now
old age comes, feebleness seizes me, my eyes are heavy, my arms are
feeble, my legs will not move, my heart is slow. Death draws nigh to me,
soon shall they lead me to the city of eternity. Let me follow the
mistress of all (the queen, his former mistress); lo! let her tell me the
excellencies of her children; may she bring eternity to me.”

Then the majesty of King Kheper-ka-ra, the blessed, spake upon this my
desire that I had made to him. His Majesty sent unto me with presents from
the King, that he might enlarge the heart of his servant, like unto the
province of any strange land; and the royal sons who are in the palace
addressed themselves unto me.

Copy of the Decree Which Was Brought, To Me Who Speak To You, To Lead Me
Back Into Egypt

“The Horus, life of births, lord of the crowns, life of births, King of
Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheper-ka-ra, son of the Sun, Amen-em-hat, ever
living unto eternity. Order for the follower Sanehat. Behold this order of
the King is sent to thee to instruct thee of his will.

“Now, although thou hast gone through strange lands from Adim to Tenu, and
passed from one country to another at the wish of thy heart—behold, what
hast thou done, or what has been done against thee, that is amiss?
Moreover, thou reviledst not; but if thy word was denied, thou didst not
speak again in the assembly of the nobles, even if thou wast desired. Now,
therefore, that thou hast thought on this matter which has come to thy
mind, let thy heart not change again; for this thy Heaven (queen), who is
in the palace is fixed, she is flourishing, she is enjoying the best in
the kingdom of the land, and her children are in the chambers of the
palace.

“Leave all the riches that thou hast, and that are with thee, altogether.
When thou shalt come into Egypt behold the palace, and when thou shalt
enter the palace, bow thy face to the ground before the Great House; thou
shalt be chief among the companions. And day by day behold thou growest
old; thy vigor is lost, and thou thinkest on the day of burial. Thou shalt
see thyself come to the blessed state, they shall give thee the bandages
from the hand of Tait, the night of applying the oil of embalming. They
shall follow thy funeral, and visit the tomb on the day of burial, which
shall be in a gilded case, the head painted with blue, a canopy of cypress
wood above thee, and oxen shall draw thee, the singers going before thee,
and they shall dance the funeral dance. The weepers crouching at the door
of thy tomb shall cry aloud the prayers for offerings: they shall slay
victims for thee at the door of thy pit; and thy pyramid shall be carved
in white stone, in the company of the royal children. Thus thou shalt not
die in a strange land, nor be buried by the Amu; thou shalt not be laid in
a sheepskin when thou art buried; all people shall beat the earth, and
lament on thy body when thou goest to the tomb.”

When this order came to me, I was in the midst of my tribe. When it was
read unto me, I threw me on the dust, I threw dust in my hair; I went
around my tent rejoicing and saying: “How may it be that such a thing is
done to the servant, who with a rebellious heart has fled to strange
lands? Now with an excellent deliverance, and mercy delivering me from
death, thou shalt cause me to end my days in the palace.”

Copy Of The Answer To This Order

“The follower Sanehat says: In excellent peace above everything consider
of this flight that he made here in his ignorance; Thou, the Good God,
Lord of both Lands, Loved of Rā, Favorite of Mentu, the Lord of Thebes,
and of Amen, lord of thrones of the lands, of Sebek, Rā, Horus, Hathor,
Atmu, and of his fellow-gods, of Sopdu, Neferbiu, Samsetu, Horus, lord of
the east, and of the royal uræus which rules on thy head, of the chief
gods of the waters, of Min, Horus of the desert, Urrit, mistress of Punt,
Nut, Harnekht, Rā, all the gods of the land of Egypt, and of the isles of
the sea. May they give life and peace to thy nostril, may they load thee
with their gifts, may they give to thee eternity without end,
everlastingness without bound. May the fear of thee be doubled in the
lands of the deserts. Mayest thou subdue the circuit of the sun’s disk.
This is the prayer to his master of the humble servant who is saved from a
foreign land.

“O wise King, the wise words which are pronounced in the wisdom of the
majesty of the sovereign, thy humble servant fears to tell. It is a great
thing to repeat. O great God, like unto Rā in fulfilling that to which he
has set his hand, what am I that he should take thought for me? Am I among
those whom he regards, and for whom he arranges? Thy majesty is as Horus,
and the strength of thy arms extends to all lands.

“Then let his Majesty bring Maki of Adma, Kenti-au-ush of Khenti-keshu,
and Tenus from the two lands of the Fen-khu; these are the princes who
bear witness of me as to all that has passed, out of love for thyself.
Does not Tenu believe that it belongs to thee like thy dogs? Behold this
flight that I have made: I did not have it in my heart; it was like the
leading of a dream, as a man of Adehi (Delta) sees himself in Abu
(Elephantine), as a man of the plain of Egypt who sees himself in the
deserts. There was no fear, there was no hastening after me, I did not
listen to an evil plot, my name was not heard in the mouth of the
magistrate; but my limbs went, my feet wandered, my heart drew me; my god
commanded this flight, and drew me on; but I am not stiff-necked. Does a
man fear when he sees his own land? Rā spread thy fear over the land, thy
terrors in every strange land. Behold me now in the palace, behold me in
this place; and lo! thou art he who is over all the horizon; the sun rises
at thy pleasure, the water in the rivers is drunk at thy will, the wind in
heaven is breathed at thy saying.

