![Criticism of a depraved Harpist called «Horudja». The writer says this filthy man's voice and performance are so horrible to the point Sekhmet and Horus wanted to kill him. 2nd century CE. [2002x3000]](https://preview.redd.it/ajxhr8nt2ebh1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=5515d5094d2a92624a8d49e72db1f119cb990b47)
Criticism of a depraved Harpist called «Horudja». The writer says this filthy man's voice and performance are so horrible to the point Sekhmet and Horus wanted to kill him. 2nd century CE. [2002x3000]
>It is sadness and suffering for the soul to hear the voice of this dreadful man when he sings. He is truly a deplorable singer, and he only sings well-known songs.
>He goes to the temple when he should not, and makes the god hear what they hate.
>How does he present himself at a festival? Like the best in his art. He sits down, looking very important, like a real singer, and he lifts the harp to sing, thinking in his mind, he is a virtuoso.
>No one realises that he is a huge fool because his stupidity overwhelms the public. He sings in a shrill voice, even when his mouth proclaims his own glory. Whoever sees him singing is afflicted for the day.
>There is no need for many words, because he has all the faults. Who taught him to play the harp? From whom did he learn to sing? His interpretation is jerky because his usual task is digging, his skill is watering. His fingers are like gnarled wood, they are not made for a harp.
>His voice makes more noise than a heavy shovel. He has innumerable faults,more than in the songs of Busiris.
>Isheru's mistress became angry with him - the great Sekhmet. He is overcome by her plague, he is overpowered by her anger. So he will never again carry his harp before the mistress of Egypt.
>In his old age he is full of horror, he is oppressed by filth. Horus is very angry with him; he is going to get killed by the son of Isis.
>He was given the name Horudja even though "Arsehole" is the name that suits him.
>A great song for the temple of Mut, an adoration for the mistress of Egypt, it is a true masterpiece whose meaning he manages to pervert.
>We would have said: "He acts out of ignorance", and no reproach would reach him for that. But he has only silence from doctrine, he draws no benefit from the words.
>In fact, he has learned but he knows nothing, he has received teaching but does not retain it. Like a mute person who understands but cannot answer correctly.
>Like a fool who takes up a book and remains dumb in front of all the texts. He has not known any song except one since his birth : "I'm hungry! Give me a drink! • What is there to eat?" What about the one who cooks • in front of him, if he sees meat?
>He is quicker than a fly to blood, faster than a vulture which has seen carrion.
>He will be able to spend four days awake looking for some food that is hidden. If someone shouts to him: "Meat!" in a loathsome place, he is present, with harp in front, but he does not . . . a man who is dirtier than his neighbour.
>And whoever displays bread and meat to him, he will go to his house without being invited. And he will say to the venues: I cannot sing if I am hungry.
>I cannot raise my harp to play unless I have had my fill of wine. Order it! And he drinks wine for two, eats meat for three: food for five in all.
> But the harp weighs down on him, like an uncomfortable burden. So that every person must be made to say, three times each: "Sing!"
>If he starts to raise his harp when drunk, then all of his vices comes to light.
>He turns the harp with his hand, he sings again 'The faults of women'. When he begins to raise the tune, his mouth sings his glory. But what he sings does not match his playing; his voice and harp are discordant.
>His poor performance shows his disregard of the music. The gentleness of good manners, he has not even begun to understand it.
>He cannot be accepted anywhere because of the number of his faults. If he is full, he puts away the harp; if he is replete, he leaves.
>I would mention the misdeeds he committed, but they are more numerous than those of Seth. He went in a funeral procession to the West last year, from Psonis to Akhmim.
>He acted as a sacrificer, but I cannot say what he did there: "It's not even worth talking about," as they say to make their meaning clear. He declared the animals good for sacrifice, even those protected by the god . . .
>He disregarded the seal that sanctified the animals . . . and he ignored even the supervising priest. And then, whatever was brought to him on the block, he stabbed . . . with a knife. And he was the first to eat the meat . . . without knowing how to cook it.