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ROMANCE 
 
 ANCIENT HISTORY. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
LONDON ; 
 
 SCHULZE AND CO., 13 , POLAND STREET. 
 
THE 
 
 ROMANCE 
 
 OP 
 
 ANCIENT HISTORY. 
 
 EGYPT. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 H St Sia Tijg ioropiag Trtpiytvofuvr) cvvtatg rtSv dWorpiwv 
 diroTtvyfidrbtv rk kcU jcaropdof/idro/v, d-irtiparov kokup 
 SiSaffKoXiav. 
 
 “ The knowledge of the successes and failures of others , 
 gained by history, contains instruction free from the expe- 
 rience of evil.’* 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 COCHRANE AND M^CRONE, 
 
 11 , WATERLOO PLACE. 
 
 1834 . 
 

 Sa 
 K I 
 
 TO 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 THOMAS GRENVILLE. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 It is with feelings of the warmest gratitude, 
 that I avail myself of the permission granted me 
 to dedicate this, my first work, to you, since 
 it affords me a means of expressing my re- 
 membrance of the kind manner in which you 
 are disposed to view my exertions. 
 
 It is most unhappy that adulation so often 
 masks itself beneath sincerity. I trust, how- 
 ever, that in making the above avowal, I shall 
 be believed to utter sentiments which I really 
 feel. 
 
 697071 
 
VI 
 
 It was while lingering over the page of 
 extreme antiquity which the Father of History 
 has spread before us, that I first conceived the 
 plan I have endeavoured to execute in the 
 ensuing work, and should I be so fortunate as 
 to succeed in alluring any to the study of the 
 chronicles of past times, I shall not have 
 written in vain, nor shall I, perhaps, entirely 
 fail of your approbation. 
 
 I have the honour to subscribe myself. 
 Sir, 
 
 Your greatly obliged. 
 And obedient humble servant, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 History is, perhaps, of all literature, the 
 most beneficial to the mind, for it enables us 
 to appropriate the information and experience 
 of past ages : it is, in a word, the epitaph 
 of a former world, which by laying before 
 us the consequences of virtue and vice, be- 
 comes an important aid to morality and hap- 
 piness. Of this great department of learning, 
 Herodotus, (from whom the author makes his 
 first selection,) has been styled the fa- 
 ther — an appellation which every unprejudiced 
 reader must sanction. Nay more, a student 
 of this description will hardly peruse the 
 nine books of that incomparable master 
 
viii 
 
 without feeling his affection arrested^ as well as 
 his understanding informed : and instead of 
 treating them with contempt for being dedi- 
 cated to the muses, and because the flowers 
 of romance here and there beautify their pages, 
 will regret with a sigh the rapacity of time 
 which has snatched from us other productions 
 of the same writer. 
 
 The stories here presented to the public 
 are taken from the second book of his history ; 
 because Egypt, whose annals embrace the 
 utmost verge of antiquity, is the subject of 
 that portion of it ; and the author making the 
 facts mentioned by Herodotus his foundation, 
 has endeavoured to rear upon them a super- 
 structure — as far as possible following reality 
 for his guide. Even where he has ventured 
 into the region of fiction, he has taken care 
 not to adduce any thing contrary to the tenor 
 of history : where it is silent, he has so filled 
 up the chasm as to continue the thread of 
 each story ; but it has been his constant plan 
 never to interweave, with what is recorded, 
 any thing which might not have been com- 
 
IX 
 
 prehended in its range — a method of proceed- 
 ing, which will, it is hoped, recommend truth 
 without compromising its dignity, and render 
 an acquaintance with remote times more ge- 
 nerally accessible. Such at least, is the ardent 
 desire of the author, who, under this convic- 
 tion, submits the following pages to the indul- 
 gence of the public. 
 

ROMANCE 
 
 OF ANCIENT HISTORY. 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 A SEARCH after human happiness has, with 
 justice, ever been considered an inquiry the 
 most important of any that can engage our 
 attention; it has occupied alike the pen of 
 the philosopher, the morahst, and the divine ; 
 nor, although as far as regards our present 
 condition, the pursuit of it may have proved 
 abortive, ought we therefore to consider it 
 wholly useless. The elixir of immortality, 
 and the secret of changing the baser metals 
 into gold eluded the labours of the crucible, 
 and the -vdgils of innumerable enthusiasts, 
 
 VOL. I. B 
 
2 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 yet it is in a great measure to those labours 
 and that ardour we ©we the astonishing 
 wonders of the chemic art. Neither the 
 splendours of the Lydian palace, nor the 
 frowns of the monarch who possessed them, 
 could make the Athenian sage* depart from 
 his opinion, that before any man could be 
 pronounced happy, the end of his life must 
 be waited for, — there being no state of pro- 
 sperity, however dazzling, which may not be 
 more than tarnished by a reverse of fortune. 
 Let those who think this theory ill-founded 
 reflect on the story of the first monarch of 
 Egypt. Menes the GreatVas the father of an 
 empire : he diverted, by strong barriers, the 
 course of the Nile, and the foundation of 
 his capital, Memphis, reposed in the ancient 
 bed of the greatest of rivers ; the city was 
 strengthened with various fortifications, and 
 the fane of Vulcan consecrated its walls. 
 
 The glories of the rising capital soon 
 
 * Solon, the Athenian legislator, when a guest in the 
 palace of Croesus, the last king of Lydia, perseveringly 
 maintained this principle, although he incurred by it the 
 the displeasure the monarch. — See Herodotus, Clio. 
 
OP EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 3 
 
 awakened the envy, and excited the rapacity 
 of the surrounding tribes of the desert. Menes 
 hastened to oppose the storm, eager to show 
 the foes of Mizraim* that he had the valour to 
 defend, as well as the skill to found, an 
 empire. His princes were animated with in- 
 tense ardour, since they fought under the 
 eye of their monarch, and the invaders from 
 the East were taught, by a dreadful lesson 
 of carnage, to tremble at the sword of the 
 valiant Menes ; the remnant of their forces 
 was driven to their camp, which Menes pre- 
 pared to storm on the coming day, for the 
 sun had set ere the rout was completed, — yet 
 amid the wreck of his hopes, Alchis-, the 
 leader of the barbarians, still maintained an 
 unconquered spirit ; a hasty council of the 
 chiefs was called, and the determination adopt- 
 ed of breaking through the Egyptian lines 
 in the dead of night. The plan was bold 
 and skilful, but the secret was revealed to 
 Menes by an Egyptian spy, who had penetrat- 
 
 * JSarae of Egypt. 
 
4 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 ed in disguise to the hostile camp. Not an 
 eye of the Egyptian host was that night closed 
 in sleep, the orders of the monarch were 
 promptly executed, and a circumvallation, 
 formed with astonishing celerity, cut off from 
 the enemy the hope of escape. 
 
 Alchis and his followers deplored the 
 watchfulness of the foe, and in the evening 
 of the day succeeding the battle, they de- 
 manded permission to depart with their arms, 
 pledging themselves never again to molest 
 the territory of Mizraim. Menes descanted 
 in council on the weakness of professions 
 extorted by necessity, and the opportunity 
 now offered him of annihilating the power 
 of Alchis. Finally, however, commiseration 
 for the brave in distress, or fear of the 
 despair of five thousand warriors, whose arms 
 were still left them amid the wreck of their 
 fortunes, induced him to acquiesce, and the 
 invaders, as they retreated, congratulated 
 themselves that the mercy of their foe had 
 paralyzed his good-fortune, whilst Alchis 
 nourished the secret hope of yet avenging 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 5 
 
 the death of so many of his bravest followers, 
 Menes was welcomed to Memphis by the ap- 
 plause of a loyal and prosperous people, and an 
 immense spoil of arms bore testimony to the 
 triumph of the first of Egypt’s monarchs. 
 
 His enemies vanquished, or at least re- 
 pulsed, his attention was now exclusively 
 devoted to arrange the political interests of 
 his rising kingdom, and the most important 
 of all the offices of the realm ; that of chief 
 Priest was intrusted to the vigilance and 
 virtue of Phaastis, one of the most gifted 
 and faithful of his court. To a tenacious 
 regard for the honour of the gods, were 
 united a liberality of sentiment and free- 
 dom from prejudice. The warmest affection 
 for mankind animated his heart, for he thought 
 he could not better conciliate the favour of 
 the divinity than by loving man — the bright- 
 est emanation of his power. The rest of 
 the public offices of Egypt were also vested in 
 deserving men, and the whole government 
 displayed regularity and vigour. The boun- 
 teous Nile had overflowed the fields of Egypt, 
 d had again sunk to repose, leaving in 
 
6 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 the soil the elements of inexhaustible fertility. 
 Earth and heaven seemed alike to forward 
 his happiness, and this felicity was moreover 
 consummated when his Queen Semiris gave 
 birth to a son, whom they named Maneros — 
 the future ornament of his throne. 
 
 In the spring of the following year, that 
 felicity received a check, and that throne 
 was shaken by a second invasion of the 
 desert tribes, more powerful and numerous 
 than the former, led by the implacable Alchis, 
 by whose untractable spirit the faith of 
 treaties was disregarded, when the voice of 
 vengeance called for perfidy. A remonstrance 
 was sent from Memphis to the invader’s 
 camp ; the ambassadors of Menes were de- 
 tained by Alchis until midnight, when the 
 haughty chieftain threw a quiver of arrows 
 at their feet, bidding them convey it to their 
 king. They were then ordered immediately 
 to depart. Their leader demanded torches; 
 he was told that Alchis had provided a light 
 for their journey, and the terrible beacon of 
 some Egyptian villages fired by the barbarians 
 fearfully made good his promise. The mo- 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 7 
 
 narch of Egypt was now again in arms, 
 and, attended by his whole army, hastened 
 to revenge his people’s wrongs. It was even- 
 ing when the hosts came in sight of each 
 other, and a night of unutterable suspense 
 was to be passed ere the important stake could 
 be risked. 
 
 Alchis had recalled his various straggling 
 parties, and his camp was thronged by a 
 host, numerous as a flight of locusts. The 
 evening repast ended, the desert chief ex- 
 horted his followers to keep a strict alternate 
 watch, to strengthen themselves by rest for 
 the coming battle, and on the morrow to 
 provide with their weapons a banquet for the 
 vultures, and for themselves repose in the 
 palace of Memphis. The dictates of policy 
 recommended to the chief this display of 
 confidence among his party, yet the shout 
 of approving multitudes could not remove 
 from his heart the painful solicitude pro- 
 duced by the darkness of the future ; on the 
 event of which hung, perhaps, his fame, his 
 fortune, and his life. 
 
8 
 
 THE ORIGIIV 
 
 But there were other thoughts which still 
 more agitated his breast, produced from anxiety 
 for the fate of the dark eyed Mitris, the 
 sharer alike of the storms and sunshine of 
 his destiny : he had seen the colour desert 
 her cheek when he rejected the remonstrance 
 of Menes, and he knew she dreaded with 
 intense anxiety the coming battle. He hast- 
 ened to inspect the outposts, for he felt 
 that affection demanded at least one sacred 
 hour. It was now midnight, and both hos- 
 tile camps were slumbering in stillness, the 
 wild voice of the watch as they occasionally chal- 
 lenged each other, alone broke the silence. 
 With rapid step, and heart labouring with 
 emotion, he sought his faithful and high- 
 minded consort, preparing to administer the 
 consolation his own breast did not feel, and 
 to whisper hopes he dared not entertain. 
 
 He found her sitting alone in his tent, 
 which was illuminated by a single lamp ; 
 she was deadly pale, but her dark eyes 
 flashed with ardent affection ; he gazed at 
 her a moment in silence, for he saw that 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 9 
 
 she was immersed in grief — at length he said : 
 “ To-morrow, my Mitris, comes the battle, 
 and when to-morrow’s sun sJiall set, thy 
 Alchis shall be the tenant of a palace or a 
 grave ; the insulting foe shall not again behold 
 his retreat.” 
 
 He paused — for his feelings were denied 
 utterance. Mitris rephed not, but, drawing 
 aside a curtain, discovered their infant son — 
 the pride and hope of the warrior^ chief — 
 wrapped in the slumbers of innocence. A 
 deep glow suffused his face, and his features 
 were smiling as in all the tranquillity of 
 childhood. Both parents melted at the sight, 
 and tears gushed from the eyes of Mitris 
 as she faltered ; Who shall protect us, my 
 Alchis, if thou art slain? remember the 
 foe has already triumphed over our routed 
 bands : to-night, as I paced the camp alone, 
 
 I passed a sleeping warrior, — suddenly I saw 
 his countenance distorted — as though with 
 fear — in the midst of his slumbers ; he seized 
 a javelin, and clashing it on his shield, thrice 
 cried, ^ let us fly ! ’ — my heart sickened at 
 
 B 3 
 
10 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 the omen. Oh ! who shall protect us, my 
 Alchis, if thou art slain Her words pierced 
 the heart of the chieftain ; — he grasped her 
 hand with tenderness and fervour, and Mit- 
 ris, sweeping back her dishevelled locks, bent 
 forward, and their lips met with a thrill of the 
 wildest ecstacy. Both felt their hearts relieved, 
 and the chief resumed, “ Why, my Mitris, isthy 
 mind thus presageful of evil ? have our bows 
 lost their force, or our tribes their valour? 
 what though they have been once defeated ? 
 this will only nerve their arm for vengeance. 
 
 Yet,’’ continued he, placing his sword in her 
 hand, thou shalt thyself be the arbiter of 
 my fate ; if with honour I may retreat, if 
 thou wouldst have me shun to-morrow’s battle, 
 let fall that sword ! — the signal shall be instantly 
 given, and before sunrise we will plunge deep 
 into the desert ; but if thy breast will not en- 
 dure this, unsheath the weapon, and it shall 
 strew the plain with the sons of Mizraim !” 
 He ceased, and Mitris stood silent, her eye 
 resting now on Alchis, now on the sleeping 
 boy ; at length with a firm hand unsheathing 
 
0^* EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 11 
 
 the sword, she gave it to the chieftain, and, 
 pressing her hand to her bosom, her eyes 
 filling with tears, she exclaimed : “ Alchis ! I 
 have followed thee through prosperity and 
 woe : I can pursue thee through to-morrow’s 
 bloody field, I can behold the wounded, I 
 can weep over thy grave, — I can do all but 
 see thee dishonoured 1 Go then — thy Mitris 
 bids thee fight ! and may the dust of yonder 
 plain be the couch of our foe !” 
 
 The last words were scarcely audible — for 
 she vainly struggled to display a confidence 
 she did not feel. Alchis saw her distress, 
 and, fired with admiration of her lofty virtue, 
 pressed her to his heart with a long embrace. 
 
 Footsteps were now heard approaching the 
 tent, and one of his followers presently in- 
 formed him that torches had been seen in 
 motion by the watch, and that some attack 
 was apprehended. Alchis answered he would 
 join him at the out-posts, and bidding a hasty 
 farewell to Mitris, he left; his tent. 
 
 By his activity every thing w’as prepared to 
 parry the expected attempt on the camp, for 
 
12 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 not only were lights seen, but the trampling of 
 horses was heard ; — all passed, however, and 
 silence was restored. This transient inter- 
 ruption of the stillness of the night had been 
 produced by a manoeuvre of Menes. That 
 monarch, under a strong impression of what 
 seemed to him the crisis of the destinies of 
 himself and Egypt, passed the hours of darkness 
 in the society of Phaastis, revolving plans for 
 the conduct of the battle. It was suggested 
 by the Hierophant that it would be highly 
 advantageous to take possession of some sand- 
 hills of moderate elevation, which lay a slight 
 distance from the ground, in which they would 
 engage. As, however, it would be impossible 
 for these troops to escape the observation of 
 Alchis, the Priest farther advised they should 
 be equipped in the costume of the adverse 
 army, since the attack of imagined friends 
 could neither be guarded against nor sustained. 
 Menes highly approved the council, and a 
 sufficient force having been accoutred in exact 
 conformity with the enemy (a measure easily 
 effected by means of the abundance of arms 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 13 
 
 captured on the last victory gained over them) 
 it was despatched to the above-mentioned 
 stations, which movement had caused the 
 temporary alarm in the camp of Alchis. 
 
 The morning at length dawned, and both 
 armies were hastily set in array. Alchis was 
 speedily informed by one of his band of the 
 vicinity of what seemed more of their own 
 tribes ; this he had already himself observed, 
 and immediately sent a messenger to enquire 
 their motive for occupying a station separate 
 from the main body. Such a communication 
 had been imagined possible by Phaastis, and 
 to remedy its danger, he had given the de- 
 tachment suitable instructions : accordingly, 
 on the arrival of the emissary, he was detained, 
 and a real native of the desert, a captive of 
 the last campaign, was the bearer of a reply. 
 He briefly stated to Alchis that the chief of 
 the reinforcement ha\dng observed the advan- 
 tageous position of those sand-hills had hasten- 
 ed to occupy them — a movement which would 
 give him the means either of assisting his own 
 tribes or annoying the enemy. ‘‘ Our leader 
 
14 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 only wonders/’ continued the artful speaker, 
 
 that the convenience of the post should not 
 have been observed by the foe ; your own 
 attendant yet waits on our chief for farther 
 communications.” 
 
 Saying this, he left the camp at full speed, 
 and, at the same moment, amid the crash of 
 cymbals and sistrums, rushed on the Egyptian 
 forces. The bands of the desert also raised 
 their war shout, and dreadful was the meeting 
 of the two armies, the national animosities of 
 which were excited on the one side by rage for 
 recent defeat, and on the other by vengeance 
 for the broken treaty. The struggle was 
 furious and doubtful, and the Egyptian detach- 
 ment on the hills skilfully executed the ap- 
 pointed manoeuvre, affecting several times to 
 charge the army of Menes. Alchis performed 
 prodigies of valour, and eagerly pursued the 
 Egyptian monarch through the fight; but 
 though the latter was equally ardent to attack 
 the barbarian chief, they never met. The battle 
 had now raged from sun rise to evening, and 
 Menes, by an impetuous charge had thrown 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 15 
 
 some disorder into the enemy’s lines ; — this 
 advantage was seized by the detachment on 
 the sand-hills, and, raising a tremendous 
 shout, they fell upon the desert bands. The 
 stroke seemed decisive of the day, and Alchis 
 beheld his troops either wavering or in actual 
 flight. Mitris observed the disastrous scene, 
 and rushing from the camp, alternately im- 
 plored, threatened, and commanded. The 
 sight of such beauty in such anguish, arrested 
 the flight of her foUowers,~a shower of 
 javehns poured destruction on the troops of 
 Menes, who were pursuing in disorder, and the 
 monarch of Memphis might yet have fallen, 
 but for the death of Alchis. That chieftain 
 had, on the panic of his troops, been surrounded 
 by a party of the enemy ; yet his valour was 
 invincible, his aim unerring, and his arrow’s 
 (which he discharged with incredible rapidity,) 
 each drank the life of an Eg}’ptian. They 
 still, however, pressed on, and one of them 
 aimed his sabre at Alchis ; he parried the blow 
 from his person — ^but it cut asunder his bow" 
 string. He then drew his sword, and heaped 
 
IG 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 himself a monument where he fell, of the 
 bodies of the Egyptians. 
 
 Another moment would perhaps have given 
 him victory, for at the same instant he expired 
 the efforts of Mitris had begun to take effect ; 
 animated with new-born hope, and fearless 
 of the arrows flying on every side, she now 
 pressed forward to complete her success. As 
 she was pursuing her course amid a throng of 
 ardent followers and dense clouds of dust, she 
 stumbled upon a fallen warrior, and perceiving 
 he was one of her own band, and that his 
 wounds were still bleeding, she commanded 
 some of her attendants to raise him from the 
 ground ; they obeyed, and she beheld with 
 horror, her Alchis pierced with a hundred 
 wounds. 
 
 Meanwhile his death had become generally 
 known, and dismay and confidence once more 
 changed sides, the army of Menes rushed 
 impetuously forward ; the tribes of the desert 
 neither asked nor received quarter, and their 
 treachery in breaking the treaty was expiated 
 by a tremendous sacrifice. The sun had now 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 17 
 
 set, and the Egyptians had retired to their 
 encampment, except a few stragglers who were 
 searching over the field in silence and sorrow, 
 for friends whom the battle had numbered 
 with the dead. Among these, followed by a 
 small retinue, Phaastis, to whose skilful 
 management Egypt was so much indebted, 
 eagerly sought the body of Alchis in that part 
 of the plain in which his bands had well nigh 
 tom the laurels from the brows of Menes. 
 A number of slaughtered Eg3rptians had 
 fallen around a particular point, and Phaastis 
 confessed the valour of the » above mentioned 
 leader by inspecting that spot with pecuhar 
 scrutiny. That scmtiny was fruitless, and, 
 leaving the immediate field of battle, he was wan- 
 dering amid the solitary entrenchments of the 
 enemies’ camp, his soul sickening at the carnage 
 of the day, when he suddenly beheld a female 
 standing near a part of the rampart ; a warrior 
 of the desert lay beside her, she held an infant 
 in her arms, and an attendant, seemed hastily 
 excavating a grave. The rising moon shed 
 a flood of radiance over the plain, giving 
 
18 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 an air of exquisite wildness to the group 
 before him. 
 
 Anxious to learn the nature of their pro- 
 ceedings, and, above all, to protect the female 
 from the various dangers by which she was 
 threatened, on ground where her country had 
 been vanquished, he approached, bidding only 
 one of his train to foUow. As soon as the ob- 
 ject of his observation perceived him, giving 
 the infant to the attendant, she drew a dag- 
 ger, and darted at the stranger a glance of 
 resolution mixed with some degree of terror. 
 The idiom of the desert was unknown to 
 Phaastis, but the language of nature is un- 
 changeable, and the Hierophant casting upon 
 her a look of pity, and at the same time 
 throwing away his sword as a token of peace, 
 joined her assistant, and taking up the instru- 
 ment the latter had laid aside, continued to 
 break up the ground. In great astonishment 
 he addressed Phaastis, and, to the joy of the 
 Priest, in the language of Mizraim, with which 
 he had a slight knowledge. The opportunity 
 thus afforded was eagerly seized by the 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 19 
 
 Egyptian, and he easily drew from her atten- 
 dant the story of the woes of Mitris, — for it 
 was she whom he had then encountered, whilst 
 performing the last duties for a warrior and a 
 husband. Employing her follower as an inter- 
 preter, he used every effort to free her from 
 apprehension, proceeding at the same time 
 with the obsequies of Alchis. All being over, 
 his next anxiety was to transport her together 
 \\dth the infant and attendant to his own 
 station in the Egyptian camp, — to all this 
 Mitris yielded. Ever since the demonstrations 
 of gentleness displayed by PhEiastis, she had 
 become apparently more tranquil, and after 
 her own hands had laid her warrior on his 
 couch of lonehness and glory, she cast on the 
 Egyptian a look of great sweetness, though 
 mingled with the deepest melancholy. With 
 secrecy and speed he conveyed her to the 
 camp, for he dreaded her meeting any strag- 
 gling parties of Egyptians still burning with 
 rage against the tribes of the desert. 
 
 His^ enemies annihilated, and his kingdom 
 estabhshed, Menes returned with his court to 
 
20 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 Memphis, which he adorned with his taste, 
 as he had protected it with arms. The city was 
 beautified with palaces, and Egy|)t, while she 
 applauded, was astonished at the magnificence 
 of her first monarch. The utmost care and 
 assiduity had been in vain exerted by the 
 family of Phaastis to sooth the afflicted Mitris, 
 who survived not long her warrior chief 5 
 yet her afflictions were more than lightened 
 by the assurance of Phaastis and his consort, 
 that the infant Alchis should experience from 
 them the love and assiduity of parents : well 
 did they redeem that pledge, and their dis- 
 interested tenderness kindled the warmest 
 affection in the breast of young Alchis, a 
 breast which was the seat of no common 
 excellence, since to the bravery, frankness and 
 keenness of intellect which he inherited from 
 the desert tribes, were added those softer 
 qualities, — the growth of culture and civili- 
 zation. They had one daughter named Emra, 
 who was born on the same day with Maneros, 
 the rising hope of Egypt’s throne. Alchis and 
 the beautiful Emra thus trod the path of 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 21 
 
 childhood together, and it was no wonder that 
 two flowers, whose brightness and fragrance 
 shed lustre round the parent stem, sought to 
 ent\\dne each other as the affection of infancy 
 ripened into the love of maturer years. 
 
 In the meantime, not only the palace of 
 Memphis, but the w^hole territory of Mizraim 
 viewed with rapture the various accomphsh- 
 ments both of mind and body, continually 
 developing themselves in the son of Menes ; 
 in him all true nobihty seemed concentrated, 
 and the Egyptians reflected with dehght, that 
 when the government should devolve upon 
 their young prince Maneros, the sceptre would 
 pass from a great to a still greater hand. 
 Their anticipations were reasonable, but their 
 eye scanned not the decrees of destiny. 
 
 Eighteen years had now elapsed since the 
 first victory gained by Eg^^pt over her foes, — 
 years of glory to the monarch, and happiness 
 to his people. The bounteous Nile had rolled 
 plenty through his realm ; the hostile tribes of 
 the desert either trembled or forgot their 
 enmity ; unnumbered caravans poured the 
 
22 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 spices of Arabia into bis kingdom, and delusive 
 hope, half veiled in the shadows of futurity, 
 seemed to beckon Egypt onward to yet 
 brighter scenes. 
 
 It was the season of summer : the Nile had 
 overflowed its banks, and was again at rest, 
 having adorned his favoured land with a robe of 
 fragrance and fertility. The year had brought 
 round the anniversary of the birth-day of 
 Maneros. His father had displayed his taste 
 and magnificence by rearing up that very day 
 a splendid obelisk, on whose sides shone forth 
 in hieroglyphics the convulsions and triumphs 
 which had at once distressed and ennobled 
 Egypt in her very cradle. It appeared, there- 
 fore, to Menes, that there was an opportunity 
 offered him of celebrating on the same day 
 those events which had contributed most to 
 the splendour and happiness of his reign, and 
 it was determined accordingly that a royal 
 banquet should be given not only to the nobles, 
 but also to the people. Mandates to this 
 effect were therefore issued ; — open places in 
 Memphis and the suburbs were prepared, — 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 23 
 
 vessels of wine, and provisions of all sorts 
 were distributed abundantly at the expense of 
 the monarch, and the following proclamation 
 was made to the sound of cymbals and 
 sistrums : — 
 
 “ The great king Menes salutes his people. 
 Let all labour be suspended, since the feast is 
 spread for all, and at sun-set let the skies read 
 on earth, in blazing characters of light, the 
 triumphs and happiness of Egypt. Snatch 
 the present hour of pleasure,~remember the 
 grave of oblivion. May the gods be pro- 
 pitious 
 
 Such was the general invitation of Menes, 
 whilst a more particular summons was dis- 
 patched to the nobles, together with their 
 families. Soon after mid-day the guests began 
 to assemble, and it may be imagined how 
 much real greatness was contained within the 
 extensive gardens of the palace, when it is 
 considered that in the infancy of states, 
 nobility is the meed of valour and magnanimity. 
 Yet amid this assembly the monarch and the 
 prince were conspicuous above all : Menes 
 
24 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 shone a personification of grandeur. Time, 
 which had somewhat abated the vigour of 
 youth, had given a touch of majesty to his 
 features, and changed the graceful flower into 
 the prop of nations : and as the assembled 
 warriors looked on that eye which had been 
 their beacon of glory in the day of battle, 
 they wondered not at the greatness of Egypt 
 or the impotence of her foes. 
 
 By his side, in aU the beauty of early 
 manhood walked Maneros, whose presence 
 commanded the homage, not only of the eye 
 but of the heart, and the enraptured nobles 
 congratulated their country on the rare and 
 happy destiny that seemed to await her. It 
 had been appointed by Menes that to grace the 
 banquet, there should be a trial of skill between 
 his warrior nobles in a variety of martial exer- 
 cises, and that the victor should be adorned by 
 the hands of the monarch himself with a com- 
 plete suit of arms offensive and defensive. The 
 ardoui* of the illustrious Egyptians was ex- 
 cited to the highest degree by this proposal ; 
 every eye flashed with enthusiasm, and every 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 25 
 
 voice was loud in praise of a prince who knew 
 so well how to form a nation of conquerors. 
 But among the whole assembly no breast beat 
 higher at the approaching trial than that of 
 Alchis, for he thought of the appro^dng smile 
 of Emra^ — a prize to him of more value than 
 the gifts of monarchs, or the acclamations of 
 multitudes. After a life of devoted attach- 
 ment he had solicited her hand. Her parents 
 had observed with pleasure the constant and 
 growing affection between their own^ and their 
 adopted child. Emra had not rejected his 
 eloquent pleading, which had been long ad- 
 vocated by the feelings of her own heart, and 
 the very day on which they had been sum- 
 moned to the banquet, the destinies of the 
 lovers were to have been twined for ever, had 
 not the imperative invitation to celebrate the 
 birth-day of Maneros intervened. Alchis and 
 Emra however rejoiced in the thought that 
 their happiness would be consummated as soon 
 as they should be disengaged from the palace — 
 they knew not that they were sporting on the 
 edge of a precipice. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
26 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 By this time a space was cleared in the 
 ample gardens, and the thronging warriors 
 hastened to signalize themselves in the eye of 
 Menes and the prince. Arrayed in the grand 
 simplicity of primitive royalty, the monarch 
 of Egypt and his queen Semiris, together with 
 the elder nobles, prepared to witness the con- 
 test, whilst Maneros resolved himself to be the 
 umpire in the feats of arms. Amid the crash 
 of innumerable cymbals, the warriors entered 
 the vacant space, and almost at the same 
 moment the exercises commenced. They 
 consisted in a display of foot racing, wrestling, 
 throwing the javelin, and shooting with the 
 l30w — in the three first of which Alchis ex- 
 hibited matchless strength and dexterity ; the 
 most athletic antagonists were thrown to the 
 ground, — ^he seemed rather to fly than to run, — 
 and a slight reed placed for a mark was 
 shivered by the dart discharged from his un- 
 erring hand. The king, the queen, and the 
 whole circle of illustrious spectators applauded 
 his extraordinary skill, and Maneros, as a 
 mark of peculiar approbation, sent him by an 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 27 
 
 attendant a fresh garland, and a goblet of wdne. 
 The T^Teath he modestly accepted, but dechned 
 the wine till the last exercise, that of shooting 
 with the bow, should be performed. 
 
 Every warrior now prepared himself for this 
 final trial, and all eyes were once more turned 
 on the arena. Various feats of more or less 
 difficulty were displayed, the eye of a wmoden 
 serpent was transfixed, and several arrows 
 were discharged through a series of rings, 
 whose circumference diminished in proportion 
 to their remoteness. Alchis was still un- 
 rivalled. They next tried their dexterity in 
 shooting at some birds set free by order of the 
 prince, and here also great skill was displayed. 
 As yet, however, none of the warriors had 
 shown an infallible hand, and several of their 
 destined prey had escaped. All except Alchis 
 had now exhausted their quivers ; but before 
 he fixed an arrow in the string, he requested 
 that some still smaller birds might be let loose. 
 The prince in astonishment acquiesced, and 
 the daring, the incomparable archer became 
 the object of breathless attention. Maneros 
 
 C 2 
 
28 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 was to give the signal for freeing the birds by 
 throwing a javelin into the air. After some 
 moments of silence and suspense, the prince 
 hurled his weapon a vast height upwards, and 
 at the same instant three of the smallest of the 
 tenants of Egypt’s skies, with scarcely the 
 intermission of a second, took wing each in a 
 different direction, and three arrows, shot with 
 the rapidity of thought from the how of 
 Alchis, brought them to the earth. The tu- 
 multuous applause of the flower of Mizraim, 
 and a call for a repetition of the scene were 
 the consequence of his unrivalled dexterity, — 
 they knew not they were invoking the evil 
 genius of Egypt. 
 
 Again the prince’s javelin flew into the air ; 
 again the birds rose in flights— two were already 
 transfixed by the shafts of Alchis, who, as the 
 strained bow-string touched his breast, happen- 
 ing to tread on an arrow which had acci- 
 dentally fallen from the quiver, his foot slipped 
 —his aim became disordered, the string twanged 
 with its wonted impetuosity, and at the same 
 instant Maneros, the hope of Egypt, was 
 
0 
 
 OF Egyptian song. 29 
 
 laid in the dust. Dreadful was the con- 
 fusion that followed this catastrophe; some 
 flew to the already expiring prince, whilst others 
 hastened to attend the king and the swooning^ 
 Semiris to the palace, whither Maneros was at 
 the same time borne. Phaastis and his family, 
 with the exception of Alchis, quitted the scene 
 of the fatal banquet with the other nobles. 
 
 The unhappy author of the tragedy had 
 disappeared during the first consternation, and 
 the priest imagined he must have sought his 
 residence. On arriving there he found he was 
 mistaken, and the short time that yet remained 
 till night-fall, was to him, and the almost 
 paralyzed Em^, an age of agony. The sun 
 at length set, but Alchis returned not; and 
 Phaastis resolved to send some attendants in 
 search of him in difierent directions, whilst his 
 heart-stricken daughter was with difficulty pre- 
 vented from accompanying them. Hours 
 passed on hke years, and the attendants had 
 returned from an unsuccessful search ; when at 
 deep midnight, Emra, who was sitting alone at 
 the lattice of her apartment watching the 
 
30 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 shining stars as they obeyed their mysterious 
 laws, reckless of the turmoils of earth, thought 
 she heard the sound of an approaching foot- 
 step ; yet it might be only the waving trees ; 
 she still listened without daring to breathe, — 
 again the sound fell still more nearly upon her 
 ear, and the moon at the same time discovered 
 a tall figure, the face almost shrouded from 
 view in the folds of a robe. It stopped, and 
 seemed for a moment to listen, and a voice 
 that thrilled through every nerve • in the heart 
 of Emra faintly pronounced her name. 
 
 My noble Alchis,*' she replied, “ why have 
 you thus torn our breasts with solicitude ? — ^but 
 you are returned, and the darkest frowns of 
 destiny are more than compensated by this her 
 last boon. I hasten to relieve my parents from 
 their perplexity.^’ 
 
 “ Stay, my Emra,” he rejoined, and hear 
 me. First, do your, I may add, my parents 
 believe me innocent ? Above all, am I guilty 
 in your eyes ? I hold at this moment a dagger, 
 the same which armed my father’s hand in 
 his last battle 3 I will instantly plunge it into 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 31 
 
 this breast if an Egyptian whispers Alchis is 
 the wiUing murderer of his prince.'’ 
 
 “ All — all — ^believe, all know you are inno- 
 cent !” replied Emra. O ! cease, my Alchis, 
 to pierce this breast with words that inflict far 
 more than the fatal arrow, which to-day bathed 
 our nation in tears." 
 
 She would have proceeded, but the warrior 
 interrupted her. “ Then farewell, lovely Emra, 
 in Egypt we may not meet again. Yet if the 
 queen of my affections can abandon her 
 country, and cross the flaming desert to the 
 nearest of those happy regions that smile in 
 the midst of sterility, I swear by yon stars to 
 prove that this breast is her's alone ; meanwhile 
 I fly to solitude. I need hardly commend thee 
 to the gods, since they wiU surely protect that 
 being, who, of all mortals, is most like them- 
 selves." 
 
 Farewell !" was the only word Emra could 
 utter ; it was once more re-echoed by her 
 lover, ere his departing footsteps left her in 
 stillness more terrible than that of death. The 
 destiny of Alchis and Emra had now passed 
 
32 
 
 THE ORIGIN 
 
 its crisis ; the innocence of the former had been 
 apparent to every one, and Phaastis applauding 
 his daughter’s resolution, she was conducted 
 by her parents across the desert, and in the 
 oasis* of the waste, the constant affection of 
 the lovers met with the felicity, love such as 
 theirs alone could merit and ensure, since it 
 was founded upon mental excellences. 
 
 In the meantime the monarch of Egypt 
 was a prey to unutterable grief. He had 
 spent the night succeeding the fatal ban- 
 quet in a chamber dimly lighted, the body 
 of the prince extended before him, one 
 of his most confidential nobles alone wit- 
 nessed, and shared his distress. That vene- 
 rable companion, after contemplating for some 
 time in silence the anguish of Menes, and the 
 lifeless form of Maneros, so beautiful that it 
 seemed rather to repose in slumber than in 
 death, so impotent, that a niche in a sepulchre 
 
 * The appellation of these verdant specks, which at 
 certain intervals delight and astonish the traveller in the 
 deserts of Africa. 
 
OF EGYPTIAN SONG. 
 
 33 
 
 would for ever suffice for its abode, at length 
 broke forth into an extemporaneous elegy on 
 the prince, in verses metrical, though irregular, 
 uttering them in cadences so rapturous and 
 touching, that tears flowed from the eyes of 
 the monarch, and his heart felt a relief to which 
 it had been for some hours a stranger. 
 
 At his request the strain was repeated, and 
 his breast again felt the power of poetry and 
 music combined in song. The stream of time 
 at length bore away his more acute grief, yet 
 to the latest hour of his life and reign, he 
 would often summon the inimitable poet to 
 console his monarch with a repetition of the 
 strain. It was called the dirge of Maneros, 
 and was the first and only song used in 
 Eg\q)t. It was carefully handed down by 
 tradition, and after the lapse of ages the 
 Egyptians still remembered with a sigh its 
 fatal origin. 
 
31 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS. 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 It may, perhaps, be questioned whether 
 tyranny inflicts or suffers a greater portion 
 of evil. If armed with despotic power, it 
 may indeed disseminate its influence very 
 widely, and multiply sufferers to a great 
 extent, yet even if the wish* of the Roman 
 despot could be realized, and if revenge could 
 be eradicated from the heart, and power from 
 the hands of his subjects, still does the ty- 
 rant mix his poisons and sharpen his dagger 
 against himself. He may crush the enemy 
 his injustice has created, yet the remembrance 
 of each victim will only irritate the heart- 
 born scorpion whose sting steeps his days 
 in perplexity, and his nights in fevered 
 vigils or visions of terror. 
 
 *■ The wish, here alluded to was, that all the Romans 
 had but one neck, that they might all have been beheaded 
 at a stroke. 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 35 
 
 From Menes the earliest, to Sesostris the 
 most powerfiil of her monarchs, Egypt beheld 
 a series of kings that filled a period of time 
 sufficient for the rise, progress, and decay of an 
 ordinary empire ; but her policy, like her 
 pyramids, was framed to endure, and, not- 
 withstanding the efforts and partial success 
 of enemies, she remained unconquered, or, 
 like her own Phoenix,* broke forth in greater 
 beauty from a transient eclipse. Yet her 
 princes, though numerous, were weak, and 
 she beheld them glitter for a moment on 
 the stream of time the phantoms of royalty, 
 till they were swept from the eyes of their 
 subjects, whose hearts they had never occu- 
 
 * It is not satisfactorily ascertained what was repre- 
 sented under the allegory of the bird Phoenix, which is 
 described to have always consumed itself after a cer- 
 tain number of years amid aromatics it had collect- 
 ed, and re-appearing in fresh vigour and renewed 
 youth from its ashes. It is generally supposed, how- 
 ever, to have been the emblem of a certain revolu- 
 tion of ages ; at all events, the Egyptian Priests 
 considered the appearance of this bird intimately 
 connected with the destiny of their country. See a 
 description of it in Herodotus, and some curious 
 particulars in the tale of Rameses. 
 
36 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 pied. Among these pageants or a day reigned 
 Sophis, the favourite, as it seemed, of for- 
 tune ; he had witnessed the retreat of the 
 Ethiopians, who had for some time held 
 Egypt in subjection, and thus ascended the 
 throne of his ancestors amid the joyous ac- 
 clamations of a country newly released from 
 servitude. The Egyptians thought with plea- 
 sure of the youth of their prince, which pro- 
 mised a long reign, and if the graces of his 
 person had been accompanied by mental ex- 
 cellence — if the rashness so natural to his 
 years could have yielded to the dictates of 
 more mature minds, or even if it had been 
 gradually curbed by experience, Sophis might 
 have been the ornament of his throne, and 
 the happiness of his people. 
 
 Kephrenes, who had been the instructor of 
 the youth, became the principal counsellor of the 
 monarch, and never was that important office 
 held by more worthy hands. At an early 
 age he had braved the dangers and won the 
 honours of initiation,* and it had been his 
 
 * Initiation into the mysteries of his religion, was the 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 37 
 
 constant labour to inspire into the mind of 
 the young Sophis a love of philosophy, whose 
 sublime voice can teach alike to reign and to 
 obey. The culture was, doubtless, judicious, 
 had the soil been susceptible of its impres- 
 sions; but the mind of Sophis, though af- 
 fectionate, was weak and narrow, and the 
 venerable Kephrenes trembled when he be- 
 held his pupil elevated to the throne. He 
 had indeed scattered, or endeavoured to scatter 
 the best seed, but the blossoms must appear 
 ere the nature of the fruit could be deter- 
 mined. That blossom was formed and nursed 
 into being amid the seductions of a court, 
 and the breath of adulation, and the monarch 
 
 most important step in the Egyptian’s life ; it con- 
 ferred privileges, enlightened the mind, and unravelled 
 to the initiated severjd hieroglyphical representations 
 that were veiled to the vulgar. But these privileges 
 and this knowledge could not be obtained without 
 passing through the most tremendous trials, to fail 
 in which, was death to the bold but unsuccessful can- 
 didate ; of these there is no absolute account, but 
 the occasional allusions to them scattered over history, 
 describe them as appallingly terrible, and such as 
 few had the courage to challenge. 
 
38 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS. 
 
 of a mighty people became himself the vas- 
 sal of pleasure, and the sport of imperious 
 passions. Kephrenes sickened as the pain- 
 ful conviction of his pupil’s unfitness to reign 
 forced itself upon his mind, yet he stiU strove 
 to moderate his follies or administer an an- 
 tidote to their effects ; the memory of early 
 impressions was not yet obliterated in the 
 monarch’s breast, and he still felt much ve- 
 neration and some affection for the preceptor 
 of his first years : yet the torrent was only 
 restrained by a slight and ever-diminishing 
 mound, which the smallest addition to its 
 force threatened instantly to annihilate. 
 
 The Ethiopians retired from Egypt like the 
 tide ebbing against a strong wind, which, though 
 it finally retreats, often rolls its waves high 
 upon the shore ; they left with regret the 
 fertile fields of Mizraim, and often seemed 
 inclined to renew the war. But the Egyp- 
 tians were animated .by the valour, and directed 
 by the counsels of Bokar, the first general 
 of the empire, and the monarch of Ethiopia 
 experienced, in the loss of his bravest warriors. 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 39 
 
 a terrible retaliation of the woes he had 
 inflicted on Egypt. Yet, if Bokar was crowned 
 with laurels in the field, a wound was pre- 
 pared for his domestic happiness, a poison 
 compounded for his heart more cruel than 
 the destruction that sat on the barbs of the 
 Ethiopian arrows.^ Having beaten the ene- 
 my from the frontier, he had despatched 
 the news to the capital, and prepared to 
 disband the army. He was, however, some- 
 what surprised by a command to remain on 
 the confines of Egypt wdth half the forces 
 in order still farther to awe the Ethiopians. 
 He obeyed, though there was not an enemy 
 to be seen ; but when at the end of a month 
 he received a similar order in answ^er to an- 
 other communication sent to the court, he 
 felt his astonishment increase to a painful 
 degree, and it was not long before the enigma 
 was fearfully unravelled. 
 
 * Skill in archery was one of the most distinguished 
 features of the Ethiopians ; their bows, which were 
 of large size, demanded incessant practice ere they 
 could even be bent, and when draw’n to their full ex- 
 tent by an Ethiopian arm, the recoil impelled an 
 arrow with resistless force. 
 
40 . 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 The passions of Sophis were wild and extra- 
 vagant, nor were there wanting those who could 
 maintain a maxim that has ever been welcome to 
 the ears of a tyrant, that inclination is the only 
 law for the direction of monarchs. The sighs 
 of a princely lover are seldom unheeded, and 
 in the court of Sophis force and treachery 
 were employed where persuasion could not 
 prevail. Many of the noblest families trem- 
 bled or wept in the cruel suspense of fear 
 or the more dreadful reality of dishonour ; 
 the former distracted at the future, the latter 
 at the images of the past. 
 
 Sphendris, the young and beautiful consort 
 of Bokar, had observed with terror the ex- 
 travagant license of the palace, and exerted, in 
 consequence, all that prudence and circum- 
 spection, which formed a distinguished part 
 of her accomplished character. She cautious- 
 ly avoided all places of public resort, and 
 refused, under colour of indisposition, every 
 invitation to the banquets of the court, con 
 fining herself wholly to the walls and garden? 
 of her own residence. That very caution 
 jserved to betray her, it was whispered through- 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 41 
 
 out the palace that the Tvife of Bokar kept 
 herself invisible ; these whispers reached the 
 ears of Sophis, and his heart was inflamed 
 and his imagination dazzled by the repre- 
 sentation of a beautiful and accomplished wo- 
 man, like a fair gem, confined to the reces- 
 ses of a shrine, or a sequestered grotto. Yet 
 he Was resolved to have still farther proof of the 
 . report, and commanded one of his physicians 
 to proceed immediately to the mansion of 
 Bokar, under pretence of being sent by the 
 king, in consequence of his great regard for 
 that distinguished general, to visit Sphendris, 
 and prescribe for her disorder; and he was 
 further directed to ascertain, as nearly as pos- 
 sible, the nature and number of her retinue. 
 The physician was a man of high talent and 
 abandoned morals, both of which qualifications 
 had greatly contributed to his rise in the 
 Egyptian court. 
 
 When Sphendris was informed of the ar- 
 rival of the royal physician, she almost in- 
 voluntarily suspected him to have been sent 
 as a spy by some of the emissaries of the 
 
42 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 palace; she however resolved to receive his 
 visit, lull suspicion if possible, and baffle 
 scrutiny with superior artifice. He was ac- 
 cordingly introduced to her presence by two 
 female attendants, who still remained in the 
 apartment. He immediately proceeded to ex- 
 plain his errand; 
 
 I am sent,*’ he said, illustrious lady, 
 by our monarch, who cannot but feel the ten- 
 derest anxiety for one so nearly connected 
 with the general, whose valour and conduct, 
 together with the nobility of his birth, have 
 contributed to place him at the head of our 
 armies. The rumour of the ill state of your 
 health has reached the palace, and plunged 
 our sovereign in dejection, and he loses not 
 a moment in despatching him who has the 
 supreme honour of possessing his confidence 
 to investigate and prescribe for your malady.” 
 “ I am deeply sensible,” replied Sphendris, 
 ^ of the unmerited favour with which the 
 mighty Sophis deigns to regard our house, 
 of which he gives such a conspicuous token. 
 Your singular talent and proficiency in the 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 43 
 
 liealing art are not unknown to me, permit 
 me, therefore, to ask what branch* of it you 
 follow ? what part of our frame is your 
 peculiar province ?” 
 
 The physician saw his difficulty ; careful- 
 ly observing, therefore, his intended patient, 
 he at length formed his judgment from a 
 heavy expression of the eyes, the effect of 
 that anxiety to which Sphendris had for some 
 time been a prey, and said with some con- 
 fusion : “ that the various affections of the 
 head had been his particular study, but 
 that having had much time at his disposal, 
 he had gone beyond most others, and had 
 made himself somewhat acquainted with the 
 stomach also.” 
 
 Alas ! then,” answered Sphendris, heaving 
 as she spoke, a deep sigh, “ I cannot benefit 
 by your advice ; the disorder under which I 
 labour comes not within the range of your 
 
 * In Egypt each physician studied one, and only 
 one part of the body, a circumstance which multi- 
 plied them to a vast extent, as Herodotus particularly 
 remarks in his Euterpe. 
 
44 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS^ 
 
 knowledge, since it is an affection of the heart, 
 common to our family, and for which a 
 learned Arabian once gave me a powerful 
 recipe, at the same time telling me it could 
 never be perfectly cured ; I will not, there- 
 fore, longer detain you, since the benevolence 
 of our monarch is vain, though the debt of 
 obligation is equally great.” 
 
 The disconcerted physician expressed his 
 sorrow, and that sorrow was unfeigned, at 
 his inability to benefit her, and departed 
 full of uneasiness to the palace. 
 
 Yet though she had thus baffled one whom 
 she considered an emissary of license and 
 tyranny, Sphendris still continued to feel the 
 greatest alarm, which a subsequent occur- 
 rence greatly heightened. 
 
 In the evening of the day after that on 
 which she had seen the physician, she was 
 sitting alone in a summer-house, revolving 
 various plans of escape from the dangerous 
 capital, when she was startled by the sudden 
 entrance of a tall figure with its face mufiled ; 
 but her fears were instantly dissipated by 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 45 
 
 the stranger, saying: ‘‘The friend of Bokar 
 should be the friend of his consort ; but in 
 this time of tyranny, the very trees have 
 ears, and every gale a tongue ; read this 
 paper.” 
 
 With a trembling hand she opened it, and 
 its import was as follows : — “ Who I am, is 
 needless and dangerous to reveal ; suffice it 
 that I fly from tyranny, since the enemy of 
 tyrants must be the friend of all mankind. 
 Sphendris, thy ruin is resolved on, and the 
 laurels of thy Bokar shall be changed into a 
 vTeath of agony by the dishonour of his wife. 
 Every moment is pregnant with death, — flight 
 alone can preserve thee ; the last chain that 
 fettered the monster is broken, since Kephrenes 
 is put to silence, and the same fortune was 
 allotted me, since I am an abettor of his 
 counsels.” 
 
 Ha^ung read this terrible communication, 
 she asked the stranger whither he was bending 
 his flight. 
 
 “ To the camp of Bokar,” he replied. 
 
 “ Then,” said Sphendris, “ you will perhaps 
 
46 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 aid me so far (for I read fidelity in that lofty 
 bearing,) as to convey this paper to my husband 
 which I have for some time prepared, to ap- 
 prize him of my danger, and determination to 
 fly the capital. I only wait the hour of mid- 
 night.’’ 
 
 She would have proceeded, but the stranger 
 waved his hand with impatience, and ex- 
 claimed as he carefully deposited the paper 
 within the folds of his robe : “ remember the 
 words of my communication, — every moment 
 is pregnant with death, and those beings 
 cannot but stay too long, on whose track are 
 the hounds of tyranny ; farewell, I seek thy 
 Bokar.” 
 
 With these words he departed, and Sphen- 
 dris, in a state of unutterable alarm and 
 perplexity, proceeded to employ the remaining 
 time in some necessary arrangements for her 
 intended escape. Pharas, for that was the 
 name of the mysterious visitor of her retire- 
 ment, was one of the few spirits at the court 
 of Sophis, who had the virtue to disapprove, 
 and the courage to oppose the proceedings of 
 
QUEEN OP EGYPT. 47 
 
 the tyrant. He had discovered the intention 
 of the monarch to obtain, by any means, 
 possession of Sphendris j and had been ap- 
 prized of the visit of the physician, as well 
 as of the other plans agitated by Sophis. 
 Sickening at the thought of the dishonour 
 intended for a patriot and a friend, he sought 
 Kephrenes, whose inmost counsels his breast 
 had ever shared : he found him in a retired 
 parf of the palace, of which he was still an 
 inmate, deploring in solitude the inefficacy of 
 those lessons of philosophy he had endea- 
 voured to instil into the mind of Sophis. 
 They discussed for some time the \dolence 
 intended by the monarch, and it was finally 
 resolved that Kephrenes should make one 
 great effort to rekindle the embers of virtue 
 in his heart, and save him, if possible, from 
 the commission of so atrocious an enormity. 
 Kephrenes, accordingly, seizing an oppor- 
 tunity when the monarch was walking alone 
 in one of the gardens, presented himself, 
 and thus addressed him : — 
 
 It has not been of late my custom to 
 
48 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 obtrude myself upon the presence of the 
 ruler of Egypt ; since other counsellors and 
 other lessons have gained so frightful an as- 
 cendency in his breast. Yet, great Sophis, 
 I should ill discharge the duty imposed on 
 me by thy noble father, when he sank to 
 rest with his ancestors in all the splendour 
 of a victory obtained over the Ethiopians, 
 were I in silence to behold thee arming 
 against thyself a foe, born in thine own br^st, 
 a spectre that shall trace the fearful story 
 of thy past deeds, in characters of fire, on 
 the tablet of thy soul. My words, I know, 
 are the words of freedom, a voice strange to. 
 thine ear and dangerous to him who utters 
 it; but the stream of my life already flows 
 languid and shallow, and that death is ho- 
 nourable indeed which is encountered in the 
 cause of virtue.” 
 
 ‘‘ Cast thine eyes backward,” he proceed- 
 ed, ‘^on the tide of time, and recall, if 
 thou canst, the images of the past. Remem- 
 ber when we walked together on yon plain, 
 and observed the majestic march of the Nile, 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 49 
 
 as he pours his waters through a hundred 
 realms, remember how I proposed it to thee 
 as a type of what ought to have been thy 
 conduct. Thy hand, I said, will grasp a 
 sceptre that shall controul the fate of a 
 mighty empire; be like yon river munifi- 
 cent to all ; and, like it, thou shalt be the 
 object of admiration. Remember how I open- 
 ed to thee the secrets of philosophy and the 
 graces of virtue: was thy happiness then 
 
 less, because thy heart was more pure ? or 
 were the unfading and ever varying pleasures 
 obtained by living in accordance with nature 
 less than the feverish excitement of a mo- 
 ment that is succeeded by the poison of re- 
 gret ? I null not now speak of myself, since 
 the aged Kephrenes, perchance, no longer 
 has a place in thy affections; it is on 
 thyself I would fix thy regard. Pause, 
 
 I entreat thee, in thy career; may the 
 rumour I have heard be false, which speaks 
 of thy intention to dishonour the consort of 
 him who has made the desert reek with 
 the blood of the Ethiopians, filled our coffers 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
50 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 with spoils, and our mouths with songs of 
 triumph. What base ingratitude ! what dan- 
 gerous policy ! thus to injure so great a patriot, 
 so powerful a vassal ! Thinkest thou his 
 talents are only terrible to the Ethiopians ? or 
 that the swords of his attached followers can 
 only wound the foes of Egypt ? Enough has 
 already been yielded to the madness of passion, 
 •and many noble hearts already sigh from 
 wounds inflicted by their monarch. Remember 
 kings are not immortal, nor the patience of 
 man without limit ; think of the day of dark- 
 ness ; why should that moment be hailed with 
 joy rather than mourned by the tears of Miz- 
 raim ? The return to virtue is still open, 
 since the lamp of thy existence yet burns 
 bright.” 
 
 Here the sage was interrupted by Sophis, 
 who exclaimed : 
 
 How powerful, my Kephrenes, are the 
 accents of philosophy ! how have thy words, 
 like a potent spell, recalled to my breast the 
 impressions of the past ! yet tell me, I entreat 
 thee, how shall I retrieve my conduct — how 
 
QUEEX OF EGYPT. 
 
 51 
 
 remove from the minds of those whom I have 
 injured the sense of their wrongs ?” 
 
 ^^Since/^ answered Kephrenes, rejoicing in 
 the success of his remonstrance, my monarch 
 has opened his mind to conviction, I will 
 assist him to the utmost mth my counsels. 
 Banish then from thy court those abandoned 
 associates, whose pleasures are poison, and 
 whose friendship is destruction. Think not 
 these are the suggestions of my own interest ; 
 I desire not to share in the government. Re- 
 cal Bokar — a measure which will supply thee 
 with an active minister, and, at the same time, 
 dissipate men’s suspicions of thy intentions 
 towards his wife : with regard to those of thv 
 nobles whom thou hast injured, more difficulty 
 perhaps exists, since it is easier to wound than 
 to heal; yet a change of measures in the 
 prince cannot but operate on the minds of his 
 subjects, nor is there, perhaps, any injury 
 which may not be obhterated by subsequent 
 benefits.” 
 
 ‘^Thy counsel,” replied Sophis, shall be 
 instantly followed ; go, therefore, and consult 
 
 D 2 
 
 OF ILL LiB, 
 
52 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 with Pharas how these things may be best ac- 
 comphshed — I will myself join you speedily.’^ 
 Kephrenes heard, and withdrew to con- 
 gratulate his colleague on the happy termina- 
 tion of their project. In the meantime, his 
 conference with the monarch was not un- 
 known to Takar — the most abandoned minister 
 of his pleasures — ^who had, by means of his 
 address and unbounded flattery, gained an 
 uncontrolled ascendancy over the mind of the 
 prince. He had heard, with pain and suspi- 
 cion, that Kephrenes had suddenly left his 
 retirement, and was in counsel with the 
 monarch, and he had despatched one of his 
 emissaries to watch their proceedings from a 
 lattice that overlooked the garden. From him, 
 however, he could only learn that Kephrenes 
 appeared to be speaking with ardour, and the 
 monarch to listen with intense interest, and 
 that tears on a sudden burst from his eyes ; in- 
 telligence which, vague as it was, greatly per- 
 plexed and terrified the mind of Takar. Yet 
 he resolved to ascertain, and, if possible, dis- 
 sipate the danger he could not but ap- 
 
QUEEN OP EGYPT. 
 
 53 
 
 prehend; and, accordingly, dispatched the 
 same follower to seek the monarch, having 
 given him his lesson of treachery together with 
 a paper he had hastily prepared. 
 
 Sophis instantly recognized one of the most 
 assiduous ministers of his passions, and sternly 
 exclaimed: ^^Thy arrival is truly seasonable, 
 since thou shalt bear to Takar his dismissal 
 from my court.” 
 
 ^^Alas !” rephed the artful courtier, how 
 terrible is the frown of kings ! with what 
 horror wiU Takar hsten to the tidings of your 
 displeasure ! Yet by what error, great Sophis, 
 has he deserved the resentment of his mo- 
 narch, whose mandates he has obeyed, and 
 whose shghtest breath has been the spring of 
 his every action ? Has he not only within the 
 last hours been engaged in an accurate investi- 
 gation of every circumstance relating to the 
 wife of Bokar, whose beauty and whose ac- 
 comphshments are the theme of every dis- 
 course, and the astonishment of every heart ? 
 and has he not been exerting his invention to 
 
54 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 overcome, by various means, the retiring dis- 
 position of Sphendris }” 
 
 “ Peace ! interrupted Sophis, in a voice 
 which made the advocate start, Osiris 
 
 thou hast thyself condemned him, since it is 
 for thus conspiring against the happiness of 
 Bokar he, thou, and all his creatures shall be 
 banished my court/" 
 
 Never, till this moment,’" answered the 
 persevering emissary of Takar, did I imagine 
 that unhmited obedience to a monarch could 
 be the ruin of a subject; yet, potent Sophis, I 
 will execute thy command; but before I de- 
 part, permit me to present this scroll, which I 
 found, by accident, in an apartment of the 
 palace, since it seems intended for your in- 
 spection."" 
 
 Sophis took the paper without farther com- 
 ment, and, waving the speaker to depart, 
 read the following communication : 
 
 Let the monarch of Egypt beware of 
 treachery, which can mask itself even under 
 the semblance of wisdom. It is not the hand 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 55 
 
 of the gay companion of the banquet, but of 
 the wily votary of ambition, that wields the 
 dagger of treason. False and deceitful elo- 
 quence is the opium of the soul. Sophis ! 
 shake off thy delirium ; thou slumberest on the 
 brink of a precipice. Kephrenes may be wise, 
 but traitors are never fools : he requires only 
 the junction of Bokar’s influence with his own 
 at once to ripen and give efficacy to the opera- 
 tions of faction.’’ 
 
 ^^Are my senses awake ? ” exclaimed Sophis, 
 ‘^or do my eyes alone retain their power, 
 while my ears have ceased to discharge their 
 function ? Did I not hardly a moment since 
 hear Kephrenes discoursing in all the vehe- 
 mence of eloquent virtue, and can he be a trai- 
 tor? he spoke of recalling Bokar, and what 
 say these mysterious characters ? ‘ He requires 
 only the junction of Bokar’s influence with 
 
 * So Shakspeare makes Julius Caesar prefer merry 
 characters as liis companions. He thus adresses Mark 
 Anthony : 
 
 ** Let me have men about me that are fat. 
 Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights." &c. 
 
56 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 his own, at once to ripen and give efficacy to 
 the operations of faction/ These things tally 
 strangely/’ proceeded the monarch, yet can 
 we faU thus abruptly from excellence to vice ? 
 Hath not Kephrenes spent years in instructing 
 me both by precept and example in the 
 lessons of virtue and philosophy, and can he 
 be a traitor ? is there any link in our nature 
 that can connect virtue' and vice in the same 
 bosom ? There is ; and it is ambition. Whilst 
 Kephrenes had the uncontrolled direction of 
 the pupil might he not follow the natural bent 
 of his inclination, and practise virtue; but 
 when the monarch was to be circumvented, 
 when a hostile faction was to be overthrown, 
 might not ambition, which was always latent 
 in his character, break forth ; and when a de- 
 viation from rectitude could alone satisfy its 
 imperious demands, would such a deviation 
 be impossible ? Is human excellence incor- 
 ruptible ? or, are the allurements of ambition 
 weak? The early lessons of Kephrenes in- 
 culcated the answer to these questions, and the 
 transactions of mankind show the answer to 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 5J 
 
 be true. If ambition then exist in the mind 
 of Kephrenes, he may be a traitor.” 
 
 From this train of reasoning Sophis was 
 awakened by the appearance of Takar, who, 
 having prostrated himself, exclaimed : 
 
 “ I come not, mighty monarch, to deprecate 
 your decree, since, I doubt not, the occasion of 
 it is just ; I only crave to hear my dismissal 
 from your own mouth, that the same hand 
 which gave, may resume the favours which 
 once distinguished me.” 
 
 Rise,” interrupted Sophis, ‘^and listen.” 
 He obeyed, and the monarch proceeded : 
 Hadst thou presented thyself a moment 
 since, I had dismissed thee in anger; but a 
 paper has just fallen into my hands that makes 
 my resolution as unsteady as a reed of the 
 Nile : tell me, and tell me truly, hast thou ever 
 held either Kephrenes or Bokar in suspicion ?” 
 
 Never, great monarch,” replied Takar. 
 
 Bethink thee well,” continued Sophis, 
 hast thou never heard a suspicious expression 
 escape from either ?” 
 
 Never,” rejoined the courtier; since 
 D 3 
 
58 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 words uttered in the heat of wine are not of 
 more importance than the breath which utters 
 them/' 
 
 And what were those words ? " answered 
 the monarch, I charge thee, conceal them 
 not ; great fires are apt to throw out sparks ; 
 and thoughts of high import, when buried in 
 the human breast, break forth from their re- 
 tirement, if reason and recollection, the sentinels 
 of the tongue, slumber for a moment." 
 
 Alas ! " replied Takar, do not, I entreat 
 you, mighty prince, press me to repeat them." 
 
 Slave ! " rejoined Sophis, his face kind- 
 ling as he spoke, wouldest thou then resist a 
 hurricane ? knowest thou not a sword is sus- 
 pended over thy head by a thread more at- 
 tenuated than a spider’s web, which my slight- 
 est breath can sever? Declare what thou 
 knowest without fear, and thou mayest again 
 experience the favour of Sophis." 
 
 Since then yoh compel me to speak," an- 
 swered Takar, I will admit that at a banquet 
 I heard Bokar say, when the government of 
 Egypt was under discussion, it was a great 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 6i> 
 
 pity that powerful machines were not always 
 in skilful hands ; and when I asked him where 
 he could fix on a greater man than yourself, 
 he replied, pointing to his own shadow on the 
 wall, ^ you would find such a man there. ’ At 
 this he looked at Kephrenes, who happened to 
 be at the banquet, and the latter smiled, pro- 
 bably at the quickness of his answer, when Bo- 
 kar, instantly filling a goblet with wine, pledged 
 us all to drink long life and happiness to your 
 shadowy rival. Forthwith there was an accla- 
 mation, and the subject was dropped. I trust, 
 great monarch, I need not supplicate you to 
 think no more of so trifling an incident.^’ 
 
 As he said this, something fell from his robe ; 
 and though he seemed to use the utmost des- 
 patch in recovering it, it did not escape the 
 eyes of Sophis, who asked what it was. 
 
 “ It is,^’ answered Takar, a portrait of 
 Sphendris, which your slave has procured from 
 one who has for some time enjoyed her ac- 
 quaintance ; but concerning which the present 
 aspect of your displeasure had determined me 
 to be silent.'^ 
 
60 the story of nitocris, 
 
 ‘‘Let me behold it instantly,” said Sophis. 
 Takar placed it in his hands, and he proceeded: 
 “ By Osiris, report speaks not the truth, since 
 it only compares with women her who is 
 adorned with the graces of a divinity. O 
 that I were a sunbeam, that I might penetrate 
 her palace, and reach the form it enshrines ! 
 Who shall stay the torrent of my affection ? 
 I will make her Queen of Egypt. 
 
 “ And Bokar ?” interrupted the courtier. 
 
 “ Bokar ! ” echoed Sophis, “ the conspirator 
 against my life !” 
 
 “ Nay, great prince,” answered Takar, “ he 
 may not have conspired.” 
 
 “ Did he not,” retorted the monarch, “ name 
 himself as my successor ? ” The courtier as- 
 sented. “ And yet he knew,” continued the 
 prince, “ that to be impossible ; since if I 
 had no heir, and were this moment snatched 
 to oblivion, my crown devolves on my sister 
 Nitocris. And these suspicions,” he proceed- 
 ed, after a short pause, “ have been farther 
 confirmed ; read these characters.” 
 
 The courtier took the paper, and read what 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 61 
 
 ^himself had written with every demonstration 
 of surprise ; and, having finished it, he spoke 
 to this eiFect : 
 
 “When I came into the presence of the 
 monarch of Egypt, I had prepared myself for 
 the consummation of unhappiness — the sen- 
 tence of banishment from his court — and, when 
 that sentence had been pronounced, I felt im- 
 pelled by duty to disclose some important^ 
 information I had lately received; since to 
 have laid it before you when my own doom 
 was already fixed by your royal bps, might, I 
 thought, exculpate me from a suspicion of self- 
 interest. But now, since the sunshine of your 
 clemency is returning, if, indeed, my hope is 
 not a ra^h interpreter ” — 
 
 He was silent for a moment, and feigned 
 agitation, when Sophis exclaimed : 
 
 “ Speak on, noble Takar ! for thy frankness 
 and disinterested conduct have placed thee 
 again wdthin my heart.*' 
 
 “Now," continued the courtier, “the per- 
 suasive accents of gratitude join with the 
 stern call of duty, and both forbid me to hide 
 
62 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS. 
 
 from you what may concern your honour, or 
 even your life/' 
 
 The monarch started at this intelligence, 
 and Takar continued : 
 
 ^^As I traversed the apartments leading to 
 this garden, some one arrested my progress, 
 and, in a hurried manner, said : ‘ There is 
 
 treason abroad; let not Sophis trust Kephre- 
 nes, who is weaving a web around him ; he 
 already prepares to send a messenger to sum- 
 mon Bokar, and that messenger is Pharas. At 
 his arrival they will be invincible : yet, if our 
 monarch still doubts, let him behold this, 
 which I have just found in the apartment of 
 the palace inhabited by Pharas ; ' " saying 
 which, Takar produced a small figure, crowned, 
 with a dagger in its breast, whose hilt bore the 
 hieroglyphic of a hawk* grasping a serpent, 
 and this motto on the blade : my home is 
 
 the heart of an enemy." 
 
 * The hawk was the emblem of Osiris, guardian of 
 Egypt ; and the serpent often represented Typhon, the 
 principle of destruction. — See an account of these and 
 many other hieroglyphics in the tale of Rameses. 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 66 
 
 All this was the entire machination of the 
 abandoned Takar. Sophis looked with terror 
 at what he conceived the emblem of his des- 
 truction, and fell into the snare. 
 
 “ Go/* said he, at length, and take from 
 Kephrenes the power of summoning Bokar ; 
 and, since the treason is palpable, be thy mea- 
 sures prompt and vigourous ; let not to-mor- 
 row’s sun behold him in a condition to dispute 
 my will, and suffer not his. accomplice, Pharas, 
 to escape.” 
 
 The courtier rejoiced at the weakness of the 
 monarch, and withdrew. The command of 
 Sophis was ambiguous ; but Takar inter- 
 preted it in the severest manner, and in- 
 stantly dispatched an officer to the unhappy 
 Kephrenes with a cup of poison. He found 
 the sage in the same apartment in which he 
 had been in council vdth Pharas. Ignorant of 
 the terrible revolution of circumstances, he 
 asked the officer, who was well known to him, 
 the purport of his visit. The latter could not 
 reply ; but, pointing to the fatal cup, which he 
 had placed on the table, presented him with a roll 
 
64 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 of papyrus, to which was appended the royal 
 sanction. Kephrenes read it with astonish- 
 ment it was a mandate for his death. 
 
 Whence come you?’’ at length he said to 
 the officer. 
 
 Alas ! noble Kephrenes, from Takar,” he 
 rephed, ^^who sways, uncontrolled, the mind 
 of our prince.” 
 
 “ It is impossible !” rejoined Kephrenes, “ it 
 is scarcely an hour since I heard the king pro- 
 nounce his banishment.” 
 
 It may be so,” answered the officer, “ yet 
 he now reigns in our monarch’s heart ; whilst 
 he debars all from access to his presence, ex- 
 cept his own party. The king gives up to him 
 the reins of government, intent only on get- 
 ting possession of the wife of Bokar ; and if 
 the setting sun sees my sad errand incomplete, 
 I must answer it with my hfe : Pharas, also, 
 must faU, if he is not already beyond the range 
 of the palace, whose outlets are strictly guarded 
 by the emissaries of tyranny.” 
 
 I entreat your pardon,” said Kephrenes, 
 ^‘for this delay; which, however, is not in vain. 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 65 ' 
 
 since it has informed me that it is by the 
 suggestions and treachery of others I am 
 chiefly wronged. Sophis is weak,^^ he con- 
 tinued, taking the cup, yet who is beyond 
 the reach of reformation ? Continue to serve 
 him with fidehtyj^if any should endeavour 
 to avenge my death, oppose, to the utter- 
 most, every enterprize undertaken against him ; 
 remember the sacred tie of friendship hath 
 bound us, and, by that tie, I conjure thee. 
 Wear this ring,” he proceeded, ‘‘ for my sake, 
 whose figure, the type of eternity, fitly repre- 
 sents immortal memory ; and if the hour shall 
 ever come that Sophis, again yielding to the 
 dictates of virtue, shall enquire of thee con- 
 cerning the last moments of Kephrenes, tell 
 him they were spent in grief, — not for himself, 
 but for his prince.” 
 
 With these words, pressing the hand of the 
 ofiicer, who, whilst tears of fire were starting 
 from his eyes, held the cup with a paralyzed 
 and involuntary grasp, Kephrenes, with, a 
 strong effort, gaining possession of it, drained 
 the contents. The deadly hquid had been 
 
I 
 
 66 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, f 
 
 - . . V 
 
 compounded with fatal skill ; and, in a moment, f 
 
 the expiring sage rested on the throbbing bo- | 
 
 som. of his friend, a couch the most grateful to t 
 
 the human heart. Persons had also been sent 
 in pursuit of Pharas, one of whom might ac- 1 
 tually have secured him, had he not been 
 awakened to suspicion by an Ethiopian do- v 
 
 mestic of the palace, whose freedom he had 
 formerly procured; and it has been already 
 related how Pharas, in his flight, had obtained I 
 an interview with Sphendris, and become the \ 
 
 bearer of a message from her to Bokar. He | 
 
 had, as has been narrated, so far escaped pur- ^ 
 
 suit ; but the intended victim of tyranny must i 
 
 likewise often be its most deadly foe ; and the j 
 
 despot who may, at first, be cruel from caprice, 
 may often find his safety pledged for a repeti- 
 tion of his injustice. 
 
 The escape of Pharas had, accordingly, filled 
 Sophis with alarm, and he had been tracked 
 with the utmost diligence. His speed and 
 secresy had as yet baffled search ; when, 
 soon after quitting the garden of Sphendris, 
 he was accosted by a camel-driver, who stated 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 67 
 
 he was then on his route to Ethiopia, where he 
 was about to meet a number of camels, with 
 which he intended to proceed through the 
 desert for a stipulated sum ; but that, having 
 just lost his assistant, he was now in quest of 
 some one to supply his place ; and concluded 
 by asking Pharas if he could recommend him 
 to any such person. It instantly struck the 
 latter that the opportunity of thus travelling 
 incognito to the Egyptian frontier was exactly 
 what he wanted 5 he, therefore, replied he 
 should himself be happy to join his society, and 
 in a few words, proved to him he was well ac- 
 quainted with desert travelling. Terms were 
 speedily arranged, and they proceeded together 
 each mounted on an ass. Pharas had his rea- 
 sons for not being particularly loquacious ; a 
 circumstance of which the camel-driver availed 
 himself, by talking immoderately, and telling 
 various anecdotes as they rode along. 
 
 At length they arrived at a small stream, 
 where he proposed to stop and rest their asses 
 for a while. Pharas in vain expatiated on the 
 absurdity of losing time, saying, he was well 
 
68 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 acquainted with the country they had to traverse, 
 and that there were many springs where they 
 might refresh themselves without wasting the 
 night so proper for travelling. The camel 
 driver was inexorable, and with the most pro- ' 
 voking coolness dismounted; and, leaving his 
 ass at liberty, sat down by the side of the 
 stream. Pharas almost felt his patience ex- 
 hausted ; yet, seeing no remedy, he dismounted 
 also, and sat down very disconsolately on the 
 grass. His companion, however, was in ex- 
 cellent spirits ; and, producing a flask of wine, 
 pressed him to drink to a prosperous journey. 
 Pharas would rather have ensured it by pro- 
 secuting their course, especially as there was 
 something in his companion rather confident 
 and overbearing. He was, however, forced to 
 submit, and drank with the best grace he 
 could; whilst he derived some consolation from 
 a view of the now descending sun, since it 
 reminded him that night and its obscurity were 
 not far distant. The camel driver on his side 
 pledged him freely ; and, having drunk off a 
 goblet, thus addressed him : 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 69 
 
 “ I perceive, stranger, thou art not in a 
 frame of mind to enjoy hilarity. I vdll not, 
 therefore, force the current of thy thoughts. 
 The soul of man is hke the ocean, stormy to 
 day, to-morrow sleeping in tranquillity, nor 
 would a dirge sung at a wedding banquet sound 
 more dissonant and inconsistent, than laughter 
 amid the sepulchres of the dead. Although 
 I have already told thee so many anecdotes 3 I 
 have yet one tale to relate which may perhaps 
 claim thy interest.’’ 
 
 Pharas gave a faint smile of acquiescence, 
 for his heart was harassed by the terrible 
 images of the past, and the uncertainty of the 
 future, whilst his fellow traveller thus com- 
 menced : 
 
 There was, in a certain district in Lybia, a 
 chieftain of great renown ; his troops swept the 
 desert like a whirlwind, and his own valour 
 was so dreadful that the flash of his sword 
 could dissipate armies as the sun dispels a 
 morning mist. But no power can repress the 
 efforts of treachery and ambition, and a con- 
 
70 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 spiracy was entered into by Alrik, a daring 
 vassal. For three successive moons the secret 
 was enveloped in his breast^ and in those of 
 his accomplices ; and time had almost brought 
 the hour in which it was to take eifect, when 
 it was thus divulged to the chief himself. 
 Kassim, one of the noblest of the conspirators, 
 had, since his participation in the treason, be* 
 come passionately enamoured of Astaris, the 
 daughter of his prince ; and his affection daily 
 increasing, and not being discouraged on the 
 part of the princess, the traitor was lost in the 
 lover, and the knowledge of the danger im- 
 pending over her father, became the torture of 
 his breast. Yet he could not stifle the remem- 
 brance of his oath of secrecy; and after a 
 furious internal struggle, he had resolved to 
 absent himself from the encampment of the 
 chief, in order that he might neither behold the 
 charms of his daughter, nor the consummation 
 of the intended tragedy. But if he could 
 escape from man, he could not retire from 
 himself; and he was soon taught, that next to 
 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 71 
 
 the society of the object of his passion, solitude 
 most of all things contributed to foster its 
 growth. 
 
 The day at length arrived, whose sun was 
 destined to be the last that should behold the 
 chieftain ahve ; and the unhappy Kassim, un- 
 able to endure the conflict of love, honor, and 
 treason, had taken the resolution of swallowing 
 poison, when he was informed by an emissary, 
 whom he constantly employed to give him 
 intelligence respecting aU proceedings at the 
 encampment of the chief, that an aUiance with 
 the princess, his daughter, had been solicited 
 by another chieftain. Love is a powerful 
 agent, but jealousy is perhaps stiUmore potent; 
 since to the affection already existing, indig- 
 nation, it may be hatred, toward the rival, is 
 added. Unable to endure the thought of 
 yielding to another an ascendancy in the heart 
 of Astaris, he resolved instantly to rejoin 
 the camp, and confer, by developing the plot, 
 an indehble obligation on her father. 
 
 This plan was executed, but his subsequent 
 fate remains in obscurity ; the breasts of 
 
72 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 princes love not the recollection of great favours 
 from a vassal •, nor could the candour, the 
 interested candour, of a confession, obliterate 
 in the mind of his chief, the remembrance that 
 Kassim had himself been a party in the treason 
 he unfolded. 
 
 It is to the first mover of the conspiracy,’’ 
 proceeded the camel-driver, that the rest of 
 my tale will relate. 
 
 Informed of the discovery of the enterprise, 
 Alrik mounted the fleetest of his steeds, and 
 rode from the encampment an hour before 
 sun-set. But a traitor at liberty becomes in 
 the bosom of a prince a fire, only to be 
 quenched by his blood : and many horsemen 
 were instantly despatched after the fugitive, 
 whose zeal was stimulated by the love of their 
 chief, and by a princely reward offered to him, 
 who should return with Alrik, dead or alive. 
 Fear is a spur which gives strength for the 
 greatest exertions, and strings the most languid 
 nerves ; but this spur only acted on the flying 
 African, whilst his horse was liable to fatigue. 
 Guided by the stars, he had ridden through 
 
aUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 73 
 
 the night with the speed of a tempest, and the 
 next day he proceeded at intervals, refreshing 
 his horse with a small quantity of water he had 
 brought away with him. But as evening ap- 
 proached, this was almost exhausted, and he 
 was considering how he should continue his 
 flight, when he perceived a man mounted on a 
 camel laden with dates, who immediately came 
 up and addressed him with much courtesy ; and 
 having heard from him a plausible story, in- 
 vited him to join his company, ofiering to take 
 him by a short cut to one of the fertile districts 
 of the desert.'’ 
 
 Pharas now felt his attention forcibly ar- 
 rested, for he was struck with the similarity 
 between his own fate and that of the hero of 
 the story. 
 
 I perceive thou art interested,” said the 
 camel-driver ; but listen farther.” 
 