“I who speak to thee shall leave my goods to the generations to follow in
this land. And as to this messenger who is come even let thy majesty do as
pleaseth him, for one lives by the breath that thou givest. O thou who art
beloved of Rā, of Horus, and of Hathor; Mentu, lord of Thebes, desires
that thy august nostril should live forever.”

I made a feast in Iaa, to pass over my goods to my children. My eldest son
was leading my tribe, all my goods passed to him, and I gave him my corn
and all my cattle, my fruit, and all my pleasant trees. When I had taken
my road to the south, and arrived at the roads of Horus, the officer who
was over the garrison sent a messenger to the palace to give notice. His
Majesty sent the good overseer of the peasants of the King’s domains, and
boats laden with presents from the King for the Sati who had come to
conduct me to the roads of Horus. I spoke to each one by his name, and I
gave the presents to each as was intended. I received and I returned the
salutation, and I continued thus until I reached the city of Thetu.

When the land was brightened, and the new day began, four men came with a
summons for me; and the four men went to lead me to the palace. I saluted
with both my hands on the ground; the royal children stood at the
courtyard to conduct me: the courtiers who were to lead me to the hall
brought me on the way to the royal chamber.

I found his Majesty on the great throne in the hall of pale gold. Then I
threw myself on my belly; this god, in whose presence I was, knew me not.
He questioned me graciously, but I was as one seized with blindness, my
spirit fainted, my limbs failed, my heart was no longer in my bosom, and I
knew the difference between life and death. His Majesty said to one of the
companions, “Lift him up, let him speak to me.” And his Majesty said,
“Behold thou hast come, thou hast trodden the deserts, thou hast played
the wanderer. Decay falls on thee, old age has reached thee; it is no
small thing that thy body should be embalmed, that the Pedtiu shall not
bury thee. Do not, do not, be silent and speechless; tell thy name; is it
fear that prevents thee?” I answered in reply, “I fear, what is it that my
lord has said that I should answer it? I have not called on me the hand of
God, but it is terror in my body, like that which brings sudden death. Now
behold I am before thee; thou art life; let thy Majesty do what pleaseth
him.”

The royal children were brought in, and his Majesty said to the Queen,
“Behold thou Sanehat has come as an Amu, whom the Sati have produced.”

She cried aloud, and the royal children spake with one voice, saying,
before his Majesty, “Verily it is not so, O King, my lord.” Said his
Majesty, “It is verily he.” Then they brought their collars, and their
wands, and their sistra in their hands, and displayed them before his
Majesty; and they sang—


“May thy hands prosper, O King;
May the ornaments of the Lady of Heaven continue.
May the Goddess Nub give life to thy nostril;
May the mistress of the stars favor thee, when thou sailest south
and north.
All wisdom is in the mouth of thy Majesty;
Thy uræus is on thy forehead, thou drivest away the miserable.
Thou art pacified, O Ra, lord of the lands;
They call on thee as on the mistress of all.
Strong is thy horn,
Thou lettest fly thine arrow.
Grant the breath to him who is without it;
Grant good things to this traveller, Samehit the Pedti, born in
the land of Egypt,
Who fled away from fear of thee,
And fled this land from thy terrors.
Does not the face grow pale, of him who beholds thy countenance;
Does not the eye fear, which looks upon thee.”


Said his Majesty, “Let him not fear, let him be freed from terror. He
shall be a Royal Friend amongst the nobles; he shall be put within the
circle of the courtiers. Go ye to the chamber of praise to seek wealth for
him.”

When I went out from the palace, the royal children offered their hands to
me; we walked afterward to the Great Gates. I was placed in a house of a
king’s son, in which were delicate things, a place of coolness, fruits of
the granary, treasures of the White House, clothes of the King’s
guardrobe, frankincense, the finest perfumes of the King and the nobles
whom he loves, in every chamber. All the servitors were in their several
offices.

Years were removed from my limbs: I was shaved, and polled my locks of
hair; the foulness was cast to the desert with the garments of the
Nemau-sha. I clothed me in fine linen, and anointed myself with the fine
oil of Egypt; I laid me on a bed. I gave up the sand to those who lie on
it; the oil of wood to him who would anoint himself therewith. There was
given to me the mansion of a lord of serfs, which had belonged to a royal
friend. There many excellent things were in its buildings; all its wood
was renewed. There were brought to me portions from the palace, thrice and
four times each day; beside the gifts of the royal children, always
without ceasing. There was built for me a pyramid of stone among the
pyramids. The overseer of the architects measured its ground; the chief
treasurer wrote it; the sacred masons cut the well; the chief of the
laborers on the tombs brought the bricks; all things used to make a strong
building were there used. There were given to me peasants; there were made
for me a garden, and fields in it before my mansion, as is done for the
chief royal friend. My statue was inlaid with gold, its girdle of pale
gold; his majesty caused it to be made. Such is not done to a man of low
degree.

May I be in the favor of the King until the day shall come of my death!

(_This is finished from beginning to end, as was found in the writing_.)