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Collected songs from the ballad-mistress (verso) A.31-37
[First Stanza]
Boy
|
| a |
There is no one like my sister, |
| |
the most lovely of all women.
|
| b |
She is Sirius rising |
| |
heralding the rising Nile.
Shining, light-skinned, exquisite,
her eyes constantly wandering.
|
| c |
Her lips speak sweetly |
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but do not ramble.
Her neck is long, her breasts white
her hair lapis lazuli.
|
| d |
Her arms outshine gold, |
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with lotus-fingers,
full rear, narrow waist,
and thighs that lead to splendor.
Her stride is a magic-charm;
my heart is bewitched in her embrace.
|
| e |
She’ll turn the head of any man |
| |
who catches a glimpse of her.
Any man who gets her into bed
is indeed a master lover.
|
| f |
When she emerges |
| |
it is like the emergence of the One.
Second Stanza
Girl
|
| a |
My brother's voice unsettles me |
| |
leaves me feeling ill.
He lives near my mother's house
but I cannot go to him.
|
| b |
My mother is right to order, |
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"Stop seeing him!"
But my heart is in turmoil when I think of him;
I cannot keep from loving him.
|
| c |
He may be crazy, |
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but I am too.
He must not know how I long to hold him
or he would contact my mother.
|
| d |
O brother, I was chosen for you |
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by the Golden One
Come! Let me gaze at you;
my parents will approve.
|
| e |
My people will welcome you in; |
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They will honor you, my brother.
Third Stanza
Boy
|
| a |
I devised to drink in her beauty |
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while sitting in her house.
On the way, there was Mehy in his chariot,
with his enchanted men in tow
(how could I escape?).
|
| b |
Could I just walk on by? |
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But the Nile was the road—
where could I put my feet?
(O foolish heart,
why are you so anxious to avoid Mehy?)
|
| c |
If I pass by him |
| |
he will see where I am going!
It is as good as surrendering to him.
Then he will call my name,
and put me in first place
among his devotees.
Fourth Stanza
Girl
|
| a |
My hearts races |
| |
When I think of you, love.
|
| b |
It throws ‘normal’ out the window |
| |
and leaps out of its place.
It won’t let me get dressed,
or put on a scarf,
I can’t do my eye-shadow,
or even rub on my oils.
|
| c |
“Go there now!” it insists |
| |
whenever he comes to mind.
|
| d |
Don’t be an idiot, heart, |
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are you out of your mind?
Be patient, be still, the brother will come.
There are eyes everywhere, you know!
I don’t want people saying,
“Love did this woman in.”
|
| e |
Keep calm when thinking of him. |
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Heart, stop racing!
Fifth Stanza
Boy
|
| a |
I laud the Golden One, |
| |
exalt her majesty,
extol the Mistress of Heaven,
give honor to Hathor,
and acclaim to my Lady.
When I called, she heard me
and sent me my lady. |
| b |
She came on her own. |
| |
Wonder of wonders!
I was pleased, joyful, ecstatic.
when they told me she was here.
When she came, the ‘lovers’ bowed
because of their love for her
|
| c |
So I’ll be pleading with my goddess |
| |
to grant me my sister as a gift.
It was already three days yesterday
since I started praying for her
and two days longer since I’ve seen her.
Sixth Stanza
Girl
|
| a |
I was passing near his house |
| |
and his door was ajar.
My brother was standing with his mother
and all his siblings.
|
| b |
Love must take hold |
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of anyone walking by—
such a magnificent youth; there is no one like him,
so honorable a brother.
|
| c |
He watched me going by |
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and I was in heaven.
I’ve been floating on air
since I first saw you, brother.
|
| d |
If my mother knew how I felt |
| |
she would go inside for a while.
O Golden One, make her think of that!
Then I could rush up to my brother
and kiss him—the kin could be there.
I would not be embarrassed.
They are welcome to watch
you acknowledge me.
I’d make a feast for my goddess
|
| e |
Oh, how I long to go out |
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and see my brother tonight.
Passing near is so thrilling!
Seventh Stanza
Boy
|
| a |
It has been seven days since I saw my sister. |
| |
Sickness has invaded me.
I have grown sluggish;
I can hardly move.
|
| b |
The best doctors look in on me; |
| |
their medicines have no effect.
The magicians are useless;
They can make no sense of it.
|
| c |
Tell me she is here, and I’ll come alive |
| |
Her name would get me up
Her messengers showing up
would give life to my heart.
