Part 2 (2/2)

And I, AHURE, far away must lie In Coptos; but my heart within doth cry For NEFREKEPTA, and our shadows come Waking and watch beside him sleeplessly.

_The Contest for the Book_

And thou, SETNE KHAMUAS, who dost look To take from us that which from THOTH we took, Where hast thou paid the price?--These twain and I, Our lives on earth were taken for this Book.

But SETNE said: 'AHURE, none the less, For all thy tale of old unhappiness, Yield me the Book at NEFREKEPTA'S head: I take it else by wrath and bitter stress.'

Then NEFREKEPTA from his marble bed Rose up: 'O thou to whom my wife hath said Words vainly wise, and thou hast hearkened not, How wilt thou win the Book beneath my head?

Think'st thou to take it from me by the wit Of a good scribe? Or wilt thou play for it Four games of draughts, the fifty points and two?'

And SETNE said: 'The draughts'; and down did sit.

Between them then the gaming board they drew For the first game of fifty points and two; And NEFREKEPTA won the game, and spake A spell, and with the board he ruled it true.

And SETNE ankle-deep into the floor Sank. And again they played, and as before Dead NEFREKEPTA won the second game; And SETNE sank up to the thighs and more.

Again they played; and NEFREKEPTA dead Won the third game; and SETNE to his head Sank, and the earth came close below his ears.

And SETNE lifted up his voice in dread:

'Brother, where art thou? Brother AN-HERRU, Bear word to PHARAOH of the deeds I do.

Pray PHARAOH the last amulets of PTAH Be sent me. Haste! Haste!'--Then the dead man drew

The board up close, and the fourth game began.

And AN-HERRU far off had heard, and ran, Ran unto PHARAOH'S throne and told his tale.

And PHARAOH said: 'To save a sinking man

Take the last amulets!' And AN-HERRU Flew with them to the dead man's gate, and flew Through all the windings, all the doors, and, lo, The game was playing still between those two.

He laid the amulets on SETNE'S head, And SETNE s.h.i.+vered in the earth, and said A great spell; then, upstriving from the ground, Reached out his arm, and caught the Book, and fled.

Light went before him, and behind great gloom Closed, and he heard AHURE for her doom Wailing: 'King Darkness, come! King Light, farewell!

Gone, gone, is the last comfort of the Tomb.'

But NEFREKEPTA on his marble bed Lay back and laughed: 'A little while,' he said, 'O Shadow of my Sister, and this man Shall come again. Therefore be comforted.

His dreams shall bring him back, before mine ire Kneeling, to do the worst of our desire, A fork upon his neck, a rod between His hands, and on his head a bowl of fire.'

_Ta-Buvue, and the Return of the Book_

But SETNE out into the light above Returned, and saw the light with a great love; And sealed the tomb, and stood at PHARAOH'S throne And told his doings and the end thereof.

And PHARAOH said to SETNE: 'These be vain Doings. Go back and give the dead again His book, as a wise man to a wise man, Now, lest thou give it some day with much pain.'

But SETNE hearkened not. By day and night He read the Book and took therein delight, And showed it at his feasts; and all his days Were sweet to SETNE and his breath was light.

'Twas joy to read, joy also when he made Mirth with his sons, joy when he rose and prayed In PTAH'S great Temple; till one day, behold, In PTAH'S great Temple, through the colonnade,

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