Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок
Chapter 11
"Itthensetout,infullrecord,thehistoryofherlifeandreign.
"Thesignsofsovereigntyweregivenwithatrulyfeminineprofusionofadornment.TheunitedCrownsofUpperandLowerEgyptwere,inespecial,cutwithexquisiteprecision.ItwasnewtousbothtofindtheHejetandtheDesher—theWhiteandtheRedcrownsofUpperandLowerEgypt—ontheSteleofaqueen;foritwasarule,withoutexceptionintherecords,thatinancientEgypteithercrownwaswornonlybyaking;thoughtheyaretobefoundongoddesses.Lateronwefoundanexplanation,ofwhichIshallsaymorepresently.
"Suchaninscriptionwasinitselfamattersostartlingastoarrestattentionfromanyoneanywhereatanytime;butyoucanhavenoconceptionoftheeffectwhichithaduponus.Thoughoureyeswerenotthefirstwhichhadseenit,theywerethefirstwhichcouldseeitwithunderstandingsincefirsttheslabofrockwasfixedinthecliffopeningnearlyfivethousandyearsbefore.Touswasgiventoreadthismessagefromthedead.ThismessageofonewhohadwarredagainsttheGodsofOld,andclaimedtohavecontrolledthematatimewhenthehierarchyprofessedtobetheonlymeansofexcitingtheirfearsorgainingtheirgoodwill.
"ThewallsoftheupperchamberofthePitandthesarcophagusChamberwereprofuselyinscribed;alltheinscriptions,exceptthatontheStele,beingcolouredwithbluish-greenpigment.
