Page:Books on Egypt and Chaldaea, Vol. 32--Legends of the Gods.pdf/150

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
THE DESTRUCTION OF MANKIND
23

she drank [of the beer and blood], and her heart rejoiced, and she became drunk, and she gave no further attention to men and women. Then said the Majesty of Rā to this goddess, "Come in peace, come in peace, O Amit,"1 and thereupon beautiful women came into being in the city of Amit (or, Amem). And the Majesty of Rā spake [concerning] this goddess, [saying], "Let there be made for her vessels of the beer which produceth sleep at every holy time and season of the year, and they shall be in number according to the number of my hand maidens;" and from that early time until now men have been wont to make on the occasions of the festival of Hathor vessels of the beer which make them to sleep in number according to the number of the handmaidens of Rā. And the Majesty of Rā spake unto this goddess, [saying], "I am smitten with the pain of the fire of sickness; whence cometh to me [this] pain?" And the Majesty of Rā said, "I live, but my heart hath become exceedingly weary2 with existence with them (i.e., with men); I have slain [some of] them, but there is a remnant of worthless ones, for the destruction which I wrought among them was not as great as my power." Then the gods who were in his following said unto him, "Be not overcome by thy inactivity, for thy might is in proportion to thy will." And the Majesty of this god said unto the Majesty of Nu, "My members are weak for (or, as