pendix).

[8] Pwenet: the identification is not certain.

[9] Fragments of another are in the British Museum.

[10] It has been thought to be as late as the Seventeenth (about 1600
B.C.), but the balance of opinion favours the above-mentioned period.

[11] The inscriptions and sculptures from this tomb have not yet been
published, but a work dealing with it will shortly appear. The above
titles, excepting the first, are from Lepsius, _Denkmaeler aus Aegypten
und Aethiopien_, Abth. II. 48, Berlin, 1849-68.

[12] Called Ptah-hotep I. by Egyptologists. For a description of his
tomb, see Mariette, A., _Les Mastabas de l'Ancien Empire_, Paris, 1889,
D. 62. For the other Ptah-hotep under Isosi, see Quibell, J. E., and
Griffith, F. L., _Egyptian Research Account; The Ramesseum and the Tomb
of Ptah-Hotep_, London, 1898. Also Davies, N. de G., and Griffith, F.
L., _Egypt Exploration Fund; The Mastaba of Ptahhetep and Akhethetep at
Saqqara_, 2 vols., London, 1900, 1901. The little figure on the cover
of this book is from this tomb.

[13] _The Wisdom of the Son of Sirach_, chap. xliv.

[14] The Egyptians were monogamists at this time, and the wife enjoyed
social equality with her husband.

[15] Page 29, footnote.

[16] _Noter_.

[17] This is an arbitrary name not existing in the original. It would
be better named 'The Declaration of Innocence.'

[18] It has been thought by many Egyptologists that 'the God' mentioned
in this and other texts is a nameless monotheistic abstraction
transcending all named gods. Although this theory has the support of
many great names, I venture to say that the evidence for such an
important doctrine is in the highest degree unsatisfactory.

[19] The books mentioned here are set forth in detail in the
Bibliography.

[20] Only of Ptah-hotep.

{41}

THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAH-HOTEP

The Ethics of Argument--Manners for Guests--From Father to Son--A Just
Judge--The Treatment of Servants--Duties of the Great--The Test of
Friendship--The Beauty of Obedience--One Generation to Another--Whom
the King Honoureth

The Instruction of the Governor of his City, the Vizier, Ptah-hotep, in
the Reign of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Isosi, living for ever,
to the end of Time.

A. The Governor of his City, the Vizier, Ptah-hotep, he said: 'O
Prince, my Lord, the end of life is at hand; old age descendeth [upon
me]; feebleness cometh, and childishness is renewed. He [that is ol