ote 3: This response was to be repeated after each petition.]

[Footnote 4: A Light-god.]

[Footnote 5: Harmakhis of the Greeks.]

[Footnote 6: A form of Osiris.]

[Footnote 7: The Henu Boat of Seker was drawn round the sanctuary of
Seker each morning.]

[Footnote 8: A district of Hensu.]

[Footnote 9: Herakleopolis in Upper Egypt.]

[Footnote 10: Eileithyiaspolis in Upper Egypt.]

The following passage illustrates the general character of a funerary
hymn to Ra: "Homage to thee, O thou who art in the form of Khepera,
Khepera the creator of the gods. Thou risest, thou shinest, thou
illuminest thy mother [the sky]. Thou art crowned King of the Gods.
Mother Nut[1] welcometh thee with bowings. The Land of Sunset (Manu)
receiveth thee with satisfaction, and the goddess Maat[2] embraceth thee
at morn and at eve. Hail, ye gods of the Temple of the Soul (_i.e._
heaven), who weigh heaven and earth in a balance, who provide celestial
food! And hail, Tatunen,[3] One, Creator of man, Maker of the gods of
the south and of the north, of the west and of the east! Come ye and
acclaim Ra, the Lord of heaven, the Prince--life, health, strength be to
him!--the Creator of the gods, and adore ye him in his beautiful form as
he riseth in his Morning Boat (Antchet).

"Those who dwell in the heights and those who dwell in the depths
worship thee. Thoth and the goddess Maat have laid down thy course for
thee daily for ever. Thine Enemy the Serpent hath been cast into the
fire, the fiend hath fallen down into it headlong. His arms have been
bound in chains, and Ra hath hacked off his legs; the Mesu Betshet[4]
shall never more rise up. The Temple of the Aged God [in Anu] keepeth
festival, and the sound of those who rejoice is in the Great House. The
gods shout for joy when they see Ra rising, and when his beams are
filling the world with light. The Majesty of the Holy God goeth forth
and advanceth even unto the Land of Sunset (Manu). He maketh bright the
earth at his birth daily, he journeyeth to the place where he was
yesterday. O be thou at peace with me, and let me behold thy beauties!
Let me appear on the earth. Let me smite [the Eater of] the Ass.[5] Let
me crush the Serpent Seba.[6] Let me destroy Aapep[7] when he is most
strong. Let me see the Abtu Fish in its season and the Ant Fish[8] in
its lake. Let me see Horus steering thy boat, with Thoth and Maat
standing one on each side of him. Let me have hold of the bows of [thy]
E