long papyrus dated in the reign of Alexander II in the
British Museum (No. 10,188).

VIII. The INSTRUCTIONS, OR PRECEPTS OF TUAUF to his son Pepi.--Two
copies of this work, which has also been called a "Hymn in praise of
learning," are contained in a papyri preserved in the British Museum
(Sallier II and Anastasi VII). These "Instructions" in reality represent
the advice of a father to his son, whom he was sending to school to be
trained for the profession of the scribe. Whether the boy was merely
sorry to leave his home, or whether he disliked the profession which his
father had chosen for him, is not clear, but from first to last the
father urges him to apply himself to the pursuit of learning, which, in
his opinion, is the foundation of all great and lasting success. He
says, "I have compared the people who are artisans and handicraftsmen
[with the scribe], and indeed I am convinced that there is nothing
superior to letters. Plunge into the study of Egyptian Learning, as thou
wouldst plunge into the river, and thou wilt find that this is so. I
would that thou wouldst love Learning as thou lovest thy mother. I wish
I were able to make thee to see how beautiful Learning is. It is more
important than any trade in the world. Learning is not a mere phrase,
for the man who devoteth himself thereto from his youth is honoured, and
he is despatched on missions. I have watched the blacksmith at the door
of his furnace. His hands are like crocodiles' hide, and he stinketh
worse than fishes' eggs. The metal worker hath no more rest than the
peasant on the farm. The stone mason--at the end of the day his arms are
powerless; he sitteth huddled up together until the morning, and his
knees and back are broken. The barber shaveth until far into the night,
he only resteth when he eateth. He goeth from one street to another
looking for work. He breaketh his arms to fill his belly, and, like the
bees, he eateth his own labour. The builder of houses doeth his work
with difficulty; he is exposed to all weathers, and he must cling to the
walls which he is building like a creeping plant. His clothes are in a
horrible state, and he washeth his body only once a day. The farmer
weareth always the same clothes. His voice is like the croak of a bird,
his skin is cracked by the wind; if he is healthy his health is that of
the beasts. If he be ill he lieth down among them, and he sleepeth on
the damp irrigated land. The envoy to foreign lands beque