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Plate XXVII.
naught, I have not known decay. I am (3) Ra who come forth from Nu, the divine Soul, the creator of his
own limbs. Sin is an abomination unto me, (4) and I look not thereon; I cry not out against right and
truth, but I have my being (5) therein. I am the god Hu, and I never die (6) in my name of 'Soul.' I have
brought myself into being together with Nu in my name of (7) 'Khepera.' In their forms have I come into
being in the likeness of Ra. I am the lord of light."
Appendix: In other ancient papyri the LXXXVth Chapter of the Book of the Dead ends as follows
(Naville, Todtenbuch, Bd. I., Bl. 97):--
"What I hate shall be buried (5). Let me not enter into the secret place of the god Tuaa. I ascribe glory
unto Osiris, and I pacify the heart of those who dwell in the god of creation, who love me, who spread (6)
abroad fear of me, and who strike terror of me into those who dwell in their own places. Behold me, for I
am exalted upon my resting-place, Nu, (7) upon the place which is adjudged unto me. I am Nu, and those
who work evil shall not overthrow me. I am the eldest and the first-born son of matter; my (8) soul is the
gods, who are the eternal souls. I am the creator of darkness who maketh his dwelling-place in the limits
of the regions of heaven. I come, and my soul advanceth (9) over the way of the Ancient Ones. I cause
darkness in the limits of the sky, and at my will I come unto the boundaries thereof I walk upon my feet,
I am strong (10) to pass over the sky, and I fetter with bonds the darkness and the worm that hideth
therein. I make my steps to advance unto the lord of the two hands (?) My soul (11) and the soul of my
body are the uræi, and I live for
{p. 339}
ever, the lord of years, and the prince of eternity. I am exalted as lord of the earth, I am exalted (?). I
grow young in (12) the cities, I grow youthful in my homestead, my name is 'My name decayeth not.' I
am the Soul, the creator of Nu, who maketh his dwelling-place in (13) Neter-khert. My nest is not seen,
my egg is not broken. I am the lord of millions of years. I make my nest in the limits of heaven. I descend
unto the earth of Seb (14). I do away with my faults. I behold my father, the lord of Mash; and his body
breatheth in Annu. I am provided with what I need 05) by Khnemu and Khui in the place of burial in
Amenta . . . . . . . .
Vignette: A bennu bird
Text [CHAPTER LXXXIII.]: (1) THE CHAPTER OF CHANGING INTO A bennu.
Saith Osiris, the scribe Ani, triumphant in peace: "I came into being from unformed matter, (2) I created
myself in the image of the god Khepera, and I grew in the form of plants. I am hidden in the likeness of
the Tortoise. I am formed out of the atoms of all the gods. (3) I am the yesterday of the four [quarters of
the world], and I am the seven uræi which came into existence in the East, the mighty one who
illumineth the nations (4) by his body. He is god in the likeness of Set; and Thoth dwelleth in the midst
of them by (5) judgment of the dweller in Sekhem and of the spirits of Annu. I sail (6) among them, and I
come; I am crowned, I am become a shining one, (7) I am mighty, I am become holy among the gods. I
am the god Khonsu who driveth back all that opposeth him."
Appendix: The following rubric to this chapter is found in a papyrus at Paris; see Naville, Todtenbuch,
Bd. II., Bl. 185:--
If this chapter be known, the purified one shall come forth by day after his burial, and he shall change his
forms at his heart's desire. He shall dwell among the servants of Un-nefer, and he shall be satisfied with
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