The Quarrel of Apophis and Seknenre

It once happened that the land of Egypt was in misery, for there was no Lord, l.p.h., <as> (sole) king. A day came to pass when King Seknenre, l.p.h., was (still only) Ruler, l.p.h., of the Southern City (Thebes). Misery was in the town of the Asiatics (Avaris), for Prince Apaphis, l.p.h., was in Avaris, and the entire land paid tribute to him, delivering their taxes, (and) even the north bringing every (sort of) good produce of the Delta.

So King Apophis, l.p.h., adopted Seth for himself as lord, and he refused to serve any god that was in the entire land ex[cept] Seith. He built a temple of fine workmanship for the eternity next to the House of the [King Apo]phis, l.p.h., and he appeared [at break of] day in order to sacrifice...daily to Seth, while theofficials [of the palace], l.p.h., carried garlands, exactly as is practiced <in> the temple of Pre-Harakhti.

Now as for / King A[pophis], l.p.h., it was his wish to s[end] an inflammatory message <to> King Seknenre, [l.p.h., the] Prince of the Southern City. And a[fter] many days following this, King [Apophis, l.p.h.], then had [the high official]s of his [palace] summoned, [and he proposed to them that a messenger should be] sent [to the Prince of the Southern City with] a complaint...[concerning the] river, [but he was unable to compose it himself. Thereupon his] scribes and wise men... and high officials [said: O so]vereign, [our lord, demand that there be a withdrawal from the] canal of hippopotamuses [which lies at the east of the City because] they don't let [sleep come to us either in the daytime or at ni]ght, [for the noise of them is <in> our citizens' ear(s). And King Apophis, l.p.h., answered them saying: I shall send to the Prince of the [Southern Ci]ty... command... [that we may asses the power of the god who is] / with him as protector. He does not rely upon any god that is in the [entire land] except Amun-Re, King of the Gods.

Now after many days following this, King Apophis, l.p.h., then sent to the Prince of the Southern City <with> the complaint that his scribes and wise men had concocted for him. And when the messenger of King [A]pophis, l.p.h., reached the Prince of the Southern City, he was then taken into the presence of the Prince of the Southern City. Then One (Seknenre) said to the messenger of King Apophis, l.p.h.: Why have you been sent to the Southern City? Wherefore have you come journeying here? The messenger then / told him: It is King Apophis, l.p.h., who has sent <me> toyou in order to say, "Let there be a w[ithdrawa]l from the canal of hippopotamuses which lies at the east of the City, because they don't let sleep come to me either in the daytime or at night," for the noise of them is <in> his citizens' ear(s).

Then the Prince of the Southern City became stupefied for so long a while that he became unable to render [a reply] to the messenger of King Apophis, l.p.h. Finally the Prince of the Southern City said to him: Is it though this (remark) that your Lord, l.p.h., would investigate matters regarding [the canal of hippopotamuses which lies at t]he east of the Southern City? Then the messenger [said to him: Effectuate the m]atters for which he sent me. [Then the Prince of the Southern City caused] th[e messenger of King Apophis, l.p.h.], to be taken care of [with] good [thing]s: meat, cakes,....[The Prince of the Southern City said to him: Go and tell] your [lord], "As for whatever you will tell him, he will do it," so you shall tell [him]...[Then the messenger of King] Apophis, l.p.h., hastened to journey to where / his lord, l.p.h., was.

So the Prince of the Southern City had his high officials summoned, as well as every ranking soldier of his, and he repeated to them every issue concerning which King Apophis, l.p.h., had sent to him. Then they were uniformly silent for a long while, without being able to answer him, be it good or bad.

Then King Apophis, l.p.h., sent to...

(The remainder of the story is lost)