own limbs."

Chorus II. "And, not begotten of any, Thou givest birth to thyself on
the horizon." [Authentic hymn]

At this point the pharaoh spoke:

"O Thou radiant in the heavens! Permit that I enter eternity. Let me
join the revered and perfect shadows of the upper land. Let me,
together with them, behold thy rays in the morning, and in the evening,
when Thou joinest thy mother Nut. And when Thou turnest thy face to the
West let my hands join while praying in honor of life, which is going
to sleep beyond the mountains." [Authentic]

Thus spoke the pharaoh with upraised hands, surrounded by a cloud of
incense. All at once he ceased, and dropped into the arms of the
priests behind him.

He was no longer living.

Intelligence of the pharaoh's death flew through the palace like
lightning. Servants left their occupations, overseers ceased to watch
over their slaves, the guard was roused; all entrances were occupied.

In the main court a throng began to gather; cooks, cellarers,
equerries, women of his holiness, and their children. Some inquired:
"Is this true?" Others wondered that the sun shone in heaven, but all
cried at once in heaven-piercing voices,

"O our lord! O our father! O beloved! Can it be that Thou hast gone
from us? Oh it is true, he is going to Abydos! To the West, to the
West, to the land of the just ones! The place which Thou hast loved
groans and weeps for thee!" [Authentic]

Terrible uproar was heard throughout all the courts, throughout the
whole park. It was echoed from the eastern hills, on the wings of the
wind it flew across the Nile, and disturbed the city of Memphis.

Meanwhile, the priests, amid prayers, placed the body of the deceased
in a rich closed litter. Eight stood at the poles of the litter; four
took ostrich feather fans in their hands, others censers, and they
prepared to go forth.

At this moment Queen Niort's ran in, and, seeing the remains in the
litter, threw herself at the feet of the dead pharaoh.

"O my husband! O my brother! O my beloved!" cried she, carried away
with weeping. "O beloved, remain with us, remain in thy house, withdraw
not from this place on earth in which Thou art dwelling!" [Authentic.]

"In peace, in peace, to the West," sang the priests. "O mighty
sovereign, go in peace to the West."

"Misfortune," said the queen, "Thou art hastening to the ferry to pass
to the other shore! O priests, O prophets, hasten not, leave him; for
ye will return to