 “ Alrik hesitated for a moment ; yet per- 
 ceiving his inability to proceed alone, acceded 
 to his proposal. Accordingly they rode* to- 
 gether, and in about an hour arrived at a 
 pleasant spring, shaded by some trees, where 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
74 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 they dismounted, and sat down on the margin 
 of the stream, just as we are sitting at this 
 moment.’^ 
 
 Here Pharas felt the most painful sensations 
 mixed with a dark boding of the future ; his 
 heart throbbed almost audibly, and he felt as 
 if the eyes of the stranger (that were rivetted 
 upon him) penetrated the secret that was 
 labouring in his breast ; yet the glance was but 
 momentary, and his companion proceeded : 
 The sun was sinking to the west, even as 
 now it is hastening to hide itself behind yon 
 stunted grove, and Alrik was congratulating 
 himself that the obscurity of night was about 
 again to envelope him.’' 
 
 An exclamation of terror had almost escaped 
 from Pharas, which scarcely expired on his yet 
 trembhng lips, when the camel-driver proceeded 
 without altering his tone : — The fears of man 
 are often ungrounded, and his hopes often 
 fallacious. The simoom of the desert passes 
 over him. He falls in terror to the earth, but 
 lives to contemplate his danger and his escape. 
 His bark is tossed by a tempest, but the wind 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 75 
 
 languishes to a soft and favoring breeze, and 
 his peril exists only in memory. Yet it is not 
 only a stormy sea that covers the sunken rock j 
 nor so long as the scrutiny of the future shall 
 be hidden to man, can the joy of a moment be 
 a token of prosperity. The bow of fate is 
 never unstrung, and her quiver never ex- 
 hausted.’^ 
 
 Pharas felt as if he were in the society of a 
 magician, who could raise and depress his 
 spirits at pleasure, and he panted to inquire at 
 once the fate of the fugitive African ; yet so 
 irresistibly did his reason identify that fate 
 with his own, that he dared not for a moment 
 anticipate its catastrophe. The stranger, who 
 had paused for an instant, as if absorbed in the 
 train of his reflections, thus resumed ; 
 
 “ In this manner had ALrik passed from a 
 state of fear to one of hope ; but he was taught 
 that the human hand, though it may touch, 
 cannot unfold the roU of futurity, when, on a 
 shrill cry being uttered by the date merchant, 
 he was surrounded and captured by the fol- 
 lowers of his chief.” 
 
76 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 ‘‘ Thou hast heard my story,” concluded the 
 camel-driver, of which, Pharas, thou art 
 thyself the hero.” 
 
 He said ; and, raising a shout, some of the 
 royal guard rushed from the adjoining wood, 
 where they had taken ambush, who imme- 
 diately seized the unhappy Egyptian thus 
 ensnared by the artifice of one of the most 
 wily of the emissaries of Takar. His head 
 was struck off on the spot by the order of 
 that abandoned minister, and, among the papers 
 found on his person, the letter from Sphendris 
 to her husband was intercepted, and her inten- 
 tion of flying that very night from the capital 
 thus revealed. This circumstance instantly 
 suggested to the person, who, in the character 
 of camel-driver, had allured Pharas to his fate, 
 a project for putting the wife of Bokar into the 
 possession of Sophis. He immediately rode 
 back to the capital with his attendants, and at 
 midnight (the hour when Sphendris was to 
 have escaped,) sought the abode of that un- 
 happy object of the royal affections. She 
 herself had passed the rest of the day since 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 77 
 
 the departure of Pharas in the greatest anxiety, 
 and the approaching darkness filled her with 
 increasing sohcitude. Its propitious veil must 
 indeed be the safeguard of her flight ; yet reason 
 though she may deride can seldom entirely 
 banish that undefined apprehension of peril 
 experienced by the human breast, when an 
 important measure must be executed, during 
 the hours of obscurity ; even though that very 
 obscurity is its principal ally. 
 
 It was ROW midnight ; and Sphendris having 
 collected some jewels, was about to leave her 
 palace with a few attendants, when she was 
 astonished to behold from one of the lattices 
 the gleam of torches ; while at the same time 
 the beginning of the wild strain which cele- 
 brates the death of Maneros* was sweetly 
 wafted from below. She paused in the greatest 
 
 * Maneros was the only son of Menes, first King of 
 Egypt, who died by a premature death ; and the grief of 
 his father and country was expressed in a song named 
 after the prince whom it lamented, the dirge of Maneros. — 
 See Herodotus Euterpe. 
 
78 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 amazement ; for that was the signal, which, in 
 her intercepted letter, she had agreed to make 
 on arriving at the camp of Bokar. Agitated 
 with the most painful perplexity at this cir- 
 cumstance, she heard some voices beneath 
 pronounce in a cadence of the sweetest har- 
 mony, during the pause of the sacred dirge, 
 the following dialogue : 
 
 “ Can Sphendris sleep in the dangerous 
 capital ? Can she slumber whilst her Bokar 
 is torn with solicitude 
 
 ‘‘ No, she has already fled ; we are arrived 
 too late.” 
 
 How then shall we discharge our duty to 
 Bokar ? Let us instantly seek her, that we may 
 at least guard the remainder of her path.” 
 
 From these words, Sphendris imagined the 
 strangers some of her husband’s followers ; and, 
 immediately opening the lattice, interrogated 
 them as to the nature of their errand ; when 
 one of them informed her they had met with 
 Pharas, as they were themselves proceeding by 
 order of Bokar, (who had had intelligence of 
 her danger,) to facilitate and protect her flight j 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 79 
 
 but having learned from Pharas her intention 
 of escaping that very night, he had feared they 
 might not have arrived soon enough to fulfil 
 the command of their general. He concluded 
 by rejoicing at his good fortune in this respect, 
 at the same time urging her instant departure. 
 His story was in the highest degree plausible : 
 the signal, the knowledge of her plans, the 
 mention of Pharas, all contributed to give it an 
 air of veracity ; and Sphendris proceeded to 
 comply with, what she imagined, the intentions 
 of her husband. 
 
 Taking, therefore, only one of her female 
 attendants, she left the palace and joined the 
 troop ; when she was accosted with the utmost 
 respect by the person who had already com- 
 municated with her. The same story was 
 repeated ; she was placed, together with her 
 attendant, in a closed litter, and immediately 
 the whole train took with the utmost despatch 
 the road which led from the capital, to the 
 inexpressible delight of Sphendris, who already 
 fancied herself on the frontiers. But she 
 judged of the future by her wishes ; since at 
 
80 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 the very moment she was thus congratulating 
 herself, she was in the power of the emissaries 
 of Sophis. 
 
 Yet their scheme was not completed ; her 
 suspicion, though lulled, might again awake, 
 and it was on that account the principal con- 
 ductor of the stratagem had hitherto directed 
 his course, as if for the frontiers. 
 
 A little before the dawn of day the party 
 halted to take some refreshment, and the wife 
 of Bokar was attended with the most graceful 
 courtesy by the above-mentioned commander 
 of the band. With the earnest entreaties of 
 Sphendris that they might proceed as rapidly 
 as possible, he professed the most entire 
 acquiescence ; discharging his services at the 
 same time with consummate urbanity. But 
 his graces were the glitter of the serpent’s 
 skin ; and his unhappy victim, when she drank 
 from a bowl of water mixed with the juices of 
 delicious fruits, knew not that a powerful 
 narcotic had been mingled with the draught. 
 She, however, together with her attendant, who 
 had fallen a prey to the same treachery, soon 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 81 
 
 felt an irresistible inclination for sleep, which, 
 as they had not rested the night before, was the 
 less remarkable. Yet Sphendris, ever anxious 
 to behold the consummation of her escape, 
 and full of the idea she was still encompassed 
 by danger, struggled for a while against the 
 oppression that was stealing over her senses. 
 But the united force of art and nature was not 
 to be overcome, and both were soon steeped in 
 profound repose. 
 
 This was the moment expected by the craft} 
 Egyptian ; the troop instantly changed their 
 course, and, proceeding with the utmost rapidity 
 to the capital, conveyed their captive, still under 
 the influence of the soporific, within the pre- 
 cincts of the palace of Sophis. The monarch 
 himself was then absent on a hunting party ; 
 and the ofiicer who had, with such fatal skill, 
 circumvented both Sphendris and Pharas, lost 
 not a moment in acquainting him with his 
 success ; and when Sophis learned that by the 
 dexterity of his minister his vengeance had 
 been satisfied, his fears allayed, and the object 
 of his passion procured ; when he beheld as 
 
 E 3 
 
82 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRlS, 
 
 tokens the blood of Pharas, and an ornament 
 taken from the neck of Sphendris, his rapture 
 was unhmited, he requited with an inestimable 
 reward the unrivalled artifice of his servant, 
 and declaring that the fairest game had already 
 been taken, broke up the hunting party, and 
 prepared to return to the capital. 
 
 In the mean time, it has been seen how the 
 dexterity of Sphendris had been foiled by 
 treachery and violence. She had sunk to repose 
 under an impression of comparative safety ; 
 but the stream of time had not stagnated 
 during her slumbers, and a most terrible reahty 
 was prepared for her waking hour. The night 
 succeeding the day on which she had been 
 brought into the palace was somewhat more 
 than half expired, when the influence of the 
 narcotic began to subside ; and, awaking from a 
 most profound sleep, the wife of Bokar opened 
 her eyes amid the splendors of a chamber 
 furnished with regal magnificence : she was 
 stretched on a couch of the most luxurious 
 softness, round which hung curtains whose 
 embroidery represented with the most living 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 83 
 
 vivacity the scenes of Egypt’s various festivals, 
 and sacred processions ; and such had been the 
 skill of the artist, that the cymbals seemed to 
 clash, the smoke of the incense to arise, and 
 the blood of the sacrifices to flow. These images 
 were discovered to her by the soft light of 
 several lamps fed with perfumed oil, that 
 poured their flood of fi*agrance and brightness 
 from vases of cut crystal ; and there was some- 
 thing wild and sweet in the contrast betv^’^een 
 the silence of midnight, (when Nature seems 
 to pause in her respiration, and the restless 
 spirits of rational intelligence are steeped in 
 oblivion,) and the representations she saw 
 around her of life and activity, of those 
 unquiet busy scenes in which the passions, the 
 weaknesses, and the virtues of the human 
 breast were fervent and in action. 
 
 Sphendris gazed around her with astonish- 
 ment ; and not immediately recalling the re- 
 membrance of the past, she was tempted to 
 imagine what she saw, nothing but a fair 
 landscape of fancy’s pencil, a fleeting creation 
 of the mind that vanishes before the light of 
 
84 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 the sun and of reason. A few hours fatally 
 dispelled the delusion ; yet nature has perhaps 
 justly ordained that the human heart which so 
 often suffers its hours of happiness to be tainted 
 by discontent, or the apprehension of unknown 
 evils, should not always feel the griefs which 
 surround it, and that it should even sport with 
 the flower which conceals the serpent. 
 
 After an effort of thought, she succeeded in 
 recovering a partial recollection of the events 
 in which she had been engaged, but all was 
 stiU wrapped in confusion; yet suspicion was 
 mixed with every reflection, and she almost 
 regretted the calm forgetfulness from which 
 she had emerged into fear and perplexity. 
 Two female attendants were standing by the 
 couch, each holding a large fan composed of 
 plumes, whose constant motion dispensed a 
 ceaseless and grateful coolness. Of these 
 females she was on the point of seeking an 
 explanation ; but the request died upon her 
 lips, and she resolved not to anticipate the 
 morrow, by instantly drawing aside a veil she 
 trembled even then to see removed. She there- 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 85 
 
 fore still continued to contemplate the scene 
 before her, whilst her senses, not wholly freed 
 from the influence of the soporific, fluctuated 
 in that shadow}^ region, that twilight as it were, 
 of sensation, that lies between sleeping and 
 waking. 
 
 After a time the attendants above-mentioned 
 were relieved by others, who, approaching with 
 noiseless step, received the fans from those 
 who were retiring, and took in silence the 
 station they had occupied : yet she fancied 
 that one eyed her with compassion, and this 
 idea was strengthened, when the same attendant, 
 heaving a sigh, said in a scarcely audible 
 whisper, ‘‘ How beautiful and unprotected !*’ 
 
 These words renewed the fears of Sphendris, 
 which the morning light was destined to con- 
 vert into despair. The sun had risen upon 
 Egypt, and Sphendris was finally recalled at 
 once to sensation, and the perfect recollection 
 of the circumstances in which she had been 
 involved ; and on looking round the chamber, 
 and missing her own attendant, who had pur- 
 posely been withdrawn by the king’s minister, 
 
86 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 she enquired concerning her of the two females 
 already mentioned^ when one of them replied. 
 She has been removed to another part of the 
 palace/* 
 
 Of what palace ?’* demanded Sphendris ki 
 a voice of wild terror ; — where am I ? are 
 not these the frontiers of Egypt ?** 
 
 ‘‘ Alas ! noble lady/* answered Mena, (the 
 same domestic who had the night before shown 
 commiseration for her condition :) know you 
 not you are in the palace of Sophis, whither 
 you were conveyed yesterday ?’* 
 
 Here she was interrupted by the unhappy 
 captive, who broke out into a wild laugh, which 
 was followed by a torrent of tears ; after which, 
 becoming outwardly more composed, she or- 
 dered the attendants to retire to the anti- 
 chamber. They obeyed ; and while alone, she 
 endeavoured to collect the energies of her 
 spirit, and finally resolved to exert every 
 faculty, and brave every peril for an escape ; 
 and, if this should be impossible, to elude, even 
 by a voluntary death, the grasp of tyranny. 
 There is a kind of satisfaction whidh never 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 87 
 
 fails to result from a good and generous reso- 
 lution, whilst a concerted plan of opposition 
 becomes an object to which the faculties of the 
 mind may be strenuously directed, and the hope, 
 however ghmmering, of eluding tyranny, can 
 alleviate the pressure of the most galling 
 chains. This satisfaction and this hope were 
 now experienced by Sphendris ; and thus feeling 
 her mind somewhat relieved, she clapped* her 
 hands for the domestics, who instantly ap- 
 peared, and she arose. 
 
 About noon on the same day Sophis returned 
 to his palace, and immediately sent one of his 
 courtiers to announce to Sphendris his intention 
 of visiting her ; a message which was received 
 with dignity, though not apparently with dis- 
 pleasure : nay, she even so far mastered her 
 feelings as to send the* monarch an answer of 
 great courtesy. She intended to oppose artifice 
 to artifice ; whilst the joy of Sophis was 
 
 * Domestics are often summoned in the East by 
 clapping the hands, being frequently only in anti- rooms. — 
 See the Story of Anastasius. 
 
88 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 unlimited at his seeming triumph^ and he 
 trusted that the importunities of a royal lover 
 in the bloom of youth would complete the 
 conquest. 
 
 He accordingly lost no time in presenting 
 himself to the wife of Bokar ; in whose features 
 and deportment beauty and majesty were so 
 exquisitely blended, that though his heart was 
 instantly kindled, he felt abashed in the 
 presence of his captive, and ardently wished 
 that she were less beautiful or less virtuous, 
 that himself could abandon the seductions of 
 vice,"or Sphendris the path of honour. Yet he 
 speedily shook off his embarrassment, and 
 urged his suit in a long address ; pourtraying 
 in vivid colours the ardour of his passion, and 
 the sincerity of his devotion ; and concluded by 
 intreating her to pardon the apparent violence 
 which had adorned the palace with her pre- 
 sence, since its origin, must be sought in her 
 own incomparable beauty. 
 
 But though he had employed all his elo- 
 quence, he expected that his solicitations would 
 have been repulsed with scorn. His dehght 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 89 
 
 was therefore as great as his astonishment, 
 when Sphendris replied, she could never 
 sufficiently prize the honour of holding a place 
 in his royal heart, and that instead of par- 
 doning, she rather thanked the fortune which 
 had prevented her from leaving the capital ; 
 a measure, she said, prompted more by the 
 jealousy of Bokar than her own desire ; and 
 which, had it taken effect, might perhaps for 
 ever have prevented her from beholding and 
 listening to the most graceful and eloquent 
 monarch that had ever adorned the world, 
 Sophis could scarcely believe his own senses, 
 and answered, his eyes sparkling as he spoke : 
 « Since, my princess, the queen of as many 
 hearts as glow with human feehngs, deigns 
 thus to return the affection of the most faithful 
 of her slaves, let us instantly repair to yonder 
 summer-house, (pointing, as he spoke, to a light 
 pavihon, raised in an adjoining garden,) where 
 a banquet shall be prepared, and where, beneath 
 the impervious shade of innumerable curtains, 
 thou shalt repose on a soft couch, while music 
 breathing from afar in wild bursts of harmony 
 
90 
 
 THE STORY OP NITOCRIS, 
 
 shall sweetly respond to the ecstacy of our 
 hearts/' 
 
 Alas, great monarch !" answered Sphendris, 
 I may perhaps olFend you ; yet it is possibly 
 that your clemency may excuse my temerity. 
 Defer, I intreat you, till to-morrow, what you 
 propose ; happiness, like grief, may sometimes 
 overpower the mind, and the sudden change 
 that has taken place in my circumstances may 
 well produce a revolution of my feelings. I 
 slept a fugitive, I awoke in a palace ; I slept 
 amid the frowns, I awoke amid the sunshine, of 
 fortune ; besides which, to-day is the anni- 
 versary of my marriage with Bokar, and an 
 undefined scruple withholds me till to-morrow 
 from the bliss you promise.” 
 
 Tlie thought of this delay was highly un- 
 pleasing to Sophis ; yet contenting himself with 
 the progress he had already made, he resolved 
 to yield this point. It was accordingly agreed 
 they should meet the next day at noon in the 
 pavilion 3 and he quitted for the present the 
 society of Sphendris, to boast of his triumph 
 amid his train of flatterers. 
 
QUEEN OP EGYPT. 
 
 91 
 
 On his departure she summoned one of her 
 attendants, the same who had already won her 
 confidence, and thus addressed her : — I think 
 Mena, my fate is not imknown to thee — a 
 conjecture originating in words of compassion 
 which escaped thee last night, when I was 
 apparently sleeping, and which thy assiduous 
 and affectionate attentions have since con- 
 firmed.” 
 
 The attendant here became confused, and 
 Sphendris proceeded : — Fear not my pene- 
 tration of thy thoughts, but listen to a project 
 I am about to disclose. I have this day seen 
 t)ie monarch of Egypt, whose heart I have had 
 the misfortune to captivate, and he vainly 
 hopes I have surrendered myself to his wiU. 
 With difficulty I have prevailed upon him to 
 leave me this day in solitude, and to-morrow 
 at noon we are to meet in yonder pavihon. 
 But, Mena, such a morrow must never come ; 
 the rising sim must not behold me in the 
 capital. I will to-night array myself in thy 
 garb ; in which, under the favour of darkness, I 
 shall easily get beyond the precincts of the 
 
92 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 palace, and the rather, since from the secret 
 mode of my conveyance hither, my person is 
 known to few of the retainers of Sophis. Once 
 free, I shall proceed immediately towards the 
 frontiers by any means that may offer itself. I 
 may encounter difficulties or even death, but I 
 will never yield to the solicitations of the 
 tyrant.’’ 
 
 Alas ! noble lady,” answered the attendant, 
 what is it you propose ? Let us imagine you 
 for a moment beyond the range of the palace, 
 how would you escape the thousand perils that 
 surround your path ? how elude the pursuit of 
 Sophis ? I would rather suggest the following 
 plan. There is at this moment among the 
 royal guards an officer, who for his great merit 
 when under the banners of Bokar, was raised 
 to the rank he now holds, whilst the counsels 
 of our monarch were still directed by Ke- 
 phrenes. Since the aggrandizement of Takar, 
 his situation has become every day more 
 painful, until at length he has resolved to quit 
 the court, and rejoin his former patron. I 
 doubt not procuring you a conference, and it is 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 J>3 
 
 highly possible he may hasten his departure, 
 so as to leave the palace to-night.’^ 
 
 Sphendris reflected for a moment ; she had 
 already once been the victim of perfidy, and 
 the lessons of experience are indelible : yet she 
 considered the almost insurmountable difficul- 
 ties with which her own project must be 
 embarrassed, and finally resolved once more to 
 commit herself to a stranger. Mena con- 
 trived the meeting she had promised, and the 
 officer, who was not unacquainted with the 
 story of the wife of Bokar, pledged himself 
 in the most solemn terms to escort her to the 
 frontiers. His arrangements were speedy and 
 secret ; and at midnight, accompanied by 
 Sphendris, he left the palace ; ha\dng ordered 
 his domestics, as soon as their departure 
 should become known,” to affect to discover 
 their route, but in reality, to lead their pur- 
 suers into an opposite direction. 
 
 Very early the next morning a report spread 
 like lightning throughout the palace, that 
 Sphendris had thrown herself into the arms 
 of one of the royal guards, and that both had 
 
94 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS. 
 
 escaped. Sophis, incensed at the intelligence, 
 ordered an immediate pursuit, and the fleetest 
 steeds were ready to give efficacy to his com- 
 mands ; but the skilful manoeuvre of the pro- 
 tector of Sphendris, took instant effect, and 
 the zeal and swiftness of men and horses were 
 alike exerted in a wrong course. 
 
 In the mean time, Bokar, at his station on 
 the frontiers was a prey to much solicitude 3 
 alarming accounts of the tyranny of the court 
 and decline of the influence of Kephrenes had 
 reached him and fiUed him with anxiety ; but 
 when he was informed of the death of that 
 illustrious man, and the undivided ascendancy 
 of Takar, he trembled for his country, and re- 
 solved a return to the capital in spite of the 
 orders of his sovereign. Dark rumours of the 
 death of his friend Pharas had also reached 
 him, but every feeling was lost in that of in- 
 dignation, when, as he was sitting one evening 
 alone in his tent, his amiable and accomplished 
 Sphendris, whose image since the -terrible 
 tidings from the capital, had formed the sub- 
 ject of his waking, and the vision of his 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 95 
 
 sleeping thoughts, suddenly appeared, mounted 
 on horseback with her faithful protector by 
 her side. The transports of affection have ever 
 been the same, since the same feelings have ever 
 vibrated in the human heart ; and Bokar and 
 Sphendris as they mutually strained each other 
 in their arms, felt that they forgave fortune 
 all her frowns, since they had been succeeded 
 by so bright a smile. They vied with each 
 other in expressions of gratitude for the fide- 
 lity and umvearied exertions of the officer ; who 
 contemplated with delight, happiness to which 
 he had so far contributed. 
 
 Not many days elapsed ere the court was 
 filled with the rumour that both Sphendris and 
 the officer who had deserted the palace, were 
 in the camp of Bokar. Tyrants are often 
 cowards, and Sophis was seized with the ut- 
 most terror at this report. The memory of 
 Sphendris haunted his imagination, and he 
 dreaded the resentment of Bokar ; yet the 
 violence of a despot scarcely knows where to 
 pause, and the acts of tyranny are unrestrained. 
 
96 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS. 
 
 when revenge and security demand, or seem 
 to demand, the same measures. 
 
 Egypt was taught this lesson by the death 
 of many of her most illustrious nobles who 
 were sacrificed to the jealousy of Sophis. All 
 who were in any way connected with Bokar 
 were marked as his especial victims ; and such 
 as had not fled, were seized and held as 
 hostages in case that general should attempt 
 any revolution. The will of Takar was un- 
 controlled 5 and he abused his power by tor- 
 menting even the monarch to whom he owed 
 his aggrandizement. Often would he pourtray 
 in lively colours to Sophis the horror with 
 which he was regarded by his subjects, and the 
 many conspiracies still forming against him 
 of which he pretended to have the key, and 
 for whose extinction he alone could provide 
 the means. 
 
 The wretched Sophis was but the shade of 
 royalty, yet he felt keenly the insolence of 
 Takar, and sighed to be emancipated from 
 fetters himself had forged ; but the frightful 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 97 
 
 scenes of plots and machinations depicted by 
 that artful courtier terrified his imagination 
 and paralyzed every effort of his mind. Takar 
 seemed now at the summit of ambition, yet 
 one thing was still wanting, namely, to secure 
 to himself the crown. 
 
 Between his grasp and that bright object, 
 stood Nitocris ; her fall accomphshed, he 
 doubted not of moulding Sophis to his will; 
 and all he had yet gained, appeared as nothing 
 to his insatiable ambition, which, scorning the 
 height it had already attained, fixed its eagle 
 gaze on the pinnacle of greatness that still rose 
 above it— whence flashed the diadem of Egypt. 
 But Nitocris must be removed ere this could 
 be effected, and, in contriving her ruin, he 
 employed the whole force of his artifice. He 
 began by incensing the princess against her 
 brother, insinuating that in case he should 
 have no son, he intended, if possible, to con- 
 travene the usages of Egypt, and adopt a suc- 
 cessor in order to prevent the crown from 
 descending to a female, lest by her marriage 
 with some foreign potentate, the interests of 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
98 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 another nation should be brought into collision 
 with those of her own subjects. Nitocris was 
 violent and ambitious, and the idea of a mea- 
 sure that would exclude her from all hope of 
 the government wrought incessantly on the tur- 
 bulent elements of her nature. Takar saw his 
 advantage, and while he constantly enjoined 
 the utmost secrecy, he failed not still to in- 
 flame her animosity, till in the phrenzy of her 
 excitement she broached the possibihty of 
 deposing Sophis, by taking advantage of the 
 hatred with which his government was re-r 
 garded, — a revolution for which Bokar was 
 proposed as the principal instrument. Takar 
 already fancied the princess within his toils, 
 and now hastened the catastrophe of his plot. 
 
 Presenting himself one day to Sophis, he 
 represented to him he had discovered a 
 conspiracy more terrible than any which had 
 ever threatened the monarch, and forthwith 
 explained with much apparent reluctance, the 
 dangerous purpose of Nitocris, imposing at 
 the same time the utmost secrecy till he should 
 make farther discoveries. 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 99 
 
 Sophis was thrown by this information into 
 the utmost alarm, and avoided, under various 
 excuses, the society of his sister, whilst the 
 abandoned Takar pretended still to elicit some 
 new fact, ever entreating him at the same time, 
 to moderate his resentment till yet clearer 
 proof should be obtained of the guilt of the 
 princess. This evidence he proposed to pro- 
 cure by means of a communication Nitocris 
 had intended sending to Bokar, and which he 
 meant to intercept and lay before Sophis. 
 
 The fate of Nitocris had now reached its 
 crisis, and Takar only needed the possession 
 of the communication above mentioned to hurl 
 her from a palace to destruction. But the 
 female imagination is restless and penetrating, 
 and it is just that suspicion, which so often 
 fosters, should sometimes disconcert the ma- 
 chinations of treacher}^ 
 
 Takar had triumphed over Kephrenes and 
 Pharas ; he had defied the virtue and the talents 
 of experienced statesmen ; he had risen on 
 their ruins to sway the destinies of Eg}^t ; 
 but he was doomed to fall before the superior 
 
 F 2 
 
100 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 artifice of a woman, and to behold that deceit 
 which had been the means of his advancement 
 armed against him for his fall. Much as- 
 tonishment had been awakened in the breast 
 of Nitocris by the decided manner in which her 
 brother had, of late, avoided her society ; and 
 that astonishment was changed into suspicion, 
 by accounts given her by one of the domestics 
 of the palace of the perturbed appearance 
 of Sophis. She knew that the charac- 
 ter of Takar was by no means unexcep- 
 tionable,. and involuntarily connected with 
 him the estrangement of her brother. Jea- 
 lousy of his proceedings being once awakened, 
 the minutest circumstance served to cherish 
 its growth ; and observing the eagerness with 
 which he urged her to explain her sentiments 
 to Bokar, she was resolved to pause, and not 
 hastily, by taking so decided a step, place her- 
 self in the power of the minister ; at the same 
 time she determined, if possible, to gain an 
 interview with her brother, and endeavour to 
 ascertain the reality of Takar’ s suggestions. 
 
 Accordingly one day, when Sophis was alone, 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 101 
 
 she presented herself on a sudden without 
 having given any intimation of her design. 
 The monarch v'as startled at her unexpected 
 appearance, for the alarming accounts of her 
 treachery, given by his minister, had taken 
 entire possession of his imagination ; but the 
 meeting was now effected, and Nitocris, 
 anxious to gain as much as possible by the 
 precious moments, proceeded immediately to 
 enquire of Sophis on account of what weak- 
 ness, or what incapacity in her, he was re- 
 vohung the idea of transgressing the laws of 
 Eg}q)t by excluding her from the succession. 
 The monarch was astonished beyond utterance 
 by this question, which he at length answered, 
 by asking the princess in his turn what delusion 
 had taken possession of her intellects ; — at the 
 same time disclaiming in the most positive 
 terms, any such intention, and he concluded by 
 charging her with entering into cabals for the 
 subversion of his government. On her part, Ni- 
 tocris was now throvui into the utmost amaze- 
 ment, whilst she at once penetrated the perfidy 
 of Takar. She immediately denied the accusa- 
 tion in the most vehement manner, and called 
 
102 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS. 
 
 upon Sophis to produce his evidence. She 
 felt, indeed, the charge was not groundless, 
 and regretted she had expressed herself with 
 so little caution to that designing minister 5 — 
 she perceived that either he or herself must 
 fall, and resolved to anticipate his efforts. 
 She therefore related to her brother the whole 
 ofTakar’s representations with regard to the 
 violation of the succession, and Sophis re- 
 plied as she had expected, that it was from 
 the same source he had received intelligence 
 of her designs ; declaring that, after what he 
 had heard, he could repose no confidence in 
 Takar. Nitocris in a torrent of passionate 
 eloquence echoed his sentiments, and both 
 agreed in the necessity of his destruction. 
 But the princess was well acquainted with the 
 weakness of her brother, and remembered the 
 revolution which had a short time since con- 
 demned Kephrenes. She therefore determined 
 that Takar and Sophis should never meet ; 
 nor was her dexterity less than her resolu- 
 tion. 
 
 Leaving the monarch, she sent in haste to 
 the minister as if to consult farther on the 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 103 
 
 intended conspiracy. Takar obeyed the sum- 
 mons, and to his infinite dehght beheld a 
 paper in the hands of the princess, which she 
 professed to be a communication for Bokar. 
 The minister urged the celerity of its depar- 
 ture, eager to lay before his sovereign so clear 
 an e\fidence of her treason. Nitocris acquiesced 
 in his suggestions, and filling two goblets with 
 wine, invited him to drink to the success of 
 their project. Takar congratulated himself on 
 the depth of his artifice, but knew not he was 
 the victim of superior treachery. He drained 
 the goblet, and almost at the same moment 
 expired — for a deadly drug had been mingled 
 with the draught. Nitocris instantly stamped 
 on the ground, and his body was hurried away 
 by some attendants who appeared at the 
 signal. 
 
 The celerity of the princess had not been 
 in vain, for Sophis already repented of the 
 haste with which he had condemned his mi- 
 nister. Yet when his destruction became 
 known, he affected to rejoice at it, thougii 
 he secretly trembled in the vicinity of a 
 
104 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 woman who had displayed such resolution and 
 address. That woman was indeed a sister, 
 but representations of Takar still rung in his 
 ears, — and tyrants can confide in few. On 
 Nitocris likewise the suggestions of that minis- 
 ter produced some solicitude, notwithstanding 
 they had been so positively disclaimed by the 
 monarch, and the palace accordingly became a 
 scene of some outward affection and much 
 real suspicion between herself and Sophis. 
 
 Amid all their discord, however, they were 
 unanimous in the principles of despotism. 
 Bokar was still watched with a jealous eye, 
 and many of his connexions in the capital 
 subjected to a rigorous confinement. 
 
 A king who respects his nobles may long 
 trample with impunity on his meaner subjects ; 
 but when by deep injuries, he arouses the 
 indignation of the great, he rashly excites a 
 tempest in which he may be lost. Whilst the 
 nobles are untouched, they may behold the 
 tyrant with indifference, but when their rights 
 are infringed, they are eager to avenge them- 
 selves on the private enemy. It was thus, 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 105 
 
 that by various acts of violence, Sophis had 
 awakened the hatred of some, and the appre- 
 hension of all the nobility of Egypt 5 and at 
 a splendid banquet given by one of the cour- 
 tiers in honour of his monarch’s birthday, poi- 
 soli from an uncertain hand cut short at once 
 his reign and his life, whilst yet in the \dgour 
 of youth. The Egyptians rejoiced at their 
 deliverance; but if a crafty tyrant is more 
 terrible than a weak one, their happiness was 
 not increased by the accession of Nitocris to 
 the throne. Eminent ahke in mental and bo- 
 dily graces, it was in her power to gain and 
 deserve the affections of her country, as well 
 by her personal attractions as her exertions 
 for the weal of the state. But the love of a 
 people cannot be conciliated without a sacrifice 
 on the part of the prince of the pri\dlege 
 claimed by absolute despotism, — a sacrifice 
 which Nitocris was unwilhng to make. In 
 her eyes, a diadem was without splendour if 
 its wearer acknowledged any other sway than 
 his own will, and she cared not for the affection 
 of her subjects, if she could remain absolute 
 
 F 3 
 
106 THE STORY OF NITOCRISj 
 
 by the influence of fear. But she had been 
 taught that fear was compatible with hatred, 
 and that he who inspires the one, may become 
 the victim of the other : — a lesson, which if it 
 set no limits to injustice, must at least awaken 
 vigilance. 
 
 Nitocris accordingly took every precaution 
 that could fortify her government; and her 
 person was perpetually guarded by a body 
 of Ethiopian mercenaries from whose bows — 
 which no other nation could even bend 
 — arrows were impelled with a force no 
 armour could resist. 
 
 The commencement of her reign was the 
 signal for those who had shunned the tyranny 
 of Sophis, to leave the country and return to 
 the capital ; and amongst them, Bokar, whose 
 presence was no longer required on the fron- 
 tiers, hastened to revisit the mansion of his 
 fathers, and pay his tribute of homage to the 
 queen. It was not without horror that 
 Sphendris again entered the city in which she 
 had been beset by such perils ; — yet, if her eye 
 could have penetrated the future, it would 
 
aUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 107 
 
 have looked back on that Scene of danger as 
 on one of comparative tranquillity. 
 
 In the meantime the court of Nitocris ex- 
 hibited the same picture of licence and pro- 
 fligacy as that of the former reign. An alliance 
 with the princess was sought by various 
 suitors, — ^but she was inexorable to all. Yet 
 though from a fondness of unlimited power 
 she declined marriage, her vanity was stiU 
 predominant and her passions vehement. A 
 veil was cast over the scandalous proceedings 
 of the palace, yet it was notorious that many 
 lovers were lodged within its precincts, who 
 vied with each other in aU the arts of flattery, — 
 whilst the greatness of royalty melted away 
 in a vortex of pleasure and dissipation. The 
 contagion of example is swift and resistless, 
 and Egypt would have been lost in a lethargy 
 of luxury and excess, if the reins of govern- 
 ment had not soon fallen into a more prudent 
 hand. 
 
 Among the residents at court was Tarak, 
 commander of the Ethiopian mercenaries, who 
 
108 THE STORY OF IVITOCRIS, 
 
 by the graces of his person and superior ad- 
 dress soon ingratiated himself with the queen, 
 and speedily rose to the highest place in her 
 affections. All his former rivals were left to 
 pine in comparative or complete neglect, and 
 the various departments of government were 
 virtually under his control. Nitocris had de- 
 nied the sceptre to a husband, but she 
 granted it to a lover, and Egypt confessed 
 with a blush, she was happier under the ad- 
 mistration of Tarak the Ethiopian, than that 
 of her native ruler. He saw and exerted him- 
 self to remedy the many evils which threatened 
 to undermine the state, and endeavoured, by 
 clearing the court of its most abandoned in- 
 mates, to lessen the immorality of the ca- 
 pital. 
 
 Nitocris beheld many of her desires opposed 
 or annulled ; yet she was contented to enjoy 
 only the shadow of command in the embraces 
 of Tarak, secretly reflecting at the same time 
 that it was in her power to dismiss him at 
 pleasure. But that power was gradually 
 
QUEEN OP EGYPT. 
 
 \09 
 
 abating, since the artful Ethiopian was weaving 
 at once a web around her heart, and securing 
 in his grasp the powers of government. He 
 sent private communications to his native 
 country, full of the most flattering hopes, as- 
 suring the Ethiopian monarch he would soon 
 reduce Egypt under his sway. The project 
 was bold, though not wholly chimerical, since 
 if he could but prevail on Nitocris to grant 
 him her hand, his ascendancy in the adminis- 
 tration would be secured, and he subsequently 
 intended, by augmenting the number of the 
 mercenaries, and gradually putting all the 
 offices of government into the hands of men 
 of his nation and party, to render Egypt de- 
 fenceless. 
 
 But to all this the marriage of Nitocris was in- 
 dispensable ; for, notwithstanding his influence 
 with the queen, he was conscious a new 
 attachment might alienate her affections, and 
 the same caprice which had given him a place 
 in her heart, might banish him the palace or 
 perhaps Egypt. He therefore used every ar- 
 
110 THE STORY OP NITOCRIS, 
 
 tifice that could work upon the ardent pas- 
 sion of Nitocris, and pressed her with the 
 most vehement solicitations to render by 
 marriage, his felicity as permanent as it was 
 transcendant. 
 
 “ Consider,” he said, ‘‘consider, I intreat 
 thee, we live not in the blissful regions of the 
 gods, where change cannot come, and where 
 happiness is eternal 3 our life is like a cloud 
 of the sky, — -the sport of events, as that is of 
 the winds of Heaven ; the present hour is all 
 we can call our own, since the past with its 
 pleasures and its pains is soon lost in the 
 obscurity of distance, or only speaks with a 
 mysterious voice to the memory, there to 
 awaken the torture of self reproach, or a sigh 
 for departed pleasures ; and the future is veiled 
 in impenetrable darkness which conjecture 
 cannot fathom, and in whose fruitful bosom 
 are buried decrees which display to us our 
 weakness, and make us regret the conclusions 
 of our reason and the freedom of our agency. 
 How easily might a war break out on the fron- 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 ill 
 
 tiers that might require my presence — how then 
 could I quit the capital — since the fever of jea- 
 lousy must be proportioned to the ardour of my 
 affection ? I am indeed an Ethiopian ; yet if 
 it is true that Egypt flourishes under my sway, 
 must she not acknowledge me for a benefac- 
 tor ? Am I the less deserving your love, 
 because I have not betrayed your trust ; or 
 have I less merited the sovereign smile, be- 
 cause I have achieved the prosperity of her 
 subjects ? If you love me, princess, wherefore 
 should you hesitate to render our happiness 
 indissoluble ? If it is othervdse, if the gay 
 vision of hope is without foundation, let me 
 but hear my sentence from those bps, and I 
 will fly from the fields of Mizraim.’’ 
 
 The passionate expressions of the lover were 
 lost in the artful adulation of the pohtician ; 
 yet Nitocris could not but yield to their force, — 
 since vanity and affection spoke the same 
 language within her breast, and she resolved, if 
 possible, to raise the Ethiopian commander 
 to the throne of Egypt. But national ani- 
 
J12 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 mosities are implacable, and the sands of the 
 desert still reeked mth a war which had 
 threatened the liberty of Mizraim. The idea 
 of a union of their sovereign with their per- 
 petual foe jarred discordantly in the minds of 
 the nobihty ; especially since that sovereign 
 was a female, — a circumstance which must in 
 a great measure subject Egypt to the will of 
 the Ethiopian. The affair was nevertheless 
 agitated by NitoCris, and strenuous efforts 
 made to overrule the nobility ; but those efforts 
 were fruitless, and it was even represented to 
 the queen, that if she persisted in her design, 
 a revolution was inevitable. Tarak saw his 
 difficulty, and tormented with the fever of 
 disappointed ambition, he resolved the most 
 deadly vengeance. 
 
 Taking advantage of the great point at issue 
 between Nitocris and her nobles, he excited as 
 much as much as possible the resentment of 
 the former, adding the influence of fear to that 
 of indignation, till the queen, wrought upon by 
 his instigations, embraced a design as terrible 
 
QUEEN dF EGYPT. 
 
