The Shipwrecked Sailor

The wise servant said: “Let thy heart be satisfied, O my lord, for that we
have come back to the country; after we have long been on board, and rowed
much, the prow has at last touched land. All the people rejoice, and
embrace us one after another. Moreover, we have come back in good health,
and not a man is lacking; although we have been to the ends of Wawat, and
gone through the land of Senmut, we have returned in peace, and our
land—behold, we have come back to it. Hear me, my lord; I have no other
refuge. Wash thee, and turn the water over thy fingers; then go and tell
the tale to the Majesty.”

His lord replied: “Thy heart continues still its wandering words! but
although the mouth of a man may save him, his words may also cover his
face with confusion. Wilt thou do then as thy heart moves thee? This that
thou wilt say, tell quietly.”

The sailor then answered: “Now I shall tell that which has happened to me,
to my very self. I was going to the mines of Pharaoh, and I went down on
the sea on a ship of 150 cubits long and forty cubits wide, with 150
sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seen heaven and earth, and whose
hearts were stronger than lions. They had said that the wind would not be
contrary, or that there would be none. But as we approached the land the
wind arose, and threw up waves eight cubits high. As for me, I seized a
piece of wood; but those who were in the vessel perished, without one
remaining. A wave threw me on an island, after that I had been three days
alone, without a companion beside my own heart. I laid me in a thicket,
and the shadow covered me. Then stretched I my limbs to try to find
something for my mouth. I found there figs and grapes, all manner of good
herbs, berries and grain, melons of all kinds, fishes and birds. Nothing
was lacking. And I satisfied myself; and left on the ground that which was
over, of what my arms had been filled withal. I dug a pit, I lighted a
fire, and I made a burnt-offering unto the gods.

“Suddenly I heard a noise as of thunder, which I thought to be that of a
wave of the sea. The trees shook, and the earth was moved. I uncovered my
face, and I saw that a serpent drew near. He was thirty cubits long, and
his beard greater than two cubits; his body was as overlaid with gold, and
his color as that of true lazuli. He coiled himself before me.

“Then he opened his mouth, while that I lay on my face before him, and he
said to me: ‘What has brought thee, what has brought thee, little one,
what has brought thee? If thou sayest not speedily what has brought thee
to this isle, I will make thee know thyself; as a flame thou shalt vanish,
if thou tellest me not something I had not heard, or which I knew not,
before thee.’

“Then he took me in his mouth and carried me to his resting-place, and
laid me down without any hurt. I was whole and sound, and nothing was gone
from me. Then he opened his mouth against me, while that I lay on my face
before him, and he said, ‘What has brought thee, what has brought thee,
little one, what has brought thee to this isle which is in the sea, and of
which the shores are in the midst of the waves?’

“Then I replied to him, and holding my arms low before him, I said to him:
‘I was embarked for the mines by the order of the majesty, in a ship; 150
cubits was its length, and the width of it forty cubits. It had 150
sailors of the best of Egypt, who had seen heaven and earth, and the
hearts of whom were stronger than lions. They said that the wind would not
be contrary, or that there would be none. Each of them exceeded his
companion in the prudence of his heart and the strength of his arm, and I
was not beneath any of them. A storm came upon us while we were on the
sea. Hardly could we reach to the shore when the wind waxed yet greater,
and the waves rose even eight cubits. As for me, I seized a piece of wood,
while those who were in the boat perished without one being left with me
for three days. Behold me now before thee, for I was brought to this isle
by a wave of the sea.’

“Then said he to me: ‘Fear not, fear not, little one, and make not thy
face sad. If thou hast come to me, it is God who has let thee live. For it
is he who has brought thee to this isle of the blest, where nothing is
lacking, and which is filled with all good things. See now, thou shalt
pass one month after another, until thou shalt be four months in this
isle. Then a ship shall come from thy land with sailors, and thou shalt
leave with them and go to thy country, and thou shalt die in thy town.’

“ ‘Converse is pleasing, and he who tastes of it passes over his misery. I
will therefore tell thee of that which is in this isle. I am here with my
brethren and my children around me; we are seventy-five serpents, children
and kindred; without naming a young girl who was brought unto me by
chance, and on whom the fire of heaven fell, and burnt her to ashes.

“ ‘As for thee if thou art strong, and if thy heart waits patiently, thou
shalt press thy infants to thy bosom and embrace thy wife. Thou shalt
return to thy house, which is full of all good things; thou shalt see thy
land, where thou shalt dwell in the midst of thy kindred.’

“Then I bowed, in my obeisance, and I touched the ground before him.
‘Behold now that which I have told thee before. I shall tell of thy
presence unto Pharaoh, I shall make him to know of thy greatness, and I
will bring to thee of the sacred oils and perfumes, and of incense of the
temples with which all gods are honored. I shall tell, moreover, of that
which I do now see (thanks to him), and there shall be rendered to thee
praises before the fulness of all the land. I shall slay asses for thee in
sacrifice, I shall pluck for thee the birds, and I shall bring for thee
ships full of all kinds of the treasures of Egypt, as is comely to do unto
a god, a friend of men in a far country, of which men know not.’

“Then he smiled at my speech, because of that which was in his heart, for
he said to me: ‘Thou art not rich in perfumes, for all that thou hast is
but common incense. As for me I am Prince of the land of Punt, and I have
perfumes. Only the oil which thou sayest thou wouldst bring is not common
in this isle. But, when thou shalt depart from this place, thou shalt
never more see this isle; it shall be changed into waves.’

“And, behold, when the ship drew near, according to all that he had told
me before, I got me up into an high tree, to strive to see those who were
within it. Then I came and told to him this matter; but it was already
known unto him before. Then he said to me: ‘Farewell, farewell; go to thy
house, little one, see again thy children, and let thy name be good in thy
town; these are my wishes for thee.’

“Then I bowed myself before him, and held my arms low before him, and he,
he gave me gifts of precious perfumes, of cassia, of sweet woods, of kohl,
of cypress, an abundance of incense, of ivory tusks, of baboons, of apes,
and all kinds of precious things. I embarked all in the ship which was
come, and, bowing myself, I prayed God for him.

“Then he said to me, ‘Behold thou shalt come to thy country in two months,
thou shalt press to thy bosom thy children, and thou shalt rest in thy
tomb.’ After this I went down to the shore unto the ship, and I called to
the sailors who were there. Then on the shore I rendered adoration to the
master of this isle and to those who dwelt therein.

“When we shall come, in our return, to the house of Pharaoh, in the second
month, according to all that the serpent has said, we shall approach unto
the palace. And I shall go in before Pharaoh, I shall bring the gifts
which I have brought from this isle into the country. Then he shall thank
me before the fulness of all the land. Grant them unto me a follower, and
lead me to the courtiers of the King. Cast thy eye upon me, after that I
am come to land again, after that I have both seen and proved this. Hear
my prayer, for it is good to listen to people. It was said unto me,
‘Become a wise man, and thou shalt come to honor,’ and behold I have
become such.”

This is finished from its beginning unto its end, even as it was found in
a writing. It is written by the scribe of cunning fingers Ameni-amen-aa;
may he live in life, wealth, and health!