Egyptian Tales, 1st series | Page 6

sayest! And who is this Rud-didet?" And Dedi replied, "She is the
wife of a priest of Ra, lord of Sakhebu. And she has conceived these
three sons by Ra, lord of Sakhebu, and the god has promised her that
they shall fulfil this noble office (of reigning) over all this land, and
that the eldest of them shall be high priest in Heliopolis." And his
majesty's heart became troubled for this; but Dedi spake unto him,
"What is this that thou thinkest, O king (life, wealth, health), my lord?
Is it because of these three children? I tell thee thy son shall reign, and
thy son's son, and then one of them." His majesty said, "And when shall
Rud-didet bear these?" And he replied, "She shall bear them on the

26th of the month Tybi." And his majesty said, "When the banks of the
canal of Letopolis are cut, I will walk there that I may see the temple of
Ra, lord of Sakhebu." And Dedi replied, "Then I will cause that there
be four cubits of water by the banks of the canal of Letopolis." When
his majesty returned to his palace, his majesty said, "Let them place
Dedi in the house of the royal son Hordedef, that he may dwell with
him, and let them give him a daily portion of a thousand loaves, a
hundred draughts of beer, an ox, and a hundred bunches of onions."
And they did everything as his majesty commanded.
And one day it came to pass that Rud-didet felt the pains of birth. And
the majesty of Ra, lord of Sakhebu, said unto Isis, to Nebhat, to
Meskhent, to Hakt, and to Khnumu, "Go ye, and deliver Rud-didet of
these three children that she shall bear, who are to fulfil this noble
office over all this land; that they may build up your temples, furnish
your altars with offerings, supply your tables of libation, and increase
your endowments." Then went these deities; their fashion they made as
that of dancing-girls, and Khnumu was with them as a porter. They
drew near unto the house of Ra-user, and found him standing, with his
girdle fallen. And they played before him with their instruments of
music. But he said unto them, "My ladies, behold, here is a woman who
feels the pains of birth." They said to him, "Let us see her, for we know
how to help her." And he replied, "Come, then." And they entered in
straightway to Rud-didet, and they closed the door on her and on
themselves. Then Isis stood before her, and Nebhat stood behind her,
and Hakt helped her. And Isis said, "O child, by thy name of User-ref,
do not do violence." And the child came upon her hands, as a child of a
cubit; its bones were strong, the beauty of its limbs was like gold, and
its hair was like true lapis lazuli. They washed him, and prepared him,
and placed him on a carpet on the brickwork. Then Meskhent
approached him and said, "This is a king who shall reign over all the
land." And Khnumu gave strength to his limbs. Then Isis stood before
her, and Nebhat stood behind her, and Hakt helped her. And Isis said,
"O child, by thy name of Sah-ra, stay not in her." Then the child came
upon her hands, a child of a cubit; its bones were strong, the beauty of
its limbs was like gold, and its hair was like true lapis lazuli. They
washed him, and prepared him, and layed him on a carpet on the

brickwork. Then Meskhent approached him and said, "This is a king
who shall reign over all the land." And Khnumu gave strength to his
limbs. Then Isis stood before her, and Nebhat stood behind her, and
Hakt helped her. And Isis said, "O child, by thy name of Kaku, remain
not in darkness in her." And the child came upon her hands, a child of a
cubit; its bones were strong, the beauty of its limbs was like gold, and
its hair was like true lapis lazuli. And Meskhent approached him and
said, "This is a king who shall reign over all the land." And Khnumu
gave strength to his limbs. And they washed him, and prepared him,
and layed him on a carpet on the brickwork.
And the deities went out, having delivered Rud-didet of the three
children. And they said, "Rejoice! O Ra-user, for behold three children
are born unto thee." And he said unto them, "My ladies, and what shall
I give unto ye? Behold, give this bushel of barley here unto your porter,
that ye may take it as your reward to the brew-house." And Khnumu
loaded himself with the bushel of barley. And they went