The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10
OLDEST Of THE WORLDS POEMS.
London Standard

London Standard
Near to the pyramid at Ilahun, Prof. Petrie
found during HIS exploration in lsss9o the eN-
tve town occupied by the workmen en-
ploycd by usertesen II in building his pyra-
mid and other public works. In the office
where the records of the town were kept irof
petrie discovered large number Of papyri,
Most OF these were official and legal doeu-
mente, relating to the works carried on. nc
counts OF payments to workmen, OF food ana
provisions received and Issued, fiscal ac-
counts. census papers etc, and all the usual
accumulation of government ofhce-dry and
unlnteresting on the whole, but abounding
In details which are OF the greatest value 10
the historian and Archaeological. The more at
tractive fields OF general and scientific litora'
ture were not, however, unrcpresonted. for
we have works on medicine. diseases of wo-
men. veterinary surgery and mathematics
but the Rom of the collection is royal cd,
or hymn of welcome addressed to usortesnr
| III. apparently by tho people OF the Fayoum
I After long and patient work these broker
and torn fragments have been arranged aut
are now published with autotype rcproduc
tions transcript and partial translatlons bi
f.. Llewolyn Griffith. The poem to userte
sen III is written In 3 fine, bold, hicratic hant
upon papyrus measuring forty-six inches II
| length and twelve in Width and consists when
completed OF six stnn2as OF ten lines each It's
value lies In It's being certainly the Oldest
poem IN tho world, nearly fifteen centuries
before the time Of Moses, and also IN the
wonderful way IN which It describes la most
ngurativo language tie great work that the
King had done IN the expansion OF tho
| Egyptian empire.
Homage to thee our Horus divine Of beings
| Protecting the land, and widening ita boun
dHrie8.
/ lnclosng the two lands, within the compass
/ of his hands, and sciSing the nations IN
his grasp.
The tongue Of his majesty bindeth Nubia, hli
utterancea put Ia flight the hedouin
Sole one OF youthful vlgor, guarding M
frontier, suffering not his subjects u
faint, but causing all the people to re
pose unto daylight.
As to his trained youth Ia their slumbers, hi
heart fmindJ Is their protection.
\ His decrces have formed his boundaries; hi
word mnketh strong the two regions.
Twice joyful are the gods thou hast ostab
lshod their offerings.
Twice joyful are the forefathers; thou hast In
creased their portions.
Twice Joyful is Egypt In thy strong arm; tho
hast protected the ancient regime.
Twice joyful are the people In thy policy, IN
mighty spirit hath taken upon Itself thel
welfare.
Twice joyful ARE thy paid young troops tho
hast made them TO prosper.
Twice joyful are thy veterans thou hast mad
them to renew their youth.
Twice great IL the lord OF his city; he is a
IL were, cool shelter. letting every ma
repose unto daylight
Twice great IS the lord OF his city, he u.s. a
II were, an asylum, delivering tn
frightened one from his enemy
Twice great Is the lord OF hla city, he Is Il
4, we're verdant shade and cool plac
in the time of harvest,
Twice great rs the lord OF his city; he u.s. n
1t were n corner warm and dry in tim
OF winter.
Twice great Is tho lord of his city; he is, o
IT were, rock barring the blast In tn
time Of tempest.
The closing lines are:
He hath come. he hath made ihe people {
Egypt to live; he hath destroyed It's al
fictions.
He hath come he hath made men and wome
TO live; and hath opened the throi
(voice) OF the eaptiyes.
He bath come we nurture one; We bury on
aged ones lin peace).