liance whereof filled all Egypt, made by Maatkara, &c. I performed
the office of chief mouth, giving orders. I directed the artificers who
were engaged on the work of the holy gate [called] "Amen-shefit," which
was made of a single slab of copper, and of the images (?) that belonged
thereto, made by Maatkara, &c. I directed the artificers who were
engaged on the work of the altar-stands of Amen. These were made of an
incalculable quantity of silver-gold, set with precious stones, by
Maatkara, &c. I directed the artificers who were engaged on the work of
the store-chests, which were plated with copper and silver-gold and
inlaid with precious stones, made by Maatkara, &c. I directed the
artificers who were engaged on the works of the Great Throne, and the
God-house, which is built of granite and shall last like the firmly
fixed pillars of the sky, made by Maatkara, &c.

[Footnote 1: This queen frequently ascribed to herself male attributes.]

[Footnote 2: _i.e._ that kind of gold which is found in its natural
state alloyed with silver.]

[Footnote 3: The "Holy of Holies," the name of Hatshepset's temple at
Der al-Bahari.]

And as for the wonderful things, and all the products of all the
countries, and the best of the wonderful products of Punt, which His
Majesty presented to Amen, Lord of the Apts, for the life, strength, and
health of His Majesty, and with which he filled the house of this holy
god, for Amen had given him Egypt because he knew that he would rule it
wisely (?), behold, it was I who registered them, because I was of
strict integrity. My favour was permanent before [His Majesty], it never
diminished, and he conferred more distinctions on me than on any other
official about him, for he knew my integrity in respect of him. He knew
that I carried out works, and that I covered my mouth (_i.e._ held my
tongue) concerning the affairs of his palace. He made me the director of
his palace, knowing that I was experienced in affairs. I held the seal
of the Two Treasuries, and of the store of all the precious stones of
every kind that were in the God-house of Amen in the Apts,[1] which were
filled up to their roofs with the tribute paid to the god. Such a thing
never happened before, even from the time of the primeval god. His
Majesty commanded to be made a silver-gold ... for the Great Hall of the
festivals. [The metal] was weighed by the _heqet_ measure for Amen,
before all the people, and it was estimated to cont