AN OLD KINGDOM BOOK OF PROVERBS.
There is preserved in the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris, a papyrus roll, which was discovered at Thebes by M. Prisse, and is now distinguished by his name. It was first described in 1857 by M. Chabas. The papyrus dates from the beginning of the Middle Kingdom (Ca. 2100 B.C.), and belongs to the rather extensive didactic literature of the Egyptians. According to the Egyptian custom, the words of the book were put into the mouth of a sage of the olden time, Ptah-hotep by name, who was said to have lived in the time of King Assa of the Fifth Dynasty (Ca. 2600 B.C.). There is no reason for doubting the correctness of the tradition. Of course it is not to be supposed that all of the proverbs really go back to Ptah-hotep. The author is stated to have been 110 years old, and his book opens with a remarkable description of old age. It proceeds in a style which recalls the Proverbs of Solomon, the Greek didactic poems, and even the homely "Poor Richard." It inculcates obedience, diligence, patience, and other virtues belonging to an official or servant. The Papyrus Prisse also contains the Proverbs of Kagemni, vizier of King Snefru (Ca. 2900 B.C.) of the Fourth Dynasty.
Precepts of Ptah-Hotep.
The words of the Lord Prefect Ptah-Hotep, who lived in the reign of Assa, King of Northern and Southern Egypt, who liveth forever.
Thus saith the Lord Ptah-Hotep: O Lord Osiris, whose feet are upon the crocodiles!
A man waxeth old, his strength decayeth, he getteth in years, his youth fadeth away:
Day by day the heart of an old man fainteth and is troubled:
His eyes see not, his ears hear not, his power is lessened and abated: