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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HYMN TO USERTESEN III by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "HOMAGE TO THEE, KHA-KAU-RA: OUR 'M0ST DIVINE OF BEINGS'"
Last Line: HIS GOOD FAVOR
Subject(s): "USERTESEN, PHARAOH (12TH CENTURY);"
I

HOMAGE to thee, Kha-kau-ra: our "Most
Divine of Beings."
Safeguarding the land and widening its boundaries:
restraining the foreign nations by his kingly crown,
Inclosing the two lands within the compass of his arms:
seizing the nations in his grip.
Slaying the Pedti without stroke of the club: shooting an
arrow without drawing the bowstring
Dread of him hath smitten the Anu in their plain: his terror
hath slain the Nine Races of Men.'
His warrant hath caused the death of thousands of the Pedti
who had
reached his frontier: shooting the arrow as doth
Sekhemt, he
overthroweth thousands of those who knew not his
mighty spirit.
The tongue of his Majesty bindeth Nubia in fetters: his
utterances
put to flight the Setiu.
Sole One of youthful vigor, guarding his frontier; suffering
not his
subjects to faint, but causing the Pat to repose into full
daylight.
As to his timid youth in their slumbers: His heart is their
protection.
His decrees have formed his boundaries: His word hath
armored the two regions

II

Twice jubilant are the gods: thou hast established their
offerings,
Twice jubilant are thy children: thou hast made their
boundaries.
Twice jubilant are thy forefathers: thou hast increased their
portions
Twice jubilant is Egypt on thy strong arm: thou hast guarded
theancient order.
Twice jubilant are the Pat in thine administration: thy
mighty spirit
hath taken upon itself their provisionment.
Twice jubilant are the two regions in thy valor: thou hast
widened
their possessions.
Twice jubilant are thy paid young troops: thou hast, made
them to prosper.
Twice jubilant are thy veterans: thou hast made them to
renew their
youth.
Twice jubilant are the two lands in thy might: thou hast
guarded their walls.
Twice jubilant be thou, O Horus. who hast widened his
boundary;
thou art from everlasting to everlasting.


III

Twice great is the lord of his city, above a million arms: as
for other
rulers of men, they are but common folk.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were a dyke,
damming
the stream in its water flood.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were a cool
lodge,
letting every man repose unto full daylight.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were a bulwark,
with
walls built of the sharp stones of Kesem.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were a place of
refuge,
excluding the marauder.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were an asylum,
shielding
the terrified from his foe.
Twice great is the lord of this city : he is as it were a shade,
the cool
vegetation of the flood-time in the season of harvest.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were a corner
warm
and dry in time of winter.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were a rock
barring
the blast in time of tempest.
Twice great is the lord of his city: he is as it were Sekhemt to
foes
who tread upon his boundary.


IV

He hath come to us, that he may take the land of the South
Country:
the Double Crown hath been placed upon his head.
He hath come, he hath united the two lands: he hath joined
the Reed to the Hornet.
He hath come, he hath ruled the people of the Black Land:
he hath
placed the Red Land in his power.
He hath come, he hath protected the two lands: he hath
tranquillized
the two regions.
He hath come, he hath made the people of Egypt to live: he
hath
destroyed its afflictions.
He hath come, he hath made the Pat to live: he hath opened
the throat of the Rekhyt.
He hath come, he hath trampled on the nations: he hath
smitten the
Anu who knew not his terror.
He hath come, he hath secured his frontier: he hath
delivered him
who was stolen away.
He hath come: he granteth reward-in-old-age by
what his
mighty arm bringeth to us.
He hath come, we nurture our children: we bury our aged
ones by
his good favor.




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