text, line 46.
and the edict of Canopus ed.

Lepsius, hieroglyphic text 1.3.

Gr.
text 1.

5.) mention the celebration of the birthday of one of the Ptolemies; and even of Rameses II., so early as the 14th century B.
C.we read: "There was joy in heaven on his birthday."] The entire body of officials and deputies streamed from the provinces up to the royal city, bringing presents to their ruler and good wishes; they came also to take part in the great sacrifices at which horses, stags, bulls and asses were slaughtered in thousands as offerings to the gods.
At this festival all the Persians received gifts, every man was allowed to ask a petition of the king, which seldom remained unfulfilled, and in every city the people were feasted at the royal expense.

Cambyses had commanded that his marriage with Nitetis should be celebrated eight days after the birthday, and all the magnates of the realms should be invited to the ceremony.
The streets of Babylon swarmed with strangers, the colossal palaces on both shores of the Euphrates were overfilled, and all the houses stood adorned in festal brightness.
The zeal thus displayed by his people, this vast throng of human beings,--representing and bringing around him, as it were, his entire kingdom, contributed not a little to raise the king's spirits.
His pride was gratified; and the only longing left in his heart had been stilled by Nitetis' love.