DAWN KRYSTAL WILLIAMS

COMPOSER AND MEZZO-CONTRALTO
TEXT
Ancient Egyptian
TEXT
Ancient Egyptian
TRANSLATION
English
TRANSLATION
English
I
Senet nen senuas
Woman with no match,
Nefer her-neb
Most exquisite of all,
Petrias mi sepdet khai
She is like the rise of the Star Goddess
Ma hat renpet nefert
At the dawning of a joyous year.
Shespet aqret webkhet anu
Fair is her glowing skin,
Anet artyy gemeh
Alluring is her gaze,
Benri septas medut
Sweet are her lips as she speaks,
Ben nas khenu ma hau
And discreet are her words.
II
Qat neheb webkhet qebyy
Her neck is long, her breast white,
Khesbed ma-a shenuas
Her hair true lapis,
Gabas her at nub
Her arms more brilliant than gold;
Debauas mi seshenu
Her fingers are like lotus-flowers,
Bedesh pehetas meruati her-ib
Her curves full, her waist slender;
Da mentyyas neferuas
Her legs display her beauty,
Tu aut khendas her ta
And graceful is her gait.
III
Atas abai ma heptas
Her embrace captures my heart;
Dias set wen neheb tai neb
The necks of all men
Mes-hen na ma-a set
Turn at sight of her.
Reshut heptyy set nebet
The one who holds her is content,
Su mi tepyy na meryu
He is first among lovers,
Petrati peraset ra ha
And when she steps outside, she seems
Mi tefyet wat
As the One Goddess.
– Transcription and translation by Dawn K. Williams