Page:Books on Egypt and Chaldaea, Vol. 32--Legends of the Gods.pdf/152

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THE DESTRUCTION OF MANKIND
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at) the first time; I will not permit this to come upon me a second time." And the Majesty of the god Nu said, "O son Shu, be thou the Eye for thy father.....and avenge(?) him, and thou goddess Nut, place him ......" And the goddess Nut said, "How can this be then, O my father Nu?" "Hail," said Nut..... to the god Nu, and the goddess straightway became [a cow], and she set the Majesty of Rā upon [her] back..... And when these things had been done, men and women saw the god Rā upon the back [of the cow]. Then these men and women said, "Remain with us, and we will overthrow thine enemies who speak words of blasphemy [against thee], and [destroy them]." Then his Majesty [Rā] set out for the Great House, and [the gods who were in the train of Rā remained] with them (i.e., the men); during that time the earth was in darkness. And when the earth became light [again], and the morning had dawned, the men came forth with their bows and their [weapons], and they set their arms in motion to shoot the enemies [of Rā]. Then said the Majesty of this god, "Your transgressions of violence are placed behind you, for the slaughtering of the enemies is above the slaughter [of sacrifice];" thus came into being the slaughter [of sacrifice]. And the Majesty of this god said unto Nut, "I have placed myself upon my back in order to stretch myself out." What then is the