Egyptian Tales, 1st series | Page 5

the ships made ready for the king's son Hordedef, and
he went up the stream to Dedsneferu. And when the ships had moored
at the haven, he landed, and sat him in a litter of ebony, the poles of
which were of cedar wood overlayed with gold. Now when he drew
near to Dedi, they set down the litter. And he arose to greet Dedi, and
found him lying on a palmstick couch at the door of his house; one
servant held his head and rubbed him, and another rubbed his feet,
And the king's son Hordedef said, "Thy state is that of one who lives to
good old age; for old age is the end of our voyage, the time of
embalming, the time of burial. Lie, then, in the sun, free of infirmities,
without the babble of dotage: this is the salutation to worthy age. I
come from far to call thee, with a message from my father Khufu, the
blessed, for thou shalt eat of the best which the king gives, and of the
food which those have who follow after him; that he may bring thee in
good estate to thy fathers who are in the tomb."
And Dedi replied to him, "Peace to thee! Peace to thee! Hordedef, son
of the king, beloved of his father. May thy father Khufu, the blessed,
praise thee, may he advance thee amongst the elders, may thy ka
prevail against the enemy, may thy soul know the right road to the gate
of him who clothes the afflicted; this is the salutation to the king's son."
Then the king's son, Hordedef, stretched forth his hands to him, and
raised him up, and went with him to the haven, giving unto him his arm.
Then said Dedi, "Let there he given me a boat, to bring me my youths
and my books." And they made ready for him two boats with their
rowers. And Dedi went down the river in the barge in which was the
king's son Hordedef. And when he had reached the palace, the king's
son, Hordedef, entered in to give account unto his majesty the king of
Upper and Lower Egypt, Khufu, the blessed. Then said the king's son
Hordedef, "O king, life, wealth, and health! My lord, I have brought
Dedi." His majesty replied, "Bring him to me speedily." And his
majesty went into the hall of columns of Pharaoh (life, wealth, and
health), and Dedi was led before him. And his majesty said,
"Wherefore is it, Dedi, that I have not yet seen thee?" And Dedi
answered, "He who is called it is that comes; the king (life, wealth, and

health) calls me, and behold I come," And his majesty said, "Is it true,
that which men say, that thou canst restore the head which is smitten
off?" And Dedi replied, "Truly, I know that, O king (life, wealth, and
health), my lord." And his majesty said, "Let one bring me a prisoner
who is in prison, that his punishment may be fulfilled." And Dedi said,
"Let it not be a man, O king, my lord; behold we do not even thus to
our cattle." And a duck was brought unto him, and its head was cut off.
And the duck was laid on the west side of the hall, and its head on the
east side of the hall. And Dedi spake his magic speech. And the duck
fluttered along the ground, and its head came likewise; and when it had
come part to part the duck stood and quacked. And they brought
likewise a goose before him, and he did even so unto it. His majesty
caused an ox to be brought, and its head cast on the ground. And Dedi
spake his magic speech. And the ox stood upright behind him, and
followed him with his halter trailing on the ground.
And King Khufu said, "And is it true what is said, that thou knowest
the number of the designs of the dwelling of Tahuti?" And Dedi replied,
"Pardon me, I know not their number, O king (life, wealth, and health),
but I know where they are." And his majesty said, "Where is that?"
And Dedi replied, "There is a chest of whetstone in a chamber named
the plan-room, in Heli-opolis; they are in this chest." And Dedi said
further unto him, "O king (life, wealth, and health), my lord, it is no It
that is to bring them to thee." And his m'jesty said, "Who, then, is it
that shall bring them to me?" And Dedi answered to him, "It is the
eldest of the three children who are in the body of Rud-didet who shall
bring them to thee." And his majesty said, "Would that it may be as
thou