________________
LECTURE IV.
181
father forget his son? Surely a wretched lot awaiteth him who opposeth thy will; but blessed is he who knoweth thee, for thy deeds proceed from a heart full of love. I call upon thee, O my father Amon! behold me in the midst of many peoples, unknown to me; all nations are united against me, and I am alone; no other is with me. My many soldiers have abandoned me, none of my horsemen hath looked towards me; and when I called them, none hath listened to my voice. But I believe that Amon is worth more to me than a million of soldiers, than a hundred thousand horsemen, and ten thousands of brothers and sons, even were they all gathered together. The work of many men is nought; Amon will prevail over them.'
The following are a few passages translated from the book of Ptahhotep, which has been called the most ancient book of the world, and would indeed have a right to that title if, as we are told, the Paris MS. containing it was written centuries before Moses was born, while the author lived during the reign of King Assa Tatkarâ of the fifth dynastyl:
If thou art a wise man, bring up thy son in the love of God.'
God loveth the obedient and hateth the disobedient.
A good son is spoken of as the gift of God.' In the Maxims of Ani we read:
* The sanctuary of God abhors' (noisy manifestations ?). Pray humbly with a loving heart all the words of which are uttered in secret. He will protect thee in thine affairs; He will listen to thy words. He will accept thine offerings.
Le Page Renouf, 'Hibbert Lectures,' p. 76.
