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Translated
by E.A. Wallis Budge
DESCRIPTION
OF THE BEAST AM-MIT:
Her forepart
is like that of a crocodile, the middle of her body is like that of a
lion, her hind quarters are like those of a hippopotamus.
HERE BEGIN
THE PRAISES AND GLORIFYINGS OF COMING OUT FROM AND OF GOING INTO THE GLORIOUS
KHERT-NETER, WHICH IS IN THE BEAUTIFUL AMENTET, OF COMING FORTH BY DAY
IN ALL THE FORMS OF EXISTENCE WHICH IT MAY PLEASE THE DECEASED TO TAKE,
OF PLAYING AT DRAUGHTS, OF SITTING IN THE SEH HALL, AND OF APPEARING AS
A LIVING SOUL:
The Osiris
the scribe Ani saith after he hath arrived in his haven of rest- now it
is good for [a man] to recite [this work whilst he is] upon earth, for
then all the words of Tem come to pass-
"I am
the god Tem in rising. I am the Only One. I came into existence in Nu.
I am Ra who rose in the beginning, the ruler of this creation."
Who is
this?
"It
is Ra, when at the beginning he rose in the city of Hensu, crowned like
a king for his coronation. The Pillars of the god Shu were not as yet
created, when he was upon the steps of him that dwelleth in Khemenu. "I
am the Great God who created himself, even Nu, who made his names to become
the Company of the Gods as gods."
Who is
this?
"It
is Ra, the creator of the names of his limbs, which came into being in
the form of the gods who are in the train of Ra. "I am he who cannot
be repulsed among the gods."
Who is
this?
"It
is Temu, the dweller in his disk, but others say that it is Ra when he
riseth in the eastern horizon of the sky. "I am Yesterday, I know
To-day."
Who is
this?
"Yesterday
is Osiris, and To-day is Ra, when he shall destroy the enemies of Neb-er-tcher
(the lord to the uttermost limit), and when he shall establish as prince
and ruler his son Horus. "Others, however, say that To-day is Ra,
on the day when we commemorate the festival of the meeting of the dead
Osiris with his father Ra, and when the battle of the gods was fought,
in which Osiris, the Lord of Amentet, was the leader."
What is
this?
"It
is Amentet, [that is to say] the creation of the souls of the gods when
Osiris was leader in Set-Amentet. "Others, however, say that it is
the Amentet which Ra hath given unto me; when any god cometh he must rise
up and fight for it. "I know the god who dwelleth therein."
Who is
this?
"It
is Osiris. Others, however, say that his name is Ra, and that the god
who dwelleth in Amentet is the phallus of Ra, wherewith he had union with
himself. "I am the Benu bird which is in Anu. I am the keeper of
the volume of the book (the Tablet of Destiny) of the things which have
been made, and of the things which shall be made."
Who is
this?
"It
is Osiris. "Others, however, say that it is the dead body of Osiris,
and yet others say that it is the excrement of Osiris. The things which
have been made, and the things which shall be made [refer to] the dead
body of Osiris. Others again say that the things which have been made
are Eternity, and the things which shall be made are Everlastingness,
and that Eternity is the Day, and Everlastingness the Night. "I am
the god Menu in his coming forth; may his two plumes be set on my head
for me."
Who is
this?
"Menu
is Horis, the Advocate of his father [Osiris], and his coming forth means
his birth. The two plumes on his head are Isis and Nephthys, when these
goddesses go forth and set themselves thereon, and when they act as his
protectors, and when they provide that which his head lacketh. "Others,
however, say that the two plumes are the two exceedingly large uraei which
are upon the head of their father Tem, and there are yet others who say
that the two plumes which are upon the head of Menu are his two eyes.
"The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is true, the registrar of
all the offerings which are made to the gods, riseth up and cometh into
his city."
What is
this [city]?
"It
is the horizon of his father Tem. "I have made an end of my shortcomings,
and I have put away my faults."
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