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Chap. LII . THE CHAPTER OF NOT EATING FILTH IN THE UNDERWORLD . From the Papyrus of Nu

Vignette : This Chapter is without a vignette in the Theban Recension ;
in the Turin Papyrus (Lepsius, op . cit ., Bl . zr) the deceased is seated on
a chair and his left hand is stretched out over a table .


Text : (1) THE CHAPTER OF' NOT EATING FILTH IN THE
UNDERWORLD . The overseer of the palace, the chancellor-in-
chief, Nu, triumphant, saith :-

"That which is an abomination unto me, that which is an
"abomination unto me, let me not eat . That which is an abomination
unto me, (2) that which is an abomination unto me
"is filth ; let me not eat it [in the place of] the sepulchral cakes
"[which are offered unto] the Kas . Let it not light upon my body ;
"let me not be obliged to take it into my hands ; and let me
"not be obliged to (3) walk thereon in my sandals . What, now,
"wilt thou live upon in the presence of the gods? [Let food]
"come unto me from the place whither thou wilt bring food (?),
"and let me live upon the seven loaves of bread (4) which shall be
"brought as food before Horns, and upon the bread which is brought
"before Thoth . The gods shall say unto me : `What manner of
"food wouldst thou have given unto thee ?' [And I reply :] Let
"me eat my food under the sycamore tree (5) of my lady, the
"goddess Hathor, and let my times be among the divine beings
"who have alighted thereon . Let me have the power to order
"my own fields in Tattu (6) and my own growing crops in
"Annu. Let me live upon bread made of white barley, and let
"my beer be [made] from red grain, and may the persons of
"(7) my father and mother be given unto me as guardians of
"my door and for the ordering of my territory . Let me be sound
"and strong, let me have a large room, and let me be able to
"sit wheresoever I please."

The Source: The Book oDead, the Chapters of Coming Forth by Day
Translated into English by E. A. Wallis Budge, Litt.D., D.Lit
London, 1898.


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