Page:Books on Egypt and Chaldaea, Vol. 32--Legends of the Gods.pdf/59

 with pain, and that he was weary of the children of men. He thought them a worthless remnant, and wished that more of them had been slain. The gods about him begged him to endure, and reminded him that his power was in proportion to his will. Rā was, however, unconsoled, and he complained that his limbs were weak for the first time in his life. Thereupon the god Nu told Shu to help Rā, and he ordered Nut to take the great god Rā on her back. Nut changed herself into, a cow, and with the help of Shu Rā got on her back. As soon as men saw that Rā was on the back of the Cow of Heaven, and was about to leave them, they became filled with fear and repentance, and cried out to Rā to remain with them and to slay all those who had blasphemed against him. But the Cow moved on her way, and carried Rā to Ḥet-Ȧḥet, , a town of the nome of Marcotis, where in later days the right leg of Osiris was said to be preserved. Meanwhile darkness covered the land. When day broke the men who had repented of their blasphemies appeared with their bows, and slew the enemies of Rā. At this result Rā was pleased, and he forgave those who had repented because of their righteous slaughter of his enemies. From this time onwards human sacrifices were offered up at the festivals of Rāa celebrated in this place, and at Heliopolis and in other parts of Egypt.

After these things Rā declared to Nut that he 