Page:The Mythology of All Races Vol 12 (Egyptian and Indo-Chinese).djvu/94



HE fullest text about the creation of the world is a hymn which is preserved only in a papyrus copy written in the reign of Alexander II (310 ), but which seems to go back to originals that are considerably earlier.

The Master of Everything saith after his forming: 'I am he who was formed as Khepri. When I had formed, then (only) the forms were formed. All the forms were formed after my forming. Numerous are the forms from that which proceeded from my mouth.

The heaven had not been formed, The earth had not been formed, The ground had not been created (For?) the reptiles in that place.

I raised (myself) among them [variant: there] in the abyss, out of (its) inertness. When I did not find a place where I could stand, I thought wisely (?) in my heart, I founded in my soul (?). I made all forms, I alone.

I had not yet ejected as Shu, I had not spat out as Tefênet, None else had arisen who had worked (?) with me. (Then) I founded in my own heart;

There were formed many (forms?), The forms of the forms in the forms of the children, (And) in the forms of their children.