My translation and some notes.
Here is my free translation of "The Teaching
of King Amenemhat I to his son Senwosret"
with some notes which should explain my acting
approach to it.
I didn't do much research. But I took into account
Wolfgang Helck's and R.B. Parkinson's translations
and some translations I found on the Web, namely:
www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.ukwww.reshafim.orgwww.maat.sofiatopia.org http://proteus.brown.edu/fairburn
I can't help looking at this text as a precursor of
Machiavelli's "Il Principe". Amenemhat's only concern
is the welfare of his land and his teaching must be considered
as a sort of political manual for those who come after him.
So, even though the text is immersed in a gloomy
pessimistic atmosphere, I think this pessimism
must be taken cum grano salis.
It is directed mostly towards the kingly court, the seat of Power.
And where there is Power, there is Treason.
And Treason means Conflict and Conflict... Ruin.
I think the first lines are spoken by Senwosret,
who is bringing back to memory his father's recommendations,
which he received - we are entitled to imagine - in a dream.
1. The beginning of the Teaching
2. made by the Majesty of the dual king
3. Sehotepibra, son of Ra,
4. Amenemhat, justified!,
5. that he told - in revelation -
( / wpt mAat / is not only a dream-state, but "the opening
of the way of Truth" as well )
6. to his son, the Lord of All.
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7. He said: "O you, risen as a god,
( Senwosret is the new king, so he has already risen )
8. listen to what I tell you,
9. that you dominate the Land,
be the ruler of the Banks,
10. that you may bring wealth and goodness!
(This is the point: the goodness of the land, not
the king's own ambition!)
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The most dangerous subjects are those whose
ambition has no restraint , that feel no respect for
the king's authority and are not afraid of him.
11. Beware of those subjects who have not advanced,
12. whose hearts are not in awe.
13. Don't draw near them all alone.
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Here we see how lonely the king is compelled to be:
he must have no brothers, no friends, no love.
For brothers and friends are possible enemies.
And enemies of the king are enemies of the country.
14. Have no brotherly feelings,
(Many translate "Trust no brother", but I think
Amenemhat's advice is "not to behave as a brother would".
It's him - Senwosret - that must not act either brotherly
or friendly. He must be on his own.
15. Do not acknowledge friends,
16. Do not form a group of intimates:
17. Nothing will come of it! When you sleep,
18. your own heart be your guard,
19. since there are no supporters
20. for a man in the day of trouble.
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In the following lines Amenemhat expresses his bitter view
of humanity. It's a big mistake to be generous to people
who are mostly ungrateful and traitorous, especially within the Court.
21. I gave to the poor,
22. I made the needy grow, [I did raise the humble],
23. I made he who had nothing
24. reach the state of him who has.
25. He who ate my food did revolt.
26. He whom I gave my aid to
27. did use it to raise fear.
28. Those clad in my fine linen looked at me as if in rags.
29. Those who were myrrh-anointed did pour dishwater. [slanders?]
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Here Amenemhat does stage the scene of his murder.
I interpret the "living images" as "drawings". The story
of his murder must be a living witness for his son.
He must not forget what happened, or he will fall
by the same means as well.
30. Living images, shaped in human forms [drawings]
31. make for me a lamentation
32. that has not yet been heard.
33. Such a fight -- never seen before!
34. When one fights in the arena
35. unaware of yesterday there is no use for excellence
36. for him who does not know what he should know!
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I think "darkness, weariness, sleep" are metaphores.
He felt too satisfied and he took his rest. He shouldn't
have. A king must not allow himself the luxury
of slumber. He must not relax!
37. After supper. Darkness had fallen.
38. Having spent an hour
39. of great delight
40. I was lying on my bed. I had grown weary.
41. My heart began to follow my sleep.
42. Weapons which should have watched did turn against me.
43. I was like a snake of the graveyards.
44. I woke up to a fight. I was quick on alert!
45. I found it was the Guards that did assault me.
46. If I had been as fast to grab my weapons
47. I would have made those cowards turn their backs,
48. trembling and seized by terror.
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It seems that lines 49-51 are contradictory with lines
15-20. There he said there was no use to have friends,
here he says without friends you are done for.
But it's possible that "he himself" is the / mkw / he is talking about.
He will be the Protector of his son, since he teaches him
how to behave and to avoid the dangers which caused his
(Amenemhat's) fall.
He is aware that the king cannot rule the land
by himself, that he needs officers and assistants.
But Senwosret must not forget that they are with him
mostly for private reasons , not for love.
And he must not forget what happened in the Court
and why it happened. Amenemhat's tragic experience
shall be Senwosret's guide. It will be his protection.
49. But no one can be valiant in the dark, there is no fight - if one is all alone.
50. No good result will come
51. without a Protector.
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Then Amenemhat proceeds to examine his mistakes.
His biggest one has been not to have stated clearly
that Senwosret was his successor. He didn't do it because
he had been improvident. He did not foresee the possible dangers.
The thought that subjects could turn against their king
was for him unbelievable. It was something against nature!
And that's why he wants to / wpt mAat / (v. 5) to Senwosret,
to show him what the real nature (mAat) of human Nature is.
52. Look, the murder occurred while I was without you.
53. The courtiers had not heard I would have raised you,
54. I had not shared my throne with you -
55. so that I would back you up! -
(Lit. "that I could execute what you had planned
/ give my assent to the execution of your plans")
56. since I had no fear,
57. I didn't think about it,
58. and my heart had not grasped the carelessness of servants.
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Here are some examples of illogical actions.
59. Had women ever raised troops?
60. Are rebels brought up in the Palace?
61. Is water let to go forth while digging canals
62. just to befool the commoners at their work?
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His second big mistake: he relied too much on his valour.
He thought it made him untouchable.
63 . Evil had not approached me since I was born.
64. And I had no equal
65. in doing deeds of valour. I went down to Elefantine
66. and turned back -- to the Delta.
67. Standing on its limits
68. I did gaze upon the land.
69. I went as far as the most distant strongholds
70. displaying my strength and my form.
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He felt himself favoured by the gods.
In fact he made his land powerful, rich and wealthy.
71. Barley grew because of me, beloved by Nepri.
72. Hapy did greet me when the Floods took place.
73. No hunger in my years,
74. no thirst therein.
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He had become a mythical figure. The story of
his feats - perhaps exaggerated - were told throughout the land.
His victorious wars against foreigners ...
75. People could take their rest thanks to what I had done
76. and sat down to tell my feats.
77. All my commands were fit to the purpose.
78. I did tame the lions,
79. mine were the crocodiles,
80. I subdued the Nubians,
81. I did squeeze the Medjay,
82. I did force the Asiatics
83. to fly - tails between their legs!
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His splendid Palace....
84. I built for myself a house
85. decorated with gold.
86. Its ceilings : lapis lazuli.
87. Walls of silver, floor of sycomore,
88. doors of copper, bolts of bronze,
89. made to last forever and ever.
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People looked at him as an omnipotent being.
90. I was known throughout the world.
91. I was the Lord of All.
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And here is the main point of the teaching.
Amenemhat cannot stand the present chaos
(of which he is indirectly responsible).
If Senwosret will not be capable of handling the
dangerous situation, tha land shall decay and collapse.
He is worried about his country. He does not ask
for revenge. And his only hope is Senwosret,
who is alone now, who has to stand on his own two feet
and who has to bring to conclusion what he,
Amenemhat, did begin. As for himself
he can only gaze and throw his benevolent look
on his beloved son.
92. Now rabble fills the streets.
93. The wise says "yes". The ignorant says "no",
94. since he cannot know, [be in awe]
95. he who is deprived of your sight.
(With a second meaning: he who does not see your
face, that is, he who does not know your strength,
will show no respect. So you have to show them
whom and how strong you are.)
Senwosret, my son!
96. Now you are standing on your own two feet.
97. You have to rely on yourself.
98. My gaze rests on you -- born
99. in the hour of joy
100. in the presence of the Sunfolk -
101. may they give you praises!
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Here he repeats the task his son must accomplish.
102. Look, I made the beginning
103. so as to arrange for you the end.
104. I have made my desire reach its goal for you:
105. that you wear the White Crown, you scion of the gods!
106. What had been decreed is fulfilled
107. as I had planned it for you.
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He tells his son to be confident, since the gods themselves
approved of his ascent to the throne.
108. There is jubilation in the barque of Ra
109. since ascended to the throne he who became a Beginner.
(I think in this context / Xry-HAt / means "Beginner",
that is the one who begins a new era.)
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A small ironic touch. Amenemhat wants to be clearly stated
that he is the first, no matter what. But that his son must follow
his pathway whatsoever and must build for himself a mythic image
(that of lines 77-91) which will help him to rule the land.
110. Though none can equal my feats, be valiant!
111. Erect monuments, make splendid your tomb-shaft.
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Those last lines are very controversial indeed. I followed
the Sallier II version with no corrections.
I think the scribe did purposely use
the ancient / kw / (2nd dependent pronoun)
for a sort of pun with / kw / (1st perfect singular)
and / =k / (2nd suffix)
and the / tw / of / Hr rx tw / could be a 2nd dependent pronoun
or the indefinite / =tw / . But I wouldn't bet on it!
Anyway I think the last teaching of Amenemhat
is this: You must fight so that the world knows whom you are.
That is: you must inspire fear and awe in your subjects.
And you must know what's happening around.
You must be informed about everything. (Intelligence).
And he repeats his main argument: do not trust
he who sits besides you, because he does not love you.
112. Fight! So as to be known and to know.
113. Since he is one who does not love
114. he who stands next to his King, life, prosperity,health!