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240 BC

THE PAPYRUS OF ANI

THE EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD

Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge

 

Part 64

  [THE CHAPTER OF] ENTERING INTO THE HALL OF MAATI TO PRAISE OSIRIS

KHENTI-AMENTI. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith:-

I have come unto thee. I have drawn nigh to behold thy beauties (thy

beneficient goodness). My hands are [extended] in adoration of thy

name of "Maat." I have come. I have drawn nigh unto [the place

where] the cedar-tree existeth not, where the acacia tree doth not put

forth shoots, and where the ground produceth neither grass nor

herbs. Now I have entered into the habitation which is hidden, and I

hold converse with Set. My protector advanced to me, covered was his

face.... on the hidden things. He entered into the house of Osiris, he

saw the hidden things which were therein. The Tchatchau Chiefs of

the Pylons were in the form of Spirits. The god Anpu spake unto

those about him with the words of a man who cometh from Ta-mera,

saying, "He knoweth our roads and our towns. I am reconciled unto him.

When I smell his odour it is even as the odour of one of you." And I

say unto him: I the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace, whose

word is truth, have come. I have drawn nigh to behold the Great

Gods. I would live upon the propitiatory offerings [made] to their

Doubles. I would live on the borders [of the territory of] the Soul,

the Lord of Tetu. He shall make me to come forth in the form of a Benu

bird, and to hold converse [with him.] I have been in the stream [to

purify myself]. I have made offerings of incense. I betook myself to

the Acacia Tree of the [divine] Children. I lived in Abu in the

House of the goddess Satet. I made to sink in the water the boat of

the enemies. I sailed over the lake [in the temple] in the Neshmet

Boat. I have looked upon the Sahu of Kamur. I have been in Tetu. I

have held my peace. I have made the god to be master of his legs. I

have been in the House of Teptuf. I have seen him, that is the

Governor of the Hall of the God. I have entered into the House of

Osiris and I have removed the head-coverings of him that is therein. I

have entered into Rasta, and I have seen the Hidden One who is

therein. I was hidden, but I found the boundary. I journeyed to

Nerutef, and he who was therein covered me with a garment. I have

myrrh of women, together with the shenu powder of living folk.

Verily he (Osiris) told me the things which concerned himself. I said:

Let thy weighing of me be even as we desire.

  And the Majesty of Anpu shall say unto me, "Knowest thou the name of

this door, and canst thou tell it?" And the Osiris the scribe Ani,

whose word is truth, in peace, whose word is truth, shall say,

"Khersek-Shu" is the name of this door. And the Majesty of the god

Anpu shall say unto me, "Knowest thou the name of the upper leaf,

and the name of the lower leaf?" [And the Osiris the scribe Ani] shall

say: "Neb-Maat-heri-retiu-f" is the name of the upper leaf and

"Neb-pehti-thesu-menment" [is the name of the lower leaf. And the

Majesty of the god Anpu shall say], "Pass on, for thou hast knowledge,

O Osiris the scribe, the assessor of the holy offerings of all the

gods of Thebes Ani, whose word is truth, the lord of loyal service [to

Osiris]."