Khensu Nefer-Hetep and the Princess of Bekhten: Selections from ‘Legends of the Gods’ of Egypt, Part 2 of 2

A LEGEND OF PTAH NEFER-HETEP AND THE PRINCESS OF BEKHTEN (Continuation)

“Now, when the messenger came to His Majesty in the first month of the season of Shemu (harvest season), in the twenty-sixth year [of His reign], on the day which coincided with that of the Festival of Amen, His Majesty was in the palace (or, temple?) of Thebes. And His Majesty spoke a second time in the presence of Khensu in Thebes, [called] ‘Nefer-Hetep,’ saying, ‘O my fair Lord, I present myself before thee a second time on behalf of the daughter of the Prince of Bekhten.’ Then Khensu, in Thebes, [called] ‘Nefer-Hetep,’ was carried to Khensu, [called] ‘Pa-ari-sekher,’ the great god who drives away the spirits which attack. And His Majesty spoke before Khensu in Thebes, [called] ‘Nefer-Hetep,’ saying, ‘O my fair Lord, if, you will give (turn) thy face to Khensu, [called] “Pa-ari-sekher,” the great god who drives away the spirits which attack, permit thou that he may depart to Bekhten; [and the god] inclined his head with a deep inclination twice.’

And His Majesty said, ‘Let, I pray, thy protective (or, magical) power [go] (with him, so that I may make His Majesty to go to Bekhten to deliver the daughter of the Prince of Bekhten [from the spirit].’ And Khensu in Thebes, [called] ‘Nefer-Hetep,’ inclined his head with a deep inclination twice. And he made [his] protective power to pass into Khensu, [called] ‘Pa-ari-sekher-em-Uast,’ in a fourfold measure. Then His Majesty commanded that Khensu, [called] ‘Pa-ari-sekher-em-Uast,’ should set out on his journey in a great boat, [accompanied by] five smaller boats, and chariots, and a large number of horses [which marched] on the right side and on the left. And when this god arrived in Bekhten at the end of a period of one year and five months, the Prince of Bekhten came forth with His soldiers and His chief[s] before Khensu, [called] ‘Pa-ari-sekher,’ and He cast Himself down upon His belly, saying, ‘Thou has come to us, and thou are welcomed by us, by the commands of the King of the South and North, User-Maat-Ra-setep-en-Ra!’

And when this god had passed over to the place where Bent-Resht was, he worked upon the daughter of the Prince of Bekhten with his magical power, and She became better (was healed) straightway. […]”