THE STORY OF SINUHE

This is the history's first novel

Nobleman and overlord, governor and canal-cutter, sovereign over the Syrians. One known to the king directly, his favorite, the Follower Sinuhe. He says: I am a Follower who follows his lord, a servant of the family-quarters of the king, of the noblewoman, abounding in favor, King's Wife of Senusret in Khenemsut. King's Daughter of Amenemhet in Kanafru, Nafru, and reverence. Royal year 30, month 3 of Flood, day 7

The god ascended to his horizon, the dual king Sehetepibra. He journeyed up to the sky, joining with the sun-disk, divine limbs merging with his creator. The Residence was in silence, hearts in sorrow, the Double Gate sealed, the court with head on knees, the nobles in lament. Now His Majesty had sent an army against the Land of the Red peoples with his eldest son as its commander, the good god Senusret. He was sent to smite the hill lands, to quell the inhabitants of Tjehenu(Libya).

He was just on his return, and had brought the captives of Tjehenu, and all the limitless herds.The courtiers of the Palace dispatched to the Western reaches, to inform the King's Son of the turn of events in the Chamber. The envoys found him on the road, and had reached him at the time of dusk. Not a slight moment did he delay, the falcon, he flew off with his followers, without having his army informed of it.

Now there was a dispatch with regard to the King's children, who were following him in this army. One of them was summoned. Now I was up, and heard his voice when he was speaking - I was a short distance away. My heart stopped, my arms crossed, trembling fell through my whole body.

I slipped back in starts to seek out a hiding-place, to place myself between the bushes, to remove the way and its farer. I made my way south without thinking of approaching this Residence. I imagined there would be bloodshed, and I denied I could survive it. I negotiated the Sea of Truth in the area of the Sycamore, and I made it to the Island of Snafru. I rested on the curb of the fields, and moved on when it came to day. I crossed a man standing at a fork in the road: He called to me, but I feared him.

Evening fell as I trod on to the mooring-point of the horned bull. I ferried across in a cargo-boat without a rudder, thanks to a breeze from the west. I crossed by the east of the quarry in the ascent of the Goddess of the Red Mountain. I forced my legs to move on northwards. I reached the Walls of the Ruler, made to repel the Syrians and trample on the people who travel the sands. I took my shelter in the bush, from fear of being seen by the guard on the wall who was on duty, and made my way at night.At daybreak I reached Peten and alighted at the land of the Great Black Sea.

Thirst struck, it overwhelmed me. I panted, my throat parched. I said, this must be the taste of death, binding my heart and my body. I heard the sound of lowing of cattle and sighted Syrians. I was spied out by one of their scouts who had been in The Black Nation(Egypt). Then he gave me water, and milk was cooked for me. I went with him to his people.

What they did was good. Hill-land carried me to hill-land. I wound up in Byblos, and traveled up to Qedem. I had spent a year and a half there when Amunenshi fetched me, he being a ruler of the hinterland of Syria. He said to me, "You would be well with me, you can hear The Black language." He said this because he knew my character, and had heard of my talent. The Black people who were there with him had given witness for me. Then he said to me, "How is it that you have reached these parts, has something happened in the Residence?" Then I said to him, "The dual king Sehetepibra has gone to the horizon, how it happened is not known. But I was told indirectly. I was coming with the Red peoples-land armywhen it was reported to me. My heart failed, and brought me on the road of flight, though I had not been implicated and no accusation had been made against me. (though so slander had been heard, and my name had not been mentioned by the reporter - I do not know what brought me to this hill-land)

