Egyptian religious poetry

66 EGYPTIAN RELIGIOUS POETRY

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INCANTATION FOR OVERTHROWING APOPHIS, THE ENEMY OF RE

Down upon thy face, O Apophis, thou enemy of Ré. Retreat ! Back! O Enemy! Thou fiend without arms or legs, whose snout is split! Thou art fallen, thou art overthrown. RéHarakhti destroys thee, he damns thee, he drives hooks into thy body. Thou art overthrown by the flame, fire comes forth from it, the blaze comes forth against thee. The gods, guardians of the hidden gates, repel thee ; their lame comes forth against thee from the fire... Back! Retreat! Back from the flames which issue from their mouths.

O fallen one, wriggler, Apophis! © retreater! Retire, O thou enemy of Ré! Those who are in the Boat have overthrown thee. Retreat! Retreat !

Cursed art thou! Destroyed art thou! Repelled art thou ! O, stumblings to thee! Turned back art thou and thy soul ! Thou art turned back, thy flesh is carried away, thou art struck, cutting and slaughter are made of thee, thy ears are cut off ; thy flesh is stripped from thy limbs ; thy soul, even thy shadow, are driven back ; thy name is destroyed ; thy magic is set at naught. Thou art destroyed, pierced, overthrown! Nevermore shalt thou come forth from thy cavern! An end to

thee, O Apophis ! [Arch., li, pp. 514 seq.]