 113 
 
 as ever entered the heart of a tyrant. If, 
 however, the eloquence of the first mover he 
 more guilty than the facility of him who yields 
 to an evil suggestion, the crime of the Egyptian 
 princess must be diminished by the artifice 
 of the Ethiopian mercenary. 
 
 Is it thus,” he would say, great Nitocris, 
 that your wiU is to be shackled by a subject ? 
 wherefore do those hands sway the sceptre of 
 Egypt ? why does a diadem encircle those 
 locks ? consider the peasant, the whole of 
 whose estate would be lost in one of the royal 
 gardens, yet whose hberty is greater than 
 thine. He loves, arid if his affection is re- 
 turned, he is happy. 
 
 Cast from thee, then, great princess, those 
 vain insignia of royalty, since the reality of 
 freedom is better than the phantom of power. 
 Or if that hand still retain them, make the 
 nobles of Egypt acknowledge that, though they 
 are governed by a woman, yet that woman 
 is Nitocris ; and teach them to forget amid their 
 fear, their contempt of a sovereign ! W as not 
 Sophis, your great brother, able even to trans- 
 
114 THE STORY OP NITOCRIS, 
 
 gress the bounds of what men denominate 
 right ? Did not Kephrenes and Pharas fall 
 before his nod ? And was not the wife of one 
 of his most distinguished nobles placed at his 
 disposal, and was she not indebted for her 
 escape to her own art rather than to any 
 restraint imposed by his subjects on your pre- 
 decessor ? He fell indeed by conspiracy ; and 
 here lies the secret of the present insolence of 
 your nobility. Can they imagine the weal of 
 Egypt will suffer from our union ? Surely 
 that is impossible ; has it not flourished and 
 increased in vigour under my administration ? 
 And is it to be thought the perpetuity of a 
 good frame of government can be less advan- 
 tageous than its commencement ? No, great 
 princess ! it is not this they fear ; — it is the sting 
 of past crime which stiff rankles in their 
 breast. They yet live who mingled the poison, 
 that drank the life of a prince. The lapse of 
 time has not luffed the vigilance of Bokar and 
 his party, they well know my hatred of their 
 perfidy, and it is the dread of my animad- 
 version, should I be firmly established in the 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 115 
 
 government, which makes them hostile to our 
 union, They have long regarded me with 
 jealousy, because I faithfully protect your 
 throne, and they already boast of having 
 fettered their sovereign. Yet, mighty Nitocris, 
 show them, I implore you, the futility of their 
 assurance, that they may know Egypt’s queen 
 is also mistress of her own heart.” 
 
 Of such a character were the suggestions of 
 Tarak, and they easily led to the result, on the 
 mind of the princess above alluded to. She 
 resolved however, once more to try the dis- 
 position of her nobles; but their adherence 
 to their former sentiments inflamed her indig- 
 nation to the utmost, and the discovery of a 
 plot against the life of Tarak, determined her 
 to put her design into execution. Nothing 
 could exceed the frankness and loyalty that had 
 distinguished Bokar since his return to the 
 capital ; but t}Tants will rather forgive those 
 who have injured them, than view without 
 suspicion such as themselves have injured : 
 he had accordingly ever been looked on with a 
 jealous eye by Sophis, from the moment that 
 monarch ceased to be guided by Kephrenes. 
 
116 * THE STOHY of NITOCRIS, 
 
 Every act of tyranny, every deviation from 
 virtue must widen the gulph that separates the 
 vicious despot from a powerful vassal, who still 
 treads the path of rectitude. But when Ke- 
 phrenes and Pharas were slain, and when the 
 honour of Sphendris had been assaulted, the 
 remembrance of the trampled subject, the 
 wounded friend, and the insulted husband, 
 became the image which had tormented the last 
 hours of Sophis, dashing with bitterness tlie 
 sweetest banquet, and infusing discord into the 
 most rapturous concert. Yet Bokar never vio- 
 lated his allegiance ; and the act of treason or 
 patriotism which had cut short the life of his 
 monarch, had been perpetrated without his 
 connivance or even his knowledge. Never- 
 theless he and his party were still obnoxious* 
 to Nitocris and her principal courtiers, — since 
 vice is ever adverse to virtue, and the con- 
 sciousness her brother had deserved ; made her 
 ready to suspect he had incurred the hatred 
 and hostility of Bokar. 
 
 * Herodotus tells us that Nitocris suspected the nobles 
 of having murdered her brother. — See Euterp. 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 117 
 
 Such were the circumstances which left the 
 queen open to the insinuations of Tarak 3 — in- 
 sinuations which seemed to derive fresh colour 
 from the conspiracy already mentioned. The 
 parties engaged in it had been arrested, and the 
 most rigorous examination instituted into the 
 affair, from a hope that Bokar would be found 
 imphcated. Messengers were intercepted, strict 
 interrogation, and even torture were exercised 
 on the conspirators, under pretext of their 
 still concealing their accomplices. But fire 
 and steel are weaker than truth, and the con- 
 duct of the general was unimpeached. Yet 
 suspicion, like the moss of the rock can vege- 
 tate and increase on the slightest nourishment ; 
 nor could all the virtue of Bokar mn for him 
 the confidence of his queen. The storm, 
 however, might have been retarded or dispelled, 
 but for the indiscreet zeal of some of his 
 adherents, who, by the abhorrence they too 
 openly displayed of the ascendancy acquired 
 by an Ethiopian, the implacable foe of their 
 country, excited beyond control the jealousy 
 and rage of- Nitocris and Tarak, had brought 
 griefs upon Egypt, which made the Nile sweep 
 
118 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 onward to the ocean with a stream augmented 
 by the tears of those whom it enriched. 
 
 Among the numerous contrivances of art 
 that testified the luxury of the monarchs of 
 Mizraim, was a palace at a short distance from 
 the capital of the most elaborate workmanship 
 and surpassing elegance. All the various 
 powers of the pencil and chisel had here 
 combined their magic graces, and the forms of 
 life and activity, of beauty and of majesty, 
 were depicted in such brilhant colouring, and 
 such consummate taste, that they seemed to 
 hover on the confines of reality and fiction. 
 The splendour of past ages here burst again 
 into existence, and the eye of the astonished 
 spectator forgot, while it looked on the en- 
 chanted scene, it was contemplating lifeless 
 marble or a brilliant shadow. Innumerable! 
 columns of fairy lightness supported the fabric, 
 to some of which the indefatigable tool of the 
 artist had given the appearance of tall and 
 slender trees, their trunks entwined by climb- 
 ing plants, and decorated with blossoms that 
 seemed to breathe the fragrance of the forest. 
 Delicious and extensive gardens surrounded 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 119 
 
 the building, and should the sight become 
 cloyed by so many beauties of art, it might 
 repose at pleasure on the great, the primeval 
 river that pours fertility through the fields of 
 Egypt. In one of these gardens, and not far 
 from the stream itself, a grotto had been 
 excavated at a vast expense from the living 
 rock. Its dimensions were ample, and its 
 decorations costly, and here during the hot 
 months, attended by their favorite courtiers 
 the Egyptian monarchs were accustome'd to 
 forget for awhile the fatigues of government, and 
 share for a moment the happiness they diffused. 
 
 Into this grotto Nitocris introduced a canal 
 from the Nile, through which, by opening a 
 small flood-gate, the water might be poured 
 into it. The work was executed with the utmost 
 celerity and secrecy, but as the tongues of men 
 are hard to restrain, the artificers who had been 
 employed were strangled by order of Tarak, 
 who greatly distinguished himself in this as in 
 every other part of the transaction by the zeal 
 and dexterity with which he assisted the 
 designs of the queen. Her project so far 
 
120 THE STORY OF NITOORIS, 
 
 completed, Nitocris proclaimed her intention 
 of assembling a bunting party, and giving an 
 entertainment that was to last for some days 
 within the precincts of the Oblivion of Care — 
 as this royal retreat was designated. The 
 most sumptuous preparations were made for 
 the festival, to which were invited those nobles 
 whom the queen and Tarak considered dis- 
 affected to their government, and accessory to 
 the death of Sophis. 
 
 Bokar and his kindred were especially sum- 
 moned ; and it was expected that the mag- 
 nificence of their reception would eclipse in 
 splendor the ordinary grandeur even of the 
 court of Nitocris. The day of the assembly 
 at length arrived, and many of the most 
 powerful of Egypt’s nobility entered the domain 
 surrounding the Oblivion of Care. The rarest 
 gems flashed on their robes, and as they bent 
 in adoration towards the all-radiant Nitocris, 
 they seemed like a train of brilliant stars 
 attending in order and brightness a glorious 
 sun. But amid this glittering circle, there was 
 none like Bokar; it was not that his person was 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 121 
 
 adorned with more splendour than that of his 
 peers : a chain of gold which his own hands 
 had torn from the neck of an Ethiopian general 
 slain in single combat, alone distinguished him. 
 Yet no one who beheld that eye beaming with 
 intellect and courage, and that countenance on 
 whose bright tablet was traced a tale of \drtue 
 and of glory, could wonder that Eg^^t was 
 victorious over her foes, since such a leader 
 had directed her armies. 
 
 The chase and several martial exercises 
 occupied the morning, and it had been arranged 
 that the banquet should take place each 
 evening in a different part of the domain, that 
 variety might attend the whole of the enter- 
 tainment. The first evening it was spread 
 upon the bosom of the Nile itself, where 
 many vessels were collected together, on which 
 was spread a floor of wood covered vdth the 
 richest carpets. A fence of fight iron work 
 surrounded the whole, which was so profusely 
 decorated with flowers as to resemble a floating 
 garden ; here the feast ,was prepared, and 
 Nitocris, with her guests, were wafted to this 
 
 VOL. I. G 
 
122 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 aquatic palace in several galleys brilliantly 
 adorned 5 and as the gay pageant shot through 
 the limpid wave, a symphony, wild and 
 touching, breathed from unseen instruments, 
 broke on their senses, and wrapped each heart 
 in delirious delight. The various powers of 
 wine and of song, of the splendour of art, 
 and the grandeur of nature, threw their en- 
 chantments over the scene. Every heart felt 
 the reality of mirth, or dissembled to itself the 
 sorrow that was not wholly banished 5 nor were 
 the fascinations of beauty wanting to embellish 
 the banquet, for besides the train of Egypt's 
 queen, many of the female connections of the 
 nobility had been invited to the entertainment ; 
 and the powerful though silent language of the 
 soul responded from bright eyes with ineffable 
 eloquence to the harps of poets, who told, amid 
 a wild cadence of chords and melody, the 
 triumphs of Mizraim. 
 
 The sun at length set, and a brilliant day 
 was succeeded by darkness ; but who shall 
 describe the glories of that night, or depict the 
 scene displayed on the Nile? The subject repre- 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 123 
 
 sented was the great victory gained over the 
 Ethiopians, which had obliged them to retreat, 
 whose flying host was described in the most 
 vivid manner, the whole being made visible by 
 the light of innumerable torches. Suddenly 
 the scene changed to the Ethiopian capital, 
 where was discovered the monarch mourning 
 over his fallen chieftains and routed bands. 
 The light was now extinguished, and through 
 the darkness, which succeeded, was heard the 
 wild and pathetic song that lamented their 
 fate. 
 
 Once more the scene changed, and Osiris, 
 the guardian divinity of Egypt, shot along the 
 Nile in a triumphal and illuminated car of 
 vast dimensions, when suddenly, amid a crash 
 of a thousand cymbals, a burning arrow, 
 launched like lightning from an engine, ignited 
 the moving fabric, in which was concealed a 
 large quantity of naphtha ; a volume of flame 
 rushed upwards to the sky, whilst the statue 
 of the divinity, being formed of metal, 
 remained visible and uninjured by the 
 cataracts of fire which poured upon the stream. 
 
 G 2 
 
124 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 Here they were unextinguished^ for the oily 
 matter not mixing with the water, flowed 
 onwards along the surface in fantastic forms 
 of brightness. 
 
 Such was the splendid magnificence that 
 distinguished the first day of this royal enter- 
 tainment ; — a second and a third passed, marked 
 by scenes and decorations equally grand and 
 diversified. Suspicion, if it ever existed, was 
 now lulled in every breast, and every heart was 
 abandoned to pleasure. The fourth sun arose, 
 and Nitocris determined this day should see 
 the execution of her design. Tarak and the 
 queen watched the declining sun with deep 
 solicitude, and when evening approached, the 
 former sought the grotto in which the banquet 
 was to be held, to examine the terrible ar- 
 rangements wit^hin it,* — unknown to all save 
 himself and Nitocris. 
 
 It happened that among the attendants of 
 Bokar, there was an Ethiopian, named Kusar, 
 whom the general had found on the field of 
 battle in the last stage of exhaustion. He 
 had used every effort to restore him, and when 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 125 
 
 at length this was accomplished, oiFered him 
 the means of returning to his country ; but 
 the Ethiopian, astonished on the one hand at 
 the generosity which had proffered hberty to 
 one who might lawfully have been enslaved, 
 and fearing on the other, to rejoin his country- 
 men, whose reproaches he dreaded for having 
 surrendered himself, however involuntarily to 
 the enemy, intreated Bokar that he might 
 remain. The latter consented, and thus of a 
 national enemy, gained a zealous friend and an 
 active attendant. This man had followed him 
 to the entertainment of Nitocris, and had, 
 during the chase of the day been examining 
 the various gardens belonging to the Obhvion 
 of Care. To him every thing around presented 
 some novelty, and he explored with avidity 
 every part of the domain. 
 
 As he thus rambled onwards, with chance 
 for his guide, he approached the grotto, the 
 entrance of which was open, and struck with 
 the splendid preparations for the evening ban- 
 quet, entered the wonderful excavation. Here 
 he surveyed with breathless astonishment the 
 
126 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 colossal proportions and magnificent deco- 
 ations of this palace of the rock ; and when 
 he gazed upon the pictures, on which was 
 pourtrayed the humiliation of his country, his 
 heart throbbed with emotions forgotten, and 
 unsheathing his dagger, he pointed it at the 
 breast of an Egyptian chieftain, and for a 
 moment regretted he had not rather fallen 
 beneath the valour, than survived through the 
 generosity of Bokar. 
 
 Absorbed in these reflections, the day had 
 declined unperceived, and he was still deeply 
 engrossed by the images of the past, when he 
 was aroused by the entrance of Tarak. He 
 was himself screened from view behind a pro- 
 jecting column, and conceiving, from some 
 angry expressions which escaped him as he 
 closed the vast folding doors at the descent of 
 the grotto, it might by no means be agreeable 
 to him to find it entered by a stranger, till the 
 hour of banquet, he retired still deeper into a 
 recess, and shrouded himself from observation. 
 But there was something in the air of Tarak, 
 which irresistibly attracted his attention, and 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 127 
 
 he resolved to avail himself of the obscurity in 
 which he was placed, and watch his move- 
 ments. 
 
 In the meantime Tarak having looked round 
 him for a moment, proceeded first to examine 
 the arrangements for the banquet, and next to 
 draw aside a picture which adorned one comer 
 of the retreat. Kusar was unable exactly to 
 discover what it was which there engaged his 
 attention, yet he thought he could perceive the 
 part of the rock, which the picture had formerly 
 concealed, to be hollowed out. Whilst he was 
 endeavouring to ascertain this, one of the 
 folding doors again opened and Nitocris en- 
 tered unattended. Tarak started at the noise 
 made by opening and reclosing the door, but 
 the form of the queen instantly re-assured 
 him, and they were soon in deep conference. 
 
 ^^Tiere lies the entrance of the canal ?” 
 asked Nitocris. 
 
 Here, great princess,” Tarak replied, (again 
 drawing aside the same picture which he had 
 for a moment replaced,) I have just viewed 
 the flood-gate ; every thing is prepared ; within 
 
128 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS^ 
 
 a few short hours the Nile shall be poured 
 upon the haughty nobles who assassinate one 
 sovereign, and dare to infringe the will of 
 another ; then shall our happiness be as per- 
 petual as it is exquisite : your brother avenged, 
 and your safety secured/^ 
 
 “ It is weU,’’ answered Nitocris ; “ yet is there 
 a something of undefined terror that makes me 
 dread the future, and wish I could arrest our 
 bark upon the stream of time. Corresponding 
 to the importance of an experiment, is the 
 solicitude with which we view it, and I would 
 I could fall into forgetfulness till this por- 
 tentous night shall be the theme, not of 
 expectation, but of memory.” 
 
 Cease, fair Nitocris,” replied Tarak, “ to 
 afflict yourself with doubts, since it is only by 
 skilfuUy employing the present, man can hope 
 to reap advantage from the coming hour, nor 
 let my beauteous queen desire for a moment 
 the veil of oblivion, since those bright eyes 
 should wake, and shine for ever to warm and 
 animate the breast of Tarak.” 
 
 With these words he approached her ; and 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 129 
 
 while with one arm he embraced her graceful 
 form, Kusar marked the soft glances Nitocris 
 threw upon her lover as she received and 
 returned his caresses. But his mind was fully 
 occupied by the dreadful plot so accidentally 
 disclosed to him, the horror of whose image 
 changed the fair form of Egypt’s queen, — made 
 still fairer by the soft light of the lamps which 
 illuminated the grotto, — into a monster, dealing 
 destruction to her race. He panted to escape 
 from his confinement, yet dreaded the slightest 
 movement might betray him, since after what 
 he had heard and seen he was convinced a 
 discovery would be fatal ; he, however, resolved 
 to take the first opportunity that should offer 
 of leaving the grotto, and for this purpose 
 took off his sandals to render his footsteps 
 less audible. This he executed in the utmost 
 silence, yet hardly was it completed, when 
 Nitocris said in a low whisper, “ What noise 
 was that ?” 
 
 I heard nothing,” replied Tarak, “but it 
 seems probable the guests are approaching, 
 since the hour of banquet draws near.” 
 
 G 3 
 
130 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 Kusar, whom the suspicion of the queen 
 had thrown into the utmost alarm, felt relieved 
 at these words; but his heart again palpitated 
 when the queen replied : — 
 
 “ It may be so ; yet, methinks, it came from 
 within : our artists execute well, but life is still 
 wanting to our statues.” 
 
 At this moment, music and voices were 
 heard in the vicinity, and Tarak said : 
 
 You see, fair princess, my supposition was 
 right ; they are seeking the retreat of the rock, 
 and it was, doubtless, one of those sounds you 
 heard. This hour, therefore, we must part, 
 but it is that we may be united for ever.” 
 
 They now walked up the ascent lead- 
 ing to the entrance, still engaged in a 
 dialogue, which the increasing distance, pre- 
 vented Kusar from overhearing; they open- 
 ed the folding doors and vanished: yet, 
 ere they reclosed them, Nitocris shot one 
 glance backwards into the subterraneous 
 hall, and Kusar thought he could discern on 
 her countenance a slight suspicion, as if the 
 noise she had heard stiU rung upon her ear. 
 
QUEEN OP EGYPT. 
 
 131 
 
 At length, however, the portal was shut, 
 and he again breathed freely; he was, in- 
 deed, still a captive, but he had, at least, the 
 whole range of his prison, and he doubted not 
 attendants would soon come to complete the 
 final arrangements, and afibrd him an opportu- 
 nity to escape. In order the better to take 
 advantage of any such occurrence, he left the 
 retreat he then occupied, and placed himself in 
 another, so situated, near one of the folding 
 doors, that he would be behind it when open, 
 and thus concealed from him who should 
 enter ; not, however, till he had first ascertain- 
 ed it was impossible to open them from within, 
 which led him to conclude they were fastened 
 by a spring — the secret of which was known to 
 Nitocris and Tarak only. 
 
 ^ He had not remained long in this last station 
 before he heard footsteps, and the next mo- 
 ment some attendants entered, as he had fore- 
 seen, and, leaving the egress open, proceeded 
 to the inner part of the hall; where, seeing 
 them busied in various arrangements, Kusar, 
 
132 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 with a foot light and swift, escaped into open 
 day. Fortunately no one was near the spot, 
 from which he hastened to some distance, to 
 avoid being seen in its vicinity. Yet the in- 
 tended perfidy of the queen wrought fearfully 
 on his mind, and he employed every effort to 
 discover Bokar, and save him, if possible, from 
 the fate that awaited him. But the domain was 
 ample, and he sought his patron in vain. Mean- 
 while the sun was already in the horizon, and he 
 well knew the hour of banquet was arrived ; at 
 this moment he heard a voice, and found him- 
 self accosted by one of the domestics of the 
 palace. Wholly regardless of what he said, 
 he enquired eagerly for Bokar. 
 
 Bokar echoed the attendant, where 
 should he be if not at the banquet in the 
 grotto ? I saw him myself descend thither 
 amidst our nobles ; a thousand lamps blaze 
 around them, and the harmony of a thousand 
 instruments welcomed their approach.’’ 
 
 Great Osiris !” interrupted Kusar, what 
 do you tell me ?” 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 133 
 
 “ And wherefore this perturbation ?” rephed 
 his informant. 
 
 Kusar saw his indiscretion, and replied : — 
 Can we suffer so splendid a scene to be 
 acted, and not hasten ourselves to be specta- 
 tors ? I vdll to the festive hall, for every moment 
 already accuses me, by its silent flight, of having 
 delayed to behold the majestic Tarak and Nito- 
 cris, — greatest and brightest of objects, — 
 seated in yonder palace, the centre of all eyes, 
 and the admiration of every heart.” 
 
 Thus saying, he rushed towards the grotto, 
 leaving the Egyptian domestic amazed at his 
 vehemence. Kusar easily found access to the 
 banquet as one of Bokar’s train, and failed not 
 to display the utmost astonishment, both in his 
 looks and gestures, at every thing he saw around 
 him, as if he had never before entered the sub- 
 terraneous retreat. The presence of Tarak and 
 the queen somewhat relieved the weight that 
 pressed upon his mind ; for he felt the 
 catastrophe of the tragedy could not take place 
 whilst they remained. Yet, though he endea- 
 voured to dissemble, in his countenance, the 
 
134 THE STORY OP NITOCRI S, 
 
 emotions of his heart, his eyes involuntarily 
 pursued the queen, whose slightest movement 
 he regarded with intense anxiety, lest it should 
 be the presage of the intended violence. 
 
 The hours passed along with the utmost 
 festivity 5 yet, in the imagination of Kusar, 
 the fragrance of the aromatic gums that burnt 
 around him was converted into the effluvium 
 of the tomb, and the most rapturous strains 
 of music into the impetuous rush of water. 
 But his torture almost surpassed endurance 
 when, at midnight, Nitocris rose, and, together 
 with all the ladies who had graced the scene, 
 prepared to leave the grotto. The fatal secret 
 almost burst from his lips, yet he restrained 
 the tide of his feelings : the goblet had flowed 
 with unexampled freedom, and he perceived 
 nearly all the nobles fast approaching towards 
 intoxication ; yet Bokar was still master of 
 himself, and he resolved, at least, to endeavour 
 his rescue. 
 
 A short time after the queen had withdrawn, 
 a human mummy,* the sacred representation 
 
 At the Egyptian banquets it was the custom to in- 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 135 
 
 of death, was introduced, according to the 
 usage of Egypt, and the customary exhortation 
 uttered aloud to enjoy the fleeting hour : when 
 this ceremony was concluded, Tarak arose and 
 entreated his guests to pardon his momentary 
 absence, since he weu? about to present some 
 novelty for their diversion. AU, except Bokar, 
 had now surrendered themselves to inebriety, 
 and he had himself only escaped by the 
 dexterous management of Kusar, who had 
 frequently unseen diluted the draughts he ad- 
 ministered to his patron. A vacant smile of 
 acquiescence met the proposal of Tarak, and 
 he proceeded to ascend towards the entrance 
 of the haU. A thousand different plans had 
 coursed each other in rapid succession through 
 the mind of Kusar, and he was stfll undecided 
 as to the best method of snatching the devoted 
 Bokar from destruction, when the departure of 
 Tarak informed him that deliberation must now 
 
 troduce a mummy, or a model of one ; and, as it was 
 successively presented to each of the guests, the following 
 exhortation was delivered : — ** Behold this, and drink, 
 for thou shalt, hereafter, be thyself thus/' 
 
136 
 
 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, 
 
 give way to action. He, accordingly, ap- 
 proached his patron, and whispered to him 
 that Sphendris, he had just been informed, was 
 seized by a violent and sudden indisposition, 
 and that he ought immediately to quit the 
 banquet. 
 
 Bokar arose, and, whilst he was making 
 a brief apology, the indefatigable Kusar hast- 
 ened, with a throbbing heart, in pursuit of 
 Tarak ; he overtook him at the entrance of the 
 hall, the door of which he was about to close. 
 At this critical moment Kusar went up to him, 
 and said in a low voice : — 
 
 ‘‘Bokar, my patron, bids me tell great 
 Tarak he has guessed his design.” 
 
 These words awoke the utmost terror in the 
 mind of the minister ; yet he mastered him- 
 self sufficiently to ask, with tolerable compo- 
 sure, what design was meant ? Kusar pointed 
 to a small alcove at a slight distance, as if he 
 desired to speak privately, whither Tarak in- 
 stantly retired, in still greater alarm. But his 
 fears were immediately allayed when Kusar at 
 length said : — 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 187 
 
 It is suspected you intend, to-night, to re- 
 present again the triumph of Egypt over 
 Ethiopia, and my patron recommends some 
 other subject, for the sake of variety.” 
 
 A man who awakes from a vision of terror 
 to a reality of happiness, cannot feel greater 
 transport than Tarak experienced at the sequel 
 of this discourse ; and he answered promptly, 
 he should ill requite the honour conferred by 
 the presence of so many of Egypt’s nobles, if 
 he neglected to diversify the entertainment to 
 the uttermost. 
 
 Whilst this was passing, Bokar, as Kusar 
 had ardently hoped, anxious as soon as possible 
 to rejoin Sphendris, came to the entrance of 
 the grotto, the door of which Tarak had in his 
 panic left open ; the attendants were all en- 
 gaged in endeavouring to make out, with their 
 eyes and ears, the errand of Kusar ; and the 
 Egyptian general passed unperceived by any, 
 except his faithful Ethiopian, who distinguish- 
 ed, with joyful certainty, his firm and rapid 
 footstep. 
 
 Meanwhile the conference ended ; Tarak 
 
138 THE STORY OP NITOCRIS, 
 
 hastened to execute his fatal project, and the 
 blood of Kusar ran cold as he saw him close 
 the folding doors, which he knew could not be 
 opened from within. He lost not a moment 
 in pursuing and overtaking Bokar, to whom he 
 shortly communicated the dreadful fate from 
 which he had escaped, but which threatened to 
 ingulf the rest of the unhappy nobles. Sick- 
 ening and appalled at the fearful narration, Bo- 
 kar returned to the grotto, resolved, if possible, 
 to force the entrance, and either liberate the 
 wretched Egyptians, or share their doom. 
 But the hands of the brave cannot always 
 achieve the generous purposes of their hearts. 
 Bokar shook the obdurate gates with a force 
 that his despair rendered prodigious ; but 
 rocks and iron were opposed to him, and every 
 effort was abortive. He shouted, again and 
 again, to the guests within, till each echo told 
 wildly the tale of the perfidy of Nitocris 5 he 
 called upon the queen and upon Tarak ; he 
 threatened, he supplicated ; and when at length 
 from exhaustion he was sdent, and when no- 
 thing replied save the wind sighing fitfully 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 139 
 
 through the trees, tears of agony broke from 
 his eyes ; and, leaving the spot, he went in 
 pursxiit of Tarak. But treachery was destined 
 to triumph. The flood-gate was opened ; the 
 Nile poured into the fatal grotto — and a sigh 
 may escape from the Eg3rptian historian while 
 candour obliges him to blacken the page of his 
 annals with an event that converted a hall of 
 banquet into a sepulchre. 
 
 Yet crime does not 2ilways reap the harvest 
 it proposes, and Tarak was himself overwhelm- 
 ed in the storm he had awakened. The un- 
 happy Bokar, after having in vain pursued him 
 for some time, returned almost unconsciously 
 towards the grotto. Kusar attended and watch- 
 ed him with the tenderest assiduity 5 for he saw 
 the violence of his emotions, and the almost 
 total aberration of his intellect. The impetu- 
 osity of his feelings had indeed brought on, for 
 a moment, that species of forgetfulness of his 
 unhappiness which is the delirium of despair ; 
 but he was again aroused to torture, when, on 
 arriving at the entrance of the fearful hall, he 
 heard the rush of the resistless stream that 
 
140 
 
 THE STORY OP NITOCRIS, 
 
 announced the promiscuous, though bloodless, 
 slaughter of his kindredv His first effort, on 
 this, was to draw his dagger, which he would 
 instantly have plunged into his heart, if Kusar 
 had not arrested his hand, exclaiming at the 
 same time : 
 
 ‘‘ Alas ! great Bokar, think of your Sphen- 
 dris, pity Egypt, and reserve that dagger for 
 the breast of Tarak, whose blood may yet be a 
 balsam for the wounds of this afflicted coimtry/’ 
 
 Bokar struggled for a moment, and, pointing 
 to his breast, seemed to entreat Kusar to put 
 an end to his woes ; but soon a temporary 
 oblivion fell upon his mind, and his faithful at- 
 tendant bore him to some distance from the 
 cave of destruction. Few were the screams 
 that reached the outer air, for intoxication had 
 left the nobles easy victims to their fate ; — 
 and soon all was again silence. 
 
 In the meantime, Tarak having completed 
 his abominable design, as he was returning to 
 consult with Nitocris upon their next step, 
 approached that part of the garden where Ku- 
 sar had already partly succeeded in soothing and 
 
QUEEN OF EGYPT. 
 
 141 
 
 restoring his patron’s mind. It was scarcely 
 an hour past midnight^ when, by the light of a 
 large torch he carried, Tarak beheld two figures 
 in a shady recess. In some astonishment he 
 paused to examine them, when Bokar, who had 
 heard his footstep from the alcove, darting at 
 him a hghtning glance, exclaimed : 
 
 ^‘Messenger of Typhon, behold me and 
 tremble.” 
 
 The Ethiopian’s hmbs were palsied ; for he 
 thought he saw a spectre ; but in a moment 
 recollecting himself, and not being able to un* 
 ravel the mysterious escape of Bokar, and 
 dreading his design had become known, and 
 that some or all of the nobles, — he knew not 
 by what means, were at liberty, unsheathed his 
 dagger and buried it in his own bosom. 
 
 The sun rose, at length, on that disastrous 
 night, and the queen was soon informed of the 
 death of Tarak and the escape of Bokar, who 
 had, ere the day broke, returned with Sphen 
 dris to the capital. The tortures of remorse 
 are often severe, even when the crime that pro- 
 duces it has conferred the advantage proposed ; 
 
142 THE STORY OF NITOCRIS, &C. 
 
 but the treachery of the queen of Egypt had 
 been more than unsuccessful ; since it had oc- 
 casioned the fall of Tarak and the certain en- 
 mity of Bokar. The clamour of an incensed 
 people surrounded the palace ; and the Ethio- 
 pian mercenaries, enraged at the loss of their 
 commander, were rather a subject of terror 
 than of hope. Conscience has ever been a 
 terrible avenger of guilt ; and history relates that 
 the unhappy Nitocris sought, in a voluntary 
 death, a refuge from herself and the vengeance 
 of Egypt ; leaving her story a beacon, on the 
 ocean of time, that warns monarchs to shun 
 the conduct, if they would avoid the fate, of 
 tyrants. 
 
THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS IN ARABIA. 143 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS, 
 
 IN ARABIA. 
 
 If out free agency is no more than an empty 
 boast — in the moral as in the physical 
 world, the relation of cause and effect is im- 
 mutable, many of the accusations levelled 
 against fortune apply, with greater justice, to 
 ourselves. The present moment is often the 
 germ of the most complicated events ; even as 
 the gigantic oak lies, in fairy minuteness, be- 
 neath the integument of the acorn. The seed 
 is at our disposal 5 we may suffer it to expire, 
 or we may plant and rear it till its offspring, 
 an armed vessel, shall be trusted wdth the lives 
 and destinies of mankind. Thus it is, like- 
 
144 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 wise^ with the actions of life ; a judicious 
 arrangement of which may often cause what 
 we denominate chance to be lost in certainty, 
 and change the vagueness of conjecture into 
 the reality of weU grounded anticipation. 
 
 It was by thus improving the opportunities 
 and resources he possessed, the father of the 
 great Sesostris enabled that prince to run a 
 career of conquest so swift, that its laurels were 
 twined upon a brow still youthful ; so extensive 
 that the same hand, bound the chain of slavery, 
 and extorted tribute from the Ganges to the 
 Atlantic, and from the farthest Ethiopia to the 
 Euxine sea. 
 
 Moeris was the last of a long succession of 
 Egyptian monarchs, the earUest of whom, even 
 to that ancient period, ghmmered from afar in 
 the mysterious twilight of departed ages, with 
 the solemnity of a former world. Egypt had 
 not always been invincible, and many of her 
 rulers were weak ; but nature had protected 
 her favourite region with mountains, deserts, 
 and fhe sea; and if these barriers had ever 
 been surmounted, the storm was transitory. 
 
IX ARABIA. 
 
 145 
 
 and Mizraim still advanced in greatness. Many 
 cities had arisen to adorn her^ and^ above all, 
 unrivalled Thebes filled a plain of many miles, 
 stretching from both banks of the Nile to the 
 Lybian and Arabian chain of mountains res- 
 pectively in the district where these ridges 
 bend, the one to the east, the other to the 
 west ; while the mighty river, brightly reflect- 
 ing her obehsks and palaces, flowed proudly 
 onward between these her twin matchless 
 daughters. To this splendour Moeris greatly 
 added, by rearing up a magnificent entrance to 
 the temple of Vulcan, and a lake, or rather, sea, 
 planned and executed by this monarch, con- 
 verted a parched desert into an inexhaustible 
 resen^oir, filled by a stupendous canal, from the 
 Nile, whose waters might thus, a second time, 
 be diffused over the country. In this lake, two 
 pyramids, the work of the same monarch, 
 raised their awful summits far above the water ; 
 while their bases, at an equal depth beneath its 
 surface, were shrouded in obscurity. 
 
 But though magnificent works may display 
 the power and genius, it is the love of his sub- 
 
 VOL I. 
 
 H 
 
146 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 jects which must constitute the happiness and 
 true greatness of a monarch ; and, in this point, 
 Moeris was surpassed by few. He had already 
 reigned some years, when, as he reposed one 
 day within the delicious grotto situated in the 
 suburbs of Thebes, near the Lybian mountains, 
 one of his courtiers informed him a messenger 
 from the Priest of Heliopolis had tidings of 
 great importance to communicate. Moeris 
 commanded him to be speedily introduced, and 
 received the sacred deputy with the utmost 
 respect : the softest cushions were spread for 
 his reception, and the choicest reffeshm.ents 
 set before him. But the celestial annunciations 
 of which he was the bearer absorbed his soul ; 
 and, after taking a draught of wine and a few 
 dates, he thus addressed the ruler of Egypt : 
 
 . Let the mighty Moeris listen to my com- 
 jnunication ; for its tale is of the future, and 
 it bears the impress of the gods. There are 
 moods, incidental to the mind, when pic- 
 tures arise in it so exquisitely coloured by 
 the imagination as to annihilate every hope of 
 their ever becoming embodied in facts ; but if, by 
 
IX ARABIA. 
 
 147 
 
 any caprice of fortune, these bright suggestions 
 of fancy should be re-echoed by real occurren- 
 ces, an ecstacy is produced which must be felt 
 in order to be appreciated. I stood on the shores 
 of the Nile — the prince of rivers — whose cradle 
 is amongst the sands of the desert, and whose 
 streams are the wealth of empires ; the breezes 
 that whispered among ^the acacias were cool 
 and fragrant, and the last rays of the sun 
 spread over the towers of Hehopolis a canopy 
 of liquid gold ; when, turning my eyes to the 
 eastward, I observed, at a measureless distance 
 in the horizon, a dark speck advancing at 
 the speed of a thunderbolt ; in an instant I 
 perceived that it was a bird, and, at first im- 
 agined it to be an eagle ; I discovered that I 
 was mistaken ; and a thrill of delight and as- 
 tonishment, nearly amounting to frenzy, pass- 
 ed through my mind, on percei\fing it was the 
 Phoenix — the inhabitant of five centuries— 
 whose natal hour might be coeval with the 
 birth of an empire, and its extinction subse- 
 quent to its fall. It came, cleaving the skies, 
 with a vigour that seemed to claim nothing 
 
 H 2 
 
148 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 less than eternity for its existence. In one of 
 its talons it bore the fragrant sarcophagus * of 
 its ancestor ; and its eye, that flamed like a 
 star, was fixed, in mute adoration, on the ex- 
 piring splendours of the orb of day. I felt as 
 though I could have prostrated myself before 
 the worshipper. He passed ; — for a moment 
 I still saw the waving of his tempest wings, 
 still fed my glance on his glowing plumes, and, 
 wheA at length he plunged from my sight to- 
 wards the great shrine which adorns Heliopolis 
 I remained still gazing upon the pathless air, 
 the space abandoned by a being of wonder, 
 an orbit quitted by its planet. Astonished 
 at what I had seen, I sought the Fane, the 
 priests of which were not ignorant that the 
 great Phoenix had appeared; yet were they 
 chiefly occupied by an important oracle, just 
 
 * The Phoenix is said only to have appeared in Egypt 
 when it came to the Temple of Heliopolis, there to inter 
 its ancestor, whom it conveyed from Arabia, in a re- 
 ceptacle of myrrh constructed by itself. — See Herodotus* 
 Euterpe. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 149 
 
 uttered by the divinity which affected the 
 destinies of Egypt. This oracle I was in- 
 structed to announce, and may its import be 
 propitious.'’ 
 
 With these words the venerable stranger 
 presented a small roll of papyrus, and almost 
 immediately withdrew. Moeris read the com- 
 munication, which was as follows : — 
 
 When the desert shall become a sea, then 
 let the whole earth tremble ; for the son of that 
 monarch who creates islands shah, conquer the 
 world.” 
 
 Then followed the interpretation given by 
 the priests, who had, with great reason, ap- 
 plied it to Moeris, and his successor, yet im- 
 born ; since the former, by the construction 
 of the vast lake and pyramids within it, above 
 mentioned, corresponded weU with the prince 
 described by the oracle. 
 
 The utmost joy was diffused over Egypt 
 when the brilliant fate, which awaited her, be- 
 came generally known ; but that joy was in- 
 creased to ecstacy when the queen gave birth 
 to a son, who was afterwards named Sesostris. 
 
150 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Entertainments and illuminations expressed 
 the public delight, while Moeris exerted himself 
 to assist as far as possible, by the most judi- 
 cious arrangements, the bright promises of des- 
 tiny. The two principle means of conquest 
 are warriors and treasure ; the latter of which 
 may be amassed by economy and a skilful 
 management of the finances, but the former is 
 the growth of habit and education ; and Moeris 
 when he beheld his flourishing but unwarlike 
 people, reflected, with a sigh, that if he had 
 himself to achieve the conquest of the world, 
 he must have vainly sought in Egypt an 
 adequate number of followers. The enthusiasm 
 of a moment may be sufficient to unsheath, 
 but it is true courage only which can sus- 
 tain and wield the sword in an arduous and 
 protracted war. 
 
 Of this, Moeris was conscious ; and, ac- 
 cordingly, issued a proclamation that all male 
 children, born on the same day with Sesostris, 
 should be brought up in the same martial ex- 
 ercises and warlike education as their prince 5 
 a measure which was superintended throughout 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 151 
 
 Egypt by persons appointed for the purpose, 
 as the monarch imagined that none would be 
 more fit to follow his son through a career of 
 toil and glory, than those in whom a similarity 
 of habits, with their sovereign, had engendered 
 the sympathy of brothers. 
 
 In the meantime, the young Sesostris ex- 
 hibited, from his earhest years, many proofs 
 that he was the favourite of destiny. The 
 growth both of his mind and body was rapid, 
 and almost supematuraUy great. At an early 
 age he could bend the largest Ethiopian bow, 
 and wound an animal, with the arrow, in the 
 heart, the head, or the eye, at pleasure — 
 whether the game were in motion or station- 
 ary ; the most impetuous steeds were obedient 
 to his rein ; and he could swim, in a suit of 
 light armour, across the wildest torrent. The 
 sacred sparrow-hawk* often rested over his 
 head when he was engaged in the chase ; and 
 it was rumoured that while he slept a wreath 
 
 ♦ The hawk was sacred to Osiris, the guardian divinity 
 of Egypt. 
 
152 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 of fire, exhaling an aromatic perfume, fre- 
 quently surrounded his brows, a brilliant em- 
 blem of the diadem of the world, that should 
 one day adorn him. But it was the depth of 
 his genius, the greatness of his conceptions 
 and his reverence for virtue, which, more than 
 all other accomplishments ennobled him, and 
 rendered him beloved at once by the military 
 and sacred order, as well as the whole nation 
 at large. Time rolled onwards ; and the in- 
 fant blossom was ripened into the hero and 
 the prince ; yet history declares that blossom 
 was shaken by storms ; for it describes his 
 father, Moeris, the victim* of temporary mis- 
 
 * The misfortune here spoken of was the invasion of 
 the Palli, which is by some supposed to have taken 
 place a little before the accession of Sesostris or Rameses ; 
 and by which his predecessor is said to have been driven 
 from his throne. That predecessor has been called 
 Amenophis, a title which is supposed to signify, ‘‘ Beloved 
 of Ammon,** and which, probably being nothing but a 
 cognomen, might easily belong to the same person, who 
 
 is, in Herodotus, named Meres. See the story of 
 
 Rameses. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 153 
 
 fortunes, during the childhood of Sesostris. 
 Yet, if oppressed, the former was never wholly 
 subdued ; and the tide of war, which harassed 
 for a moment the fields of Mizraim, was rolled 
 backwards, with a terrible reaction, on her 
 foes. 
 
 WTien Sesostris and his warrior companions 
 appeared sufficiently .versed in their warhke 
 studies, and confirmed in bodily strength, 
 Moeris, reflecting that actual war was the best 
 school for a soldier, despatched the prince 
 against the Arabians, as a trial of his abilities. 
 Sesostris embraced the project with ardour, 
 and proceeded immediately to make the neces- 
 sary preparations. A body of forty thousand 
 foot, a thousand chariots, and four thousand 
 horse were selected 5 all useless incumbrances 
 were avoided, and the retinue of the prince 
 himself, consisted only of a physician, named 
 Menros, and a few attendants, among whom 
 was one of the Pallic race, named Pakaris, who 
 had been taken captive when a child. Moeris 
 had given him his freedom ; but gratitude still 
 bound him to Egypt, and his address and fi- 
 
 H 3 
 
154 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 delity had recommended him to the young 
 prince. 
 
 There was also in the number of his follow- 
 ers, an Egyptian, named Anisis, whose qualifi- 
 cations rendered him invaluable to Sesostris. 
 At once a poet, and a man of science, and 
 skilled either to instruct or please, he was 
 equally fitted to assist at a council, or grace a 
 banquet, and some time spent in travelling, 
 aided by industry and much genius, had added 
 to his other accomplishments an extensive 
 knowledge and a fluency in the languages 
 spoken by the nations around Egypt. Such 
 accordingly, were the three principal followers 
 who, with only a few more, formed the private 
 retinue of the Egyptian prince on his Arabian 
 expedition. 
 
 The campaign was opened in the spring, and 
 the proud Arabs, who had never been subdued, 
 beheld at least with solicitude the approaching 
 war. But a want of unanimity greatly para- 
 lyzed their efforts, and Sesostris occupied 
 several important posts without resistance, till 
 by the vicinity of danger they were taught the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 155 
 
 necessity of prompt and vigorous opposition. 
 Several of the chieftains accordingly laid aside 
 their differences, and their combined forces 
 formed an army more numerous than that of 
 the Egyptian prinCe. 
 
 But Sesostris, 'confident in the assurances 
 of fate, and the valour and devotion of his 
 followers, prepared with alacrity for the battle, 
 and perceiving by far the greater part of the 
 enemy’s troops were horsemen, in whose evo- 
 lutions consisted their chief strength, he com- 
 manded half his army to aim their arrows at 
 the horses, and the other half at their riders, 
 having first set apart one division only to be 
 employed in pursuing the Arabians, whenever 
 as their custom ^vas, they should wheel round 
 in momentary flight, intending still to renew 
 the contest. 
 
 By this arrangement Sesostris hoped to pre- 
 serve the vigour of his main body through a 
 whole day, and at the same time reap all the 
 advantage of this temporary flight and disorder 
 of the enemy. 
 
 The sun was setting when the armies came 
 
156 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 in sight, and both parties felt with regret the 
 battle must be deferred till morning. The 
 Egyptian prince, unable to sleep, and eager to 
 show his valour and conduct, rode forth, at- 
 tended only by Pakaris, to survey as nearly as 
 possible the hostile camp. The love of adven- 
 ture was strongly interwoven in his nature, and 
 the bright though flickering glare of the enemy’s 
 fires, the hum of the encampment, and the 
 wild cries of the centinels to each other, 
 wrought his ardent imagination to the highest 
 excitement, and the hours still intervening ere 
 he should draw his sword, seemed a blank in 
 his existence. 
 
 But there were two beings in the Egyptian 
 camp who viewed the coming day with very 
 difierent sentiments ; these were Anisis and 
 the physician, for whom, notwithstanding their 
 admiration of the son of Moeris, a battle pos- 
 sessed no attractions ; the latter especially had 
 been much alarmed by the suggestions of 
 Pakaris, who, being well acquainted with the 
 timid character of Menros, had diverted him- 
 self at his expense by giving most appalling 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 157 
 
 accounts of the numbers and valour of the 
 enemy. He had accordingly sought the tent 
 of Anisis, who very gladly saw him enter, being 
 himself in no small state of perturbation, and 
 as the sun had already set three hours, he 
 invited the physician to sup with him, re- 
 marking at the same time in a sad tone, it 
 might be the last meal they should ever eat 
 together. 
 
 Alas 1” rephed the physician, (heaving a 
 deep sigh as he took his seat) you might have 
 said the last we may eat at all, if the dreadful 
 tales I have heard from Pakaris be correct ; I 
 myself would bend a bow against an ordinary 
 enemy, but they say every one of these Ara- 
 bians bears a quiver in which an Egyptian could 
 stand, and darts seven arrows at once from the 
 same string, and that many of the chiefs think 
 there is no greater rehsh in the world than 
 human blood. You, Anisis,” he continued, 
 “ have travelled in these regions, and are there- 
 fore probably acquainted with such matters.’’ 
 
 I have indeed travelled in Arabia,” an- 
 swered Anisis, “ but never saw the nation at 
 
158 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 war, — a sight which I always took especial care 
 to avoid, — and cannot therefore give you much 
 information on their mode of fighting. I do 
 not, however imagine, they can discharge seven 
 arrows at once from one bow ; yet I do not 
 think we gain much by this, if report speaks 
 truth, which declares they can impel a shaft 
 with such force as to pierce seven men, if 
 standing in a line.” 
 
 Woe is me,” interrupted the physician, 
 how shall we escape ?” 
 
 I know not,” replied Anisis, ‘‘ unless we 
 throw ourselves on the ground the instant we 
 hear the twang of the bow-string.” 
 
 Something now fell down in an adjoining 
 tent, and the physician started with terror when 
 the former proceeded : 
 
 As to the part of your story regarding 
 human blood, I can only say, Osiris grant ours 
 may not compose the sauce. But let us drink, 
 Menros, for to-morrow we shall have much to 
 endure.” Thus they passed three hours of the 
 night, when both went to repose. 
 
 Menros awoke, however, before sun-rise, and 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 159 
 
 again repaired to the tent of Anisis, whom he 
 found already risen, and examining his arms, 
 and almost at the same instaht they were 
 joined by Pakaris, who, judging of the phy- 
 sician’s feelings by the paleness of his counte- 
 nance, amused himself as before, by painting 
 in exaggerated colours the dreadful nature of 
 the enemy. 
 
 “ I have scarcely slept an hour,” he said, 
 “ having been engaged the whole night vdth 
 our great prince, who, unable to await the dawn 
 of day, has been riding about yonder camp ; 
 and terrible are the tokens I have seen of the 
 strength of the Arabians. As we passed 
 along,” he continued, I observed by the in- 
 distinct hght of their watch-fires, something 
 which I conceived to be a small uprooted tree, 
 when suddenly I was astonished to find it was 
 a club, which a centinel raised and vdelded 
 with as much ease as I would a twig. But see, 
 the sun is rising, whose setting beams will 
 behold our prince so much nearer the accom- 
 plishment of his fate which has promised him 
 a subjugation of the earth.” 
 
160 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 “ And they may behold us under the earth/’ 
 said the physician. 
 
 “ How !” inferrupted Pakaris, do you then 
 dread the coming contest ? what, though their 
 arrows are swift and resistless ? what, though 
 their swords are so well tempered and pon- 
 derous, as to divide with the same stroke, both 
 armour, and the warrior that wears it ? Do 
 not we possess valor ?” 
 
 How far Pakaris might have succeeded in 
 infusing courage into the hearts of Menros and 
 Anisis, it is difficult to estimate, for at that 
 moment the sun arose, and all three imme- 
 diately hastened to the tent of their prince. 
 Both armies were speedily arrayed, the war- 
 shout raised, and the engagement begun. 
 Battles have always been the same, and earth 
 has so often drunk the blood of her children, 
 as to render the student of history sadly 
 familiar with their details. The Arabians were 
 animated by a love of freedom and hereditary 
 valor, while the Egyptians were excited by the 
 desire of conquest, and still farther by the 
 resolution and confidence of Sesostris. That 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 161 
 
 resolution and that confidence might have been 
 fruitless, if they had not been supported by the 
 skilful arrangement of his forces above alluded 
 to. It was this circumstance that, from the 
 beginning, threw the advantage on the side of 
 Eg}"pt, and displayed the superiority of tactics 
 and discipline over the efforts of impetuous 
 courage. 
 
 At the first onset the Arabian arrows and 
 those of the Egyptians were discharged with 
 some loss on both sides, but at the next 
 moment, the division to whom the service had 
 been allotted by Sesostris, aimed their shafts 
 at the enemy’s horses, and the Arabs were 
 astonished and confounded to perceive a large 
 proportion of their troops then in action, 
 thrown in disorder to the ground by their 
 wounded or dying steeds ; and ere they coidd 
 rally, the Egyptians suddenly opened, and a 
 line of war chariots prepared for the purpose 
 rushed from behind, and swept them to 
 destruction. Yet the Arabians called to mind 
 the utility of their evolutions, and instantly 
 wheeled about with the intention of returning 
 
lf)2 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 with greater numbers from the rear, on the 
 army of Sesostris. But the plan of that 
 prince again toojc effect, and they were 
 harassed in their retreat by troops, who, 
 together with their horses, were fresh and 
 unwearied. 
 
 They returned, however, to the charge, but it 
 was only to sustain new havoc, and to increase 
 the confidence of the Egyptians by displaying 
 the skill of their incomparable leader. Yet 
 the shame felt by the Arabians, and their horror 
 of defeat, still continued the contest, which 
 genius had decided; and the day was almost 
 passed before they were compelled to quit the 
 disastrous field. But the same obstinacy which 
 had delayed, marked with greater destruction 
 their loss of the battle, and strewed the plains 
 of Arabia with the bravest of her sons. Sesos- 
 tris beheld with delight the triumph of his 
 arms, and resolved not to lose by delay the 
 fruit of his valour and conduct, pressed eagerly 
 forward to subjugate the country. 
 
 The Arabs, however, were unconquered, since 
 their spirit was unbroken ; while the calamity 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 163 
 
 they had already sustained^ taught them the 
 power of their foe, and the necessity of vigor- 
 ous measures. All feuds were accordingly 
 suspended, and an army more numerous and 
 potent than the former, warned Sesostris that 
 fresh laurels must be won; or that those already 
 gained must be torn from his brow. But one 
 battle already lost, diminished the confidence 
 of the Arabs, while on the side of the Egyp- 
 tians the valour of heroes was invincible, since 
 it was united to the sympathy of brothers, and 
 directed by the masterly hand of the son of 
 Moeris. A second victory crushed the hopes 
 of the Arabians, and opened their territory to 
 its conqueror, almost without any possibility of 
 longer defence. Sesostris accordingly marched 
 through the country, compelling all in his 
 passage to fly or yield. 
 
 The Arabs hoped the desert, to which they 
 retired, would protect, and enable them to rally 
 their shattered forces ; but their conqueror was 
 as prompt as he had been successful, and 
 immediately prepared to penetrate that 
 region. Its secret fountains were revealed to 
 
164 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 him by deserters ; but the blast of the simoom, 
 was an enemy against whose malignity and 
 swiftness, the utmost vigilance and resolution 
 could scarcely protect his army, and though he 
 was still invincible, and every where extorted 
 obedience, he found his forces much weakened 
 by the ravages of occasional desultory contests, 
 and incessant fatigues. 
 
 The Arabian gulph was however open, and 
 he resolved, having already overrun all the 
 sandy region, to refresh his soldiers, and re- 
 ceive fresh supplies from Egypt, ere he pro- 
 ceeded to attack what yet remained ; — and an 
 encampment was accordingly fortified. Yet 
 although this delay was unavoidable, the son of 
 Moeris could not rest inactive, and he deter- 
 mined with a small division of his army, which 
 was still effective, to penetrate the fertile 
 district of Arabia that lay before him 5 in order 
 to explore the difficulties he would have to 
 encounter. Of the Arab chieftains, several of 
 the most valiant had fallen, together with their 
 followers, in the two battles which had con- 
 firmed the power of Sesostris 5 a few had been 
 
IX ARABIA. 
 
 165 
 
 detached by Eg^^tian intrigue from the common 
 cause, and those who still remained imcon- 
 quered by the sword or pohcy of the enemy, 
 retired into the richest part of their country, 
 and endeavoured to take advantage of the 
 temporary pause made by the invader to 
 collect and organize the resources still left 
 them. 
 
 Among these chiefs was Tephran, the supe- 
 riority of whose genius pointed him out to his 
 countrymen, as the one most fit in the present 
 emergency to direct their counsels, and stem 
 the torrent of their misfortunes. But the 
 advance of Sesostris, though only ’wfith a frag- 
 ment of his army, threw them into the utmost 
 alarm, and had they not been aided by the 
 spirit and conduct of Tephran, they would 
 probably have submitted without striking a 
 blow. That leader strove by every means to 
 revive the courage of his foUow'ers, occupied 
 the most defensible posts, and prepared with a 
 select body of troops to harrass Sesostris on 
 his march. He even succeeded in drawing the 
 prince into an ambuscade, w’here 
 
166 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 himself^ together with his whole division, was 
 in danger of being cut off or made prisoners. 
 The son of Moeris deplored the inconstancy of 
 fortune, or the facility with which he had 
 allowed himself to be entrapped, yet his valour 
 and that of his followers sustained an unequal 
 contest, till the darkness of night enabled him 
 to extricate himself, though with considerable 
 loss from the threatened destruction. The 
 hope of the Arabian was revived by this 
 success, yet Tephran shuddered when he re- 
 flected on the courage with which the Egyp- 
 tians had maintained the battle under every 
 disadvantage ; and if experience renders valour 
 more terrible, his followers had perhaps little 
 reason to rejoice in their victory. Sesostris, 
 however, was checked in his spirit of adven- 
 ture, and retreated leisurely towards his main 
 encampment. 
 
 In the meantime the Arabians resolved to 
 gain as much as possible by their late good 
 fortune, and for this purpose fortified a camp 
 in the post they then occupied, which appeared 
 to their great leader and the rest of the chief- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 167 
 
 tains particularly defensible ; and in order still 
 farther to ensure a present superiority in the 
 fields a considerable reinforcement was sum- 
 moned from the more distant part of the 
 region still in their possession. Yet Tephran 
 reflected that though he had checked^ he had 
 not vanquished Sesostris 5 and considering the 
 various chances of a protracted war, he re- 
 solved as soon as possible to place in com- 
 parative safety the being in whom all his 
 affections centered, and who, even more than 
 his country’s welfare, engaged his utmost 
 solicitude • That being was Mora, his only 
 daughter, whose amiable disposition, and true 
 nobihty of soul, could not but obtain a high 
 ascendancy in every wtuous breast, and who 
 was doubly dear to her father, since her birth 
 had cost the life of his consort. 
 
 He accordingly selected from his followers a 
 valiant band, headed by his brother, to conduct 
 her to an encampment in the farthest district 
 of Arabia, near the coast of the southern 
 ocean, and endeavoured with words of affection 
 to remove, or at least alle\date, the grief 
 
168 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 she experienced in the anticipation of this 
 measure. 
 
 Sixteen summers/’ he said^ have rolled 
 away, since the gods first bestowed thee upon 
 me, — the brightest of their gifts ; during which 
 period thou hast been as my shadow, gmng 
 the highest . touch to my happiness while we 
 were fortunate ; and since the Egyptian de- 
 stroyer has invaded our country, soothing with 
 thy presence the sorrow of my heart, and 
 elevating my fortitude by the example of thy 
 magnanimity. Yet even this happiness may 
 not last, since I cannot behold thee needlessly 
 exposed to the casualties of war. 
 
 We have, it is true, been partially suc- 
 cessful, but the foe is numerous and daring ; 
 and in order to make the most of our present 
 advantages, the Egyptians must be harassed — 
 before their numbers are recruited— by sudden 
 and frequent attack, and it is from the constant 
 danger of this desultory warfare, I wish to ex- 
 tricate thee. 
 
 The farthest region of the south may not 
 long be tranquil, — for it is hard to check the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 169 
 
 career of our invader, but if our chiefs are 
 unanimous, he may yet learn to tremble at our 
 valour. 
 
 “ Farewell, then, beloved Mora, and re- 
 member, that as laughter is sometimes the 
 prelude to tears, sighs are in hke manner often 
 destined to be the harbingers of joy. 
 
 If I hve, we shall meet again, and if I 
 fall, my last thought shall be thine. 
 
 Thy noble uncle will conduct thee to the 
 post most distant from the present seat of war, 
 and will protect thee there. He is virtuous and 
 vahant; the dread of our enemies, and the 
 favourite of the gods. Nor will I fail to apprize 
 thee of our fortune by swift and faithful mes- 
 sengers, as opportunity shall render practi- 
 cable.” 
 
 With these words he embraced his daughter, 
 who soon after left the encampment. The best 
 efforts of prudence are sometimes baffled by 
 events, and our projects occasionally hasten 
 the calamities they are intended to avert. 
 
 Sesostris, after the check he had received, 
 was apprized of the reinforcement expected by 
 
 VOL. I. j 
 
l70 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 the Arabians, and ever bent on revenging that 
 disaster, had with a small body of troops taken 
 a circuit round the camp of Tephran, in order, 
 if possible, to intercept the intended supply, 
 whilst the main division of the Egyptian army 
 still retreated towards their principal station, — a 
 manoeuvre which was executed early in the 
 same day, on the evening of which Mora left 
 the Arabian camp. The Egyptians fell in with 
 no Arab reinforcement, but they encountered 
 the escort conducting the daughter of the 
 Arabian chief. 
 
 Sesostris, himself, was the first to perceive 
 the enemy, and exhorted his warrior band to 
 obliterate their former misfortune, and foUow 
 him to victory. That exhortation was need- 
 less, and his soldiers displayed by the fury 
 of their charge, the sympathy of their feelings 
 with his own. The brother of Tephran sus- 
 tained the contest till his horse was slain, and 
 his ankle dislocated in the fall, when his troops 
 were thrown into disorder. Sesostris pushed 
 his advantage ; and such was the slaughter, that 
 only one Arabian was able to escape with the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 171 
 
 disabled brother of Tephran, while Mora be- 
 came the captive of the Egyptians. Night had 
 now succeeded to day, and Sesostris, satis- 
 fied with what he had already achieved, and 
 fearing to be surrounded by the enemy at a 
 distance from the rest of his forces, gave 
 orders to retreat — a measure which his soldiers 
 executed with the utmost despatch, cariydng 
 along with them the Arabian princess, over- 
 whelmed with pain and astonishment at this 
 last turn in her fortune. 
 
 Meanwhile, the Arab who had escaped with 
 the brother of Tephran from the slaughter of his 
 companions, arrived at the camp of his chief, 
 just as he was making preparations for an at- 
 tempt on that of the Egyptians. But the 
 dreadful tale, of which he was the bearer, re- 
 laxed every arm, and the whole attention of 
 Tephran was turned towards devising some 
 means of recovering Mora, whilst his senses 
 were frozen by the contemplation of the fate 
 to which she might be exposed. 
 
 The next day, accordingly, Sesostris was 
 made sensible of the value of his prize, by the 
 
 I 2 
 
172 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 arrival of deputies from the Arabian camp, 
 offering money for the ransom of the daughter 
 of their chieftain. The Egyptian officers were 
 astonished at their good fortune, and intreated 
 their prince to take advantage of so noble a 
 hostage, and at once compel the Arabs to 
 submission. But the son of Moeris revolved 
 greater projects, and answered the emissaries 
 ofTephran, he was making war, not on his 
 own account, but on that of his father, whose 
 people had suffered much from the inhabitants 
 of Arabia, that therefore he was only general, 
 and as such, had no right to give up so dis- 
 tinguished a captive without consulting his 
 monarch. He howeA^er, professed his readi- 
 ness to take this step, tranquillizing at the 
 same time the fears of Tephran, as far as 
 possible, by the most solemn assurances, that 
 his daughter should be treated with the ut- 
 most respect during her stay in the Egyptian 
 encampment; and concluded by proposing a 
 suspension of hostilities while this affair was 
 pending. These terms were agreed to by 
 Tephran, since they were the most favourable 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 173 
 
 which could be obtained, and a messenger 
 was despatched to Thebes, bearing a letter 
 from the Egyptian prince himself, intreating 
 Moeris to leave the daughter of the Arabian 
 chieftain entirely at his disposal. 
 
 In the meantime, Mora, the object of these 
 negociations, received the most honourable 
 treatment : her own attendants were allowed 
 imconstrained access, without even the pre- 
 sence of an Egyptian female, and Sesostris 
 hastened, as soon as he imagined she had suffi- 
 ciently recovered from the shock occasioned by 
 her seizure, to set at rest, as far as possible, 
 any apprehensions she might entertain. 
 
 But in the breast of Sesostris, virtue and 
 affection were entwined with the quahfications 
 of a conqueror ; and when he presented him- 
 self before the princess, when he beheld the 
 beauty of her features in which the graceful * 
 timidity of early youth was blended by 
 the inimitable colouring of nature’s pencil, 
 with a majesty that displayed the impress of 
 a lofty mind, he felt emotions of obscure im- 
 port, though almost uncontrollable force which 
 
174 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 admonished him that the Being that can fetter 
 the thoughts, and even the will, is the most 
 powerful of all conquerors, and poured into his 
 address, a pathos unknown to himself. 
 
 Uncertainty, great princess, has ever been 
 an attribute of war ; and the same fortune 
 might have placed me in the power of Tephran, 
 which has now made his daughter a guest, 
 for a time, in our camp. I am ignorant of 
 the maxims of Arabian warfare, but the sons 
 of Mizraim are moderate in the use of success, 
 and I should have instantly dismissed you to 
 your own encampment had I been monarch 
 of Egypt instead of general; yet Moeris, my 
 great father, is magnanimous, and I doubt 
 not his sentiments will coincide with mine. 
 In the meanwhile, I intreat you to banish 
 every apprehension, for I swear by Osiris, 
 that as long as you honour us with your pre- 
 sence, you shall receive from Sesostris and 
 his officers, the respect they owe their queen. 
 I will not wrong the honour I know you to 
 possess, so far as to place any guard upon 
 your movements. If ever you shall allow me 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 175 
 
 the happiness of your society, I shall avail my- 
 self, with delight, of your condescension, but 
 your privacy shall be inviolable, and your 
 ease and tranquillity our constant study.’’ 
 
 To these expressions of courtesy, Mora 
 returned a suitable reply, and henceforth 
 abandoning all fear, calmly awaited the arrival 
 of the messenger from Egypt. That messenger 
 had passed with the utmost speed, over sea 
 and land, and Thebes heard with amazement 
 and rapture, the recital of her triumph and 
 success. 
 
 But the affair of the Arabian captive was 
 judged too important for instant decision, and 
 the request of Sesostris, that she might be left 
 to his disposal, met with some objection. It 
 was, however, at length granted by Moeris, 
 with this limitation only, that his son should 
 do nothing hostile to the honour and prosperi- 
 ty of his country, and the bearer of this reply 
 again departed.. 
 
 During the progress of these transactions, 
 the intimacy of Sesostris and Mora increased 
 daily — a circumstance much favoured by the 
 
176 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 eager desire of the princess to gain as much 
 as possible from her present communication 
 with a people so superior to her own country- 
 men in learning and civilization. Ptompted 
 by this desire, she took every opportunity of 
 interrogating the Egyptian prince, who per- 
 fectly understood the Arabian language, re- 
 specting the various attainments of his nation, 
 especially in their philosophy and views of 
 nature. 
 
 •Sesostris, on the other hand, was never 
 weary of instructing her ; and as he developed 
 the wonderful agency of the universe, ex- 
 pressed in the mysterious language of symbols, 
 and listened in his turn, to the accounts she 
 gave of Arabia, or heard her wild and raptu- 
 rous songs that spoke a heart of affection 
 and a soul of fire. Mora lost the remembrance 
 of captivity, and Sesostris, the consciousness 
 of freedom. The answer of Moeris at length 
 arrived, leaving his son at liberty to carry into 
 effect his generous desire respecting the 
 princess. He accordingly lost no time in 
 seeking her, and spoke as follows : 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 177 
 
 " My emissary, amiable Mora, is returned 
 from Egypt, this papyrus contains the answer 
 of my monarch, and it is such as I anticipated, 
 for it leaves me to act without controul, pro- 
 vided I infringe not the honour and prosperity 
 of my country. Go then, lovely Arabian, 
 thou art free as the gale that sweeps thy native 
 deserts ; return to Tephran and tell him Se- 
 sostris would scorn to stipulate conditions 
 for the restoration of a daughter to a father’s 
 arms. I know not, he proceeded, what fate 
 may allot me, but if the present war shall 
 cease, if the possession of Arabia and Egypt 
 shall at length content their respective in- 
 habitants, then let Mora look sometimes to 
 the west, and mingle one sigh with the east 
 wind, while Sesostris from the halls of Kamak* 
 shall bend his eyes towards the rising sun, 
 and dwell with rapture on the remembrance 
 of the daughter of Tephran.” 
 
 * Karnak was one of the principal palaces of Thebes, 
 supposed to have been reared in the age of Rameses, or 
 Sesostris. 
 
178 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 In reply, Mora failed not to express her 
 acknowledgment of the courteous hospitality 
 she had experienced from the Egyptians, 
 dwelling especially, in all the rapture and sim- 
 plicity of nature, on his last act of generosity. 
 
 Soon after this, the escort arrived, headed 
 by Tephran himself, which was to conduct her 
 to the Arabian camp,— the intention of Sesostris 
 having been already made known, — and after 
 some refreshment, Mora departed surrounded 
 by her joyful countrymen. Her lips responded 
 to their dehght, and her eyes met those of her 
 father with the most affectionate sympathy ; 
 yet a sadness pressed upon her heart to which 
 she had hitherto been a stranger, and thoughts 
 rose whose meaning she wanted power or 
 courage to unravel, but which taught her, 
 there are fetters for the mind more indissoluble 
 than those of the body, since the latter only 
 overcome the strength, whilst the former can 
 controul the will of their captive. 
 
 On arriving again amongst his followers, 
 Tephran in the council of the chiefs, advised^ 
 to make peace, if possible, with Egypt, and 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 179 
 
 even rather to yield a part of their territority 
 than by continuing a war with so potent and 
 skilful an adversary, risk a total subjugation. 
 
 Fortune/’ he said, my countrymen, now 
 smiles on our foes, and a prince of gigantic 
 power leads their armies. But let us cast 
 our eyes back on the history of Egypt : 
 peaceful, indolent and luxurious, when was 
 she formidable to the sons of Arabia? and 
 is it to be supposed they will instantly forget 
 their nature ? can habits of inaction be laid 
 aside in a moment, or is a nation of warriors 
 the creation of a day ? No, my countrymen ; 
 the Egyptians are the same, and when that 
 Sesostris, whose spirit animates their counsels 
 and strings their nerves to exertion, shall sleep 
 in death, then will they return to the cultivation 
 of their soil and their greatness will be con- 
 verted to a splendid dream. Let us yield then 
 to the mountain torrent, for the hour of 
 summer shall come, and whilst its roar is 
 hushed in sHeilCe, we shall look back with 
 astonishment on our alarm.” 
 
 The suggestions of Tephran were, perhaps, 
 
180 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 reasonable, but the Arabian resources had 
 been considerably recruited during the truce, 
 and the other chiefs had conceived high hopes, 
 and formed resolutions which, if not wise, 
 were at least courageous. The proposal of 
 pacific measures not only met with disappro- 
 bation, but they soon after deprived its 
 author of the principal command — from an 
 idea of his favouring the Egyptian interest ; 
 thus voluntarily robbing themselves of the 
 only leader who had hitherto shown himself 
 capable of coping for a moment with the son 
 of Moeris. The chiefs, however, were sanguine 
 and determined on attacking Sesostris with 
 their whole strength before the arrival of 
 reinforcements from Egypt, and exhorted their 
 followers to exert themselves to the utmost 
 for this grand effort. The Egyptian prince 
 was apprized of their intention, and drew from 
 his principal post, on the confines of desert 
 Arabia, such of his troops as refreshment 
 and tranquillity had again rendered effective. 
 
 In the meantime, Tephran beheld with the 
 deepest regret, the determination of the chief- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 181 
 
 tains, and ventured, notwithstanding the sus- 
 picion with which he was regarded, to dissuade 
 them from what he considered a step fatal to 
 his country. He represented to them the 
 advantages he had already gained by harassing 
 the enemy, and checking their movements, 
 and endeavoured to demonstrate how much 
 more probable their ultimate success would 
 be, if they still continued the same plan of 
 operation ; especially since their present su- 
 periority of numbers would enable them to 
 station detachments in the most ehgible posts, 
 whence they might annoy the Egyptians, by 
 cutting off stragglers and preventing supphes 
 of provisions ; or even, if possible, intercepting 
 reinforcements, instead of risking the loss of 
 almost all their remaining resources by engaging 
 in a decisive battle with a foe to whom victory 
 was now become habitual, and whose daring 
 courage was fortified by a remembrance of the 
 danger it had already surmounted, and directed 
 by a leader, whose valour was indeed terrible, 
 since it was supported by the fertility of genius. 
 He conjured them to reflect on the battle 
 
182 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 already passed, which had well nigh given up 
 Arabia to her invaders, and drenched her plains 
 with the blood of the slain, and the tears of 
 their kindred, and intreated them not to aug- 
 ment the exultation of Egypt, nor inflict 
 another and a deeper wound in the breast of 
 their country. 
 
 How,” he proceeded, have I deserved 
 your jealousy, or by what step have I merited 
 the suspicion of favouring the Egyptian 
 prince ? Was it the ambuscade which cost 
 him the lives of many of his followers, and 
 obliged him to retreat before us ? or was it 
 the advice I gave that we should endeavour 
 to procure peace and preserve our freedom 
 by abandoning a portion of territory ? if so, 
 I am ready entirely to give up my proposal. 
 Let us continue the war, but in such a manner 
 as may most conduce to a happy termination of 
 it : - think not I crave the chief command : ev^y 
 arm I see around me can doubtless sustain the 
 sword with no less valour, and many of our 
 chiefs may be capable of leading our armies with 
 conduct more skilful than that of Tephran ; — but 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 183 
 
 in devotion to the cause of Arabia he yields to 
 none. That devotion shall be displayed in 
 to-morrow’s fight, if to fight is resolved on ; 
 and may the gods grant that the bloody meal 
 of those birds and beasts who banquet in 
 darkness and horror on the destruction of man 
 may be composed rather of the children of 
 Mizraim than Arabia.” 
 
 The speech of Tephran was dictated by 
 reason and moderation ; yet if it conciliated 
 the affection, or at least disarmed the enmity, 
 it failed to convince the other chieftains who 
 still determined to hazard another battle on 
 the ensuing day. 
 
 The sun at length arose, and the two nations 
 met in a desperate conflict since the one strove 
 for entire conquest and a confirmation of that 
 superiority which with so much toil they had 
 obtained, and the other fought for their free- 
 dom, — nay almost their national existence. All 
 the Arabian chiefs displayed great valour, yet 
 none equalled the acts of Tephran. But the 
 genius or destiny of Sesostris at length pre- 
 vailed, and only a few chieftains, including 
 
184 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Tephran, together with some of their followers 
 * escaped under favour of the night from the 
 fatal field, to bear the dreadful tale of defeat 
 to the utmost verge of their territory. 
 
 The day after this victory, fresh troops 
 arrived from Egypt and the whole country was 
 open to their advance, of which their prince 
 resolved to take instant advantage. He ac- 
 cordingly began, in a rapid march, to penetrate 
 towards the southern coast in hopes of over- 
 taking Tephran, and crushing in him and his 
 companions, the seeds of opposition. But the 
 flight of terror is more swift than the career 
 of triumph, and a start of several hours, joined 
 to a perfect knowledge of the country, enabled 
 the retreating Arabs to baffle pursuit. 
 
 Success is not necessarily advantageous, 
 nor failure invariably calamitous since the 
 lessons of prudence taught by the one, are 
 often more beneficial than that confidence 
 which the other is apt to produce. The 
 Arabians, when in possession of an army ca- 
 pable of defending their liberty, had slighted 
 the counsels, and even called in question the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 185 
 
 principles of Tephran, but the wisdom of those 
 counsels was shown by their defeat, and the 
 chiefs again had recourse to him as alone able 
 to restore his country. 
 
 He who offers himself to direct the move- 
 ments of his nation when in comparative pros- 
 perity may be a patriot, yet the honour of 
 command presents perhaps as many allure- 
 ments to ambition as to virtue ; but the tongue 
 of envy itself must be motionless, or awake 
 only in rancorous soliloquy concerning him 
 who, when that nation seems strugghng in 
 the last convulsions, comes forward to its 
 support, and requites the injuries he has 
 received at its hands by his prompt zeal in its 
 service. 
 
 Tephran had lamented, in secret, the ob- 
 stinacy of the chiefs ; and beheld, with anguish, 
 his own predictions verified : but, as he had 
 striven with his sword, to falsify his calcula- 
 tions, he refused not to aid the Arabians, now 
 that their truth had been fearfully realized. 
 He, accordingly, accepted the command ; 
 though with httle but despair, and first dis- 
 
186 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 played his sagacity by the address with which 
 he soothed the regret of the chieftains ; for 
 their late calamity, had converted their mutual 
 recriminations into the most unanimous ardour 
 for their common interests. As they pro- 
 secuted their rapid flight, they collected, with 
 indefatigable assiduity, several parties of Arabs 
 who were coming to reinforce their principal 
 army, and which, not having been involved in 
 the slaughter of its overthrow, became thus 
 the support of their country in that hour of 
 distress. 
 
 In the meantime, Sesostris, having in vain 
 pursued the flying enemy for two days, and, 
 being somewhat entangled in the desert occu- 
 pying the centre’ of the most fertile district of 
 Arabia, thought it expedient for tlie present 
 to decamp, and not rashly push forward to a 
 part of the country not yet subdued ; especial- 
 ly as he was ignorant of the exact number of 
 Arabians still in arms. This done, a council 
 was convened, in which it was resolved, in the 
 first place to examine the country, east and 
 west, in order to ascertain whether any troops 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 187 
 
 of Arabs were there in motion, and, if so, dis- 
 perse them ; after which, the ground being 
 thus so far made their own, it was next deter- 
 mined that the whole army should march 
 southwards, as rapidly as possible, continually 
 sending out light detachments, to explore the 
 territory through which they were to advance. 
 Such were the plans of operation which ap- 
 peared most eligible to the Egyptian prince, — 
 and they were immediately put into execu- 
 tion. 
 
 Arabia was carefully examined in an eastern 
 and western direction ; but such had been the 
 dismay of its inhabitants, and their eagerness 
 to join Tephran and the other chieftains, that 
 not a being was encountered in a line of se- 
 veral rapid days journey towards either sea ; 
 and the Egyptian army now began to move in 
 a southern direction. 
 
 While Sesostris was thus employed, Tephran 
 without losing a moment, prosecuted his re- 
 treat to the south-east coast ; and, when there, 
 found his forces much augmented, though by 
 no means an equal match for the Egyptians in 
 
188 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 open warfare. But it was on the nature 
 of the ground he placed his principal reliance, 
 and, accordingly, chose, for his chief post, a 
 small hill in the vicinity of the ocean, in which 
 were seven excavations, of large size, entering 
 the rock dn different directions, called the seven 
 grottoes. The spot had been celebrated by the 
 reconciliation of two potent chiefs, who had 
 there put an end, in a former age, to an ancient 
 feud ; — the sacred stones,* used in the cere- 
 mony, were still standing ; and tradition whis- 
 pered that the elements had never erased from 
 their surface the blood with which they had 
 then been sprinkled. The whole elevation was 
 denominated the hiU of concord ; and it ap- 
 peared to Tephran particularly adapted for a 
 strong position ; it was, therefore, stiU farther 
 
 * Herodotus thus describes the ceremony of taking an 
 oath or agreement used in Arabia. The parties were 
 placed in the centre of a rude circle composed of seven 
 stones, when he who administered the oath, having made 
 a slight incision in each of their thumbs, sprinkled the 
 stones with the blood, with a thread taken from their 
 clothes. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 189 
 
 fortified, and all the stores, of every description 
 they could collect, were deposited in one of 
 the caverns. Having so far prepared for de- 
 fence, it was next agreed by the chiefs that one 
 division of their forces should advance to meet 
 the Egyptians, and harass them on their march, 
 while the rest continued to strengthen their 
 main camp, and, if possible, increase their 
 magazines ; and they immediately left the hill 
 of concord, having Tephran for their principal 
 commander. 
 
 On the third evening, as they were about to 
 encamp, the chiefs were informed that a small 
 party of Egyptians had just been seen, with 
 Sesostris at their head. This was one of those 
 reconnoitring troops sent out, as above des- 
 cribed, from the main army, and of which the 
 son of Moeris, with all the ardour of a youth- 
 ful hero, had himself taken the command, and 
 which thus unexpectedly encountered a force 
 greatly superior to its own. He was scarcely 
 apprised of the enemy’s vicinity, when he was 
 surrounded by the Arabians, whose numbers 
 o far outmatched the Egyptians as to threaten 
 
190 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 the most fatal result. But courage was natural 
 to his followers, and such were their efforts to 
 break through their assailants, that their escape 
 would perhaps have been effected, if the Arabs 
 had not been animated by the presence, and 
 directed by the skill of Tephran. Throughout 
 the whole engagement, that experienced leader 
 kept his eye on the Egyptian prince ; and, 
 wherever he observed him making an attack, 
 flew to oppose him with a select band. 
 
 The troops of Sesostris were now rapidly 
 falling around him, and he was just meditating 
 one furious push for an escape, when his horse 
 was suddenly wounded by an arrow, and, turn- 
 ing instantly round, dashed onwards with un- 
 governable fury, and, together with his rider, 
 broke through the Arabian line. 
 
