Page:Books on Egypt and Chaldaea, Vol. 32--Legends of the Gods.pdf/154

 meaning of this? It meaneth that he united(?) himself with Nut. [Thus came into being]...... Then said the Majesty of this god, "I am departing from them (i.e., from men), and he must come after me who would see me;" thus came into being..... Then the Majesty of this god looked forth from its interior, saying, "Gather together [men for me], and make ready for me an abode for multitudes;" thus came into being...... And his Majesty (life, health, and strength be to him!) said, "Let a great field ( sekhet ) be produced ( ḥetep );" there­upon Sekhet-ḥetep came into being. [And the god said], "I will gather herbs ( âarāṭ ) therein;" thereupon Sekhet-ȧaru came into being. [And the god said], "I will make it to contain as dwellers things ( khet ) like stars of all sorts;" thereupon the stars ( ȧkhekha ) came into being. Then the goddess Nut trembled because of the height. And the Majesty of Rā said, "I decree that supports be to bear [the goddess up];" thereupon the props of heaven ( ḥeḥ ) came into being. And the Majesty of Rā said, "O my son Shu, I pray thee to set thyself under [my] daughter Nut, and guard thou for me the supports ( ḥeḥ ) of the millions ( ḥeḥ ) which are there, and which live in darkness. Take thou the goddess upon thy head, and act thou as nurse for her;" thereupon came into being [the custom] of a son nursing a daughter, and [the custom] of a father carrying a son upon his head.