The Precepts of Ptah-Hotep, part 2/5
If you are among the persons seated at meat in
the house of a greater man than yourself, take that which he gives you, bowing
to the ground. Regard that which is placed before you, but point not at it;
regard it not frequently; he is a blameworthy person who departs from this
rule. Speak not to the great man more than he requires, for one knows not what
may be displeasing to him. Speak when he invites you and your worth will be
pleasing. As for the great man who has plenty of means of existence, his
conduct is as he himself wishes. He does that which pleases him; if he desires
to repose, he realizes his intention. The great man stretching forth his hand
does that to which other men do not attain. But as the means of existence are
under the will of Ptah, one can not rebel against it.
If you are one of those who bring the messages
of one great man to another, conform yourself exactly to that wherewith he has
charged you; perform for him the commission as he has enjoined you. Beware of
altering in speaking the offensive words which one great person addresses to
another; he who perverts the trustfulness of his way, in order to repeat only
what produces pleasure in the words of every man, great or small, is a
detestable person.
If you are a farmer, gather the crops in the
field which the great Ptah has given you, do not boast in the house of your
neighbors; it is better to make oneself dreaded by one's deeds. As for him who,
master of his own way of acting, being all-powerful, seizes the goods of others
like a crocodile in the midst even of watchment, his children are an object of
malediction, of scorn, and of hatred on account of it, while his father is
grievously distressed, and as for the mother who has borne him, happy is
another rather than herself. But a man becomes a god when he is chief of a
tribe which has confidence in following him.
If you abase yourself in obeying a superior,
your conduct is entirely good before Ptah. Knowing who you ought to obey and
who you ought to command, do not lift up your heart against him. As you know
that in him is authority, be respectful toward him as belonging to him. Wealth
comes only at Ptah's own good-will, and his caprice only is the law; as for him
who . . Ptah, who has created his superiority, turns himself from him and he is
overthrown.
Be active during the time of your existence, do
no more than is commanded. Do not spoil the time of your activity; he is a
blameworthy person who makes a bad use of his moments. Do not lose the daily
opportunity of increasing that which your house possesses. Activity produces
riches, and riches do not endure when it slackens.
If you are a wise man, bring up a son who shall
be pleasing to Ptah. If he conforms his conduct to your way and occupies
himself with your affairs as is right, do to him all the good you can; he is
your son, a person attached to you whom your own self has begotten. Separate
not your heart from him.... But if he conducts himself ill and transgresses
your wish, if he rejects all counsel, if his mouth goes according to the evil
word, strike him on the mouth in return. Give orders without hesitation to
those who do wrong, to him whose temper is turbulent; and he will not deviate
from the straight path, and there will be no obstacle to interrupt the way.
If you are employed in the larit, stand or sit
rather than walk about. Lay down rules for yourself from the first: not to
absent yourself even when weariness overtakes you. Keep an eye on him who
enters announcing that what he asks is secret; what is entrusted to you is
above appreciation, and all contrary argument is a matter to be rejected. He is
a god who penetrates into a place where no relaxation of the rules is made for
the privileged.
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