NOTES ON LITEEATUEE IN EGYPT IN THE TIME OF MOSES. 173 



these show too great a departure from hieratic forms to be 

 cousidered their first derivatives ? Would not the Greeks 

 follow out the hint and provide for their own use an alphabet 

 at a date much earlier than that of any known Greek in- 

 scriptions ? May we not expect that future discoveries will 

 confirm this view of the question ? 



Egypt, at the time of the Exodus, was brought into close 

 contact with nations and peoples far advanced in alphabetic 

 writing and literary composition, such as Babylonia, Palestine, 

 Asia Minor, Arabia, and possibly also various Mediterranean 

 peoples. The Egyptians had a passion for writing. This 

 was not so clearly shown in the old Empire as during the 

 later periods of Egyptian history. The motives urged in 

 favour of learning were drawn from its practical utility 

 rather than from the ennobling influence or the pleasure 

 derived from its pursuit and acquisition. When the Egyptian 

 sage Daimf was saihng up the Nile with his son Pepi, Avhom 

 he wished to enter as a pupil in the " Court School of books," 

 he gave him this paternal advice ; " Give thy heart to learn- 

 ing and love her like a mother, for there is nothing that is 

 so precious as learning." 



This was the road to independence. The sage expresses 

 the sentiment of the time when he says : 



" Behold there is no profession which is not governed, 

 It is only the learned man who rules himself." 



Learning was the road to office and promotion. The 

 ignorant man is compared to a heavily-laden donkey, which 

 must be driven ; the learned man may live above work, for 

 his writing materials and rolls of books bring him riches and 

 pleasures. But diligence must be practised. " If the work 

 of books is an abomination to him, then the goddess of 

 fortune is not with him." The wise student will remain 

 faithful to learning, and will pray to Thoth, who will grant 

 him assistance in his studies. This god of letters is some- 

 times represented under the form of a sacred animal, and is 

 then described as the " baboon with shining hair and amiable 

 face." He is also called the "letter-writer for the gods." 

 The student prays to this god, saying : " Come to me and 

 guide me, and make me act justly in thine office. Thine 

 office is more beautiful than all offices. Let all the world 

 tell of thy might, that all men may say, ' Great is that which 

 Thoth hath done.' Let them come with their children to 

 cause them to be marked as scribes." 



