Page:The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 02.djvu/163

Rh was found in a writing. It is written by the scribe of cunning fingers Ameni-amen-aa; may he live in life, wealth, and health! 2 This tale is only known in one copy, preserved in the Hermitage collection at Petrograd. Two translations of it have appeared by M. Golénischeff: from these a modified translation is given by Maspero in the "Contes Populates," and the later translation is in M. Golénischeff's excellent "Inventaire de la collection Egyptienne (Ermitage Impérial)."

The tale is that of a returned sailor, speaking to his superior and telling his adventures, to induce him to send him on with an introduction to the King. At first his master professes to disbelieve him, and then the sailor protests that this happened to himself, and gives his narrative. The idea of an enchanted island, which has risen from the waves and will sink again, is here found to be one of the oldest plots for a tale of marvels. But the construction is far more advanced than that of the Tales of the Magicians. The family of serpents and the manner of the great serpent are well conceived, and there are many fine touches of literary quality: such as noise as of thunder, the trees shaking, and the earth being moved at the appearance of the great serpent — the speeches of the serpent and his threat — the sailors who had seen heaven and earth — the contempt of the serpent for his offerings, "As for me, I am prince of the land of Punt, and I have perfumes" — and the scene of departure. All of these points show a firm hand and practised taste, although there is still a style of simplicity clinging to it which agrees well to its date in the Twelfth Dynasty.

The great serpent is not of a type usual in Egyptian designs. The human-headed uraeus is seldom bearded; and the best example of such a monster is on an Ethiopian temple, where a great uraeus has human arms and a lion's head. The colors again repeat the favorite combination expressive of splendor — gold and lazuli. Though lazuli is very rare in early times, yet it certainly was known in the Twelfth Dynasty, as shown by the forms of some beads of lazuli.