| [The jars] were standing open for the serpent and so it drank and became intoxicated. Then it lay down and turned itself over on its back. So his wife chopped it in pieces with her axe. All this awoke her husband […..] She said to him, “See, your god has delivered one of your fates into your hands. He will guard you [from now on].”
Then he made an offering to Pre and praised his benefices loudly each and every day. Some time after that, the lad went for a stroll for relaxation on his property. [His wife] did not accompany him but that dog of his was with him. All of a sudden that dog of his took to talking, [in order to…?] He ran away from him and reached the lake. He went down into the [water in order to escape?] that dog. Up came the crocodile. He seized him [and brought him] to the place where the spirit [usually was]. The crocodile said to the lad, “Aye, I am your fate, making pursuit of you. But it is two months now that I have been fighting with the spirit. Therefore, see, I will let you go. If my [enemy returns to engage me in battle?] come you then in support of me and slay the demon. But if you spy out the [spirit, do not tell him that you have seen?] the crocodile.” Now after dawn and the next day had come about, the....... [End of the original tale--now comes the fanciful conclusion:] prince returned to the lake. He found his dog waiting for him upon the road. The prince said to his dog, “Woe to you, you strange manner of beast! What is the meaning of your speaking like that and putting fear of you into the heart of one who has raised you from a puppy?” This dog said to him, “Ah, the gift of speech was given to me and I swear by every god that I do not know how it occurred. See, I did you no harm! Beware of all things in the land of Naharin. Let us return to Egypt and see what has transpired there.” Lo, the prince did not listen to the speech of his dog. He said to him, “Ha, since the time of the ancient gods, never has a man taken counsel from a dog. My step-mother, who happens to hate me, is in the land of Egypt. O son of Anubis, you are to me as the face of Apophis against Pre!” GO TO NEXT |