‘He arose like unto Mentu, the god of war, and put speed to his horses, and urged on his steeds,—named “Triumph in Thebes,” and “Mut[50] is content.” None dared follow his headlong assault. He was alone and none other with him. And lo! he was encircled by the Khetan host; 2500 chariots were around him, and countless hosts cut off the way behind. On each chariot three men stood, and all were massed together man to man.’
The king now speaks:—
‘Not a prince, not a captain was by me. My chiefs and knights had failed. No man was there to take my part against the foe. O Amen, my father, I know thee; where art thou? Has ever a father forgotten his son? Thy precepts, thy will have I ever denied? has ought I have done been apart from thee? These hosts of the foe, what are they to thee! Amen can humble the imperious and proud. To thee I built temples and offered rich gifts. The wealth of the nations I laid at thy feet. Lo! I am alone, and none other is with me. I called on my soldiers, and none heard my cry. More to me is thy power than myriads of men—than thousand times thousand arrayed for the war. On thee, father Amen, on thee do I call!
‘In far-off Hermonthis my prayer was heard. He stood by my side. “Lo! I am come! Rameses Meri-amen,[51] thy prayer has been heard. I am more to thee than thousand times thousand. And the brave heart I love—my blessing is his. Nor can ought that I will of accomplishment fail.”
‘Then I rose up like Mentu and smote down the foe. A terror seized them and none dared fight. No man could shoot nor grasp the spear. Headlong they plunged into the stream like the crocodile. Still stood the King of Kheta to behold King Rameses, for—“He was alone, none other with him.” Once more did he attack with all his power, but I rushed upon them like a flame of fire and slew them where they stood. Each man cried unto his fellow, saying: “No mortal man is he who is against us. It is Set the mighty—‘tis the god of war. Whoso draws near him his hand drops, nor can he grasp the bow or spear.” I called upon my foot and horse: “Take heart—be firm—behold my victory.” I was alone, but Amen was beside me.’
The whole poem is too long to be given here, but we learn that when at length the terror-stricken forces rallied upon seeing the victory of the king and beholding the multitude of corpses, they approached with adulation and flattery, extolling the hero to the skies. No wonder that his reply is stern:—
‘The king spake and said: “O my captains and soldiers who have not fought! of what profit is all your devotion? Which of you has done his duty before his king? Who ever did for you what I did? and now have ye altogether failed me; none stood by to help me in the battle. Shame upon my horse and foot! shame more than words can say! As for my horses, they indeed were with me, and upheld me when I was alone amid the raging foe. Henceforth shall they eat food before me in my palace for ever.”’
Next day the battle was resumed with fury, and at the close the Kheta sued for peace, which Rameses, apparently, was glad enough to grant. Accepting their submission he returned to Egypt ‘joyful and glad at heart.’
