The Story of Nefrekepta, from a Demotic Papyrus

by Gilbert Murray

Then the boy Merab, singing, from the shade
Of Pharaoh's awning stepped; one step he made,
And, lo, the River took him, and his face
Was covered and the will of Ra obeyed.

Then all about us cried with a great cry.
But Nefrekepta from his awning high
Called with a spell, and the dead boy rose up;
But over him that Power of God did lie.

Then Nefrekepta spake a written spell,
And the boy Merab told all that befell
About him; yea, the very words which Thoth
Spake at the throne of Ra he made him tell.

Then slow to Coptos we returned, and bore
The boy Merab to the embalmer's door;
And like a Prince he was embalmed and laid
On Coptos Hill with the great dead of yore.

And Nefrekepta said: 'My sister, come
Quick; let us row till all the road be foam,
Lest Pharaoh hear what hath befallen us,
And his heart faint because we come not home.'

We went on board, and northward rowed apace
One league from Coptos; and I saw the place
Where Merab died, and from the canopy
Stepped, and the River took me; and my face

Was covered and the will of Ra obeyed.
Then all upon the boat great mourning made,
But Nefrekepta from his awning high
Called, and I knew a spell upon me laid;

And I rose up, though o'er me still had hold
That Power of God. I rose and did unfold
All that befell me, yea, and every word
Which Thoth before Ra's throne had spoke I told.

Then slow to Coptos he returned and bore
Me, his dead sister, to the embalmer's door;
And like a Queen I was embalmed, and laid
Where Merab my dead child was laid before.

He went on board, and down the stream apace
Rowed one league north from Coptos, to the place
Where Merab died and I, Ahure, died;
And stood and communed with his heart a space: