One day, Pharaoh Khufu, having heard about the miracles that an old magician named Djedi was performing, ordered to send for him and bring him to the palace so that the magician would show him his art.
When Djedi arrived and appeared before his majesty, the pharaoh asked:
- How did it happen, Jedi, that I have never seen you before?
- Only the one who is called comes, O my lord, may you live, may you be well and may you prosper! - Old Dzhedi bowed respectfully. - You called me - and here I come.
“Is it true what they say about you that you are so skilled in sorcery that you can reattach a severed head to your body?”
- That’s right, sir, may you live, live and prosper! - The old man bowed again.
Pharaoh clapped his hands, calling the servants: “Let them bring to me from prison a prisoner condemned to death!”
- No, I can’t do this to a person, oh lord, may you be alive, healthy and powerful! - Jed objected. - For it is forbidden to do this with the sacred flock of the great Ra and the gods.
Then Pharaoh ordered the goose to be brought. One of the servants cut off the bird's head with a knife. Djedi cast a magic spell - and the headless body of the goose rose, waddled through the pharaoh's chambers, at the other end, where the servant threw the severed head, stretched out its neck - and the head grew back. The goose perked up and cackled.
“Okay,” said the pharaoh, “I see that people were telling the truth: you are truly a great magician.” And tell me: do you know the number of secret chambers of the sanctuary of Thoth?
“No,” answered Jedi, “but I know where the plans for these chambers are kept.”
- So you can bring them to me? “I can’t,” answered Jedi. - Fate wants it to be brought to your majesty - may you be alive, healthy and powerful! - the eldest of three children currently in Rajedet’s womb. This Rajedet is the wife of the priest of the great god Ra. Maat predicted to her that her children would rule over the Two Lands.
The pharaoh's face darkened, and Djedi hastened to add: “Do not be sad, oh lord!” First you will reign, then your son, then your son’s son, and only after that the throne will go to one of Rajedet’s sons. - When will she give birth? - asked Pharaoh Khufu. - On the fifteenth day of the first month of Sprouting. “At this time, the canals dry up,” the pharaoh said thoughtfully. “That means I won’t be able to sail to Rajedet by ship.”
“Don’t worry, lord,” said Djedi. - If you order, I will make sure that the canals are filled with water.
At this point, Khufu and the sorcerer Djedi parted. And when the fifteenth day of the first month of Sprouting came, Pharaoh again called the old wizard to him and said to him:
“I am going to sail to Heliopolis, and you must go with me.” After all, you promised me to fill the dry canals with water.
Djedi bowed, boarded the ship with Pharaoh, and the ship set sail from the shores of Memphis, heading north. Soon a dry canal opened up to the pharaoh's gaze. The Lord of Egypt turned to the wizard, commanding: “Fulfill your promise!”
Jedi muttered a spell, and at the same moment the canal was filled to the top with water. The rowers swung their oars in unison, but as soon as the ship passed the mouth of the canal, all the water suddenly went underground, and the ship helplessly stuck its bottom into the river sand.
(The end of the tale has not been preserved. What follows is presented based on additions made by various researchers based on additional data borrowed from other sources.)
- What does this mean!? - Pharaoh Khufu exclaimed in anger. - Jedi, you swore to fill the canal with water!
- O lord, may you be alive, healthy and powerful! - answered the old magician. “I revealed to you the secret of the future, and you wanted to change it.” But no one can change what is destined for the great Maat. She tells you: “Come back, and may not your right hand touch the children of Rajedet!”
- So let the will of the gods be done! - exclaimed the prudent pharaoh, and as soon as these words left his lips, at the same instant the canal filled with water, and Khufu’s ship sailed back to Memphis.
Djedi's prediction came true: first Pharaoh Khufu reigned, then his son Khafre (Greek Khafre), then Menkaura (Greek Mikerin), son of Khafre and grandson of Khufu, and only after that the son of the priestess Rajedet ascended to the Egyptian throne.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru