Ancient Egyptian legends

								

into the river and was drowned.  When he fell, all the sailors on the
royal barge and all the people walking on the river-bank raised a
great cry, but they could not save him.  Nefer-ka-ptah came out of
the cabin and read a magical spell over the water, and the body of
Merab came to the surface and they brought it on board the royal
barge.  Then Nefer-ka-ptah read another spell, and so great was its
power that the dead child spoke and told Nefer-ka-ptah all that had
happened among the Gods, that Thoth was seeking vengeance, and that
Ra had granted him his desire upon the stealer of his Book.
Nefer-ka-ptah gave command, and the royal barge returned to Koptos,
that Merab might be buried there with the honour due to the son of a
prince.  When the funeral ceremonies were over, the royal barge
sailed down the river towards the Northern Land.  A joyful journey
was it no longer, for Merab was dead, and Ahura's heart was heavy on
account of the sorrow that was still to come, for the vengeance of
Thoth was not yet fulfilled.
They reached the place where Merab had fallen into the water, and
Ahura came out from under the shade of the awning, and she leaned
over the side of the barge, and the Power of Ra drew her so that she
fell into the river and was drowned.  When she fell, all the sailors
in the royal barge and all the people walking on the river-bank
raised a great cry, but they could not save her.  Nefer-ka-ptah came
out of the cabin and read a magical spell over the water, and the
body of Ahura came to the surface, and they brought it on board the
royal barge.  Then Nefer-ka-ptah read another spell, and so great was
its power that the dead woman spoke and told Nefer-ka-ptah all that
had happened among the Gods, that Thoth was still seeking vengeance,
and that Ra had granted him his desire upon the stealer of his Book.
Nefer-ka-ptah gave command and the royal barge returned to Koptos,
that Ahura might be buried there with the honour due to the daughter
of a king.  When the funeral ceremonies were over, the royal barge
sailed down the river towards the Northern Land.  A sorrowful journey
was it now, for Ahura and Merab were dead, and the vengeance of Thoth
was not yet fulfilled.
They reached the place where Ahura and Merab had fallen into the
water, and Nefer-ka-ptah felt the Power of Ra drawing him.  Though he
struggled against it he knew that it would conquer him.  He took a
piece of royal linen, fine and strong, and made it into a girdle, and
with it he bound the Book of Thoth firmly to his breast, for he was
resolved that Thoth should never have his Book again.
Then the Power drew him yet more strongly, and he came from under the
shade of the awning and threw himself into the river and was drowned.
When he fell, all the sailors of the royal barge and all the people
walking on the river-bank raised a great cry, but they could not save
him.  And when they looked for his body they could not find it.  So