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© Copyright 1997, Jim Loy
Note: The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog is an ancient Egyptian story. It is also known as The Doomed Prince. The end of the story is lost. Here, I try to finish the story. The original papyrus is in the British Museum.
One of the kings of Egypt was unhappy, for he had no son to rule in his place, once he was gone. He prayed to the gods, who answered his prayers, and a son was born to him. But, the seven Hathors announced that this prince would die by either a snake, a crocodile or a dog. The King was informed of this prediction. He ordered that the child be kept within a palace in the desert and guarded at all times.
The boy grew strong and tall. One day he climbed to the top of the wall of his palace, and saw a man walking with a dog. He asked a servant what that animal was, and was informed that it was a dog. The prince wanted a dog of his own, and ordered the servant to bring him one. The king was informed of his son's desire for a dog. The king gave in to his son's desire, and gave him a dog.
The prince grew to become a young man. And he complained to his father the king, saying, "Why am I kept a prisoner? I am destined to die either by a snake, a crocodile, or a dog. It is the will of the gods. Then let me live my life, while it lasts." The king eventually consented, giving his son weapons, and sending him and his dog to a foreign land.
In the foreign land, he encountered a beautiful princess. The king of this land had no son, and desired a husband for his daughter, the princess. Those who wished to marry the princess had to climb a wall to reach the princess. Every day, young men tried to climb the wall, and failed. The Egyptian prince climbed the wall, and won the heart of the princess.
The king asked who had won his daughter. And the prince answered that he was the son of one of the soldiers of the king of Egypt, and that he had run away from home. In anger, the king refused to let his daughter marry a commoner. His daughter threatened to neither eat nor drink until they be married. The king demanded that the young man be killed. His daughter threatened to kill herself, if he were killed. The king gave in to his daughter, and they were married.
Once they were married, the prince told his wife of his destiny, to be killed by a snake, a crocodile, or a dog. His wife responded that they should kill the dog, immediately. The prince refused, saying that his dog would never harm him.
A crocodile rose from the river, each night. But it was prevented from attacking the prince, by the presence of a giant who protected the prince.
One night, while the prince slept, the princess saw a snake come into their bedroom, and creep toward the sleeping prince. She trapped the snake and killed it. She woke the prince, and showed him the dead snake, and the prince marveled at this. She said, "See, the gods have allowed me to remove one of your three fates." The prince made offerings, and thanked the gods.
One day, the prince came to the river, and the crocodile spoke to him. The crocodile said that he would eventually kill the prince, when the giant lowered his guard.
[This is where the ancient papyrus ends, as it is damaged. Now, I try to finish the story.]
One night, the prince and his wife were out walking. The crocodile, hiding in the reeds, saw that the giant had not noticed the crocodile, and that an attack on the prince would probably succeed. The crocodile rushed from hiding, and attacked the prince, injuring him. But the dog jumped between the crocodile and the prince, distracting the crocodile. The giant drove a large spear through the crocodile's heart.
The princess saw that the crocodile was dead, and that her husband was still alive, although seriously injured. A servant was sent to find a doctor. In tears, the princess whispered to her unconscious husband, "Now, two of your fates have been removed. Forgive me, but I must remove the third fate." And she told the giant to kill the dog, which was standing guard over its master. And the giant killed the dog.
But, the crocodile was not yet dead. It made one last attack. And the prince and the crocodile died together.
Soon, the princess gave birth to a son, the prince's son. This son eventually ruled Egypt. Even so, the princess lived the rest of her days in regret about her own actions.