The Solemn Festal Dirge Of The Egyptians

FESTAL DIRGE

1 (Wanting.)

2 The song of the house of King Antuf, deceased, which is
(written) in front of

3 the player on the harp.(510)
All hail to the good Prince,
the worthy good (man),
the body is fated(?) to pass away,
the atoms(511)

4 remain, ever since the time of the ancestors.
The gods who were beforetime rest in their tombs, the
mummies

5 of the saints likewise are enwrapped in their tombs.
They who build houses, and they who have no houses, see!

6 what becomes of them.
I have heard the words of Imhotep(512) and Hartatef.(513)
It is said in their sayings,

7 After all, what is prosperity?
Their fenced walls are dilapidated.
Their houses are as that which has never existed.

8 No man comes from thence
who tells of their sayings,
who tells of their affairs,
who encourages our hearts.
Ye go

9 to the place whence they return not.(514)
Strengthen thy heart to forget how thou hast enjoyed thyself,
fulfil thy desire whilst thou livest.

10 Put oils upon thy head
clothe thyself with fine linen adorned with precious metals

11 with the _gifts_ of God
multiply thy good things,
yield to thy desire,
fulfil thy desire with thy good things

12 (whilst thou art) upon earth,
according to the dictation of thy heart.
The day will come to thee,
when one hears not the voice
when the one who is at rest hears not

13 their voices.(515)
Lamentations deliver not him who is in the tomb.(516)

14 Feast in tranquillity
seeing that there is no one who carries away his goods with him.
Yea, behold, none who goes thither comes back again.