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48
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD

ing out. he shall perform [all] the transformations which his heart shall desire for him and he shall not die; behold, the soul of [this] man shall flourish. and moreover, if [he] know this chapter he shall be victorious upon earth and in the underworld, and he shall perform every act of a living human being. now it is a great protection which [hath been given] by the god. this chapter was found in the foundations of the shrine of hennu by the chief mason during the reign of his majesty the king of the north and of the south, hesepti, triumphant, who carried [it] away as a mysterious object which had never [before] been seen or looked upon. this chapter shall be recited by a man who is ceremonially clean and pure, who hath not eaten the flesh of animals or fish, and who hath not had intercourse with women.

ii.[1] if this chapter be known [by the deceased] he shall be victorious both upon earth and in the underworld, and he shall perform every act of a living human being. now it is a great protection which [hath been given] by the god.

this chapter was found in the city of khemennu, upon a block of the south, which had been inlaid [with letters] of real lapis-lazuli, under the feet of the god during the reign of his majesty, the king of the north and of the south, men-kau-ra (mycerinus) triumphant, by the royal son heru-ta-ta-f,[2] triumphant; he found it when he was journeying about to make an inspection of the temples. one nekht(?) was with him who was diligent in making him to understand(?) it, and he brought it to the king as a wonderful object when he saw that it was a thing of great mystery, which had never [before] been seen or looked upon.

this chapter shall be recited by a man who is ceremonially clean and pure, who hath not eaten the flesh of animals or fish, and who hath not had intercourse with women. and behold, thou shalt make a scarab of green stone, with a rim plated(?) with gold, which shall be placed in the heart of a man, and it shall perform for him the “opening of the mouth.” and thou shalt anoint it with anti unguent, and thou shalt recite over it [these] enchantments:[3]

  1. From Papyrus of Nu, sheet 21.
  2. He was the son of Cheops, builder of the Great Pyramid at Gizeh.
  3. Here follows the text of Chapter the of “Preserving the Heart,” page 25.