 All this took place so instantaneously, that 
 there were many, both among the Arabs and 
 Egyptians, who were ignorant of the loss of a 
 leader, and the escape of an important captive ; 
 some of those, however, who saw him break 
 through, pursued him for a moment; but the 
 wound of his horse spurred him to the most 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 191 
 
 prodigious speed, and they soon gave up the 
 chase, imagining the Egyptian prince intended 
 to take a circuit and rejoin his otsti army. 
 Sesostris was thus home out of immediate 
 danger ; yet, when he remembered he was 
 riding towards the coast, he could not but feel . 
 some uneasiness, since each moment placed 
 him farther from his own part)*, and nearer 
 the enemy. He tried to check the career of 
 his steed, but in vain ; darkness closed around 
 him, and the swiftness of his course seemed 
 even accelerated. 
 
 The stars were now shining with their 
 wonted brilliancy ; yet, as they only served to 
 reveal the direction he was taking, they 
 gave him little consolation. From sunset 
 until davTi, he swept over Arabia towards 
 the south-east; and, exhausted by its own 
 efforts, his horse at length stopped, when he 
 instantly dismounted aud examined the wound. 
 He perceived it to be very shght ; and, there- 
 fore, resolved, when the animal should be 
 sufficiently recruited, to proceed eastward ; 
 then bend to the north ; and thus, if possible. 
 
192 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 arrive at his camp. As^ however, some hours 
 would probably elapse before this could be at- 
 tempted, he began to examine the place in 
 which he was accidentally thrown, and seeing 
 a small grove, at a short distance, that seemed 
 to offer shade and concealment, he proceeded 
 thither, followed by his steed, which had 
 already been attracted by the verdure it con- 
 tained. His first step, on entering the grove, 
 was to cut on the bark of one or two of the 
 most conspicuous trees these words : — Ses- 
 ostris lives,” in order that if any of his 
 followers, seeking their prince, should pass 
 that way, their hope might thus be revived, 
 while the import of the writing woulS be 
 hidden to the Arabians, as the characters were 
 Egyptian. 
 
 Having taken this precaution, he next drew 
 forth a very small portion of the scanty stock 
 of provision with which he was furnished ; and, 
 after a slight repast, was admiring the various 
 beauties of the spot, when he observed a large 
 bird on a neighbouring tree, and, reflecting that 
 it might be long ere he had another opportuni- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 193 
 
 ty of recruiting his stores, without losing an 
 instant, levelled an arrow at it. The bird 
 fluttered to a little distance, and then fell in a 
 space partially laid open, whither he instantly 
 proceeded to secure his prize ; when, as he 
 stepped forward to reach it, the ground gave 
 way beneath his feet, and he was precipitated 
 into a pit of considerable depth. The mould 
 at the bottom was soft and yielding ; but he 
 trembled when he beheld a row of strong and 
 sharp stakes running diagonally through the 
 gulf — any one of which, had he fallen upon it, 
 would probably have put a period to his 
 triumphs, and freed the world from its destined 
 conqueror. He was, evidently, in a pitfall dug 
 for entrapping wild beasts ; and thus, to his 
 other ill fortune, was added the no very con- 
 sohng assurance that no inhabitants were in its 
 vicinity. But it was the remembrance of his 
 unhappy followers, whom he had so involunta- 
 rily deserted when begirt by foes, that most of 
 all tortured his bosom, and made him wish 
 that he had fallen by an Arabian arrow, rather 
 than survived for so inglorious an adventure. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 K 
 
194 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 The situation of those followers well me- 
 rited his deepest solicitude. Astonished and 
 dismayed at the loss of their leader, as soon as 
 the absence of Sesostris was generally known, 
 some imagined him to have been slain ; but, 
 when they were assured he had been seen 
 riding through the enemy, the idea he still 
 lived took exclusive possession of each warrior; 
 and, supposing he was on his return to the 
 army, they excited their horses to the utmost, 
 and rushed towards the weakest part of the 
 circle. A flight of arrows, deadly and unerring, 
 preceded their course, and the most intrepid 
 courage might have shrunk from their charge ; 
 but the good fortune they had hitherto ex- 
 perienced, and the presence of the incompara- 
 ble Tephran, animated the Arabians, and very 
 few Egyptians escaped, on that disastrous 
 night, from death or captivity, to the main 
 body of their countrymen. Among the 
 prisoners were the principle attendants of the 
 prince, Anisis, Menros, and Pakaris ; and on 
 the division of the captives, which took place 
 on the spot, all three were committed to the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 195 
 
 guard of the same Arab^ and lodged, for the 
 night, in one tent ; their hands and feet were 
 tied, and they were thrown, without ceremony, 
 on some straw ; when they were informed by 
 the Arab that if, during the night, they made 
 the least disturbance, the consequences would 
 be fatal. He could not, indeed, speak their 
 language, but he pointed to their mouths, and, 
 unsheathing a sword, drew it in the air across 
 his own neck — a sign fearfully intelligible : he 
 then left them, and, having secured the tent 
 on the outside, went himself into an adjoining 
 one. 
 
 This then,” said the physician, (who was 
 the first to break silence) is the happy 
 effect of our prince’s insatiable desire for con- 
 quest and adventure; how astonishing it 
 appears to me that one, who has so much to 
 make him happy at home, cannot stay quietly 
 there ; but must go wandering over the world, 
 cutting and shooting, riding and driving after 
 people whose only possessions consist of 
 deserts and arrows; the end of all which is 
 that we are now in danger of being starved to- 
 
196 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 nighty and having our throats cut in the morn- 
 
 ing:’ 
 
 “ Do not let us despair too hastily/’ replied 
 Anisis, they wiU^ doubtless, examine us to- 
 morrow ; and, when they know who we are, 
 our treatment will improve.” 
 
 Osiris grant it,” groaned Menros, when 
 Pakaris, (who, even in that piteous condition, 
 could not pass an opportunity of indulging his 
 favourite species of jest) interrupted him by 
 asking, And what Arabian do you suppose 
 will be in want either of a physician or a se- 
 cretary ? what medicine is better than exercise ? 
 and, as to acts, I fear we shall find they make 
 more use of the sword than the pen.” 
 
 I entreat you,” said Menros, as you 
 value a moment’s tranquillity, do not frighten 
 us to death this last night with your terri- 
 ble predictions ; since a little sleep, if it can be 
 obtained, would surely be a means of prepar- 
 ing us for to-morrow.” 
 
 Soon after day-break they were visited by 
 the Arabian, to whom they had been commit- 
 ted the night before, who brought them some 
 refreshment, and a summons from Tephran^ 
 
IS ARABIA. 
 
 197 
 
 and the other chiefs, to whom they were soon 
 after introduced. Anisis immediately explained 
 that he could act as an interpreter, and he was, 
 in the first place, commanded to ask Menros 
 whether he had any qualifications useful to his 
 new masters ; to this question he replied — 
 He was a physician ; and, moreover, that he 
 knew the secret of for ever preserving the dead 
 from corruption. The same question was next 
 put to Pakaris, who, in reply, snatched up a 
 javehn that happened to be lying near him on 
 the ground, and hurled it at a tent pole with 
 such force and precision, that the weapon 
 trembled in the wood which it had deeply 
 penetrated, exclaiming at the same time I am 
 a warrior;” and, after speaking a few words 
 to Anisis, tendered his services to Tephran in 
 the strongest terms ; pretending to explain, at 
 the same time, various plans agitated by Sesos- 
 tris ; and, above all, pressed the instant retreat 
 of the Arabians, as the only mode of avoiding 
 being hemmed in by the Egyptian army, and a 
 large reinforcement which he asserted was 
 marching from the north ; with all which cir- 
 
198 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 cumstances he affirmed that he . alone was ac- 
 quainted. 
 
 Anisis interpreted these fictions with the 
 most unblushing calmness^ whilst the poor 
 physician was in such a state of fear as to make 
 him utterly reckless : he already fancied 
 
 one of the many swords^ he saw around him, 
 unsheathed for his execution; and Pakaris 
 afterwards declared, Menros more than once 
 shook his head, as if to ascertain whether it 
 was still on his shoulders. The Arabians were 
 astonished at what they heard ; their informant 
 was a captive, and an enemy, but, as his in- 
 formation suited well the skilful conduct of 
 the Egyptian prince, it was determined not 
 wholly to slight it ; and some troops were sent 
 out to survey the country. In the evening 
 Pakaris, with Anisis for his interpreter, again 
 presented himself to Tephran, and offered to 
 go to the Egyptian army, and find out what 
 were their future plans ; pledging himself, in 
 the most solemn terms to return that very 
 night. The chieftain weighed the loss of an 
 unimportant captive against the advantage 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 199 
 
 which might accrue from his fidelity, and ac- 
 cepting his proposal, the Egyptian set ofi*, at 
 full speed ; and, arriving at his camp, he was 
 struck with the utmost consternation by an 
 enquiry whether he had any tidings of their 
 prince, and by the information subsequently 
 elicited that he had never been seen since he 
 broke through the enemy the night before. He 
 then briefly detailed his own adventures and 
 those of his fellow prisoners, showing the ne- 
 cessity he was under to return, together with 
 the advantages his countrymen might derive 
 from the confidence he should thus obtain in 
 the enemy’s camp ; and, finally recommending 
 them, above all things, to be cautious and 
 unanimous till they should hear something of 
 Sesostris, hastened back towards the Arabians, 
 having first slightly wounded himself, in order to 
 increase the deception he was carrying on. It 
 was not long before he was again in the pre- 
 sence of Tephran, to whom he communicated 
 the intelligence that the Egyptian prince had 
 never been heard of since the last battle ; ad- 
 vising, at the same time, that every effort 
 
200 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 should be made to find him^ dead or alive^ 
 and concluded by professing his zeal for the 
 Arabians, appealing to his having returned 
 when it was in his power to escape, and show- 
 ing his wound,* which he declared he had re- 
 ceived from an Egyptian, who suspected he was 
 about to desert them, and discharged an arrow 
 at him just after he had mounted. 
 
 The chieftain heard, with unspeakable de- 
 light, the news he had related, and received 
 Pakaris into his confidence, resolving to com- 
 mence immediately the search for Sesostris. 
 
 In the meantime, that illustrious prince had, 
 as we have seen, exchanged one captivity for 
 another, and escaped from the Arabians at 
 night, to be entangled, next day, in a pitfall : 
 there he remained till towards sunset, revolving 
 various plans of action, but of all which his 
 escape was necessarily the foundation, when 
 he heard footsteps in the grove, and drawing 
 
 * A similar stratagem is mentioned by Herodotus as 
 having been employed by an officer in the army of Darius 
 Hystaspes, in order to take Babylon, which had revolted 
 from that prince. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 201 
 
 his sword, (which was the only weapon on 
 his person at the moment he was engulphed) 
 prepared for what he imagined his last contest. 
 As the sound approached, he perceived it to 
 proceed from more than one person, and the 
 next moment somewhat abated his apprehen- 
 sions, for he discovered, by the voices, they 
 were women. 
 
 “ How far is this place from the hill of 
 Concord, Phenna ?” asked one. 
 
 About two days’ journey and a half,” she 
 rephed. 
 
 Sesostris started ; for the first voice forcibly 
 struck his memory, while Phenna continued : 
 
 They say Tephran again leads our armies, 
 and stiU hopes to check the haughty Sesostris. 
 Oh, that I could but meet with him in one of 
 the pits we dig for wild beasts ; I would soon 
 rid the world of him by dropping a large stone 
 upon his head.” 
 
 I teU thee, Phenna,” rejoined her com- 
 panion, “ it would be impossible to lift thy hand 
 against him, if he did but speak, or his person 
 were but visible. I have never beheld our great 
 
 k3 
 
202 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 divinity who lives, the Arabian elders say, in 
 the land of fragrance, where the hot winds 
 never blow, and the brooks are never dry, 
 whose bed is composed of flowers, and whose 
 tent is supported by the aromatic cinnamon 
 yet I cannot imagine this divinity to possess 
 more grace or majesty than shines in the per- 
 son of the Egyptian prince. Do not afflict 
 me, I entreat thee, by speaking anything to 
 his prejudice; it is enough that 1 hear the 
 voices of our chiefs raised against him, per- 
 haps justly. I know he has invaded our land ; 
 yet, if we have formerly injured Egypt, he 
 does but retaliate the wrongs he has received. 
 Gratitude may be stronger than patriotism ; 
 and the mysterious claim of sympathy may 
 sometimes unite hearts naturally hostile. Be 
 this as it may, I confess to thee, Phenna, I 
 love the son of Moeris ; to thy affection I con- 
 
 * Herodotus, speaking of this spice, says the 
 Arabians could not tell where it grew, except that 
 it came from the land where Bacchus, their great 
 Divinity, was brought up. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 203 
 
 fide the secret; do not make me regret my 
 frankness.” 
 
 Never,” she replied, I abuseyour con- 
 fidence ; yet, if you would avoid rivals, I would 
 advise you, for the future, not to speak in such 
 glowing terms of your lover. But what horse 
 is that,” she continued, that glitters in such 
 splendid trappings ? it cannot belong to one of 
 our chiefs.” 
 
 Both now approached the animal, and the 
 companion of Phenna, who was no other than 
 Tephran’s daughter, was still admiring his fine 
 proportions, when the former Arabian, having 
 walked a few paces in another direction, ex- 
 claimed ; — 
 
 May the gods preserve us, and avert all 
 harm ! ” when Mora, turning towards the 
 spot, saw on the ground a bow and quiver of 
 arrows ; and, at the same moment, recognized 
 the weapons of Sesostris, by the characters, 
 whose import she learned during her stay in 
 the Egyptian camp. She was now in the 
 greatest perplexity ; yet, after a moment’s re- 
 flection, informed her companion of the dis- 
 
204 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 covery she had made, adding she was sure 
 he was in the vicinity, adverting, at the 
 same time, to the necessity of leaving the 
 place. 
 
 Yet who can tell,” she proceeded, “ that 
 some fatal accident may not have befallen him. 
 Here lie his weapons, there stands his steed ; 
 may he not, by some casualty, have been se- 
 parated from his followers, and encountered by 
 superior numbers ? then must this land have 
 drunk the blood of Sesostris ; then shall the 
 breast of our chiefs rejoice, and the features of 
 Mora must counterfeit a smile : but I will find 
 thy tomb, wherever it is raised ; and hereafter 
 my memory, hovering round thy monument, 
 shall there keep a sleepless watch.” 
 
 The son of Moeris had felt the most painful 
 though rapturous emotions since he perceived 
 he was thus accidentally thrown into the neigh- 
 bourhood of Mora. He had heard her con-, 
 fession that she loved him, and her expressions 
 of tenderness could not but enthral his heart 
 already more than half surrendered to her, 
 uttered thus ingenuously by the beautiful 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 205 
 
 Arabian ; but when he heard her concluding 
 words he could no longer remain silent^ and ex- 
 claimed : Mora, thy Sesostris is near thee ; 
 
 but fear nothing.’’ 
 
 The daughter of Tephran felt as if transfixed 
 by an arrow on hearing these words, — so dif- 
 ferent is the reahty of astonishing circumstances 
 from the contemplation of the same occur- 
 rences through the veil of probabilit)\ She 
 had already come to the conclusion that the 
 Egyptian prince was in their immediate neigh- 
 bourhood, nor had the idea caused her great 
 alarm, yet now that that inference was verified, 
 and she heard herself addressed by him, terror 
 and surprise for an instant took entire pos- 
 session of her mind. Her companion, how- 
 ever, was somewhat less affected, and moving 
 towards the voice, discovered the son of Moeris 
 in the pit-fall, — of which she informed the 
 astonished Mora. 
 
 Both were instantly at the edge of the gulf, 
 and the prince, throvdng off all disguise, briefly 
 recounted to them the adventures which had 
 brought him thither. To extricate him was 
 
206 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 the next difficulty, and for this purpose 
 Phenna sought the group of tents, which, at 
 some distance from the grove, were inhabited 
 by the brother of Tephran, to whose care 
 Mora had formerly been intrusted. Without 
 being observed, she took from thence an 
 instrument for digging, with which she re- 
 turned with the same secresy. When Mora 
 was first left alone with Sesostris, she attempted 
 to speak, but the remembrance of what had 
 escaped her, while unconscious of any human 
 witness except her female companion, changed 
 her words into a suppressed sigh, and suffused 
 her cheek with the blush of innocence. The 
 Egyptian prince anticipated her confusion, and 
 strove to dispel its pain. 
 
 Do not regret, beautiful Mora,” he said, 
 much less, recal the accents I heard you utter ; 
 since I look back with joy on the battle of yes- 
 ternight, and on those subsequent events which 
 have enabled me to hear from her own lips. 
 My image lives in the heart of Tephran ’s 
 daughter, whose memory has long been the 
 banquet of my thoughts.” 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 207 
 
 Mora could not recal what she had said, and 
 her own candour whispered she would not if she 
 possessed the power, have again confined her 
 sentiments mth regard to Sesostris within her 
 breast. But Phenna now returned, bringing 
 the instrument that was to hberate the captive, 
 about whose future proceedings a consultation 
 was instantly held ; the issue of which was, 
 that both the Arabians entreated him not to 
 attempt immediately rejoining his followers, 
 which must expose him to the almost certain 
 danger of encountering the enemy. He yielded, 
 though with reluctance, to the force of their 
 arguments ; and Mora might secretly rejoice in 
 the necessity which kept the object of her 
 affections, at least for the present in her 
 vicinity. This determined, it was next ar- 
 ranged that Sesostris should pass the night in 
 a hoUow tree of considerable size, — since con- 
 cealment was absolutely necessary, — and that 
 Mora should bring him food in the morning. 
 Its situation was then explained to him, and 
 his bow and quiver removed to it, together 
 with the trappings and harness of his horse 
 
208 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 which was left to graze in freedom, being thus 
 more difficult to be recognized ; and as it was 
 now very late, they left the prince, lest their 
 longer stay should cause them to be searched 
 for : — Mora to pass a sleepless night, agitated 
 by fears for his safety, and Phenna, to repent 
 the fierce determination she had formerly ex- 
 pressed against him. 
 
 Sesostris found it not easy to extricate 
 himself ; but perseverance at length prevailing, 
 he sought the tree, and having refreshed him- 
 self with the remainder of the provisions with 
 which he was fortunately supplied, when he 
 left the battle, clambered into his asylum, 
 which at least promised concealment. He 
 looked around on his rustic chamber, and 
 reflected on the casualties of fortune. No 
 fragrant lamp here illuminated walls covered 
 with tapestry 3 no attendants were ready to 
 obey his summons. The moon alone that here 
 and there entered the fissures of the aged tree, 
 threw around him a thousand grotesque 
 shadows of waving branches, whose ceaseless 
 whisper reminded him how lonely and helpless 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 209 
 
 was his condition, and that the heir to a 
 mighty monarchy, and the leader of a potent 
 and victorious army depended for every moment 
 of his existence, on two of the very nation he 
 had invaded. 
 
 Yet the breeze was fraught with the balm of 
 nature’s breath, and through the clefts of his 
 retreat he could behold beneath the soft light 
 a thousand creeping plants that threw their 
 graceful arms around his woodland castle, as if 
 to check or sooth the progress of decay, and 
 console the declining monarch of the grove, 
 (as friendship softens the winter of age) and 
 breathing in the symphony of their sleepless 
 motion, the assurance that when it should at 
 last faU, their blossoms should still cling around 
 its trunk, and spread a curtain of greenness 
 and fragrance over its repose. Such were the 
 reflections which passed through the breast of 
 Sesostris, whose imagination could find in any 
 scene colours for its versatile pencil. But 
 fatigue is an irresistible narcotic, and one by 
 one, these images lost their distinctness, till 
 they floated almost concealed by the mist of 
 
210 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 approaching sleep, to which at length his 
 senses were wholly surrendered. 
 
 Thus passed the first night, spent by the 
 son of Moeris in the grove, and we have seen 
 how it had been employed by Pakaris, in 
 ingratiating himself with the Arabian chief. 
 In the morning, horsemen were sent in every 
 direction to search for Sesostris, whilst a con- 
 siderable reinforcement marched with the 
 utmost expedition from the seven grottos, in 
 order to annoy the Egyptians with more effect, 
 while suffering from the absence of their ^eat 
 leader. No time was lost, except for the 
 refreshment of a meal, or an hour’s repose; 
 the troops travelled day and night, and joined 
 the camp of Tephran the second evening after 
 their departure. 
 
 All this time the Arabians had been 
 scouring over the country seeking Sesostris, 
 in which Pakaris had shewn peculiar activity, 
 continually giving some fresh instance of 
 fidelity, tiU he effectually won the entire con- 
 fidence of the Arabians. Having searched 
 long in vain, they rode southwards, when 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 211 
 
 the grove in which he had taken sanc- 
 tuary, caught the attention of some of 
 them, and they accordingly explored it in 
 every part. The Egyptian characters cut upon 
 the tree, did not escape the eye of Pakaris, but 
 while he was delighted almost to distraction 
 at what they disclosed, he shuddered lest the 
 indefatigable Arabs should encounter his be- 
 loved monarch. When they had examined the 
 grove to. no purpose, they left it slowly and 
 dejectedly, and uncertain where next to direct 
 their search, pitched their tents for that day, in 
 order to consult the brother of Tephran, who, 
 as above-mentioned was then in that region, — 
 an opportunity of which Pakaris availed him- 
 self to return in the evening to the grove, 
 under an impression it might after aU conceal 
 his prince. 
 
 Pensive and perplexed he had already tra- 
 versed several windings, when he saw through 
 the trees the majestic form of Sesostris stand- 
 ing by a female, whom he recognized as 
 the daughter of Tephran. They seemed in 
 deep and impassioned conference, and their 
 
212 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 eyes appeared mutually to echo the sen- 
 timents of their lips. Pakaris could no 
 longer restrain himself, and the next instant 
 beheld him before his prince, whose hand 
 he seized and kissed with rapturous devotion, 
 while, in a torrent of eloquence, he shortly 
 but forcibly explained the dismay of his 
 followers on his disappearance, and his own 
 peculiar adventures. The son of Moeris felt 
 the smost ecstatic joy at thus unexpectedly 
 beholding his faithful attendant, but the 
 moments were precious, and they proceeded 
 to arrange the mode of his escape. 
 
 It was accordingly resolved that Pakaris 
 should draw away the Arabians stiU farther to 
 the south-east, under pretence of having found 
 some trace of Sesostris, and that the prince 
 should ride northwards, and by means of a 
 circuit rejoin the Egyptians. This determined, 
 Pakaris returned to the Arabians, and informed 
 the chieftain he had discovered some Egyptian 
 characters, probably carved by the son of 
 Moeris himself, in order to guide his com- 
 panions to his retreat, declaring he was on 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 213 
 
 the south-east coast. Delighted with this 
 intelligence, they all mounted and rode in that 
 direction, while Pakaris obtained permission 
 to seek Tephran, and rejoice hiln with the 
 tidings. 
 
 He now returned to Sesostris, who had 
 employed the intervening time in s?)othing the 
 distress of Mora. They had become still 
 doarer to each other, since their fortunes had 
 changed ; he had lately in some sort been the 
 captive of the beautiful Arabian ; and while 
 the hero had been rendered more attractive 
 when seen in adversity, the tenderness and 
 fidelity of Mora, found more opportunity to 
 develope themselves, and twine around the 
 affections of the son of Moeris, who could not 
 but surrender his heart to the winning gen- 
 tleness and assiduity of his lovely bene- 
 factress. Ere he departed, he frankly confessed 
 his passion, and had, beneath the canopy of 
 heaven, bound himself to the Arab princess by 
 an oath of constancy. 
 
 The faithful Pakaris now presented himself, 
 and not a moment was to be lost ; — the 
 
214 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Egyptian prince left the grove at full speed on 
 a horse provided by his attendant. And now 
 the great catastrophe of the Arabian struggle 
 for independence approached, for Tephran (his 
 reinforcement being arrived) after mature de- 
 liberation resolved on attempting the Egyptian 
 camp at midnight. In order to make the 
 surprise greater, a retreat was feigned ; and an 
 Arabian, willing to risk aU for his country, 
 . pretended to desert to the enemy, and informed 
 them that Tephran, thinking himself unable to 
 keep the field, intended to retire towards his 
 chief post at the seven grottos, — information 
 which was apparently corroborated by the 
 absence of watch-fires in the enemy’s camp 
 at night : and the ofiicer, who, in place 
 of Sesostris, now directed the councils of 
 the Egyptians, rejoiced at the prospect of a 
 moment’s tranquillity, while the troops were 
 dispirited at the loss of their leader. But that 
 tranquillity was treacherous, for the Arabs, 
 taking a long circuit to the eastward, feU on the 
 Egyptian camp an hour after midnight. The 
 rampart was at the same time assaulted and 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 215 
 
 taken, and the few guards placed within, were 
 almost instantly overpowered. Such, however, 
 as fled, gave the alarm, and every tent soon 
 poured forth a stream of armed warriors. The 
 confusion was immense, of which the Arabian 
 deserter took advantage and escaped to his own 
 forces, having first increased the dismay of the 
 followers of Sesostris by setting fire to the 
 camp. 
 
 The Arabians had now greatly the superiority; 
 for the flaming tents enabled them to see the 
 Eg)T)tians thronging together, some endeavour- 
 ing to stop the progress of the fire, and others 
 to resist the no less destructive Arabs, amongst 
 all of whom the arrows of Tephran and his 
 troops made terrible havoc. At length the 
 half consumed encampment was abandoned, 
 and the Arabians renewing their war-shout, 
 rushed on to complete their victory. Yet 
 though the son of Moeris was absent, his 
 memory was present to the hearts of his 
 warrior companions, and calling to mind the 
 example of that hero, they still continued the 
 contest, though . under every disadvantage, 
 
216 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 scarcely more than half their number being 
 mounted. 
 
 Their principal officer exerted himself to the 
 utmost^ and by his order they protracted the 
 fight, retiring and advancing alternately, tiU the 
 day at length dawned. Then indeed, their 
 situation became truly perilous ; some were 
 without armour, others wanted weapons ; and 
 more than all, their arrows on which they 
 greatly depended, were almost spent. This 
 want of resources, which had been hidden in 
 the darkness, was revealed by day-light to the 
 foe, and the annihilation of the Egyptian army 
 seemed inevitable, when two horsemen were 
 seen riding impetuously from the west, and 
 the sky was almost instantly rent by the cry 
 
 Sesostris, our great Sesostris,” uttered by 
 the sons of Mizraim, while the Arabs felt as if 
 blasted by the desert wind, when they beheld 
 the invincible, the imperishable prince again at 
 the head of his followers, attended by Pakaris, 
 whom they had supposed in their own interest. 
 The condition of the contending parties was 
 in reality nearly the same, but the fears of the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 217 
 
 one, and the confidence of the other, caused a 
 re-action in the contest, that was fatal to the 
 Arabians. 
 
 Their expectation of victory was changed 
 into panic and defeat, and very few escaped 
 from the field, where their last hopes had 
 expired ; while Tephran, who resisted to the 
 last, being thrown from his horse, fell into the 
 hand of the enemy. But Sesostris was gene- 
 rous as well as valiant, and, even if his captive 
 had not been the father of Mora, his treatment 
 would have been honorable. As it was, 
 affection spoke the same language as virtue, 
 and he dismissed him with the utmost courtesy, 
 to join the rest of the surviving chiefs, who 
 had retired to the hill of concord, together 
 with a deputy of Eg)^ptians, vfith proposals of 
 peace, in the name of their king, with the 
 Arabians, and an exchange of prisoners, on 
 condition the latter nation should pay a yearly 
 tribute. 
 
 The idea of thus confessing themselves con- 
 quered, oppressed their hearts ; but the cala- 
 mities they had suffered, and the failure of 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 L 
 
218 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 their resources finally induced them to yield, 
 while they had at least the consolation of 
 having been subdued by a truly noble prince. 
 When this was arranged, Sesostris solicited 
 and obtained the hand of Mora 5 and the har- 
 mony of the two nations was thus secured by 
 the alliance of their greatest princes. And 
 now, after an absence, in which he had trodden 
 with a youthful foot the path of renown, 
 majestic Thebes hailed with rapture her be- 
 loved Sesostris ; and as his galley proudly 
 stemmed the Nile, the acclamations of innu- 
 merable voices repeated his glory, and the 
 scenes of these his first triumphs, were 
 awakened anew,— never to expire by the chisel 
 and pencil of the artist on the walls of regal 
 Karnak. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 219 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS, 
 KING OF EGYPT, continued. 
 
 The desire of conquest does not easily leave 
 the breast of which it has once taken pos- 
 session, even should ill success attend it, for 
 hope grounded on the fickleness of fortune 
 supplies every deficiency, and the brightness 
 of fame can allure her followers through in- 
 numerable failures, and stimulate them to fresh , 
 exertions. But if the appetite for dominion 
 be sufficient to actuate those whose efforts to 
 gratify it have been clogged and disappointed 
 by disadvantages and iU success, its solicita- 
 tions must Rct with irresistible force on him 
 whose designs have hitherto prospered, and 
 
 L 2 
 
220 
 
 THE STORY OF SBSOSTRIS 
 
 who is surrounded by every resource that can 
 facilitate new attempts. Such was the con- 
 dition of Sesostris, the son of Moeris, King of 
 Egypt ; by his Arabian expedition, he had 
 poured lustre round his father’s diadem, and 
 bound his own temples and those of his com- 
 panions in arms, with laurels never to fade. 
 
 But his aspiring genius, and the ardour of 
 vouth, the encouragements of Moeris, his 
 monarch Sire, and the lofty promises of 
 Heaven contained in the oracle,* all con- 
 tributed to make him pine in tranquillity, and 
 excite him to still greater achievements. 
 Having, accordingly, allowed his troops a short 
 repose, he resolved with the approbation of his 
 father, to march westward against the various 
 tribes, stretching from Egypt along the north 
 of Africa, in pursuance of which enterprize, he 
 made the necessary preparations, and left regal 
 Thebes in the spring. 
 
 * It had been declared to Moeris, King of Egypt, by 
 an oracle, that his son Sesostris, yet unborn, should 
 conquer the whole earth. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 221 
 
 The Adyrmachidae* were the first people in 
 his projected course, to whom a herald was 
 therefore sent with this message : — Sesostris, 
 son of the monarch of Egypt, commands the 
 Adyrmachidse to become obedient to Egypt ; — 
 the most mighty gods having commissioned 
 the said Sesostris to conquer the whole earth.” 
 The Lybians were astonished at the arrogance 
 of this mandate ; but the exploits of the Egyp- 
 tian prince in Arabia had invested his name with 
 a preternatural terror, and they affected to 
 acquiesce in the justice of a claim, which they 
 wanted power or resolution to desist. Thus 
 secure of his first step, the son of Moeris, 
 aware of the importance of celerity, stayed no 
 longer among them than to fix the tribute to 
 be paid to Egypt, and take the necessary 
 measures for ensuring the advantage he had 
 gained, ere he turned his attention to the 
 Giligammse, the next tribe in his route. To 
 these a message was sent similar to the former, 
 
 * This is the first Lybian tribe mentioned by Hero- 
 dotus westward of Egypt. — See Herodotus. Melpomene. 
 
222 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 and with equal effect ; for the movements of 
 the invader were so swift and unexpected, as 
 to disconcert every plan of opposition. 
 
 The facility with which two nations had thus 
 been subdued was highly gratifying to Sesos- 
 tris and his followers ; for though their 
 achievements against the Arabs had justly 
 confirmed their confidence, yet they considered 
 that a vast unknown space was still to be 
 traversed, peopled by various races of men, 
 who might call forth their utmost valour. 
 They remembered that every moment would 
 place them at a greater distance from their 
 country, and plunge them deeper amid hostile 
 regions, where every inch of ground was to be 
 bought with blood, and where, whilst the decay 
 was inevitable, the recruiting their resources 
 was at best precarious. But to none was the 
 ease with which he had hitherto advanced 
 more grateful, than Menros, his physician, who 
 with Anisis and Pakaris, the crafty Pallic, 
 attended him in this as well as his former 
 expedition. 
 
 Thanks to Osiris,” exclaimed Menros, 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 223 
 
 (addressing himself to Anisis^ the first night 
 they encamped among the Giligammae) who^ 
 since our prince is resolved at any rate, neither 
 to rest tranquil himself, nor permit others to 
 do so, has not destined us to invade a people 
 like the Arabians, but quite another sort of 
 men who respect the oracle of Heaven, and 
 wisely judge it impossible to resist us. Our 
 march is nothing but travelling in comfort, 
 while we pause in each country to receive the 
 utmost deference from its inhabitants, and 
 observe the various peculiarities it offers. My 
 only anxiety is, lest our leader, thirsting for 
 peril and adventure, should leave these good 
 people, and seek a foe, against whom he will 
 have to employ the sword rather than the 
 tongue.” 
 
 “ Your imeasiness on this head will soon be 
 put an end to, as well as the impatience of 
 our prince,” replied Anisis, if any credit 
 be due to Pakaris, whose intimations cor- 
 respond with what I have elicited from some 
 Lybians, with whom I have been conversing, 
 in order to ascertain all the information with 
 
224 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 in my reach, concerning our intended line of 
 march/' 
 
 “ And what are these intimations," answered 
 the physician, his colour changing as he spoke. 
 
 The sum of them is," said Anisis, that 
 the whole country, stretching towards the 
 setting sun, is of an immeasurable extent, and 
 inhabited by innumerable nations, many of 
 whom are warlike 3 and that the Nasamones, 
 one of the most powerful and populous, lie 
 not very far distant ; they also speak of 
 warriors who rush to battle in chariots swift as 
 the wind." 
 
 The physician heard and trembled, and his 
 dreams that night were full of the terrible 
 images thus presented to his imagination. 
 
 Meanwhile the Asbystse, who lay next in 
 the path of Sesostris, astonished at the career 
 of that prince, of which they had been ap- 
 prized by some of the Giligammee, who had 
 fled at his approach, began to meditate oppo- 
 sition ; and accordingly sent deputies to the 
 Auschisee, their western neighbours, concluding 
 their address with these words : — A torrent 
 
IN ARABIA, 
 
 225 
 
 is rolling from the east, 'more destructive than 
 the locusts, and more rapid than the waves* 
 of the desert ; will you join with us in op- 
 posing it, or by abandoning us share our 
 destruction ?” 
 
 The Auschisae were moved by these solici- 
 tations ; but feuds, the constant plague of 
 barbarous nations, had lately arisen between 
 them and the Asbystae, and they negociated 
 and hesitated till the time for action was lost ; 
 for the Egyptian prince having fixed the 
 tribute, and secured the obedience of the Gili- 
 gammae, advanced with the utmost speed 
 against the next tribe, whose consultation with 
 some deputies from the Auschisae was suddenly 
 interrupted by the herald and haughty mandate 
 of Egypt. They were struck with the utmost 
 consternation 3 ““yet the command was disre- 
 garded, and their youth flew to arms. But the 
 issue of a battle with disciplined and veteran 
 
 * The wind often raises the sands of the African de- 
 serts into vast billows which have sometimes over- 
 whelmed whole caravans. 
 
226 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 troops, could not be doubtful ; their chariots,* 
 in which they placed their principal dependance, 
 were quickly disordered, and those who escaped 
 westward to the Auschisee, taught that nation 
 to deplore the jealousy and delay, which had 
 deprived them of an active confederate. Yet 
 the same irresolution still pervaded their coun- 
 cils, till the appearance of the Egyptian herald 
 made their fears at once predominate; their 
 subjugation was sealed ; and the son of Moeris 
 saw himself conqueror of the four first nations 
 in his course. 
 
 The Nasamones who were the next tribe to 
 the west, heard with alarm of the rapid ad- 
 vance of Sesostris, which, however, they re- 
 solved in earnest to check, and accordingly 
 convened a council of the whole nation, in 
 which it was determined to choose some leader 
 of approved valour, who might direct the 
 combined force of the state. On proceeding 
 
 * The tribe of Lybians called Asbystse were much ad- 
 dicted to the use of chariots. — See the account of this 
 nation given by Herodotus in his Melpomene. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 227 
 
 to elect, three principal candidates appeared, 
 all of tried courage, and by whose ancestors 
 the Nasamones were accustomed to swear* 
 in their most solemn engagements. 
 
 Of these Moskar was at length fixed on, 
 who began immediately to levy troops, and at 
 the same time despatched a messenger to the 
 Egyptians, with these words : The Nasa- 
 
 mones counsel the Eastern t}Tant to advance 
 no farther, since the sands of the deserts have 
 no need to be whitened by the bones of 
 strangers.” 
 
 The poor physician happened to be in the 
 tent of his prince, when this message was 
 delivered ; and the colour of his visage cor- 
 responded strangely with the predicted hue of 
 the desert sands. Sesostris, however, returned 
 a haughty answer, and the Lybian was dis- 
 missed. Yet the spirit their embassy had 
 
 * The Nasamones were accustomed to swear by those 
 of their nation who were considered to have been the 
 most virtuous. — See an account of this and some other 
 interesting particulars of the same tribe in the Melo- 
 pomene of Herodotus. 
 
228 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 displayed, and the accounts he had heard of 
 their numbers and power made the Egyptian 
 conqueror contemplate the Nasamones with 
 some solicitude, and he agitated various modes 
 of circumventing them by artifice ; — and arrived 
 at the conclusion that a spy should be sent 
 among them who might ascertain the nature of 
 their resources, and be enabled, by insinuating 
 himself into their confidence, to aiford his 
 country the most important aid. The son of 
 Moeris, with the ardour and daring natural to 
 his disposition, was ready to undertake in 
 person this dangerous service ; a measure 
 which his foUo’wers, and especially Anisis 
 strenuously opposed. 
 
 Consider, great Prince,” said he, what it 
 is you meditate, and how many risks you will 
 incur. ^ What disguise can screen Sesostris 
 front observation ? That greatness of stature, 
 that lofty bearing must reveal you through 
 the darkest veil ; they will read in every turn 
 of yOur features, every cadence of your voice, 
 the invader of their territory ; then shall a 
 thousand daggers be unsheathed for your 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 229 
 
 d^ruction, a thousand javelins shall fly around 
 you, each thirsting for your blood. But why 
 must Egypt thus early bewail the fall of the 
 greatest of her sons ? There are many among 
 us capable of executing this commission, but 
 your equal will never arise ; be persuaded, 
 then, I entreat you, nor hasard the loss of 
 the splendour. Heaven has decreed to your 
 arms.” 
 
 Sesostris felt the force of these remon- 
 strances, and it was finally determined that 
 Anisis, whose address and knowledge of the 
 language qualified him in an eminent degree 
 for the proposed manoeuvre, should be in- 
 trusted with its execution ; and he accordingly 
 set ofi* with the utmost expedition for the 
 Nasamonian territory. 
 
 On reaching that state, he was struck with 
 the appearance every where presented, of a 
 resolution to resist with vigour ; various parties 
 some partially, some completely armed, were 
 moving in different directions ; one of which 
 soon observed and approached him. He was 
 thus immediately called upon to commence his 
 
230 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 intended line of stratagem, and he accordingly- 
 addressed the chief of the detachment in a 
 grave yet fluent discourse —his travels in the 
 early part of his hfe through Lybia, having 
 made him well acquainted with its idiom. 
 The purport of his speech was, that he was 
 come from the Egyptian camp, and was 
 desirous of being introduced to their first 
 commander, for whom he had important in- 
 formation. They immediately acceded to his 
 request, and in a few hours he arrived at the 
 principal post of the Lybians, and was con- 
 ducted to the tent of Moskar. 
 
