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Authors: Naguib Mahfouz
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with their whole families, who set up colonies inside the country. In the event, I launched into ruthless combat, driving the Libyans from our soil. I exterminated the Sea Peoples, making captives of their women and young. Next I commanded a campaign in Asia, decimating them without mercy. During my time, Egypt was graced with security and stability, as I erected multitudes of palaces and temples.
“But from sheer bad fortune, in my old age, a conspiracy hatched in my harem aimed to seize the throne by force. I created a tribunal to try those responsible, and ordered that justice be served, with no criminal acquitted and no innocent condemned. Yet tragically, two of the judges succumbed to the allure of the women accused, and took their own lives when their lapse was exposed.”
“Your record reveals you are a most extraordinary leader,” said Thutmose III.
“I followed your footsteps in my conquest of Asia,” replied Ramesses III.
“Your treatment of the conspirators is to your credit,” added Akhenaten. “Your putting them forward for trial rather than striking them down on the spot, your prompt setting up of the court in order to carry out an investigation to arrive at justice—all this bears witness to your reverence for the law, and your passion for the noble deeds of morality. It’s as though you were among the worshipers of the One and Only God.”
“I too adored the noble deeds of morality, which is how all the believers of the gods were raised.”
“The wiles of women nearly killed a great king,” tut-tutted the Sage Ptahhotep, “while causing the deaths of two judges, as well.”
“The One God fashioned women to expose the elements that men are made of,” said Queen Nefertiti. “The precious and the worthless, too!”
“Welcome to this son, who is both great and noble in one!” exclaimed the goddess Isis.
“Go to your place among the Immortals,” pronounced Osiris.
31
H ORUS HERALDED , “The kings Ramesses IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII.”
Nine men of varying shapes and sizes came in, wrapped in their winding sheets, and walked in a row until they stood before the throne.
Thoth, Scribe of the Gods, recited from the book before him, “They each ruled for a short time only, one after the other, and none cared for anything but to hang onto power. They let their lusts run away with them—and things fell apart. Wickedness was rampant, the area of the north coast seceding under the last of their line.”
Osiris bid them to speak—but they all remained silent.
Ramesses II then asked them, “Why did you take my name as your own? Are we related in any way?”
“We took it in order to be blessed and ennobled!” said Ramesses IV.
“But you had none of my fortitude, and, in truth, you did not live up to it,” retorted Ramesses II.
“I cannot request their forgiveness,” said Isis, “but I do ask for mercy.”
“To Purgatory with the lot of you,” commanded Osiris.
32
H ORUS BELLOWED , “The governor Nesubenedbed!”
A stout man of medium height stepped in, striding forward until he stood before the throne.
Thoth, the Divine Record Keeper, then read aloud, “As viceroy of the northern region, he broke away from Egypt during the reign of Ramesses XII. The malaise within the country was matched by the fading of her influence abroad.”
Osiris asked him to speak, so Nesubenedbed began, “I sprang from the elite of Tanis, and it distressed me to see Egypt fall into chaos and disunity. I was not able to seize the throne, so I declared the independence of the northern area, hoping to establish order and security there. To this end, I devoted the utmost energy.”
“I am the one most qualified here to interpret the speech of those born to privilege,” boasted Abnum. “Though they always call for security and welfare, they only want those things for themselves, at the expense of the peasants and the dispossessed.”
“The oneness of our homeland, to which I
“But from sheer bad fortune, in my old age, a conspiracy hatched in my harem aimed to seize the throne by force. I created a tribunal to try those responsible, and ordered that justice be served, with no criminal acquitted and no innocent condemned. Yet tragically, two of the judges succumbed to the allure of the women accused, and took their own lives when their lapse was exposed.”
“Your record reveals you are a most extraordinary leader,” said Thutmose III.
“I followed your footsteps in my conquest of Asia,” replied Ramesses III.
“Your treatment of the conspirators is to your credit,” added Akhenaten. “Your putting them forward for trial rather than striking them down on the spot, your prompt setting up of the court in order to carry out an investigation to arrive at justice—all this bears witness to your reverence for the law, and your passion for the noble deeds of morality. It’s as though you were among the worshipers of the One and Only God.”
“I too adored the noble deeds of morality, which is how all the believers of the gods were raised.”
“The wiles of women nearly killed a great king,” tut-tutted the Sage Ptahhotep, “while causing the deaths of two judges, as well.”
“The One God fashioned women to expose the elements that men are made of,” said Queen Nefertiti. “The precious and the worthless, too!”
“Welcome to this son, who is both great and noble in one!” exclaimed the goddess Isis.
“Go to your place among the Immortals,” pronounced Osiris.
31
H ORUS HERALDED , “The kings Ramesses IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII.”
Nine men of varying shapes and sizes came in, wrapped in their winding sheets, and walked in a row until they stood before the throne.
Thoth, Scribe of the Gods, recited from the book before him, “They each ruled for a short time only, one after the other, and none cared for anything but to hang onto power. They let their lusts run away with them—and things fell apart. Wickedness was rampant, the area of the north coast seceding under the last of their line.”
Osiris bid them to speak—but they all remained silent.
Ramesses II then asked them, “Why did you take my name as your own? Are we related in any way?”
“We took it in order to be blessed and ennobled!” said Ramesses IV.
“But you had none of my fortitude, and, in truth, you did not live up to it,” retorted Ramesses II.
“I cannot request their forgiveness,” said Isis, “but I do ask for mercy.”
“To Purgatory with the lot of you,” commanded Osiris.
32
H ORUS BELLOWED , “The governor Nesubenedbed!”
A stout man of medium height stepped in, striding forward until he stood before the throne.
Thoth, the Divine Record Keeper, then read aloud, “As viceroy of the northern region, he broke away from Egypt during the reign of Ramesses XII. The malaise within the country was matched by the fading of her influence abroad.”
Osiris asked him to speak, so Nesubenedbed began, “I sprang from the elite of Tanis, and it distressed me to see Egypt fall into chaos and disunity. I was not able to seize the throne, so I declared the independence of the northern area, hoping to establish order and security there. To this end, I devoted the utmost energy.”
“I am the one most qualified here to interpret the speech of those born to privilege,” boasted Abnum. “Though they always call for security and welfare, they only want those things for themselves, at the expense of the peasants and the dispossessed.”
“The oneness of our homeland, to which I
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