And Nefrekepta shut the Book, and then
Went to his boat and called the magic men:
'Row day, row night, and row me to the shore.'
So rowed they, and he reached the shore again.
And found me sitting by the sea to wait
His coming. Seven full days and nights I sate,
And ate nor drank, but waited, and was grown
Like them they bear to the embalmer's gate.
I said to him: 'My brother, let me see
The Book that wrought such pain on thee and me.'
He gave the Book into my hands, and slow
I read what there was writ of sorcery.
I laid upon the earth and sky my spell,
The underworld, the hills, the ocean swell;
And understood what tales the birds of heaven
And mountain beasts and deep-sea fishes tell.
Then did I read the second spell, and high
Above saw Ra enthronèd in the sky,
And all his Children; and I saw the Moon
And all the Stars in all their shapes go by.
And Nefrekepta bade them bring a roll
Of new papyrus, and wrote out the whole
Of those two charms, and melted it in wine,
And drank it. So the charm was in his soul.
Then sacrifice we made and gifts of worth
Heaped high in all the temples, and set forth
On Pharaoh's ship with singing and great joy,
One league, one league, from Coptos to the North.
But Thoth himself had seen our deed, and, ah,
His wrath was hot! Before the throne of Ra,
'Judgement!' he cried, 'Give judgement between me
And Nefrekepta, son of Merneb-Ptah,
Who broke into my treasure-house this day,
And slew my Snake and stole my Book away.'
And Ra said: 'Surely he is in thy hand,
O Thoth, both he and his, to spare or slay.'
And lo, a Power of God went forth, and fell
On all the river and lay invisible;
And Thoth said: 'Nefrekepta shall come home
No more, nor one of those that with him dwell.'