It is as if a slight of the god, as a Delta-man (of Lower Egypt) seeing himself in Abu(Upper Egypt), or a marsh-man in the Land of the bow (Nubia)."Then he said to me, "How will that land be now, without that effective god, whose fear permeated the hill-lands like Sekhmet in a year of plague?" Then I addressed myself to him in reply to him, "Why, his son is entering the palace and has taken up the inheritance of his father. He is a god without equal, with no other existing before him. He is a master of far-sightedness, excellent in planning, effective in decrees. Coming and going follow his decrees. He is the one suppressing the hill-lands while his father was within his palace, and reporting to him that whatever he ordained has come to pass. He is truly a strong man made by his strong arm, a man of action - no one comes close to him. He is to be seen as he descends for archery, joining the fray, he is one who takes the horn, wearing down all hands - so his enemies cannot gather their forces. He is one cleansed in sight, cleaving foreheads, so no one can stand in his way. He is one who strides ahead to shoot down those in flight, giving no quarter to the man who turns tail. He is the stout-hearted in the moment of the charge. He is the turner who never turns tail. He is the broad-hearted one when he sees the multitude, who never places rest behind his heart.He is the forward mover when he descends to the Easterners. His delight is the plunder of archery, he takes his shield, tramples underfoot, he never raises his arm twice for the kill (his arrow never strays, his bow never strains).

The Sand Travelers are routed before him as at the might of the Great Goddess. He fights and plans the outcome, he never guards, without event. He is a lord of mercy, full of kindness. He has conquered by love, his citizens love him more than themselves. They rejoice over him more than over their god. Women surpass men in extolling him, as he is king, and he had conquered while still in the egg. His face was set to it from the moment he was born. With him comes the increase in births. He is the sole one of the gift of god.

How joyful is this land that he has come to rule. He is one who extends the borders. He will seize the southern lands, before considering the northern lands. He has been made to smite the Syrians and trample the Sand Travelers. Send to him and let him know your name. Do not plot anything against His Majesty. He will do everything for you that his father did. He will not fail to do good for the hill-land that will be loyal to him." He spoke before me:"The beautiful Black Nation, she is indeed the land that knows his firmness. You are here, though, and will be with me. What I do for you will be good."

He placed me at the head of his children. He settled me with his eldest daughter and let me choose for myself from his hill-land, from the choicest of his surrounds on the border of the next hill-land. It was a beautiful land, called Iaa.

There were figs there and grapes. It had wine more abundant than water. Its honey was plentiful, its plant-oil innumerable. On its trees were all kinds of fruit. There was barley there and wheat, and unlimited cattle of every kind. Much also accrued to me as coming for love of me. He made me ruler of a clan from the most select of his hill-land.

I acquired food, jars and wine in the course of a day. Meat was cooked, ducks roasted, as well as the livestock. They laid snares for me, and laid down the catch for me, as well as the goods of my hounds. They made for me numerous meals and milk in every kind of dish. I spent many years, and my children had grown to adults. Each man of them in control of his own clan, and any envoy on his way to or from the Residence, he stopped by me. I sheltered everyone. I gave water to the thirsty. I placed the man who went astray back on the road. I rescued the afflicted, any Syrian who fell to fomenting strife and disturbing the rulers of hill-lands, I challenged their movements.

This ruler of Syria made me spend many years as commander of his army. Every hill-land I moved against, I ensured I prevailed over it, removing down to the plants at its wells. I captured its cattle, brought away its servants, removed their food, and slew its inhabitants. By my right arm, by my bow, by my movements, by my excellent plans, I became invaluable to him, and he loved me, for he knew how valiant I was. He placed me at the head of his children, for he saw the firmness of my arms. There came a hero of Syria who challenged me in my tent.

He was an unrivalled champion, who had prevailed over the entire region. He said he would fight me. He intended to smite me. He planned to carry off my cattle before the council of his clan. That ruler was consulting with me, so I said I did not know the man, that it was not I who went to him and strode into his tent, or was it I who opened his gate, and moved past his walls?

