A war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son—
Behold us!—Let my brother take the one,
And let the other take Ahure; so
Shall Pharaoh's race be great beneath the sun.'
And there I laughed; and Pharaoh laughed again,
And called the Steward of the King's domain:
'Steward, this night to Nefrekepta's house
The maid Ahure take and all her train;
And all things beautiful go with her there.'
Thus I to Nefrekepta's house did fare,
And Pharaoh sent wrought silver and fine gold,
And Pharaoh's servants stood about my chair.
And Nefrekepta took with me delight,
And feasted Pharaoh's servants; and that night
Was made our marriage, and we knew great joy,
And never, never, failed I in his sight;
For each his fellow loved exceedingly.
And when my time of bearing came to be
I bore the son who lieth in this tomb,
Merab; a name in the Kings' Book is he.
[The Book of Thoth]
And thus it fell, that of all things on earth
My brother Nefrekepta most of worth
Did hold the wisdom that in Books is writ.
The tablets of the House of Death and Birth,
And all that on the temple walls is said,
And all the lore of the Kings' Tombs he read,
And ever walked in Memphis on the Hill
Of Kings, and stored the wisdom of the dead.
Now one day was a high procession sent
To Ptah's great house; and Nefrekepta went
And walked therein; right slow he walked, and read
All that was writ on wall and pediment.
And, watching him, behold, an aged Priest
Laughed. And he said: 'God's mercy be increased!
Why laughest thou at me?' And he: 'I laugh
At no man, not the greatest nor the least;