CHAPTER I
OF THE BIRTH OF HARMACHIS; THE PROPHECY OF THE HATHORS; AND THE SLAYINGOF THE INNOCENT CHILD
By Osiris who sleeps at Abouthis, I write the truth.
I, Harmachis, Hereditary Priest of the Temple, reared by the divineSethi, aforetime a Pharaoh of Egypt, and now justified in Osiris andruling in Amenti. I, Harmachis, by right Divine and by true descent ofblood King of the Double Crown, and Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower Land.I, Harmachis, who cast aside the opening flower of our hope, who turnedfrom the glorious path, who forgot the voice of God in hearkening to thevoice of woman. I, Harmachis, the fallen, in whom are gathered up allwoes as waters are gathered in a desert well, who have tasted of everyshame, who through betrayal have betrayed, who in losing the glory thatis here have lost the glory which is to be, who am utterly undone--Iwrite, and, by Him who sleeps at Abouthis, I write the truth.
O Egypt!--dear land of Khem, whose black soil nourished up my mortalpart--land that I have betrayed--O Osiris!--Isis!--Horus!--ye Gods ofEgypt whom I have betrayed!--O ye temples whose pylons strike the sky,whose faith I have betrayed!--O Royal blood of the Pharaohs of eld, thatyet runs within these withered veins--whose virtue I have betrayed!--OInvisible Essence of all Good! and O Fate, whose balance rested on myhand--hear me; and, to the day of utter doom, bear me witness that Iwrite the truth.