pel her advances, it is ruin for thee. Embrace her, call her by fond
names, and treat her lovingly.

"Treat thy dependants as well as thou art able, for this is the duty of
those whom God hath blessed.

"If thou art a wise man, and if thou hast a seat in the council chamber
of thy lord, concentrate thy mind on the business [so as to arrive at] a
wise decision. Keep silence, for this is better than to talk overmuch.
When thou speakest thou must know what can be urged against thy words.
To speak in the council chamber [needeth] skill and experience.

"If thou hast become a great man having once been a poor man, and hast
attained to the headship of the city, study not to take the fullest
advantage of thy situation. Be not harsh in respect of the grain, for
thou art only an overseer of the food of God.

"Think much, but keep thy mouth closed; if thou dost not how canst thou
consult with the nobles? Let thy opinion coincide with that of thy lord.
Do what he saith, and then he shall say of thee to those who are
listening, 'This is my son.'"

The above and all the other Precepts of Ptah-hetep were drawn up for the
guidance of highly-placed young men, and have little to do with
practical, every-day morality. But whilst the Egyptian scribes who lived
under the Middle and New Empires were ready to pay all honour to the
writings of an earlier age, they were not slow to perceive that the
older Precepts did not supply advice on every important subject, and
they therefore proceeded to write supplementary Precepts. A very
interesting collection of such Precepts is found in a papyrus preserved
in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. They are generally known as the "Maxims
of Ani," and the following examples will illustrate their scope and
character:

"Celebrate thou the festival of thy God, and repeat the celebration
thereof in its appointed season. God is wroth with the transgressor of
this law. Bear testimony [to Him] after thy offering....

"The opportunity having passed, one seeketh [in vain] to seize another.

"God will magnify the name of the man who exalteth His Souls, who
singeth His praises, and boweth before Him, who offereth incense, and
doeth homage [to Him] in his work.

"Enter not into the presence of the drunkard, even if his acquaintance
be an honour to thee.

"Beware of the woman in the street who is not known in her native town.
Follow her not, nor any woman who is like her. Do not make her
acquaintance. She is lik