the depths of darkness, but now light shineth on me. I had
no friend in the evil day, and none to support me in the day of battle.
Thou only, O mighty king, who hast rolled away the darkness that was on
me [art my friend]. Henceforward I am thy servant, and all my
possessions are thine. The city of Hensu shall pay tribute to thee. Thou
art the image of Ra, and art the master of the imperishable stars. He
was a king, and thou art a king; he perished not, and thou shalt not
perish." From Hensu Piankhi went down to the canal leading to the Fayyum
and to Illahun and found the town gates shut in his face. The
inhabitants, however, speedily changed their minds, and opened the gates
to Piankhi, who entered with his troops, and received tribute, and slew
no one. Town after town submitted as Piankhi advanced northwards, and
none barred his progress until he reached Memphis, the gates of which
were shut fast. When Piankhi saw this he sent a message to the
Memphites, saying: "Shut not your gates, and fight not in the city that
hath belonged to Shu[1] for ever. He who wisheth to enter may do so, he
who wisheth to come out may do so, and he who wisheth to travel about
may do so. I will make an offering to Ptah and the gods of White Wall
(Memphis). I will perform the ceremonies of Seker in the Hidden Shrine.
I will look upon the god of his South Wall (_i.e._ Ptah), and I will
sail down the river in peace. No man of Memphis shall be harmed, not a
child shall cry out in distress. Look at the homes of the South! None
hath been slain except those who blasphemed the face of the god, and
only the rebels have suffered at the block." These pacific words of
Piankhi were not believed, and the people of Memphis not only kept their
gates shut, but manned the city walls with soldiers, and they were
foolish enough to slay a small company of Nubian artisans and boatmen
whom they found on the quay of Memphis. Tafnekht, the rebel prince of
Sais, entered Memphis by night, and addressed eight thousand of his
troops who were there, and encouraged them to resist Piankhi. He said to
them: "Memphis is filled with the bravest men of war in all the
Northland, and its granaries are filled with wheat, barley, and grain of
all kinds. The arsenal is full of weapons. A wall goeth round the city,
and the great fort is as strong as the mason could make it. The river
floweth along the east side, and no attack can be made there. The byres
are full of cattle, and the t