Note 151 — ALBA’S DREAM. BY THE AUTHOR OF “ARE YOU MY WIFE?” “A SALON IN PARIS BEFORE THE WAR,” ETC. PART III. (continued 2)
Reading edition
It is of these innumerable names that the Egyptians formed their long litanies, which are, as it were, the type of those of the Catholic Church. M. Ancessi mentions having heard at Cairo some wandering musicians chanting under his window an old legend in the simple rhythm in which the melodic phrase, incessantly repeated, has a close resemblance to the Catholic litanies.
The following is a comparatively small portion of the papyrus of Neb-Qed, where the departed, arrived in the hall of Supreme Justice, enumerates the faults which he has avoided, proclaiming, at the same time, some of the titles of Osiris:
“O thou who marchest, [who art] come forth from An! I am without fault.
“O consumer of shadows! come forth from the double retreat; I have not slain any man.
“O purity of the face! come forth from Rastou; I have committed no fraud on the measures of corn.
“O Two Lions! come forth from heaven; I have committed no fraud in the dwelling of justice.
“O Flame! come forth in turning backwards; I have told no lie.
“O Rampart! come forth from the mysterious abode; I have done nothing worthy of condemnation.
“O thou that vivifiest the flame! come forth from Hat-Phtah; my heart has had no evil intentions.
“O thou that turnest back the head (etc)!... I have been no detractor.
“O mystery of the leg! come forth from the night; I have not given way to anger.
“O light of the senses! come forth from the mysterious region; I have had no intercourse with a married woman.
“O blood! come forth from the chamber of the lotus; I have not been depraved.
“O thou who perpetually renewest that which is! issued from Khem; I have not been violent....
“O thou who hidest words!... I have not been prodigal of words.
“O Nofre-Toum in Ha-Phtah-Ka. I have not committed abomination.
“O thou who art unchanging! issued from Dadou; I have done no outrage against the gods.
“O thou who sendest forth the heavenly river! come forth out of Saïs; I have not made the slave to be maltreated by his master.
“O thou who vivifiest intelligent beings! I have not defrauded the loaves in the temple.
“O beautiful Neb-Ka! I have not profaned the meat of the gods.... I have not taken off the wrappings of the mummies.... I have not taken away milk from the mouth of the infant.
“O thou whose eyes are like a sword! I have committed no fraud in the abode of justice.”
Each title given to Osiris alludes to some mystery or teaching in the Egyptian theology.