  [From the Papyrus of Nu (British Museum No. 10,477, sheets 21 and 22).] The Chapter of bringing along a boat in the underworld. The chancellor-in-chief, Nu, triumphant, saith: “Hail, ye who bring along the boat over the evil back [of Apepi], grant that I may bring the boat along, and coil up [its] ropes in peace, in peace. Come, come, hasten, hasten, for I have come to see my father Osiris, the lord of the ansi garment, who hath gained the mastery with joy of heart. Hail, lord of the rain-storm, thou Male, thou Sailor! Hail, thou who dost sail over the evil back of Apep! Hail, thou that dost bind up heads and dost stablish the bones of the neck when thou comest forth from the knives. Hail, thou who art in charge of the hidden boat, who dost fetter Apep, grant that I may bring along the boat, and that I may coil up the ropes and that I may sail forth therein. This land is baleful, and the stars have overbalanced themselves and have fallen upon their faces therein, and they have not found anything which will help them to ascend again: their path is blocked by the tongue of Ra. Antebu [is] the guide of the two lands. Seb is stablished [through] their rudders. The power which openeth the Disk. The prince of the red beings, I am brought along like him that hath suffered shipwreck; grant that my Khu, my brother, may come to me, and that [I] may set out for the place whereof thou knowest.” “Tell me my name,” saith the wood whereat I would anchor; “Lord of the two lands who dwellest in the Shrine,” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Rudder; “Leg of Hapiu” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Rope; “Hair with which Anpu (Anubis) finisheth the work of my embalment” is thy name. “Tell us our name,” say the Oar-rests; “Pillars of the underworld” is your name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Hold; “Akar” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Mast; “He who bringeth back the great lady after she hath gone away” is thy name. [pg 082]“Tell me my name,” saith the Lower deck; “Standard of Ap-uat” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Upper post; “Throat of Mestha” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Sail; “Nut” is thy name. “Tell us our name,” say the Pieces of leather; “Ye who are made from the hide of the Mnevis Bull, which was burned by Suti,” is your name. “Tell us our name,” say the Paddles; “Fingers of Horus the first-born” is your name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Matchabet; “The hand of Isis, which wipeth away the blood from the Eye of Horus,” is thy name. “Tell us our names,” say the Planks which are in its hulk; “Mesthi, Hapi, Tuamautef, Qebh-sennuf, Haqau (i.e., he who leadeth away captive), Thet-em-aua (i.e., he who seizeth by violence), Maa-an-tef (i.e., he who seeth what the father bringeth), and Ari-nef-tchesef (i.e., he who made himself),” are your names. “Tell us our name,” say the Bows; “He who is at the head of his nomes” is your name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Hull; “Mert” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Rudder; “Aqa” (i.e., true one) is thy name, O thou who shinest from the water, hidden beam(?) is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Keel; “Thigh (or Leg) of Isis, which Ra cut off with the knife to bring blood into the Sektet boat,” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Sailor; “Traveller” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Wind by which thou art borne along; “The North Wind which cometh from Tem to the nostrils of Khenti-Amenti”60 is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the River, “if thou wouldst travel upon me;” “Those which can be seen,” is thy name. “Tell us our name,” say the River-Banks; “Destroyer of the god Au-a (i.e., he of the specious hand) in the water-house” is thy name. “Tell me my name,” saith the Ground, “if thou wouldst [pg 083] Then shall be recited before them these words: “Hail to you, O ye divine beings with splendid Kas, ye divine lords of things, who exist and who live forever, and [whose] double period of an illimitable number of years is eternity, I have made a way unto you, grant ye me food and sepulchral meals for my mouth, [and grant that] I may speak therewith, and that the goddess Isis [may give me] loaves and cakes in the presence of the great god. I know the great god before whose nostrils ye place tchefau food, and his name is Thekem; both when he maketh his way from the eastern horizon of heaven and when he journeyeth into the western horizon of heaven may his journey be my journey, and his going forth my going forth. Let me not be destroyed at the Mesqet chamber, and let not the devils gain dominion over my members. I have my cakes in the city of Pe, and I have my ale in the city of Tepu, and let the offerings [which are given unto you] be given unto me this day. Let my offerings be wheat and barley; let my offerings be anti unguent and linen garments; let my offerings be for life, strength, and health: let my offerings be a coming forth by day in any form whatsoever in which it may please me to appear in Sekhet-Aarru.” if this chapter be known [by the deceased] he shall come forth into sekhet-aarru, and bread, and wine, and cakes shall be given unto him at the altar of the great god, and fields, and an estate [sown] with wheat and barley, which the followers of horus shall reap for him. and he shall eat of that wheat and barley, and his limbs shall be nourished therewith, and his body shall be like unto the bodies of the gods, and he shall come forth into sekhet-aarru in any form whatsoever he pleaseth, and he shall appear therein regularly and continually. |
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