Translated by C. W. Goodwin, M.A.
This dirge or hymn, which is that alluded to by Herodotus,[509] is contained in one of the “Harris Papyri” (No. 500), the same from which I have already translated the “Story of the Doomed Prince.” The first line of the hymn ascribes it to the authorship of King Antuf, one of the Pharaohs of the eleventh dynasty. The papyrus itself is, however, of the time of Thothmes III, eighteenth dynasty, but that is no reason why all the texts in the MSS. should be of the latter date. The translation here given was printed by myself for the first time in the “Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archæology,” Vol. III, part 1, but the hieroglyphic text remains yet to be published. A fragment of another copy of this identical hymn is to be found in the “Monumens [pg 342] du Musée de Leide,” part iii, pl. 12, and from it several words which were wanting in the Harris papyrus have been restored.
Festal Dirge
1 (Wanting.)
2 The song of the house of King Antuf, deceased, which is (written) in front of
3 the player on the harp.[510]
All hail to the good Prince,
the worthy good (man),
the body is fated(?) to pass away,
the atoms[511]