Egyptian religious poetry

74 EGYPTIAN RELIGIOUS POETRY

at the outcry of the Spirits, for this Great One who comes forth from the Duat. The Spirits of Buto lament for thee, they strike their flesh for thee, they smite their arms for thee, they tear their hair for thee, they bend their knees for thee. And they say to thee, “ O Osiris the King, if thou goest, thou shalt come ; if thou sleepest, thou shalt awake ; if thou diest, thou shalt live.” [p.T., Spr., 670]

19 Have they sacrificed thee? Do they say that thou hast died for them? He is not dead! He lives for ever! He is alive more than they, for he is the mystic one of sacrifice. He is their Chief, living and young for ever! [P.t., Spr., 670]

20

O Atum! The King has come to thee as an Imperishable Spirit, Master of the four-pillared Shrine. Thy son has come to thee, the King has come to thee. Pass then over the sky and meet in the darkness; rise again in the horizon, in the place of glory.

O Atum! Thy son has come to thee, the King has come to thee. Raise him up to thee, encircle him in thy embrace, for he is the son of thy body for ever. [p.t., Spr., 217]

21

Tue sky speaks, earth trembles, Geb moves, the Two Regions of God bellow. Plough! Smite the sacrifice before the King, who lives and endures, for he goes forth to heaven. He crosses the vault, alive and powerful. He passes the Lake of Hesu,