 It was now evening, and the chieftain was 
 engaged at the banquet ; but the tidings that 
 a stranger from the enemy solicited an audience 
 met with instant attention, and Moskar, rising 
 from the table, withdrew to an adjoining tent, — 
 to which Anisis was, at the same time, admit- 
 ted. The Egyptian deputy was the first to 
 break silence. 
 
 It is unnecessary to enlarge to you, great 
 Prince, on the power of our leader, Sesostris ; 
 such has been his valour and celerity, — his 
 
IN ARABIA 
 
 231 
 
 \ 
 
 conduct and good fortune, that he has already 
 subjected four of your tribes, without having 
 to mourn over a hundred followers ; nor wiU 
 many days elapse ere you wiU be summoned 
 to yield, or contend with a most potent foe. 
 Why should I speak of his actions in Arabia, 
 or of the armies which there feU before his 
 prowess ? It may be sufficient to say that 
 Eg}7pt, long accustomed to splendour, views 
 him with astonishment, and that his father, 
 Moeris — the greatest of her monarchs — is re- 
 solved to assist him with the treasure of the 
 wealthiest of realms. But you may answer; — 
 ‘ Is he not still mortal ? is not his body vul- 
 nerable, and his fortune subject to change?’ 
 Doubtless, mighty chief, Sesostris is mortal ; 
 that gigantic form shaU one day recline beneath 
 the ray of the sepulchral lamp;* that arm, 
 
 * Egyptian science, ever on the stretch to honour the 
 dead, and beautify their last mansion, discovered a com- 
 pound, which, when once ignited, burned for an incredi- 
 ble time, and was thus peculiarly fitted to illuminate 
 their vast sepulchral excavations. — See the B-omance of 
 Raraeses. 
 
232 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 which can wield a sword with a force no mail 
 can resist, shall be restrained by the bandages * 
 of the tomb ; and that eye, whose flash in the 
 day of battle is intolerable to his enemies, 
 shall be extinguished in the apathy of oblivion. 
 Yet listen, Lybian, to a tremendous secret ; 
 it is the breath of Heaven that impels our 
 leader, and fans his ardour into an irresistible 
 fire. You haply despise, as false, his boast of 
 a favouring oracle 5 but be not deceived ; — 
 that asseveration is not groundless, — a voice 
 has spoken from the unerring shrine of Helio- 
 polis, a city in Egypt, declaring him the con- 
 queror of the world. Yet there is one cir- 
 cumstance about the response of which our 
 Prince is ignorant ; or he would not have in- 
 censed me by refusing me the command of a 
 certain division of his forces ; for the gods 
 have predicted that, if either of his three 
 
 * The bandages with which their mummies were 
 wrapped, constituted a prominent feature in the embalm- 
 ing of the ancient Egyptians. — See a description of the 
 three modes of embalming in the Euterpe of Herodotus. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 233 
 
 principal followers desert him, the nation to 
 which he betakes himself shall prevail over 
 the Egyptian arms. This benefit I now prof- 
 fer to you, and, if you reject it, shall pass to 
 some other of your tribes; and our haughty 
 prince shall feel that he is not invincible. I do 
 not, however, expect you to beheve what I 
 say, unsupported by proof : choose me a 
 small band of Nasamones, and, within two 
 days, I engage to bring you into contact with 
 a party of my countrymen ; for aU the plans of 
 our leader are well known to me, and if in this 
 engagement we are defeated, even though in- 
 ferior in numbers to the Egyptians, may my 
 body be devoted to death, and my name to 
 infamy. But if, at the first shock, your ene- 
 mies give way, if the proud Sesostris (for I 
 know he will himself command the detach- 
 ment) be seized with amazement and panic, 
 then let me obtain your confidence, and in- 
 fluence your counsels. Yet it is possible you 
 wiU not even trust me so far ; if so, I quit 
 your nation ; if otherwise, drink this water,"’ 
 He concluded, and taking, at the same time. 
 
234 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 some of that fluid from a vessel, that stood 
 near, in the hollow of his hand,* offered it to 
 the Lybian. 
 
 Moskar had listened, with attention and 
 astonishment, to the communication of the 
 stranger ; he inwardly trembled as the terrible 
 attributes of the Egyptian prince were enu- 
 merated, and the idea that the storm, which 
 threatened his nation, was not to be averted, 
 since it was urged forward by the breath of 
 destiny, pressed like ice upon his heart. 
 To this horror succeeded a faint hope, in- 
 spired by the latter part of the speech ; 
 at the same time he considered that all, or a 
 part of this statement might be a fraud, which 
 notion, however, died away in spite of himself, 
 as he marked the apparent sincerity of the 
 speaker. Finally, he weighed the greatness of 
 the prize against the little that would be 
 
 * The faith of the Nasamonians was plighted by the 
 engaging parties drinking some water from each others 
 hand ; and, if this could not be had, sand might be used 
 instead, the parties touching it with their tongue. — See 
 Herodotus* Melopomene. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 235 
 
 risked ; and, resolving at length to trust him to 
 the extent he required, drank the water, and, 
 dipping his own hand into the same vessel, 
 presented it to Anisis, who received it with 
 eagerness mixed with grace, and immediately 
 followed Moskar to the banquet. 
 
 Early the next day, the Egyptian surveyed 
 such of the troops as were then at their chief 
 station, from which he selected five hundred 
 men, equipped either to advance or retreut with 
 speed, who immediately marched under his 
 direction; while the Nasamonian leader him- 
 self accompanied him at his request. 
 
 For consider,” urged Anisis, ^^how far 
 better it will be, great Moskar, that vourself 
 should witness my fidehty, and, at the same 
 time, shew your countrymen you confide in 
 the Eastern stranger. Besides,” he continued, 
 should I lead forth your troops to success 
 and glory, I might incur the envy of your 
 cliiefs ; but when they behold their countiy’- 
 man a conqueror, jealousy wiU sleep ; and I 
 shall still be allowed to suggest the best mode 
 of carrying on the war.” 
 
236 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Moskar listened with pleasure to this pro- 
 posal ; yet some of his officers represented to 
 him how dangerous it would be to trust his 
 person so near a powerful enemy in the hands 
 of a foreign adventurer, who had already con- 
 demned himself of breaking his faith with his 
 own nation, while the Nasamones had no 
 other pledge for his fidelity to them than mere 
 words. The suggestions, however, of Anisis 
 finally prevailed, and they led the forces in 
 concert. 
 
 In the meantime, the son of Moeris, ac- 
 cording to the arrangements of his crafty mi- 
 nister, detached two parties from his army, one 
 of which he led in person, and gave the other 
 to Pakaris, who by the zeal, activity, and 
 talent he had displayed in Arabia, had won 
 the peculiar esteem and confidence of his 
 prince. To him, therefore, he communicated 
 the proposed plan of operations; and they 
 marched out with their respective troops, a 
 little beyond the frontier of the Auschisee, 
 each to the post fixed on by Anisis. And 
 now the second sun, since the resolution 
 
IN ARABIA. 237 
 
 adopted by Moskar, was beginning to decbne^ 
 when Anisis suddenly exclained ;■ — 
 
 Lybians, prepare yourselves ; the Egyptians 
 approach ; — I know that standard which waves 
 in the distance ; — Sesostris himself leads yon- 
 der band.” 
 
 By this time the advancing enemy became 
 \dsible to the Nasamones ; and an involuntary 
 yet irresistible fear began to invade their 
 hearts, on seeing themselves so soon about to 
 be confronted with a prince, of whom they 
 had heard such terrible accounts. The confi- 
 dence, however, apparent in the countenance 
 of their chief revived, in a great measure, 
 the courage of his followers, and they im- 
 mediately formed for battle. 
 
 At the same time the Egyptians, who had 
 in their turn descried the Nasamones, now 
 came on, ready for combat; and Sesostris, 
 on beholding Anisis among the Lybians, 
 feigned astonishment and rage in every turn 
 of his features, — every gesture of his body ; 
 which dissimulation was admirably copied by 
 his troops, till Moskar, in the height of his 
 
238 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 congratulations, said to those immediately 
 around him : 
 
 He must be true ; therefore advance mth- 
 out fear/' 
 
 The battle word was now given on both 
 sides, when the Egyptians, who had charged 
 with boldness, appeared suddenly broken and 
 panic struck : many of them threw down their 
 arms and fled with precipitation, while the rest 
 seized the son of Moeris (who stood to all 
 appearance amazed and confounded at his 
 change of fortune,) and forcing him from the 
 field, hurried after their companions. The 
 Lybians eagerly pursued them, but their loss 
 was slight, since they soon reached a line of 
 chariots drawn up on purpose in the vicinity, 
 to which were harnessed horses of great 
 strength and swiftness. These, together with 
 the cars had been furnished in great numbers 
 by the Asbystse, and they soon bore the 
 Egyptians out of reach of the Nasamones. 
 
 Few of the enemy had fallen in this battle, 
 but their defeat appeared unequivocal to the 
 Lybians, who, as they collected the arms which 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 239 
 
 here and there strewed the field, felt their 
 spirits rise, as much as they had formerly been 
 depressed ; while their chieftain was at a loss 
 for language, capable of expressing to Anisis 
 the joy he felt. 
 
 Sesostris, the hitherto imfincible Sesostris, 
 had retired before him : the tide of destiny 
 had turned, and fear at once gave way to 
 confident expectation of success. By this 
 time the day was within an hour of closing, 
 when some Nasamonians, who had been en- 
 gaged in a hot pursuit of the enemy, suddenly 
 returned, and while, yet at some distance, 
 shouted to their countrymen that more Egyp- 
 tians were advancing upon them, and that they 
 must prepare for a desperate conflict, or a 
 rapid retreat, as the body of troops they had 
 descried was more numerous than that which 
 had already been routed. 
 
 Moskar was somewhat perplexed at this 
 intelligence, but Anisis hastened to dispel his 
 anxiet}’^, and replied : It is Pakaris, I know 
 
 it well ; all the plans of the haughty Prince of 
 Egypt are open to my view ; rush on, great 
 
240 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Lybian, your foes shall flee before you, though 
 they more than double your numbers, since 
 the mandate of the immortal gods is ever 
 irresistible.’* 
 
 Animated by these exhortations, Moskar 
 again drew up his troops in order of battle, 
 while the certainty of past, was in each breast 
 an earnest of future victory. Nor were they 
 kept long in suspense, for Pakaris soon ap- 
 peared with a detachment more powerful than 
 the foregoing; and after the same dissimulation 
 had been practised by Anisis and his country- 
 men, and the same rancour mutually evinced 
 by them as before, the signal for battle was 
 given on both sides, the Lybian watchword 
 being “ Fate is victorious.” 
 
 Nor did the event falsify their hopes, for the 
 Egyptians fled at the first shock, and Moskar 
 observed scoffingly of Pakaris, that he doubted 
 not that officer thought the general should be 
 first in every thing, since he saw him set the 
 example of flight. Yet this apparent defeat 
 cost Sesostris as few lives as the former, for 
 chariots had also been placed ready by Pakaris 
 

 
 IN ARABIA. 241 
 
 with fresh horses, in which he and his forces 
 easily fled to the territory of the Auschisee, 
 there to rejoin their prince, and congratulate 
 each other that their artifice had thus far 
 succeeded. 
 
 The exultation of Moskar was by this time 
 unbounded, and the credit and influence of 
 Anisis firmly established. His voice now 
 directed all the Lybian councils, and it was 
 resolved at his suggestion to return the next 
 day to the Nasamonian territory, in order to 
 complete the levies and other arrangements 
 for future opposition. Yet ere he departed, 
 the emissary of Sesostris deposited in a place 
 previously fixed on by both, a roll of papyrus 
 containing these words - : — “ My power over 
 the Lybians is now absolute ; their movements 
 hang upon my shghtest word ; let the mighty 
 son of Moeris within three days lead forth his 
 whole army towards the country of the Nasa- 
 mones, and halt at the salt-spring, midway 
 between their' frontier and that of the 
 Auschisie. There let him wait till the sun 
 of the fourth day shall rise and set, by which 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 M 
 
242 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 time I will cause the Lybians to encamp 
 within two hours’ march of the Egyptians ; 
 then let Sesostris move directly forward one 
 hour before midnight^ and he will easily over- 
 whelm the camp of Moskar.” 
 
 To this scroll was appended a seal, impressed 
 with the sacred aspic,* the hieroglyphic of 
 Anisis shewing that he had successfully en- 
 countered the trials of initiation, around 
 which emblem appeared his name, elaborately 
 represented by appropriate figures.f This 
 
 * This animal was held sacred in Egypt, and was 
 worn by those who had been initiated into the mysteries. 
 See the Romance of Rameses. 
 
 t Modern research has arrived at the conclusion, that 
 besides the purely symbolical hieroglyphics, there was 
 another sort used in Egypt, composing an alphabet with 
 which the proper names at least seem always to have 
 been written. This alphabet appears to be constituted 
 from representations of animals, &c., each object being 
 put for the letter which was the initial of its name, as if 
 in our language a tree should be made to represent the 
 letter T, a man M, &c.— See a general sketch of the 
 hieroglyphics in the preliminary observations in the 
 second volume of Heeren’s Researches. 
 
 1 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 243 
 
 document was accordingly read by the son 
 of Moeris, who prepared to act in pursuance 
 of its directions. 
 
 Meanwhile morning dawned, and the Nasa- 
 mones retired towards their own country, 
 bearing in their hands the spoils of the enemy, 
 and in their hearts the expectation of future 
 triumphs. But there was one breast in which 
 happiness had no place, since it was tormented 
 by envy against the Egyptian stranger. 
 
 Ever since Anisis had engaged himself to 
 Moskar, Aimak, the eldest of his sons, had con- 
 sidered him as a rival, and each success which 
 had subsequently crowned his country, had only 
 served to increase his rancour. He resolved, 
 if possible, to ruin him, and for this purpose 
 he endeavoured to rouse the jealousy and fears 
 of his father, at the same time that he strove 
 to insinuate himself into the confidence of the 
 emissary of Sesostris, hoping in an unguarded 
 moment to elicit something to his detriment. 
 But the firm reliance placed by Moskar on his 
 new confederate, and the courtesy yet distance, 
 that marked the communications of Anisis 
 
 M 2 
 
244 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 with Aimak, had rendered the alarms ad- 
 dressed to his father, and the flattery employed 
 towards the Egyptian equally inefficient, until 
 he' suddenly conceived a plan by which he 
 hoped to surpass Anisis in favour, by eclipsing 
 his services, and conferring a most important 
 benefit on his country. 
 
 The project aimed at, was no less than the cap- 
 ture of Sesostris himself ; — and bold as it was, 
 the means of executing it instantly suggested 
 themselves. He had in his conversations with 
 Anisis made frequent enquiries about every 
 thing pecxiliar to Egypt ; their domestic life, 
 buildings, modes of dress, &c., and had scru- 
 tinized attentively every particular which dis- 
 tinguished the costume of his father’s new 
 ally. One of these was a ring, bearing the 
 seal, already described, and this having at- 
 tracted his especial investigation, he had learned 
 that by impressing any written document, by 
 means of clay or wax, with that or a similar 
 instrument, it was made known that such 
 writing had received the sanction of the owner 
 of that seal. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 245 
 
 All this had passed two days since, and 
 though forgotten by the Eg^^ptian now afforded 
 the Nasamonian his principal hope of success 
 in the intended scheme. He had observed 
 that Anisis, when preparing to practise throw- 
 ing the javelin with the Lybians (which had 
 been his constant custom during his residence 
 among them,) always took off his ring, which 
 he generally wore on his right hand, and 
 deposited it in a small casket, which he after- 
 wards secured by putting in motion a hidden 
 spring. By nice observation he discovered the 
 mode of shutting the case, and imagining that 
 an action in a contrary direction would open 
 it, he tried the experiment when the Egyptian 
 was practising as usual, and to his infinite 
 satisfaction he unclosed the casket, and pos- 
 sessed himself of the important seal, armed 
 with which all-powerful talisman he sought his 
 father, having first again shut the case. He 
 found Moskar among his officers taking some 
 refreshment, after the exercise of the day ; 
 the same on which the Nasamones again 
 reached their principal encampment from the 
 
246 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 two successful encounters with the enemy. 
 Perceiving Anisis was not present, he requested 
 Moskar for permission to select two hundred 
 horsemen, saying, that he wished to explore 
 the tract of country between them and the 
 Auschisse, and if possible, approach so near 
 the latter as to observe the motions of the 
 foe. His father yielded without hesitation, 
 only recommending him, not to be too ad- 
 venturous, but to temper ardour with pru- 
 dence. 
 
 Evening was now far advanced, but Aimak 
 full of his enterprize, and dreading the inter- 
 ference of his Egyptian rival resolved not to 
 waste a moment, and accordingly swept over 
 the desert with his detachment, with the 
 utmost speed guided by the stars, and his 
 knowledge of the ground he was traversing, 
 till a little before morning he arrived within 
 a very short distance of the Auschisian ter- 
 ritory. Here he left his followers, placing 
 them in ambuscade behind a hill in the 
 vicinity, and rode forward alone into the 
 country of the above mentioned tribe. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 247 
 
 He enquired of the first person he met, if 
 he could guide him to the Egyptian prince. 
 The individual addressed, who was a Lybian. 
 answered in the afl&rmative, as he was one of 
 the interpreters in his employment. They 
 accordingly commenced their route, but had 
 not proceeded far, when they met a party of 
 Egyptian horse, whose leader happening to be 
 Pakaris, was, of course known to the inter- 
 preter, who immediately introduced the son of 
 the Nasamonian chief to the Egyptian officer, 
 as a person desiring a conference with Sesos- 
 tris. 
 
 Thus called on to commence his design, the 
 Lybian now addressed Pakaris, who gave him 
 to understand he had some acquaintance with 
 his language. 
 
 I am,’’ he said, “ the chosen and confi- 
 dential attendant of your countryman Anisis, 
 from whom I bear important communications,” 
 at the same time shewing the ring which 
 carried instant conviction to the mind of 
 Pakaris, who replied, That his prince was 
 
248 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 not far distant, and that he would immediately 
 conduct him to his presence/" 
 
 In half an hour he reached the destined 
 spot, and being introduced to the son of 
 Moeris, he requested they might be alone, and 
 all except Pakaris and Menros having with- 
 drawn, spoke as follows : — 
 
 I am, great Prince, a Lybian, the chosen 
 attendant of Anisis, whose desertion of you 
 has already produced such important effects. 
 But though the contemplation of future crime 
 may be endured without remorse, its retrospect 
 must awaken horror in all but the most 
 abandoned breast, and the consciousness of 
 having betrayed his country, already tortures 
 the heart of him who was once your follower. 
 He now wishes for a reconciliation, which, 
 if you will grant, he entreats you to return 
 with me to meet him midway between this 
 nation and that of the Nasamones, where he 
 awaits you, unknown to all but myself. He 
 bid me likewise tell you, a change of circum- 
 stances requires a change of operation, and 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 249 
 
 commanded me withal to shew you this 
 trinket^ (displaying the ring as he spoke) which 
 he always wore on his right hand, and which 
 he said would convince you of his sincerity, 
 and obtain credit for me.’" 
 
 Sesostris hstened with some astonishment 
 to his speech, but the sight of his minister’s 
 seal operated with him as irresistibly as with 
 Pakaris, while his pretended desire of a recon- 
 cihation, he instantly conceived to be the 
 method adopted by his emissary for making 
 some new arrangement, at the same time that 
 he thus veiled the true state of things from 
 his Lybian attendant. These considerations 
 determined him with the approbation of 
 Menros and Pakaris to go wdth the Nasa- 
 monian, attended by the latter officer and 
 one other follower. They set off at full speed, 
 while Aimak scarcely beheved the success of 
 his own artifice. 
 
 They soon arrived on the frontier of the 
 Auschisae, and in two hours more having 
 reached the ambuscade, the signal agreed on 
 was made by the son of Moskar, and Sesostris 
 
 M 
 
250 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 was instantly surrounded by the Lybian horse- 
 men. He now perceived he had been be- 
 trayed, when it was too late to avert the 
 treachery, but courage was inseparable from 
 his existence, and the most appalling danger 
 his proper element. He therefore drew his 
 sword, and endeavoured to break through the 
 armed circle, at the same time exclaiming. 
 Fly Pakaris, and tell my Egyptians their 
 prince has been deceived, though I still acquit 
 Anisis. Act therefore with the army as I 
 intended to do, and remember that the voice 
 of destiny cannot speak falsehoods.’’ 
 
 The number of his foes might reasonably 
 banish every hope of escape, yet the Lybians 
 shrank before a warrior, whose eyes shot living 
 fire, and whose arm carried death with every 
 stroke, and the prowess of the Egyptian 
 prince might have prevailed, had not Aimak 
 mortally wounded his horse with a javelin, 
 who, falling beneath his rider, the son of the 
 Nasamonian chief beheld with delight his 
 great enemy overpowered and taken. 
 
 Pakaris had fled, solely however to obey his 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 251 
 
 prince's mandate, but the other foUower was 
 slain. The Lybians regretted that their eager- 
 ness to secure the chief prize had enabled one 
 of the enemy to make good his retreat, yet 
 Aimak saw with transport his principal object 
 achieved, and mounting his captive on a horse, 
 belonging to one of the fallen Nasamonians. 
 and having firmly secured him to two Lybians 
 who rode on each side, returned with the 
 utmost despatch to his own nation. 
 
 In the mean time Anisis was totally uncon- 
 scious of the coming storm ; he had, indeed, 
 missed and enquired for the son of Moskar, 
 nor was he entirely without apprehension, 
 however undefined, on hearing of his sudden 
 excursion. He trusted, nevertheless, that the 
 vigilance of his prince, and the weakness of 
 the Nasamonian force would prevent the 
 Egyptians from sustaining any material loss, 
 and he prepared for the execution of his 
 project arranged with Sesostris. 
 
 It was now the evening of the day after 
 Aimak left his father, who, according to the 
 advice of Anisis, had taken the resolution of 
 
252 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 marching with his whole power towards the 
 territory of the Auschisae, the Egyptian having 
 pretended he would put into his hands the 
 army of the eastern conqueror. His troops 
 had therefore been summoned to the principal 
 encampment, and their chief assisted by 
 Anisis, was reviewing them as they assembled, 
 when on a sudden, shouts of triumph were 
 heard in the distance, and the next moment 
 a dense cloud of dust was soon followed by 
 the trampling of horses, and Moskar ex- 
 claimed, It is my son, and he has been 
 successful, I should distinguish that voice 
 though heard amid the acclamations of thou- 
 sands.” 
 
 He was not mistaken, but he scarcely 
 believed his senses, when Aimak cried out as 
 he approached him : 
 
 The eastern tyrant is terrible no more, — 
 the chains of Lybia are for ever broken ; 
 Sesostris is taken, we have brought him cap- 
 tive from the very centre of his power.” 
 
 With these words he pointed at the Egyp- 
 tian prince, secured as above described, and 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 253 
 
 who, even in that low condition of his fortune, 
 still looked like the favourite of destiny the 
 fated conqueror of earth, while the Nasamonian 
 chief, though rejoicing at the vastness of his 
 success, trembled involuntarily at the presence 
 of his unarmed enemy, and shrank from the 
 tremendous gaze of his captive. But no lan- 
 guage can paint the sickness of heart, the 
 coldness of the despair which now crept over 
 the breast of Anisis. 
 
 When he heard Aimak’s first words, his 
 brain seemed to reel, yet he resolved not to 
 believe their import, and even when the tall 
 form of their prince revealed their reality, he 
 placed his hand before his eyes, and wildly 
 muttered, They cannot have taken him, — it 
 must be a phantom and then, in order to 
 avoid meeting his glance and that of Aimak, 
 glided unperceived from the assembly, his 
 veins throbbing with an instantaneous fever, 
 and reason tottering on her throne. 
 
 The son of Moskar was now greeted by his 
 father and his followers, with all the con- 
 gratulations which the greatness of his services 
 
254 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 deserved, and a thousand questions as to how 
 they had been achieved. To these he only 
 gave a general answer, concealing as yet the 
 story of the ring, but, in order not to lose 
 the opportunity now afforded him of rivalhng 
 Anisis, he began to insist on taking an active 
 share in the Lybian councils, since his late 
 exploit had changed the face of affairs, and 
 demanded other measures, rendering the 
 Egyptian deserter, as he now called him, far 
 less, if at all necessary to the Nasamones, and 
 observing that these opinions were counte- 
 nanced by such of the chiefs as were present, 
 and not at once discouraged by his father, he 
 ventured another step, and began to breathe a 
 suspicion of the sincerity of Anisis. He sug- 
 gested that he ought to have been present to 
 share their triumph, if he were indeed inter- 
 ested in their final success. 
 
 I watched him,’’ he continued, “ when he 
 imagined no eye was upon him, and observed 
 his agitation as he surveyed for a moment our 
 important captive. If he were sincere, would he 
 not hasten to partake our joy 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 255 
 
 He paused in expectation of an answer that 
 might accord with his own sentiments, but the 
 memory of two victories gained under the 
 direction of the Egyptian, was stiU fresh on 
 the minds of the Lybians. Moskar waved his 
 hand in indignation, and a murmur of dissent 
 raised by the subordinate chiefs warned Aimak 
 that he had not yet ruined the reputation of 
 Anisis. 
 
 By this time that unhappy follower of Sesos- 
 tris had in some degree recovered his self- 
 possession, and considering that the imminent 
 peril in which his prince was placed, demanded 
 all his subtlety and every exertion, he hastened 
 to the tent of Moskar, and there feigned such 
 joy at the capture of the son of Moeris, as 
 confirmed the Nasamonian chief in the opinion 
 of his fidehty, and seemed to display the 
 weakness of Aimak's suggestions. He now 
 requested that himself might be allowed to 
 guard the important prize during the night, 
 to which Moskar assented ; but afterwards 
 yielded to the sohcitations of Aimak, and 
 allowed him to take part in this office. To 
 
256 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 this arrangement Anisis was obliged to yield 
 with the best grace he could, though he 
 inwardly detested so unwelcome an intruder, 
 and as it was already late, repaired to the tent 
 allotted to Sesostris, accompanied by his ill- 
 suited companion. 
 
 The meeting of the prince and his emissary 
 was highly painful to both, since the abhorred 
 presence of Aimak precluded any explanation ; 
 but Anisis steadily kept up the character he 
 had assumed, and exclaimed, as he entered the 
 tent in the Lybian language, Such, haughty 
 Prince, is the fruit of your enmity to me, you 
 might have been a conqueror, who are now a 
 captive, and I only regret it was not my hand 
 that seized you.’' 
 
 These words were answered by Sesostris 
 with a look of ineffable scorn, so admirably 
 feigned, as to make the Egyptian tremble, lest 
 it should be real instead of affected, while the 
 former said in a voice whose tones of preter- 
 natural expressivement and terror appalled the 
 Lybian’s heart : — “ Perfidious, is it thus thou 
 hast twice betrayed thy prince ? Is the past 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 257 
 
 swept from thy memory, or the future from 
 thy contemplation ? Is gratitude banished 
 from the earth, or have the gods ceased to 
 inhabit the starry skies ? If not, tremble at 
 the doom that awaits thee ? 
 
 For thee, treacherous Lybian,*' he con- 
 tinued, turning to Ahnak, I regard thee but 
 as his tool. That subtle train of deception no 
 more originated in thyself, than did the seal 
 to which it chiefly owed its success. He gave 
 thee the one, and taught thee the other, thus 
 using as the instrument of his purposes that 
 ring whose figure is the sacred symbol of 
 •eternity, and which should have never been 
 employed but in the service of truth.” 
 
 Sesostris, while making these observations, 
 with regard to the seal, bent a look of intense 
 scrutiny on the countenance of Aimak, and 
 that of Anisis ; and his penetration accustomed 
 to read the feelings in the looks of men, 
 immediately inferred from the visible pertur- 
 bation of the former, and the unfeigned xm- 
 happiness and astonishment evinced by the 
 
258 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 latter, that Anisis was, after all innocent, and 
 had himself been deceived by some means, 
 hitherto unknown. 
 
 He therefore concluded in a more softened 
 manner ; The agency however of time is as 
 powerful as it is silent, and celestial justice 
 will at length determine who has been faithful 
 and who a traitor to Sesostris.’’ 
 
 Anisis was almost confounded at what he 
 had just heard ; he felt involuntarily for his 
 ring, and then abruptly leaving Aimak and 
 his prince, sought his own tent, and examined 
 the casket in which he kept the seal, wavering 
 between a suspicion, and an ideal impossibility* 
 that he had lost it. But no words can describe 
 his astonishment, on discovering that the case 
 was empty, especially as from its being closed 
 in the manner he had left it, and exhibiting no 
 marks of violence. It was evident that the 
 secret spring had by some means become 
 known. Returning therefore to the tent occu- 
 pied by Sesostris, he called Aimak without 
 entering, and being immediately joined by the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 259 
 
 latter, charged him plainly with a breach of 
 honour in having treacherously possessed him- 
 self of his ring. 
 
 Is it thus,” he said, “ ungrateful Lybian, 
 that you repay my services to your father and 
 your country ? Is it thus you recompense the 
 two triumphs with which I have crowned your 
 arms ? Nor can the plea of expediency avail 
 thee ? What, though thy fraud hath placed 
 the son of Moeris in our hands, so long as a 
 powerful army remains unsubdued. Will ven- 
 geance make their swords less keen, or their 
 arrows less fleet ? 
 
 “ Mark me, Lybian,” he continued, in a 
 deeply expressive tone, ‘‘ without me you 
 cannot conquer. I knew aU the inten- 
 tions of my prince, and had proposed to 
 Moskar to deliver his army into the power of 
 the Nasamones within four days after our last 
 expedition ; this purpose thou hast discon- 
 certed. Restore me, then, my seal, or I will 
 instantly discover thy practices to the chiefs ; 
 and if thou cross me farther, I swear by the 
 greatest of the Nasamonian ancestors, that the 
 
260 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 son of Moeris shall escape, though his form 
 were wrapt in a thousand chains, — while a 
 monument of whitened bones shall alone point 
 out to future ages the land once tenanted by 
 thy tribe/’ 
 
 Aimak was not wanting in courage, yet he 
 dreaded the exposure of what he felt to be 
 perfidy, even though that perfidy had been so 
 eminently successful. He therefore gave back 
 the ring on the spot, making a defence at the 
 same time for his conduct, insisting that he 
 had not opened the casket, but that one of his 
 attendants had found the ring by accident. 
 Anisis was convinced of the falsehood of these 
 statements, as he perfectly remembered placing 
 the seal in the usual receptacle ; yet having 
 now so far gained his point, as to have put 
 the crafty Lybian in his power, he pretended 
 to be satisfied once more, repeating his threats 
 in case of any farther opposition to his will. 
 
 They both now began to re-enter the tent, 
 when the Egyptian suddenly stopped, and ex- 
 claimed, — “ Some one calls Aimak, — J think it 
 was the voice of one of the chiefs, intending 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 261 
 
 doubtless^ to give you some directions re- 
 garding our prisoner ; hasten therefore to learn 
 tnem while I return to my post.” 
 
 A moment of secret conference with his 
 prince was thus allowed Anisis, of which he 
 eagerly availed himself, as catching his hand, 
 and pressing it to his bps, he said with a low 
 and rapid utterance, — I am not false to the 
 son of Moeris, but have been myself deceived, 
 yet aU is again in my power, — ^trust wholly 
 to me.” 
 
 Scarcely had he completed this hurried ex- 
 planation, and received an approving glance 
 from Sesostris, when Aimak again appeared, 
 saying that he had met vdth no one, and that 
 he thought Anisis had been mistaken. Some 
 refreshment was now brought in, and the 
 Eg}^tian, as he poured out for Sesostris a 
 goblet of palm wine, seemed to take an oppor- 
 tunity, while the latter chanced to avert his 
 head, of introducing into the liquor a portion 
 of a drug which he always carried with him, 
 whose narcotic elfect was so powerful as to 
 
262 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 resemble death ; and whispering to the Lybian 
 who watched him intently He drinks his own 
 destruction/’ presented it to his prince, who 
 forthwith drained the contents. 
 
 Anisis now rose from the table, and beckon- 
 ing the son of Moskar out of the tent, bid him 
 go and apprize his father that Sesostris had 
 taken poison, and might already be considered 
 dead ; then himself returning to the Prince, he 
 informed him how he had acted, saying he had 
 administered such a dose as was sufficient to 
 suspend all appearance of hfe, till late the 
 following night, by which time he would con- 
 trive to place him at liberty. They were now 
 rejoined by Aimak, and in a short time the 
 soporific beginning to operate, — the son of 
 Moeris stretched himself on a couch made of 
 soft mats, exquisitely worked, with which the 
 Nasamonian tents were furnished in more or 
 less profusion. In the space of another hour 
 he no longer seemed to exist, and Moskar, 
 with some of the inferior chiefs, having at the 
 request of Anisis, seen their enemy appa- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 263 
 
 rently , dead, all betook themselves for the 
 present to repose. 
 
 The next day the Egyptian obtained from 
 Moskar permission to inter Sesostris himself, 
 saying that certain funeral rites were observed 
 ^ which it was profane for strangers 
 to take any share, alleging that as his hand 
 had slain him, so none but he should perform 
 the last obsequies for one whom he had once 
 loved. 
 
 The voice of memory,” he continued, 
 ‘‘ calls to me from the past, and bids me 
 spread in the midst of solitude the bed of 
 death for the greatest of mortals.” 
 
 To this demand Aimak seemed inchned to 
 make some opposition, but Anisis whispered, 
 Remember the seal,” and his tongue was 
 silent while his heart was a prey to rage. 
 
 In the mean time day wore away, and at 
 sunset the Egyptian privately selecting the 
 fleetest horse he could obtain, on which he 
 rode himself, and attended by some Lybians 
 who conveyed the body of Sesostris in a litter, 
 proceeded to the frontier of the Nasamonian 
 
264 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 territory, and having gone a little way into the 
 desert lying between that tribe and the Aus- 
 chisse, he sent away the Lybians, detaining one 
 of their horses, and the time being near when 
 the prince was to awake, waited with intense 
 anxiety by his side. 
 
 It was now within an hour of midnight, 
 when the lethargy began to relax, and nature 
 re-asserting her command, Sesostris again 
 stood by his faithful follower. 
 
 Not a moment is to be lost, great leader,'’ 
 said Anisis, “ mount this steed, fly to our 
 countrymen, and encamp at the salt-spring; 
 thither will I lead the Lybians by to-morrow 
 night, and our plan shall yet take its course." 
 He said ; the son of Moeris mounted, and the 
 next day beheld him again at the head of his 
 victorious army, who received with acclamations 
 their imperishable commander. 
 
 In the mean time his crafty emissary had 
 returned the night before to the Nasamones 
 on the horse the attendants had left, sa)dng, 
 that he had slain his own as the Egyptian rites 
 demanded on the tomb of the prince, and 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 265 
 
 withal, shewed Moskar a lock of hair, which 
 he said he must ever preserve in memory of 
 his exploits. He now pretended that the 
 utmost celerity must be used, in order to fall 
 on the enemy, while their hearts were panic 
 struck at the loss of their leader, and having 
 completely established his influence, the Nasa- 
 monian chiefs, together with their followers, 
 who had already assembled as above-men- 
 tioned, mounted their horses, and encamped at 
 two hours’ distance from the salt-spring, the 
 night after the pretended interment of Sesos- 
 tris. 
 
 Anisis promised the next day to bring them 
 on the Egyptians, and bade them for the 
 present, rest in tranquiUity, that they might 
 be in full vigour to attack the foe. They 
 were well prepared to acquiesce in this 
 opinion, for joy relaxes the mind, and the 
 Lybians, wdth the exception of one or two 
 centinels, who watched or slept at the ex- 
 tremity of the camp, abandoned themselves^o 
 a repose from which many were destined never 
 to awake. 
 
 VOL. I. V 
 
266 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Sesostris anxiously observed the passing 
 moments, and marching from the salt-spring 
 (to which point he had drawn his army as 
 before concerted) fell on the Nasamones an 
 hour after midnight. Their encampment was 
 instantly a scene of blood and fire, and Moskar 
 was startled from his sleep by the crackling of 
 the burning tents, and the cry “ Destiny is 
 \fictorious.” 
 
 To grasp his weapons, and fall in the thickest 
 of the fray was the natural though useless 
 effort of a warrior. The victory of Egypt 
 could not be doubtful ; yet as the son of 
 Moeris afterwards viewed the wounds that dis- 
 figured the finely moulded form of the greatest 
 of the Nasamones, he reflected with a sigh on 
 the mutability of fortune, and perhaps trem- 
 bled at the thought that courage might be 
 undone by treachery. 
 
 Having thus subdued the next tribe in his 
 course, Sesostris swept rapidly onwards 
 towards the Atlantic ocean, while the nations 
 he encountered, either submitted without a 
 struggle, or vainly resisted his power. At 
 
IN ARABIA. 267 
 
 length he approached that vast extent of water 
 which was to terminate his career westward, 
 and it was with a feeling not unmixed with 
 regret, he saw from a distance the tossing of 
 the liquid world. He caused the camp to be 
 pitched a short distance from the shore, 
 whither he himself repaired, accompanied only 
 by a few attendants to gaze on the sublime 
 scene before him. 
 
 ‘"Tell me, my Anisis,^^ he said, “ thinkest 
 thou there are other nations beyond that briny 
 plain, who feel like us the ecstacy of pleasure 
 and the torture of sorrow 
 “ I do, great prince,"’ he repbed ; “ for I 
 behold yonder sun sinking to darkness as far 
 to the westward of us as w^hen we were in the 
 palaces of Thebes, pouring the same flood of 
 radiance over that extent of blue sterility 
 which then brightened the Lybian chain.” 
 
 “ Then,” answered Sesostris, must we 
 build a fleet, or my destiny will not be realized, 
 since no trophies of conquest can be reared by 
 mortals on the field of azure before us.” 
 
 As he spoke these words, the sun disap- 
 
 N 2 
 
26*8 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 peared, the sky at the same time becoming 
 slightly overcast, and he had scarcely returned 
 to the camp, when a tremendous storm of 
 wind and rain came on, accompanied by thun- 
 der and lightning. Many of the tents were 
 torn up, and great confusion for some time 
 prevailed, while the tempest was at its height j 
 and Menros told Pakaris he really was not 
 without apprehension that they who had passed 
 so many dangers, were fated after all to be 
 swept into the water, or burnt by the fire of 
 Heaven. 
 
 About midnight the storm abated, though 
 the thunder yet rolled at a distance, and the 
 lightning flashed at intervals, when the son of 
 Moeris, who had no desire to sleep, ascended a 
 rock in the immediate vicinity of the shore, 
 and contemplated with delight the ocean, still 
 agitated by the influence of the late hurricane, 
 like the human breast labouring beneath the 
 impetus of some violent emotion scarcely 
 hushed. 
 
 He returned at length to his couch, though 
 not to repose 3 for his mind was oppressed 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 269 
 
 with an undefined boding of evil as he lay 
 thus at the utmost verge of earth, and listened 
 to the mysterioui? blast — the eternal traveller 
 alike of land and sea. Nor was his presage 
 false, for early the next day messengers 
 arrived from Egypt, who informed him that 
 his father Moeris had been seized with a mortal 
 disorder, and that they feared he was no longer 
 in existence, though they had used the utmost 
 despatch in conveying the information. 
 
 Full of grief at this intelligence, Sesostris 
 instantly sat out on his return, but a vast 
 tract of country was to be traversed, ere he 
 could reach the valley of the Nile, and on 
 arriving at Thebes he learnt that his Sire was 
 already dead and embalmed. The garland of 
 conquest was thus steeped in tears, yet the 
 Egyptians could not but triumph in their ex- 
 ploits, and as they wept over the most virtuous 
 of monarchs, they remembered with joy that 
 his sceptre had passed to a son who seemed 
 desen^edly to have obtained the favour of the 
 gods. 
 
