June5] PROCEEDINGS. [1894.
Notes.
Chapters 96 and 97 are really but one chapter, whichM. Naville
has found in only two MSS. of the early period. Theendof what
Lepsiuscallschapter 97 is hopelessly corrupt. On comparing the
three copies givenby M. Naville (twoof them beingfrom the
papyrusof Nebseni) it will be seen howimpossibleit is to restore a
grammaticaltextout of such discordantmaterials. Thedifficultyis
not removed by having recourseto the papyri of a later period.
CHAPTER XCVIII.Chapterwherebyone saileth a ship in the Netherworld.Oh thou Legin the Northern Sky,(1) and in that mostcon
spicuousbut inaccessible Stream; I rise up and cometo light as a
god,I am conspicuous but inaccessible.
I rise up and live, andbringmyselfto light as a god.
I cackle evenas the Smen-goose, but I stoop (2) like the Hawk
at the nets of the Great Fowler.
I sail across the Sky, andShustandetherectandthe Achmiu
Stars (3) are instantly activein raising the ladderwhich liftsthe
SettingStarsawayfromdestruction.(4)
AndI bear thatwhichrepellethmischiefas I make my voyage
overthe Leg of Ptah.
I come fromthe Lake of Flame, from the Lake of Fire, and
fromthe Field of Flame, andI live
I stand erectin the Bark whichthe god is piloting at the
head of Aarru, (5) and the Achmiu Starsopento me and
my fellow citizens(6) present to me the sacred cakeswithflesh.
Notes.
Thereis but one papyrus of the older periodwhichcontainsany
portionof this chapter, andit does so very imperfectly.
On referring to M. Naville's editionit will be seen thatnot only
the title but the greater partof the chapter is destroyed. Thelater
copieshavetextsso different fromthe original form,thatit is unsafe
to attempt a restoration exceptwithinverystrictlimits.
It is absurd to attempt a translation froma mixture of divergent
and,at the same time,incorrecttexts.
223