peaketh not, the intelligence diminisheth, and it
is impossible to remember to-day what happened yesterday. The bones are
full of pain, the pursuit that was formerly attended with pleasure is
now fraught with pain, and the sense of taste departeth. Old age is the
worst of all the miseries that can befall a man. The nose becometh
stopped up and one cannot smell at all." At this point Ptah-hetep asks,
rhetorically, "Who will give me authority to speak? Who is it that will
authorise me to repeat to the prince the Precepts of those who had
knowledge of the wise counsels of the learned men of old? "In answer to
these questions the king replies to Ptah-hetep, "Instruct thou my son in
the words of wisdom of olden time. It is instruction of this kind alone
that formeth the character of the sons of noblemen, and the youth who
hearkeneth to such instruction will acquire a right understanding and
the faculty of judging justly, and he will not feel weary of his
duties." Immediately following these words come the "Precepts of
beautiful speech" of Ptah-hetep, whose full titles are given, viz. the
Erpa, the Duke, the father of the god _(i.e._ the king), the friend of
God, the son of the king. Governor of Memphis, confidential servant of
the king. These Precepts instruct the ignorant, and teach them to
understand fine speech; among them are the following:

"Be not haughty because of thy knowledge. Converse with the ignorant man
as well as with him that is educated.

"Do not terrify the people, for if thou dost, God will punish thee. If
any man saith that he is going to live by these means, God will make his
mouth empty of food. If a man saith that he is going to make himself
powerful (or rich) thereby, saying, 'I shall reap advantage, having
knowledge,' and if he saith, 'I will beat down the other man,' he will
arrive at the result of being able to do nothing. Let no man terrify the
people, for the command of God is that they shall enjoy rest.

"If thou art one of a company seated to eat in the house of a man who is
greater than thyself, take what he giveth thee [without remark]. Set it
before thee. Look at what is before thee, but not too closely, and do
not look at it too often. The man who rejecteth it is an ill-mannered
person. Do not speak to interrupt when he is speaking, for one knoweth
not when he may disapprove. Speak when he addresseth thee, and then thy
words shall be acceptable. When a man hath wealth he ordereth his
acti