who know not god. Have
I not made for thee many and great buildings of stone? have I not
filled thy temple with my spoils, building for thee a temple to
last myriads of years? ... The whole earth unites to bring thee
offerings ... [to enrich] thy domain. I have sacrificed to thee
30,000 oxen, with all kinds of sweet-scented herbs. Have I not put
behind me those who do not thy will? ... I have built thee a house
of great stones, erecting for thee eternal groves; I have brought
for thee obelisks from Abou [Elephantine]; I have caused the
everlasting stones to be fetched, launching for thee boats upon
the sea, importing for thee the manufactures of the lands. When
was it ever before said that such a thing was done? Confounded is
every one who resists thy designs; blessed is every one who obeys
thee, O Amen. That which thou doest is dear to my heart[?] I cry
to thee, my father, Amen. I am in the midst of many unknown people
gathered together from all lands. But I am alone by myself; there
is none other with me. My bowmen and my horsemen have forsaken me;
they were afraid; not one of them listened when I cried to them.
Amen is more helpful to me than myriads of bowmen, than millions
of horsemen, than tens of thousands of chosen youths, though they
be all gathered together in one place. The arts of men prevail
not, Amen is more powerful than they; they follow not the commands
of thy mouth, O sun! Have I not sought out thy commands? have I
not invoked thee from the ends of the earth?' "

This invocation is heard, and the King proceeds to make a vigorous charge
against the enemy, who are scattered in all directions. The prince of the
Hittites rallies, and succeeds in bringing them again to the combat, but
they are repulsed by the King. It will be observed that sometimes the
writer himself speaks, but generally the narrative is put into the mouth
of the King--a poetical artifice which gives a certain liveliness to the
composition--

" 'I ran toward them, like the god Mentou, I fleshed my hand upon
them in the space of a moment[?]. I smote them, I slew them, so
that one of them cried to another, saying, "It is no man"
[superhuman]. Mighty was he who was among them, Soutech, the most
glorious. Baal was in my limbs; why was every enemy weak? his hand
was in all my limbs. They knew not how to hold the bow and the