Louder and stronger rose his tones when he reached the turning-point of the battle, and began to celebrate the rescue of the king; and the Pharaoh listened with eager attention as Pentaur sang:--[A literal translation of the ancient Egyptian poem called "The Epos of Pentaur"] "Then the king stood forth, and, radiant with courage, He looked like the Sun-god armed and eager for battle.
The noble steeds that bore him into the struggle 'Victory to Thebes' was the name of one, and the other Was called 'contented Nura'-- were foaled in the stables Of him we call 'the elect,' 'the beloved of Amon,' 'Lord of truth,' the chosen vicar of Ra.
Up sprang the king and threw himself on the foe, The swaying ranks of the contemptible Cheta.
He stood alone-alone, and no man with him.
As thus the king stood forth all eyes were upon him, And soon he was enmeshed by men and horses, And by the enemy's chariots: two thousand five hundred.
The foe behind hemmed him in and enclosed him.
Dense the array of the contemptible Cheta, Dense the swarm of warriors out of Arad, Dense the Mysian host, the Pisidian legions.
Every chariot carried three bold warriors, All his foes, and all allied like brothers.
"Not a prince is with me, not a captain, Not an archer, none to guide my horses! Fled the riders! fled my troops and horse By my side not one is now left standing." Thus the king, and raised his voice in prayer.
"Great father Amon, I have known Thee well.
And can the father thus forget his son?
Have I in any deed forgotten Thee?
Have I done aught without Thy high behest Or moved or staid against Thy sovereign will?
Great am I--mighty are Egyptian kings But in the sight of Thy commanding might, Small as the chieftain of a wandering tribe.
Immortal Lord, crush Thou this unclean people; Break Thou their necks, annihilate the heathen.
And I--have I not brought Thee many victims, And filled Thy temple with the captive folk?
And for thy presence built a dwelling place That shall endure for countless years to come?
Thy garners overflow with gifts from me.
I offered Thee the world to swell Thy glory, And thirty thousand mighty steers have shed Their smoking blood on fragrant cedar piles.
Tall gateways, flag-decked masts, I raised to Thee, And obelisks from Abu I have brought, And built Thee temples of eternal stone.
For Thee my ships have brought across the sea The tribute of the nations.

This I did-- When were such things done in the former time?
For dark the fate of him who would rebel Against Thee: though Thy sway is just and mild.
My father, Amon--as an earthly son His earthly father--so I call on Thee.
Look down from heaven on me, beset by foes, By heathen foes--the folk that know Thee not.
The nations have combined against Thy son; I stand alone--alone, and no man with me.
My foot and horse are fled, I called aloud And no one heard--in vain I called to them.
And yet I say: the sheltering care of Amon Is better succor than a million men, Or than ten thousand knights, or than a thousand Brothers and sons though gathered into one.
And yet I say: the bulwarks raised by men However strong, compared to Thy great works Are but vain shadows, and no human aid Avails against the foe--but Thy strong hand.
The counsel of Thy lips shall guide my way; I have obeyed whenever Thou hast ruled; I call on Thee--and, with my fame, Thy glory Shall fill the world, from farthest east to west." Yea, his cry rang forth even far as Hermonthis, And Amon himself appeared at his call; and gave him His hand and shouted in triumph, saying to the Pharaoh: "Help is at hand, O Rameses.

I will uphold thee-- I thy father am he who now is thy succor, Bearing thee in my hands.

For stronger and readier I than a hundred thousand mortal retainers; I am the Lord of victory loving valor?
I rejoice in the brave and give them good counsel, And he whom I counsel certainly shall not miscarry." Then like Menth, with his right he scattered the arrows, And with his left he swung his deadly weapon, Felling the foe--as his foes are felled by Baal.
The chariots were broken and the drivers scattered, Then was the foe overthrown before his horses.
None found a hand to fight: they could not shoot Nor dared they hurl the spear but fled at his coming Headlong into the river." [I have availed myself of the help of Prof.Lushington's translation in "Records of the past," edited by Dr.S.Birch.

Translator.] A silence as of the grave reigned in the vast hall, Rameses fixed his eyes on the poet, as though he would engrave his features on his very soul, and compare them with those of another which had dwelt there unforgotten since the day of Kadesh.