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Extracts from the Sallier Papyrus: Egypt

When my master of the horse saw that I remained surrounded by so many chariots, he faltered, and his heart gave way for fear; a mighty terror seized on all his limbs. He said, then, to his Majesty: "My good master, generous King, sole protector of Egypt in the day of battle, we are tarrying alone in the midst of the foe; halt in thy course and let us save the breath of our lives.

What can we do, oh, Rameses Meiamoun! my good master?"

And thus did his Majesty reply to his master of the horse : "Have courage! strengthen thy heart, oh my comrade! I will plunge into their midst like the hawk from on high darting down upon his foe; hurled to the ground and slain, they shall roll in the dust. What does thy heart then think of these Aamus ? Ammon would not be a god, did Ammon he not make glorious my countenance in the presence of their countless legions." The king pierced his way into the army of these vile Khetas; six times did he enter into their midst. "I pursued them like Baal, in the hour of his might, and I slew them so that none could escape. • "I threw myself upon them, like unto the god Month; in a moment's space, my hand mowed them down. I slaughtered among them: I killed in their midst, and I was alone to shout aloud. there was no second word, not one of them lifted .. up his voice. Sutekh, the great warrior-Baal, was in all his members.

Each one of all my enemies felt his hand without strength against mine; they could no longer hold the bow or the spear.

The king, rallying around him the generals and the horsemen of his retinue, said to them: "Your comrades have not satisfied my heart; is there one among them who has deserved well of my country?

If your lord had not arisen in his might, all of ye had been lost. Each day I transmit to the . • • sons the honors of their fathers, and when some misfortune falls upon Egypt, ye abandon your duty.

I administer justice every day, hearkening to every complaint that comes to me.

And ye! what have ye accomplished oh, my warriors? Ye have remained in your tents and in your fortified camps, and ye gave no counsel to my army. I recommended to each of ye at his post, to take note of the day and the hour of the battle, and behold, one and all, ye have done ill; not one of you arose to aid me with his hand.

I govern Egypt like my father, the Sun, and there was not found one to take heed • and to forewarn the land of Egypt. While, on this fortunate day, sacrifices are offered up in Thebais, in the city of Ammon, great is the fault committed by my soldiers and my horsemen. It is greater than cau be told, for if I have made manifest my valor, neither the archers nor the horsemen came with me. The whole world has made way to the efforts of my arm; and I was alone, and no other one was with me. That is what, of truth, I have done in the sight of my army."