Feb.6] SOCIETYOF BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY. [1894.BOOK OF THE DEAD.By P. le Page Renouf.CHAPTER LXXVII.Chapterwherebyone assumeth the form of the Golden Hawk.(1)I raise myselfup : I raise myselfup as the Golden Hawk,which
comethout from its Egg ; and I fly and I hover as a Hawk of four
cubitsacrossthe back. My two wings are of the green gemof the
South.(2)
I come forth fromthe cabin of the Sektit BarkandI raise
myselfup from the Eastern Hill.
I stoop upon the Atit Bark,thatI may comeandraiseto me
thosewhoare in their circles,and who bowdownbeforeme.
I raise myselfand gather myselftogetheras the beautiful Golden
Hawkwiththe head of a Heron, to listen to whose utterancesRa
cometheveryday,andI sit down in the midst of all the great gods
of Heaven.
Thefieldslie before me ; the produce is before me ; I eat of it,
I wax radiantuponit, I am saturated withit to the satisfaction of
my heart.
Neprahathgivento me my throat, andI am in possession of all
thatpertainethto my person. (3)
Notes.- This is the first of a series of chapters relativeto the "Trans
formations,"the subject of which is treated in the Introduction. It
is sufficient hereto repeat thatthe Egyptian ' Transformations' have
nothingin common with Metempsychosis,as understood in the
Greekor Indian religions. Thechangeof form in the Egyptian
idea dependeduponthe will of the person ; it was not a penance
for sin, but a means of glorification. Andall the forms assumedin
the Book of the Dead by the deceased are well knownformsof the
100