He must have been tempted to it when he saw me carrying out your missions. Well, I am like a bull of the strikers amid another herd of cattle. The bull of the herd smites him; the horned bull assails him. Does a lowly man become loved when fate makes him a master? There is no desert-Sand Traveler who befriends a marsh man. Does a marsh-reed flourish on the mountain-side? Does a bull love to fight? Then should a herd-leader like to turn back in fear of being matched? If he wishes to fight, let him be told his wish. Does a god not know what he ordained? Or a man who knows how it will be? I went to rest, tied my bow, sharpened my arrows, whetted the blade of my dagger, arrayed my weapons. At dawn Syria came, it roused its people. It assembled the hill-lands on either side, for it knew of this fight. He came toward me as I stood, and I placed myself next to him.

Every heart was burning for me. Women and men pounding. Every mind was willing me on, "is there any hero that can fight against him?"And then his shield, his dagger, his armor, his holder of spears fell. As I approached his weapons, I made my face dodge and his weapons were wasted as nothing, each piled on the next. Then he made his charge against me. He imagined he would strike my arm.

As he moved over me, I shot him. My arrow lodged in his neck. He cried out, and fell on his nose. I felled him with his dagger. I uttered my war-cry on his back. Every Asiatic lowing, I gave praise to Muntu...as his servants mourned for him This ruler Amunenshi took me into his embrace. Then I brought away his goods. I carried off his cattle. What he had planned to do to me, I did to him. I seized what was in his camp, and uncovered his tent.

There I was in greatness. I was broad in my standing. I enjoyed wealth in cattle. Thus the god acted to make peace for the one he had cursed. The one he had led away to another hill-land. Today his heart is appeased. The fugitive flees from his surrounds, but my right place is in the Residence. The deserter deserts from hunger, but I can give bread to my neighbor. A man abandons his land from nakedness, but I, I own white linen, the finest cloth. A man runs away for lack of one to send, but I, I own many servants. My estate is fine, my place is broad, my renown is in the palace. Whichever god ordained this flight, be at peace, give me back to the Residence. Have mercy on me and let me see the place where my heart resides.

See how great it is to wrap my corpse in the land in which I was born. Come in my defense, then, a good event has occurred, I have appeased the god. May he act so as to bring right the end for one he afflicted. May his heart pain for the one he excluded to live on the hill-land. Today at last he is appeased. Let him hear the prayer of the exile. May he bring back his arm for the one he forced over the land, back to the place he brought him from. May the king of The Black Nation be content with me, may I live in his pleasure, greeting the lady who is in his palace. May I hear the missions of her children, that my body be young, for now old age has descended.

Sloth has overwhelmed me. My eyes are heavy, my arms slack. My legs are unstable, my heart seeks rest. I am drawn close to departure, when they will bear me to the city of eternity. May I follow the Lady of All that she may tell me what is good for her children. May she draw eternity over me. Now report was made to the Majesty of the dual king Kheperkara justified, concerning this condition I was suffering. Then His Majesty sent to me largesse of before the king. He extended his heart to this servant as to a ruler of any hill-land. And the king's children who were in his palace let me hear their commissions.

Copy of the decree brought to this servant concerning bringing him to The Black Nation. The Horus living of births, he of the Two Ladies living of births, the dual king Kheperkara son of Ra of Amenemhat living forever eternally.

Decree of the king to the follower Sinuhe: See this decree of the king is brought to you to inform you that you have traveled the hill-lands, going from Qedem of Syria. Hill-land gave you to hill-land following the counsel of your heart to yourself.

What was it you had done, or had been done to you? You did not say wrong that your words be punished. You did not speak in the council of officials that your statements be bound. This matter, it carried off your heart - there was nothing in my heart against you. This your heaven who is in the palace, she is well and strong today. Her head is adorned with the kingship of the land. Her children are in the inner palace. May you add the riches of their gift to you, that you may live by their offerings. Prepare your return to The Black Nation, that you may see the Residence where you were born. That you may kiss the ground at the Great Double Gate, and join the courtiers. Today now you have begun to age.

