Page "Pyramid of Menkaure" Paragraph 5

" An oracle reached him from the town of Buto, which said ' six years only shalt thou live upon this earth, and in the seventh thou shalt end thy days '.

Mycerinus, indignant, sent an angry message to the oracle, reproaching the god with his injustice -' My father and uncle ,' he said ' though they shut up the temples, took no thought of the gods and destroyed multitudes of men, nevertheless enjoyed a long life ; I, who am pious, am to die soon!

' There came in reply a second message from the oracle-' for this very reason is thy life brought so quickly to a close-thou hast not done as it behoved thee.

Egypt was fated to suffer affliction one hundred and fifty years-the two kings who preceded thee upon the throne understood this-thou hast not understood it ' Mycerinus, when this answer reached him, perceiving that his doom was fixed, had lamps prepared, which he lighted every day at eventime, and feasted and enjoyed himself unceasingly both day and night, moving about in the marsh-country and the woods, and visiting all the places he heard were agreeable sojourns.

His wish was to prove the oracle false, by turning night into days and so living twelve years in the space of six.