He went on board that boat, and heaped it high
With sand, and pushed it from the shore. And I
Sate on the shore alone, and said: 'I wait
Here till he comes, and if he dies I die.'
He said: 'O Rowers, row me to the place
I wot of.' And the rowers rowed apace,
By day, by night, and ceased on the third day.
Then he took sand, and cast the sand a space
Before him, and the water rose on both
Sides, and the floor below did ooze and froth
With scorpion, asp, and worm to make men die,
One league before the treasure chest of Thoth.
And round the chest was coiled an endless Snake.
Then Nefrekepta took his charms, and spake
A spell on all that league of serpent things,
And down they sank, and slept, and could not wake.
Then o'er the league of asps he walked, and fought
With the endless Snake and slew it; but it caught
Life as it fell, and joined again and flew
To tear him; and again its death he wrought;
Then a third time it quickened, and again
He fought and smote the endless Snake in twain
The third time; and between the parts he cast
Fine sand; and it lay still, for ever slain.
And on he strode and found the caskets, rolled
Each within each; iron the outmost fold,
Then bronze; then cedar; then came ivory
And ebon; then the silver; then the gold.
He broke the gold, and kneeling on his knees
Read out the first of the two sorceries,
Enchanting all the earth, the clouds above,
The underworld, the mountains and the seas.
And everything that bird or worm might say,
Or mountain beast, he heard and knew that day,
And saw all fishes moving in the deep,
And God's power guiding each upon its way.
He read the second sorcery, and far
In heaven he saw the shining forth of Ra,
And all his Children round him, and the Moon
Uprising, and the shape of every Star.