Mike's World History - July 2003  
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Reading selection - Page 6
Egyptian hymn to the Nile.
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Praise to thee, O Nile, that issueth from the earth, and cometh to nourish Egypt. Of hidden nature, a darkness in the day time----.

That watereth the meadows, he that Rê hath created to nourish all cattle. That giveth drink to the desert places, which are far from water; it is his dew that falleth from heaven.

Beloved of Keb, director of the corn-god; that maketh to flourish every workshop of Ptah.

Lord of fish, that maketh the water-fowl to go upstream.----

That maketh barley and createth wheat, so that he may cause the temples to keep festivals.

If he be sluggish, the nostrils are stopped up, and all men are impoverished; the victuals of the gods are diminished, and millions of men perish.

If he be miserly the whole land is in terror and great and small lament.----Khnum hath fashioned him. When he riseth, the land is in exultation and every body is in joy. All jaws begin to laugh and every tooth is revealed.

He that bringeth victuals and is rich in food, that createth all that is good. The revered, sweet-smelling----. That createth herbage for the cattle, and giveth sacrifice to every god, be he in the underworld, in heaven, or upon earth----. That filleth the storehouses, and maketh wide the granaries, and giveth things to the poor.

All that is intelligible is: thy young folk and thy children shout for joy over thee, and men hail thee as king. Unchanging of laws, when he cometh forth in the presence of Upper and Lower Egypt. Men drink the water----.

He that was in sorrow is become glad, and every heart is joyful, Sobk, the child of Neith, laugheth, and the divine Ennead, that is in thee, is glorious.

Thou that vomitest forth, giving the fields to drink and making strong the people. He that maketh the one rich and loveth the other. He maketh no distinctions, and boundaries are not made for him.

Men begin to play to thee on the harp, and men sing to thee with the hand. Thy young folk and thy children shout for joy over thee, and deputations to thee are appointed.

He that cometh with splendid things and adorneth the earth! That causeth the ship to prosper before (?) men; that quickeneth the hearts in them that are with child; that would fain have there be a multitude of all kinds of cattle.

When the Nile floodeth, offering is made to thee, cattle are slaughtered for thee, a great oblation is made for thee. Birds are fattened for thee, antelopes are hunted for thee in the desert. Good is recompensed unto thee.

Offering is also made to every other god, even as is done for the Nile, with incense, oxen, cattle, and birds (upon?) the flame.

All ye men, extol the Nine Gods. and stand in awe of the might which his son, the Lord of All, hath displayed, even he that maketh green the Two River-banks. Thou art verdant, O Nile, thou are verdant. He that maketh man to live on his cattle, and his cattle on the meadow! Thou art verdant, thou art verdant; O Nile, thou art verdant.

The Hymn to the Nile, translated by A. Blackman, A. Erman, ed., The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians (New York, 1927), pp. 138-39, as reprinted in H. Carroll et al., The Development of Civilization (Glencoe, Ill., 1969), I, 10-11.

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Mike's World History
Edition July 2003
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These collected readings are part of the Galileo Library, created and published by Michael Presky in various pieces and formats from 1992 to 2002.
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