Just a few words to let you know that...
This experiment has been quite difficult since I wanted
to test the expressive potentialities of a dramatic monologue.
In fact - much more than a classic "sbAyt" -
Amenemhat's teaching shows a manifest fascinating
and intriguing theatrical touch.
Pre-shakespearean, in a sort of way!
(I couldn't help to note resemblances - and I am not
the only one! - with the ghost's speech in Hamlet I,5.)
The trouble is that - being made of "maxims" -
the sentences may risk to become too fragmentary
and thus to obstruct the smoothness of the teaching.
So I used some small technical tricks (a few
echoes and reverberations - very discreet though)
just to avoid that danger.
Whether I did succeed... that's up to you to judge!
The hieroglyphic transcription is mine and I used as
reference Wolfgang Helck's "Lehre Amenemhets I.
fuer seinen sohn" (Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden).
I made my own text using various sources, especially
the Millingen and Sallier II papyri.
I don't know how correct that method is, but I am not
a philologist. I am only a
"poor player
that struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
and then is heard no more"
or, if you prefer, a very inexperienced scribing pupil.
And my transliteration may be very "unperfect" too.
As for my free translation- since it is quite unorthodox,
especially in the most controversial passages -
I include a small essay which explains the main points
of my personal interpretation.
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Here is my hieroglyphic text.
Here is my essay with translation and notes.
Here is the audio/video version.
Here is the audio/video version with English subtitles.
Or if you prefer
YOUTUBE
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As usual you can do whater you like with those files,
provided you don't use them for commercial purposes.