You have unraveled virility. You are reminded of the day of burial, of passing to reverence. A night is cut for you with oils and wrappings from the Goddess Linen. A procession of passing is made for you, on the day of rejoining the earth. A case of gold, a mask of lapis lazuli, the sky over you, placed in the bier.

The oxen drawing you, chanters in front of you. Dances are made by the sacred dancers at the door of your tomb. Offerings are pronounced for you, meat is butchered at the door of your chapel. Your columns are enriched with silver in the midst of the king's children.You will not die upon the hill-land, the Asiatics will not bury you. You are not to be placed in a sheepskin as your enclosure is made. It is too long for wandering the land, think of the corpse and return.

This decree reached me as I stood among my clan. It was read out to me, and I placed myself on my belly. I touched the ground and put it strewn over my chest. I went around my camp shouting aloud, "How is this done for a servant whose heart led him astray to foreign lands! This is utter good, the mercy that rescues me from death. Your spirit will let me spend the end of my bodily days in the Residence." Copy of the report to this decree.

The servant of the palace says, In peace very greatly concerning this flight made by the humble servant in his ignorance. It is your ka, good god, lord of The Two-Lands, whom Ra loves, praised by Muntu lord of Thebes and Amun lord of the thrones of The Two-lands. By Sobek-Ra, Horus, Hathor, Atum and his nine gods; Soped perfect of Might of Semseru, Horus the easterner.

The lady of the cavern - may she join your brow, the tribunal at the front of the flood. Min-Horus amid the hill-lands, the great goddess, lady of Punt, Nut, Horwerra. All the gods of The Black Nation, of the hill-land, of the islands of the Great Green Sea. May they give life and power to your nostrils. May they join you in their giving. May they grant you eternity without end and unbounded time. Fear of you rebounds through lands and hill-lands, you grasp what the sun-disk circles.

This is a prayer by the humble servant to his lord for rescue from the west. Lord of insight, who perceives the populace, whose insight is the Majesty of the palace. This humble servant is in fear of saying it. It is like a matter too great to be repeated.

Great god, equal of Ra, in informing the one who has worked for him, himself. This humble servant is in the hand of the one consulting about him. It has to be placed under his care.Your Majesty is Horus who seizes, your arms are stronger than all lands. Now your Majesty decrees that he be brought, and Meki in Qedem, the mountain-men leading Kesh, Menus from the land of Fenkhu. These are the rulers by their exact names who have come into your affection, without mentioning Syria, as much yours as are your dogs. As for this flight made by this servant, it was not planned, it was not in my heart, I did not plot it. I do not know what separated me from my place, it was like a dream. It is as if a Delta-man saw himself in Abu(Upper Egypt), a marsh-man in the Land of the Bow(Nubia).I did not fear, I was not persecuted, I heard no accusation.

My name was not heard in the mouth of the reporter, and yet my limbs went cold. My legs panicked, and my heart took hold of me. The god who decreed this flight led me away: I am not the arrogant, not I. The man who knows his land, he fears. Ra has set fear of you throughout the land, the dread of you in every hill-land. Place me in the Residence or in this place. You are still the one who clothes this horizon. The disk shines for love of you, water is in the river to be drunk at your desire. The air in the sky, it is breathed in when you say so. This humble servant is to hand over the staff acquired by this servant in this place.

Then this servant will be returned as your Majesty permits in his desire. We live by the breath of your gift, as Ra, Horus and Hathor love this your noble life. As Muntu lord of Thebes wishes that it live forever, I was permitted a day in Iaa to hand over my things to my children, with my eldest son in charge of my clan, my clan and all my things in his hands; my servants, all my cattle, my fruits, all my sweet trees.

This servant arrived south. I touched on the ways of Horus, and the commander there who was organizing patrols sent a message to the Residence to inform them. Then his Majesty sent the good overseer of foragers of the King's House, followed by ships laden with the gifts of before the king. For the Syrians who came along with me to bring me to the ways of Horus, I pronounced each of them by his name.

