"I have heard the words of Imhotep and Hordedef,
Whose sayings are still recited in their entirety.
What of their places?
Their walls are in ruins,
Their places are no more
As if they had never existed!
None returns from there
To tell of their conditions,
To tell of their ruin,
To ease our headache
Until we hasten to the place where they have gone!
"So be happy!
Ignorance is bliss!
Follow your heart as long as you live!
Put myrrh on your head,
Wear fine linen,
Anoint with the real wonders that belong to a god!
Increase your joys,
Let not your heart be weary ,
But follow your heart and your happiness.
Do as your heart commands while you are upon the earth!
When the day of wailing comes for you,
The Weary-Hearted hears not their wailing,
Their mourning rescues no man from the netherworld!"
P.226-227, "Harpist's Song from the Tomb of Intef," WRITINGS FROM ANCIENT EGYPT (2016) translation by Toby Wilkinson

Thursday, April 19, 2018
HARPIST'S SONG TOMB OF INTEF
"I have heard the words of Imhotep and Hordedef,
Whose sayings are still recited in their entirety.
What of their places?
Their walls are in ruins,
Their places are no more
As if they had never existed!
None returns from there
To tell of their conditions,
To tell of their ruin,
To ease our headache
Until we hasten to the place where they have gone!
"So be happy!
Ignorance is bliss!
Follow your heart as long as you live!
Put myrrh on your head,
Wear fine linen,
Anoint with the real wonders that belong to a god!
Increase your joys,
Let not your heart be weary ,
But follow your heart and your happiness.
Do as your heart commands while you are upon the earth!
When the day of wailing comes for you,
The Weary-Hearted hears not their wailing,
Their mourning rescues no man from the netherworld!"
P.226-227, "Harpist's Song from the Tomb of Intef," WRITINGS FROM ANCIENT EGYPT (2016) translation by Toby Wilkinson