Better my sister than any prescription,
than anything you’ll find in a medical text;
her arrival is my amulet.
|
| d |
I see her, I’m healthy; |
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she looks at me, I’m strong;
|
| e |
I hold her, all sickness is driven away! |
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But it has been seven days since we parted.
(Verso) B.38-40
1. Girl
|
| a |
I wish you would come quickly to your sister |
| |
like the king’s quickest messenger
His master is anxious for news
He waits for it impatiently.
|
| b |
The stables are ready for him |
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while horses are waiting at the stations
The chariot is already harnessed—
no time to rest on the way.
|
| c |
Only on reaching his sister’s house |
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will he will be truly happy.
2. Girl
|
| a |
I wish you would come |
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like one of the king’s horses
chosen from among a thousand:
the best the stable can offer.
|
| b |
It has the best feed to help it run |
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and its master is familiar with its paces.
It just hears the sound of the whip
and there’s no holding it back.
There is no master rider
who can overtake it.
|
| c |
The sister knows |
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that he is not far away.
3. Girl
|
| a |
I wish you would come quickly to your sister |
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like a swiftly running gazelle on the plain,
with stumbling feet, and weary to the bone,
because it is gripped with fear.
|
| b |
Hunter and hounds are in hot pursuit, |
| |
but they can’t even see it for the dust.
It regards a place of rest as a trap
and takes the river as a road
|
| c |
Then you will reach my cave |
| |
even before getting your hand kissed four times
You are in pursuit of your sister’s love
since, my friend, the Golden One has chosen her for you.
(Recto) C.41-47
“A collection of lively sayings found in a book container, written by the scribe Nakht-Sobek from the City of the Dead. ”
Fox:
|
| a1 |
When you bring it to the house of (your) sister |
| |
and blow(?) into her cave,
her gate(?) will be raised up(?)
that her house-mistress may slaughter it.
Perhaps following Foster:
|
| a2 |
Bring it to your sister’s house; |
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come boldly into her den.
The gates of her reluctance will be thrown open;
She will ready herself for the ‘sacrifice.’
|
| b |
Ply her with song and dancing, |
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with wine and beer (she has plenty).
Get her tipsy, then close in;
finish the job that very night.
|
| c |
She’ll say, “Hold me now, |
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and we will still be that way when dawn comes.”
|
| a |
Bring it to your sister’s “window.” |
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when you are completely alone.
You will enjoy being in her snare.
A light breeze will keep your comfortable.
|
| b |
But even a storm wind |
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will not blow her away.
It only wafts her fragrance to you;
you are drunk with her scent
(as anyone would be).
|
| c |
It is the Golden One sending you a gift |
| |
to fill up your days.
3. Boy
|
| a |
My sister can certainly throw a lasso, |
| |
but never has to pay the cattle tax.
|
| b |
She lassos me with her hair, |
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ensnares me with her eye,
ties me up with her thighs,
and brands me with her seal ring.
4. Girl
|
| |
Why are you so conflicted: |
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“Should I go after her, hold her close?”
By Amon, I came to you,
my cloak hanging loose on my shoulder.
5. Girl
|
| |
My brother is at the canal, |
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one foot on the bank.
He is preparing an altar to spend the day
drinking his best beer.
He entices me with a glimpse of his member:
long, not so thick.
6. Boy
|
| |
My sister was so irritating! |
| |
I have to tell someone.
She left me standing by her front door
while she just went inside.
No invitation to join her—
she was deaf to my longing!
7. Boy
|
| a |
I was not in my right mind when I went by her house. |
| |
I knocked, but no one opened.
The doorkeeper was doing his job well!
|
| b |
Door, I will get you open |
| |
(or you will be the death of me),
but my will will be yours.
We could slaughter an ox inside?
|
| c |
Don’t resist me, door! |
| |
We could slaughter an ox to your bolt,
a calf for your threshold,
a fat goose to your door-posts,
and a duck to the key?
|
| d |
But instead, I think we’ll give the best parts of our ox |
| |
to the carpenter boy.
He’ll make us a new bolt of reeds
and a grass door.
|
| e |
Then whenever the brother comes |
| |
he’ll find that her house is open,
and a bed made with fine sheets,
and a pretty girl with them.
|
| f |
The girl will tell me, …
|
. New York: Scribner. 