All the cupbearers were busy at their tasks. I received and the captain loaded for me, and there was kneading and straining beside me until I reached the landing at The Two-Lands. Very early at daybreak there came the summons for me.

Ten men coming, ten men going to lead me to the palace. I touched the ground between the dawn rays, as the king's children stood on the walls at the conduct of my approach. The courtiers were led to the audience hall as I was placed on the way to the inner palace. I found His Majesty on the great throne on a podium of electrum.

Then I was stretched out on my belly. I lost myself in his presence. This god addressed me friendlily, as I was like a man seized in pitch black. My soul had gone, my body trembled. My heart was no longer in my body - could I know life from death? Then His Majesty said to one of those courtiers, "Raise him and let him speak to me."

Then His Majesty said, "Look at you, on return from traveling the hill-lands. The flight has worked its impact on you, you are grown old. You have reached old age. It is no small matter that your body will be purified, that you will not be interred by Sand Travelers - do not, do not be silent. You have not spoken, though your name is pronounced." Fearing the hand of punishment, I answered with the answer of the fearful, "What has my lord said to me that I might answer it - there is no slight to the god in this. It is terror that resides in my body.

Just as the fated flight came to be. See me before you - you are life, may your Majesty do as he desires." Then the king's children were brought in and His Majesty said to the king's wife, "Here he is, returned as an Asiatic, remade as a Syrian!" She uttered a very great cry, and the king's children in one outburst, they said before His Majesty, "It cannot truly be him, sovereign my lord." And His Majesty said, "It is truly he."

At that they brought their counterpoises, their images, their sistra in their hands. They waved them at His Majesty. Your arms are for the good, enduring king. The adornments of the lady of heaven. The goddess Gold gives life to your nose. The lady of the stars unites with you. The south crown fares north, the northern south, united as one in the way of your Majesty. The cobra is set at your brow, you have removed the weak from evil. Ra lord of The Two-Lands is pleased with you, praise to you as to the Lady of All. Rest your bow, untie your arrow, give breath to the one in lifelessness. Allow us this good turn, this wayfarer, son of the north wind, the Sand Traveler born in The Black Nation. He took flight for fear of you, he abandoned the land in dread of you. There will be no destruction for the face that sees your face. There will be no fear for the eye that looks at you.

Then His Majesty said, "He shall not fear, nor be given over to terror. He is to be a courtier among the officials. He may be placed in the midst of the court. Proceed to the inner palace, for instruction in appointing his standing."So I went inside the inner palace. The king's children giving me their arms. I went then to the Great Double Gate. I was installed at the house of a king's son, full of riches, with a bathroom, and images of the horizon. With valuables from the treasury - clothing of royal linen and ointment of the first for the king's officials whom he loves. Every cupbearer was busy at his task. Years were made to fall from my body, as I was shorn, my hair combed.

The load was returned to the hill-land, the garments to the Sand Travelers. I was arrayed in fine linen, and anointed with first quality oil. I lay down on a bed, and returned the sand to its dwellers, and the tree-oil to those who anoint themselves with it. I was given the house of a lord of an estate, as a gift from a courtier. Numerous craftsmen built it up, everything was strengthened anew. Foods were continually delivered to me from the palace, 3 or 4 times a day. Besides the gifts of the king's children without a moment of pausing, a pyramid-chapel of stone was built for me amid the pyramids. The overseer of glaze workers of the pyramid procured its ground. The overseer of sealers did the drawing, the sculptors did the cutting. The overseers of works who were at the pyramid temple ferried for it. Every tool that is set to the temple-terrace, it found its task there. I was given spirit-servants, and I made an estate for the cult, containing fields as endowment at the landing-stage as is done for the foremost official. My image was adorned with gold, its kilt in electrum. It is His Majesty who had it done. No poor mortal ever received such treatment. I am in the favor of before the king. Until the coming of the day to moor. This is its completion from its start to its finish as it is written.