im immediately. Then he shook out the sheet of linen
over the narrow sloping path in such a way that its upper edge touched
the water, and the fringed edge the growing crop. And when this peasant
was going along the public path, this Tehutinekht said unto him, "Be
careful, peasant, wouldst thou walk upon my clothes?" And this peasant
said, "I will do as thou pleasest; my way is good." And when he turned
to the upper part of the path, this Tehutinekht said, "Is my corn to
serve as a road for thee, O peasant?" Then this peasant said, "My way is
good. The river-bank is steep, and the road is covered up with thy corn,
and thou hast blocked up the path with thy linen garment. Dost thou
really intend not to let us pass? Hath it come to pass that he dareth to
say such a thing?" [At that moment] one of the asses bit off a large
mouthful of the growing corn, and this Tehutinekht said, "Behold, thy
ass is eating my corn! Behold, he shall come and tread it out." Then
this peasant said, "My way is good. Because one side of the road was
made impassable [by thee], I led my ass to the other side (?), and now
thou hast seized my ass because he bit off a large mouthful of the
growing corn. However, I know the master of this estate, which belongeth
to Rensi, the son of Meru. There is no doubt that he hath driven every
robber out of the whole country, and shall I be robbed on his estate?"
And this Tehutinekht said, "Is not this an illustration of the proverb
which the people use, 'The name of the poor man is only mentioned
because of his master?' It is I who speak to thee, but it is the steward
[Rensi, the son of Meru] of whom thou art thinking." Then Tehutinekht
seized a cudgel of green tamarisk wood, and beat cruelly with it every
part of the peasant's body, and took his asses from him and carried them
off into his compound. And this peasant wept and uttered loud shrieks of
pain because of what was done to him. And this Tehutinekht said, "Howl
not so loudly, peasant, or verily [thou shalt depart] to the domain of
the Lord of Silence."[4] Then this peasant said, "Thou hast beaten me,
and robbed me of my possessions, and now thou wishest to steal even the
very complaint that cometh out of my mouth! Lord of Silence indeed! Give
me back my goods. Do not make me to utter complaints about thy fearsome
character."

And this peasant spent ten whole days in making entreaties to this
Tehutinekht [for the restoration of his goods], but Tehutinekht