270 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS, 
 KING OF EGYPT, concluded. 
 
 On the death of his father, Sesostris saw 
 himself at the head of a great and united* 
 people. He remembered the promise contain- 
 ed in the oracle from Heliopolis ; and, when 
 he considered the various provisions made by 
 Moeris for its accomplishment, he felt as if the 
 caU of duty, as well as that of fame, demanded 
 the earnest prosecution of conquest. He, 
 therefore, summoned his warriors round him, 
 
 * It seems, at least, doubtful whether all Egypt was 
 united under one king, before the time of Sesostris. 
 Heeren, in his Researches, supports the opinion that 
 several dynasties existed together ; the more powerful 
 states occasionally swallowing up the weaker. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 271 
 
 and prepared to march southwards into Ethio- 
 pia; while two vast fleets, built, the one in the 
 Mediterranean^ the other in the Arabian gulf, 
 menaced Europe and Asia with slavery and 
 desolation. 
 
 But victories abroad may bring ruin on the 
 conquering state, if they are unaccompanied 
 by stability at home ; and the son of Moeris 
 before his departure, endeavoured to provide 
 for the happiness of his subjects and the 
 regularity of government during his absence. 
 He, accordingly, divided his kingdom into 
 thirty-six districts, and entrusted the whole 
 to the management of his brother — a man 
 of considerable talent, and who seemed, to 
 Sesostris, every way calculated to discharge the 
 important duties of vicegerent. 
 
 All preliminaries being at length arranged, 
 he left imperial Thebes early in spring, attend- 
 ed, as before, by Anisis, Pakaris, and Menros, 
 as his principal ministers. The banks of the 
 Nile were covered with veteran warriors, to 
 whom war was become a sport ; and the river 
 itself foamed beneath the keels of innumerable 
 
272 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 galleys, that attended the movements of the 
 mightiest of monarchs. The distance between 
 the most southern Egyptian frontier, and 
 Meroe,* the metropolis of Ethiopia, was con- 
 siderable ; yet reports of the extraordinary 
 success of Sesostris had penetrated to that 
 distant region, and had filled the queen f 
 Nitrennis with much solicitude. She remem- 
 bered the frequent hostilities,^ that had sub- 
 sisted between her nation and that of Egypt, 
 
 • Herodotus describes, at large, "the common route 
 from Elephantis, in upper Egypt, to Meroe, by land and 
 water. — See his Euterpe, chap. 29. where also Meroe 
 is called the metropolis of Ethiopia. 
 
 t The Ethiopian sceptre appears to have been occa- 
 sionally wielded by a female ; and, in many of the re- 
 presentations on Egyptian monuments, supposed to 
 allude to the triumphs of Sesostris, a female captive, 
 apparently of rank, is portrayed ; whose colour, dress, 
 etc., are, with much reason, considered Ethiopian. — See 
 the first volume of Heeren's Researches, in the chapter 
 entitled: **The state of Meroe and its monuments.** 
 
 X It appears, from history and the monuments, that 
 Egypt and Ethiopia were engaged in frequent wars. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 273 
 
 and thought it was highly probable so powerful 
 a king as the son of Moeris might employ his 
 present good fortune against her. She, there- 
 fore, collected the force of the state, and pre- 
 pared, in earnest, to resist the arms which had 
 already deprived Lyhia and Arabia of their 
 liberty. 
 
 In the meantime, Sesostris and his army 
 proceeded to Elephantis, where he resolved 
 to review his troops, and then advance, with 
 his wonted celerity, into the country of the 
 enemy. 
 
 Whither, in the name of Osiris, is our 
 restless prince conducting us now, Anisis 
 asked Menros, the first night they encamped 
 at Elephantis ; what sort of people are these 
 Ethiopians ? for, if I mistake not, you have, 
 in your thirst for travelling, \dsited them.’" 
 
 I have,” replied Anisis, “ and can, there- 
 fore, inform you that they differ greatly from 
 the Arabians and Lybians : if our elders tell 
 us truly, we ourselves are sprung from their 
 ancestors.* The present Ethiopians resemble 
 
 ♦ Modern observation seems to have established the 
 N 3 
 
274 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 US in many particulars/’ he continued, “ though 
 they have hitherto been considered more 
 warlike.” 
 
 ‘^The worst difference that could have ex- 
 isted,” said Menros ; yet let us hope the 
 valour and good fortune of our monarch will 
 stiU follow us.” 
 
 ^^May it be so !” rejoined Anisis, though 
 I could almost wish we might experience a 
 check ; lest Sesostris should have the madness 
 to proceed against that branch of the nation 
 who inhabit the shores of the southern sea,* 
 whose lives are said to be equal to those of 
 
 fact, that civilization flowed into JEgypt from the south ; 
 and that successive colonies from Meroe, following the 
 course of the Nile, established themselves among, and 
 gradually gained an ascendancy over, the native Egypt- 
 ians. — See this theory ably supported in Heeren’s 
 Researches. 
 
 * The Ethiopians called by Herodotus Macrobians, on 
 account of their long life, are supposed to have lived 
 beyond the Arabian gulf, near some part of the Indian 
 ocean.— See the first volume of Heeren’s researches, a 
 geographical survey of the Ethiopians. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 275 
 
 the gods, whose stature far exceeds our own, 
 and whose arrows perforate steel as easily and 
 instantaneously as the scorpion’s sting pierces 
 the skin.” 
 
 The physician, who had been growing gra- 
 dually paler, at the last words of Anisis, here 
 gave a groan, and then added : — 
 
 Heaven protect us from the Ethiopians 
 who inhabit the shores of the southern sea. I 
 would I had remained in obscurity, and that 
 I had never been distinguished by the court ; 
 since honour at home is accompanied by so 
 many perils abroad.” 
 
 ‘‘ Cheer up,” said Pakaris, who now entered 
 the apartment and guessed the subject of their 
 conversation. “ If I am rightly informed, 
 Nitrennis, the Ethiopian queen, is a lover of 
 talent, and will not fail, should we be over- 
 thrown and taken captives, to confer on you 
 the privilege of being her physician ; thus your 
 fame vdU spread far to the south, and you will 
 have the happiness of displaying your know- 
 ledge in embalming* the dead.” 
 
 * The art Of embalming seems to have been intimately 
 
276 * 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 “Alas ! answered Menros, “ I greatly fear 
 we shall become mummies ourselves/^ 
 
 “Sooner or later, assuredly/' replied Pa- 
 karis, “ but it matters not whether this happen 
 by an Ethiopian arrow or the stroke of 
 disease." 
 
 “And, at all events," resumed Anisis, “ we 
 will entreat the gods that the soul of Menros, 
 the physician, may not, after its three thou- 
 sand years' transmigration,* animate the body 
 of a warrior." 
 
 Both his friends smiled at this conclusion of 
 Anisis, and all three now talked on general 
 subjects. Two days were spent at Elephantis ; 
 
 connected with medicine ; perhaps different causes of 
 death required that different modes, of preserving the 
 dead should be adopted. 
 
 * Herodotus says that the doctrine of the immortality 
 of the soul was derived from the Egyptians ; and that 
 they believed in a perpetual transmigration for three 
 thousand years, at the end of which time the soul, 
 having successively animated every species of irrational 
 animals, again enters a human body. — See Herodotus* 
 Euterpe, chap. 123. 
 
IN ARABIA. 277 
 
 and, on the third, Sesostris proceeded in the 
 direction of Meroe. 
 
 The Ethiopians were informed of his ap- 
 proach ; and the appearance of a powerful 
 army, when he was yet some distance from the 
 place, warned him that his farther passage 
 must be bought with blood. The Egyptians 
 were, however, victorious, and Nitrennis, who 
 had been saved from the field with difficulty, 
 resolved to concentrate her remaining force for 
 the defence of the peninsular,=*^ on which her 
 capital stood. 
 
 Sesostris, who was well acquainted with the 
 defensible nature of Meroe, now encamped at 
 the distance of twenty miles from that district ; 
 to consider on the best manner of attacking it, 
 while Nitrennis resolved, if possible, to cir- 
 cumvent, by artifice, a foe who was every where 
 superior in the field. She, accordingly des- 
 patched a messenger to the Egyptian camp, 
 
 ^ * Meroe is almost encompassed by the Nile, at the 
 junction of another stream with that riVer.— See the 
 first volume of Heeren^s Researches 
 
278 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 who was immediately introduced to the son of 
 Moerisj and spoke as follows 
 
 ‘‘Nitrennis, our queen, thus addresses the 
 invincible Sesostris, — Why should farther hos- 
 tihty exist between us ; for my part, I sicken 
 at the remembrance of the animosity of our 
 fathers, and should myself have remained 
 contented with my own dominions. To thee, 
 however, it seemed otherwise ; thy own 
 happy land, with its bright skies and its 
 fertile soil could not suffice thee. Arabia 
 and Lybia have resisted thy arms in vain ; 
 yet thou art still unsatiated with success, and 
 burnest for fresh honours in these sequestered 
 regions : — ^be it so. I am aware that mortal 
 ambition knows not where to stop ; nor am I 
 ignorant of the oracle by which men say thou 
 art encouraged : yet why should farther blood- 
 shed stain my country. Perhaps the payment 
 of tribute will content thee ; if so, we may 
 again sheath our swords, since Nitrennis pre- 
 fers thus to profess herself conquered, to in- 
 volving her people in the calamities of war. 
 But, if thou desirest still greater triumph, — if 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 279 
 
 nothing but her captivity, and that of her two 
 sons, will allay thy thirst of power, the same 
 Nitrennis bids thee remember that there are 
 yet many warriors around her person, and that 
 the stream, whose arms embrace Meroe, may 
 yet run purple with the blood that mantles in 
 thine own veins. Be pacified then by our 
 submission : let us meet each other half way 
 between thy camp and my island, accompanied 
 by a hundred followers, respectively ; the 
 Ethiopians shall there spread a banquet for 
 themselves and thee, and there we will fix the 
 tribute and lay aside hostilities."' 
 
 Sesostris listened with much astonish- 
 ment to this address, which he proposed 
 to answer the following day; and, for the 
 present, ordered the ambassador to be en- 
 tertained with becoming hospitahty. It was 
 resolved in council, to accede to the 
 offers of the Ethiopian queen; and the am- 
 bassador was despatched the next morning 
 with a message to that efiect, appointing the 
 day after for the meeting of Sesostris and 
 Nitrennis. 
 
280 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 The queen of Meroe rejoiced that she had 
 so far succeeded, and commanded the feast to 
 be prepared in the most splendid manner. 
 The place fixed on for the banquet was a 
 spacious garden on the eastern bank of the 
 Nile, about ten miles from the peninsular, 
 where stood the Ethiopian capital. Many 
 grottos and other buildings consecrated to 
 pleasure embellished this retreat; and it 
 had been long a favourite resort with the mo- 
 narchs of Ethiopia. 
 
 In the meantime, the Egytians spoke of 
 nothing but the intended suspension of arms : 
 Menros could hardly contain his spirits on the 
 occasion ; but their exuberance was somewhat 
 checked by hearing Anisis say to Pakaris : — 
 
 ' I fear we shall not settle matters so easily 
 with the Ethiopians who dwell on the shores 
 of the southern sea, should our king attack 
 them also.'^ 
 
 The important morning at length dawned, 
 and Sesostris, attended by Anisis, proceeded 
 to the appointed place of meeting, leaving Pa- 
 karis in command, during his absence. Ni- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 281 
 
 trennis received them with the utmost courtesy, 
 and they were struck, not only with the splen- 
 dour of the preparations, but also with the 
 confidence and submission testified by the 
 queen. She was indeed surrounded, accord- 
 ing to agreement, by a hundred of her coun- 
 trymen ; but they were all unarmed, and the 
 Eg^^ptians, while they contemplated the mag- 
 nificent garden, and the scene of peacefuf fes- 
 tivity it contained, forgot that they were 
 gazing on the same nation who, a few days 
 since had striven for their destruction on a 
 bloody and doubtful field. 
 
 Sesostris had been carefully instructed in 
 the languages of those nations that more im- 
 mediately surrounded Egypt, and he now 
 proceeded to confer with Nitrennis, aided by 
 one of her principal followers^ on the nature 
 and greatness of the tribute she was to pay, 
 as an acknowledgment of his superiority. The 
 conference ended amid their mutual smiles ; 
 and the son of Moeris said aloud in Ethio- 
 pian : — 
 
 Since the voice of war is happily hushed 
 
282 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 between us, let us meet together at the ban- 
 quet, in sign of peace ; and let the venom of 
 animosity cease to rankle in our hearts/’ 
 
 These words were repeated by Anisis in 
 the Egyptian language; when, at the com- 
 mand of Sesostris, his countrymen laid aside 
 their weapons ; thus imitating the pacific ap- 
 pearance of the Ethiopians. Nitrennis mo- 
 tioned Sesostris to take an elevated seat, and 
 placed herself near him on a lower one. One 
 of the mightiest of her nobles was stationed 
 on the other side of the son of Moeris ; then 
 sat Anisis, placed thus near his monarch, and 
 Nitrennis, as being the most distinguished 
 follower of Sesostris. By this arrangement, 
 the leaders on both sides seemed implicitly to 
 confide in each other. Yet national hatred 
 cannot be dispelled by the professions of a 
 moment ; and it was observed that, either by 
 design or accident, the Ethiopians, in taking 
 their seats, did not mingle with the sons of 
 Mizraim. 
 
 The feast was spread in the open air, and all 
 were placed in order, so that every eye might 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 283 
 
 be regaled with the prospect of the majestic 
 Nile, that flowed in front, on which the sha- 
 dow of the regal palm reposed in unbroken 
 tranquillity. On the right hand, and on the 
 left, the various decorations of the retreat at- 
 tracted the admiration of the Egyptians. Here 
 elegant summer-houses and cool grottos fas- 
 cinated the imagination, and seemed to deride, 
 for ever, the approach of care ; and, at another 
 point, small obelisks* started up, — their sides 
 adorned wdth climbing plants, while from their 
 summits arose a stream of water as clear as 
 the crystal, and as cold as the snow of the 
 mountains. 
 
 The sun had passed the meridian, when the 
 tw^o nations commenced the repast ; and there 
 appeared to the followers of Sesostris to be a 
 pleasing resemblance between the hour when 
 the fervour of day was abating, and the mu- 
 tual demonstrations of peace by those who 
 
 • Egyptian architecture seems to have had its origin 
 in the south. — See Heeren^s description of the monu- 
 ments in the country above Egypt. 
 
284 
 
 THE STORY OF SE80STRIS 
 
 had, a short time since, been scorched by the 
 fever of unslaked revenge. They rejoiced in 
 their present advantage, and triumphed in 
 their passed success ; but they knew not that 
 their own blood would, in a few moments, be 
 mingled with the wine ; they knew not that, 
 in the thickly entangled trees behind them, 
 two hundred of the flower of Ethiopia’s 
 archers — whose aim could not err, were ready 
 to execute the perfidy of their queen. 
 
 In the meantime, Nitrennis watched her 
 opportunity, as Sesostris was in deep con- 
 versation with the noble who sat near 
 him ; when clapping her hands, which was 
 the appointed signal, a hundred bow-string^ 
 twanged at once, and the Egyptian king 
 saw himself deprived of a hundred of his 
 bravest followers ; while, together with Anisis, 
 he was instantly seized and bound. The voice 
 of vengeance was now raised too late in his 
 breast; for the Ethiopians, exulting in the 
 accomplishment of their plan, lost not a mo- 
 ment in securing him and his attendant on 
 horses ; and, setting off at full speed, entered 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 285 
 
 the peninsular of Meroe; and the next day 
 saw Sesostris and Anisis captives in the 
 capital of Nitrennis. 
 
 The happiness of mutually interchanging 
 their sentiments was denied them, as they 
 were placed in different and distant apartments 
 of a large building, strengthened by fortifica- 
 tions, and overlooking the Nile. 
 
 Pakaris and his countrymen had, as may 
 be imagined, in vain expected the return of 
 their monarch the evening before, and when 
 at midnight, that return was still delayed, 
 they were tortured with, a thousand perplexi- 
 ties. Pakaris, however, endeavoured to allay 
 the fears of the army, by arguments which had 
 no weight in his own mind, and having taken 
 ever)^ precaution against a surprise, rejoiced 
 when after a sleepless night the day at length 
 dawned. 
 
 Parties were now despatched in various 
 directions in search of their king, but their 
 efforts were fruitless, and their astonishment 
 and rage knew no bounds when in the evening, 
 an ambassador attended by a troop of Ethio- 
 
286 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS, 
 
 plans arrived at the camp, who being admitted 
 to Pakaris, delivered this message. 
 
 Our queen, Nitrennis, thus speaks. Se- 
 sostris is a destroyer of nations, but the gods 
 are just, and your leader is now our captive, 
 whose body, with that of his attendant shall 
 be thrown headless into the Nile, if you do 
 not immediately retire to your own territory 
 and consent to pay tribute to the Ethiopians, 
 giving hostages for the observance of this 
 condition. I allow one day for consideration, 
 but if the next sun after to-morrow beholds 
 you still wavering, I swear by the great divinity 
 of light and heat ! that though my capital 
 were invested by a thousand armies, Sesostris 
 dies. Yet, perhaps, continued the ambassa- 
 dor, ‘‘ you will not believe he has been van- 
 quished and taken prisoner. Behold then this 
 golden serpent,* with eyes of ruby, that 
 glittered on his dagger.'’ 
 
 * A small serpent forms part of the dress of the 
 Egyptian conqueror represented on the monuments, and 
 it is conceived to have been the symbol of royalty. — See 
 Heeren's Researches, vol. ii, chap, iii. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 287 
 
 The Egyptian saw, and shuddered at the 
 token, while the ambassador concluded : — 
 Such is my message ; rage will avail nothing, 
 I return to my queen, yield to her mandate 
 and save your king, whom your humility 
 only can preserve, since the submission of 
 Egypt can alone purchase his liberty.” 
 
 Having thus said, the Ethiopian disappeared 
 with his troop, leaving the followers of Se- 
 sostris to execrate the perfidy of Nitrennis, 
 and deplore their o^vn credulity. 
 
 While these things were passing, Anisis, 
 who from the moment of his capture, had 
 entertained a firm confidence that he should 
 by some means or other, set free both himself 
 and his monarch from their present misfor- 
 tunes, was pacing the apartment in which he 
 was confined, when the Ethiopian especially 
 appointed to guard him, brought him food. 
 There was something in his countenance that 
 forcibly arrested the Egyptian’s attention, for an 
 expression of deep sadness was on his features, 
 and as he placed some refreshment on the table 
 a half suppressed sigh escaped him. Anisis 
 
288 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 could no longer resist the curiosity he felt to 
 beeome more acquainted with his attendant, 
 and therefore said : 
 
 “ The heart of one in grief is indeed a 
 sanctuary into which a stranger can seldom 
 be admitted, yet the capricious will of events 
 brings us sometimes into collision with those 
 who though utterly unknown, are neverthe- 
 less bound to us by the mysterious tie of 
 sympathy, even as two shells that fit each 
 other may be brought together beneath the 
 sleepless ocean though the respective rocks 
 that sustained them may be remote. I am 
 indeed an Egyptian and thy captive, yet per- 
 mit me to enquire the cause of thy grief, since 
 I cannot behold a human breast labouring with 
 sorrow, and at the same time feel my own 
 serene*’’ 
 
 It is strange,” replied the Ethiopian, “ that 
 thou shouldst take an interest in my woes ; yet 
 thy humanity, perhaps, demands my confidence, 
 and there is something in thy manner which 
 irresistibly wins my regard. My name is 
 Emrid, and I have experienced many vicissi- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 289 
 
 tudes of fortune. I have at length, however, 
 risen to opulence and the favour of my queen, 
 who has committed to me and another officer, 
 the care of this fortress. But my prosperity 
 is vain, since my only son is at this moment 
 stretched on the bed of mortal disease.” 
 
 “ Alas !” answered Anisis, “ your calamity 
 is indeed deep, yet it may possibly admit of 
 a remedy : immortality is not granted to man, 
 but his wisdom may draw from the secret 
 essences of nature, virtues which can often 
 arrest the stroke of death, since in the same 
 elements there lurk the principles of health and 
 destruction. Partly from my own studies,” 
 he continued, “ and partly from my intimacy 
 with the greatest physician in Egypt, I have 
 acquired considerable knowledge of the healing 
 art, and if you would permit me to see vour 
 son-” 
 
 Here he was interrupted by the Ethiopian, 
 
 who said, as he seized him by the hand: 
 
 You shall behold him instantly, and may 
 the immortal powers aid your skill !” * 
 
 So saying, he led him from the apartment and 
 
290 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 after traversing several winding passages, Anisis 
 was introduced into a large chamber, where he 
 saw extended on a bed, and surrounded 
 by attendants, the son of Emrid' — on whose 
 youthful and finely moulded features the hue 
 of death seemed already spread. As they 
 entered, the father was addressed by one of 
 the assistants, who in a few broken sentences 
 whispered that all hope was extinguished. 
 A convulsion of agony passed over the coun- 
 tenance of Emrid, but Anisis, who had ap- 
 proached the bed and scanned attentively the 
 young Ethiopian, intreated his parent not yet 
 to despair. 
 
 The Egyptian always carried with him, 
 when at a distance from his own country, 
 certain powerful compounds, whose uses had 
 been discovered by the genius, and revealed 
 to him by the explanation of Menros ; and as 
 on his capture in the fatal garden he had only 
 been disarmed, he still retained these valuable 
 recipes, one of which he now prepared to 
 adfhinister to the son of Emrid. Every eye 
 was fixed on Anisis and scarcely a breath was 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 291 
 
 drawn, as from a golden phial he poured a 
 small draught down the throat of the appa- 
 rently inanimate patient, he then ' ordered 
 friction to be generally applied, and in about 
 ten minutes, the lethargy began to break, 
 and the light of existence again to dawn upon 
 his face. Anisis then gave some farther di- 
 rections, and in another hour Emrid saw with 
 rapture that the disorder of his son had taken 
 a, favourable turn^ and that his recovery ap- 
 peared no longer doubtful. 
 
 benevolent and wise Egyptian,” he said 
 on returning to* the apartment of Anisis, 
 how can I hope to discharge the immense 
 debt with which your invaluable services have 
 loaded me !— Tell me,” he continued, how 
 can Emrid the Ethiopian best shew his gra- 
 titude to his greatest benefactor ?” 
 
 Aid me in recovering my freedom,” 
 answered the Egyptian, and furnish me 
 with a bow, a quiver of arrows and an 
 Ethiopian dress; so shaU we be bound to 
 each other by ties of mutual gratitude ; and 
 I swear, by the divinities of Egypt, to protect 
 
 o 2 
 
292 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 your family should this capital be sacked by 
 my countrymen/’ 
 
 “ The boon you ask is full of danger,” 
 replied Emrid, “but the benefit you have 
 conferred forbids me to waver. Raise the 
 matting in that comer,” pointing as he spoke, 
 “ and you will perceive a small slit in the 
 floor ; insert this dagger and you will find a 
 board will open upon an unseen hinge— be- 
 neath this there is a sliding stone,* moveable 
 by applying your finger to a groove ; a flight 
 of steps will thus be discovered : descend them 
 and traverse the passage beneath, the opening 
 of which is beyond the fortress. I alone am 
 possessed of this secret,” he continued, “ it 
 was contrived by my father, who, in times of 
 much trouble and disturbance, held this building, 
 and by constracting this unknown egress, se- 
 cured to himself, at any time, a certain escape. 
 
 ♦ Such sliding stones are not uncommon in some 
 of the larger Egyptian buildings, the style of which, 
 appears derived from Meroe, the scene of this story. 
 There is a similar contrivance mentioned in the tale of 
 
 Raineses. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 293 
 
 I shall still have a difficult part to act, 
 but the call of gratitude is imperious — -you wiU 
 find the weapons without: do not, however, 
 forget to reclose the board and slide back the 
 stone by a corresponding groove on the other 
 side ; should you neglect these directions, we 
 may both be lost.” 
 
 With these words, Emrid left him. Anisis 
 waited till the evening, when refreshment was 
 again brought him, and taking as much food 
 as he could conveniently carry, he opened the 
 trap door, removed the stone and descended 
 the steps, carefully reclosing the entrance as 
 the Ethiopian had recommended. He passed 
 through the passage with ease — though it was 
 perfectly dark — till his path was interrupted by 
 a stone similar to that at the top of the flight 
 of steps, moveable also by a groove. The 
 next moment he emerged into open air and 
 on reclosing the egress, found himself on the 
 top of a bank in the midst of a thick plantation 
 of shrubs which effectually concealed the en- 
 trance of the passage, — a circumstance still 
 farther promoted by the exposed side of the 
 
294 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 last mentioned stone, exactly resembling the 
 wall on the bank. 
 
 He now looked around him, and discovered 
 the bow, quiver of arrows and Ethiopian dress, 
 of all which he possessed himself, having left 
 his own habit within the cave. Thus equipped, 
 he descended the bank which shelved towards 
 the Nile, where he was rejoiced to see a boat 
 fastened to one of the trees, either by accident, 
 or the contrivance of Emrid. The moon was 
 now risen, and Anisis passing slowly along 
 the river, bent upon contriving some scheme for 
 the liberation of his monarch, kept his eye fixed 
 on the fortress, eager to find out, if possible, 
 in what part of the edifice that monarch was 
 imprisoned. 
 
 Perhaps he no longer lives,’" he at length 
 exclaimed to himself— perhaps treachery has 
 already perfected its work. But can mortals 
 controul the gods ?— can the Oracle speak 
 falsely ?” 
 
 As these words escaped him, his attention 
 was arrested by a tall figure standing in the 
 moonlight before an open lattice, guarded by 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 295 
 
 strong bars, and he almost broke out into a 
 shout of joy on perceiving that it was Sesostris. 
 The part of the building he was now opposite, 
 occupied a small strip of land that jutted 
 into the river, and the vdndow above men- 
 tioned, hung directly over the water, at the 
 height of about thirty feet. 
 
 The first object of Anisis was to make him- 
 self known, and he therefore began to chant 
 in a low voice, the dirge of Maneros.* The 
 son of Moeris was gratefully awakened by the 
 strain from the unpleasing reflections in which 
 he was engaged, and he exclaimed : 
 
 Great Osiris, what do I hear! have the 
 gods, in pity for my grief, thrown around me 
 a rapturous delusion, or can it indeed be that 
 Anisis is at liberty ? Yonder floating form,” 
 he continued, ‘‘ greatly resembles my noble 
 follower, though his dress is Ethiopian.” 
 
 *■ Maneros, only son of Menes, the first king of Egypt, 
 died prematurely, and a dirge was composed for him, 
 which Herodotus says was the only song among the 
 Egyptians, and the same author declares, that this song 
 was called by Greeks the dirge of Linus. See Herodotus 
 chap. Ixxix. 
 
296 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 I am indeed your follower f said Anisis, 
 in an under tone, I have escaped from con- 
 finement, by what means I will hereafter relate, 
 and have already felt many hours of unhappi- 
 ness and sorrow more than compensated by this 
 bright moment. But rend asunder those 
 bars,” he continued in a scarcely audible voice, 
 “ plunge into the stream, and we shall both 
 be free.” 
 
 It is impossible,” rephed Sesostris, proving 
 his words at the same time, by vainly shaking 
 the firm iron work ; they open like a gate,” he 
 continued, “ for I saw the Ethiopian who 
 conducted me hither, close and fasten them 
 with a key.” 
 
 Then,” said Anisis, our great leader 
 shall still be at liberty.” 
 
 Hush !” cried Sesostris, I hear the ap- 
 proach of the officer who guards me.” 
 
 Draw him then by some means to the 
 window ; and when there, seize him.” 
 
 Sesostris could not comprehend the inten- 
 tion of his follower, but he had seen so many 
 proofs of his dexterity that he resolved to ac- 
 quiesce. Tarcon, the principal officer who 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 297 
 
 guarded the son of Moeris, was now in the 
 apartment, when the latter said to him; — 
 Methinks I see watch-fires yonder, they are, 
 perchance, my faithful Egyptians hastening to 
 avenge their monarch.’* 
 
 Tarcon, in astonishment, approached the 
 window and was instantly seized by the sinewy 
 arms of Sesostris, while at the same moment;^ 
 Anisis exclaimed : — Be silent, Ethiopian, 
 and open those bars, or thy heart shall in- 
 stantly be transfixed by this shaft which thou 
 seest is already fitted in the string ; — make not 
 the slightest resistance to my orders, for, I 
 warn thee, I never miss my aim.” 
 
 Tarcon’s bosom palpitated, yet he shuddered 
 at thus with his own hands, being instrumen- 
 tal to the escape of his important captive ; 
 he therefore made an effort to extricate himself 
 from the grasp of Sesostris, at the same time, 
 threatening the stranger in the boat with the 
 displeasure of Nitrennis. A smile of contempt 
 passed over the face of Anisis, who, without 
 deigning a reply, drew the bow to its full 
 extent, pointing the barb at the breast of 
 
298 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Tarcon saying at the same time : — Resolve 
 thyself, vain boaster ! — I give thee but this 
 moment ; choose life or death 
 
 At these words, the Ethiopian lost all 
 courage, and replied : — “ 1 will open the 
 iron work,’" drawing from his belt as he spoke 
 a key of peculiar form. 
 
 Execute my bidding speedily,” said the 
 persevering Anisis, for see, the arrow longs 
 to fly from the string.” 
 
 Tarcon instantly obeyed, for he was eager 
 to escape from his perilous situation, and 
 touching a spring, the gate opened outwards,, 
 when Sesostris, violently wresting from him 
 the key, quitted his hold of the Ethiopian and 
 plunged into the river. The next moment 
 he was in the boat, and as they rapidly crossed 
 to the other side, they congratulated each other 
 on the success of their project. 
 
 Anisis especially admired the foresight 
 which had prompted his monarch to possess 
 himself of the key, a circumstance which 
 would, they hoped, so implicate Tarcon in 
 the flight of Sesostris, as to make the Ethio- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 299 
 
 pian the less eager to divulge it. Nor were 
 they deceived, for no sooner was the officer 
 delivered from the apprehension of the un- 
 known archer, than he became a prey to 
 intense anxiety on another account, namely, 
 how he should explain the loss of his captive. 
 Full of this difficulty, he sought his friend 
 Emrid, and intreated his advice. 
 
 I know I may depend on your fidelity,” 
 he said, for our friendship has been ce- 
 mented by time ; I will not, therefore, conceal 
 from you an affair that has happened to me 
 this night, and which threatens to involve 
 me in ruin.” 
 
 He then related every thing connected with 
 the escape of Sesostris, and thus concluded : — 
 
 How shall I defend my conduct — ^how ac- 
 count for the loss of my key, which 
 will be an evidence to all, that it was my 
 own hand which freed him ? I might as 
 well have been shot through the heart 
 at once, when standing at the window, 
 as have to expect a similar, or worse 
 
300 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 death by order of the queen — alas, Emrid ! 
 how shall I act 
 
 If a similarity of destiny/’ replied Emrid, 
 “ strengthens friendship, ours may surely be- 
 come indissoluble, for it is not many hours 
 since I myself, yielding to a train of extraordi- 
 nary circumstances, became accessory to the 
 flight of the captive confided to my care, and 
 consequently involved in the same difficulty 
 with you. Be persuaded then, by me,” he 
 continued, let both of us act as if our pri- 
 soners were still in our custody, as no one but 
 ourselves is acquainted with what has hap- 
 pened, and I am farther of opinion, that since 
 the Egyptian king is fairly at liberty, we had 
 better make our own terms with him and admit 
 him into this fortress ; for, mark me, Tarcon, 
 the escape of Sesostris must become known 
 sooner or later. Nitrennis will then be fu- 
 rious, and it will be highly advantageous to 
 us to secure the success of the Egyptians, that 
 we may have a powerful friend to screen us 
 from her rage.” 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 301 
 
 “ Your reasoning is excellent/* rejoined 
 Tarcon, and I will follow it : while Sesostris 
 was here, I strictly guarded him, and would 
 have continued to do so had he remained, but 
 the gods willed otherwise, and we mortals 
 ought not to struggle against their decrees/* 
 
 The friends now separated, and went to 
 guard each an empty apartment with much 
 assiduity. 
 
 In the meantime, it had been determined 
 in the Egyptian camp, on the news of the 
 capture of their king, to dispatch an embassy 
 the next day to Meroe, in order to negociate 
 with Nitrennis ; and the sons of Mizraim ex- 
 perienced the utmost astonishment and de- 
 light, when, about two hours after sunrise, a 
 party who had gone out to examine the sur- 
 rounding country returned, bringing with them 
 their monarch and Anisis, whom they had des- 
 paired of recovering, except by the sacrifice 
 of their country*s superiority. Some of them 
 stiU trembled lest Sesostris might have 
 purchased his liberty by some concession ; yet 
 most of his warriors believed he would rather 
 
302 
 
 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 have yielded up his life^ than given way to 
 temporary calamity, and when the particulars 
 of his escape were known, all vied with each 
 other in praising their valiant leader and the 
 versatile Anisis. 
 
 They now deliberated as to the next step, 
 and were still undecided, when about an hour 
 before noon, a horseman was seen approach- 
 ing the camp. He proved to be a messenger 
 from Emrid and Tarcon, inviting Sesostris to 
 attack Meroe the ensuing night, promising to 
 admit any number of troops into the fortress, 
 of which they said they had the entire disposal. 
 
 The son of Moeris reflected for a moment, 
 but at length remembering that with his troops 
 around him, he had ever been invincible, 
 he signified to the messenger that he accepted 
 the offer. He accordingly divided his forces 
 into two divisions, one of which he put under 
 the command of Pakaris, and led the other in 
 person ; — ^intending that the former should at- 
 tack the peninsula of Meroe, where it joined 
 the main-land, while he proposed to take ad- 
 vantage of the surrender of the fortress, and 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 303 
 
 thus expose himself to any unkilown dangers 
 incident to the enterprise. 
 
 The whole army marched in the evening 
 with celerity and secresy, and Pakaris appeared 
 at the entrance of the peninsula an hour before 
 midnight. The trampling of his troops had 
 already alarmed the Ethiopians, who kept an 
 unceasing watch at this point, and their prin- 
 cipal strength was immediately in action 
 against the Egyptians. 
 
 Nitrennis was speedily informed of these 
 circumstances, and in the utmost rage at the 
 coolness mth which her threats concerning 
 Sesostris had been received, despatched orders 
 to Tarcon and Emrid instantly to put to death 
 their respective captives, and as soon as pos- 
 sible expose their heads to the two contending 
 parties. At the same time the Ethiopians at 
 the entrance of the peninsula were reinforced, 
 and night, the destined repose of nature, was 
 there a scene of terror and confusion. Above 
 the warriors the moon, now at its full, was 
 shining in majestic tranquillity, whilst on 
 the field below (amid the gleam of watch-fires. 
 
304 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 the crash of cymbals, and the shouts of in- 
 furiated foes) showers of arrows and waving 
 swords fearfully demonstrated the violence of 
 human passion. While these things were 
 passing, Sesostris, with a small portion of his 
 army, had been guided by a short route, 
 pointed out by some captives taken in the 
 first battle, to a part of the territory of Meroe, 
 fixed on by Tarcon and Emrid, opposite the 
 fortress, where he found several large boats 
 ready to transport him across the Nile. Here 
 he met with no opposition, for the officers to 
 whom the above-mentioned fort was intrusted, 
 had well organized their plan, and the son of 
 Moeris, with his followers, on crossing the 
 river, encountered the same messenger who 
 had already proposed to surrender. 
 
 In the utmost silence the latter pointed out 
 to Sesostris the direction he should take, and 
 in a few moments the Egyptian and his troops 
 were within the fortress. When there, he 
 stationed three hundred men in the most 
 important part of the building to ensure its 
 possession, and marching forward, feU on the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 305 
 
 rear of the Ethiopians already engaged with 
 Pakaris. The former were instantly seized with 
 panic, for they knew not by whom they were 
 attacked, since they had placed centinels in 
 every accessible point of their peninsula ; but 
 when they heard the terrible name of Sesostris, 
 whom they had considered in the hands of 
 their queen, astonishment and fear became 
 more destructive than the weapons of the 
 Egyptians. 
 
 Nitrennis shuddered at the information that 
 the entrance of the peninsula was forced, yet 
 an attendant endeavoured to console her with 
 the hope of escaping to the Macrobians, and 
 advised her immediate flight to the fort, over- 
 looking the Nile, as being the strongest post in 
 her territory. Nitrennis listened to the coun- 
 sel, and rushed into instant captivity. 
 
 The Ethiopians now found it impossible to 
 rally, and the rising sun beheld Meroe and 
 its queen in the power of Sesostris. The 
 whole nation except the Macrobians, submitted 
 to Egypt, and the representation of his royal 
 captive, and the triumphs of his arms sculp- 
 
306 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 tured on the eloquent stone, transmitted to 
 future ages the greatness of the son of Moeris. 
 Yet that greatness appeared to him incomplete 
 while he beheld a powerful state still unsub- 
 dued ; and he accordingly resolved, after re- 
 ceiving reinforcements, to penetrate still farther 
 to the south, and attack the Ethiopians, who 
 were yet unconquered, and who were reputed 
 the most warlike of nations. 
 
 In the mean time dangers were arising on 
 the Egyptians from a source wholly unknown 
 to them. Tarcon and Emrid, whose services 
 had been so valuable, were richly recompensed 
 by Sesostris. They were invited to settle in 
 Egypt, or if they preferred remaining in their 
 own country, were offered a large tract of land, 
 and an immunity from all tribute. Yet there are 
 breasts in which satisfaction can never have a 
 place, and neither the courtesy of Sesostris, 
 nor his liberal offers, could fix in his interest 
 the restless spirit of Tarcon. On one hand 
 the remembrance of his treason, and on the 
 other, jealousy of all rivals tormented him. 
 
 Was I not (he thought within himself) 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 307 
 
 the principal author of the Egyptian’s success ? 
 But for me, their proud leader might have lost 
 his head, and even, when at liberty, might 
 have wasted his force to no purpose before 
 Meroe, and shall he estimate these services 
 lightly ? I expectdil to have reigned supreme 
 in his confidence, and to have directed his 
 councils ; while the highest compensation his 
 liberality and gratitude can devise, is either a 
 settlement here or in Egypt, and freedom from 
 tribute. Is it for this that I have betrayed 
 my trust ? But I will redeem my treachery,” 
 he continued, and avenge Nitrennis. I will 
 fly to the Macrobians, the mightiest of war- 
 riors, and wiU prove to the haughty Sesostris 
 that the enmity of Tcircon is as destructive as 
 his fnendship was beneficial. March on, then, 
 proud king, vaunting in thy past triumphs, and 
 lulled into the lethargy of confidence, yet know 
 that every step is surrounded by snares and 
 death.” 
 
 Having by such reflections as these some- 
 what tranquiUized his feelings, he sought an 
 
308 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 opportunity of withdrawing without suspicion 
 from the camp, and during the intervening 
 time, partly discovered his sentiments to Em- 
 rid, whom he endeavoured to influence against 
 the son of Moeris. 
 
 Can you endure in silence,’’ he said, the 
 want of consideration with which we are 
 treated ? Dangerous and important services 
 should at least secure considerable advantage 
 to those who confer them. But what have we 
 gained by the friendship of the Egyptians be- 
 yond wealth and tranquillity ? Both of these 
 we equally enjoyed under Nitrennis. Know 
 you not we are traitors, and shall we arm 
 against ourselves the torment of remorse, and 
 yet lose the fruits of our perfidy ? For my 
 part, I am determined to leave the Egyptian 
 king, and seek elsewhere a field where niy 
 genius may display itself. 
 
 It appears that an embassy to the Mac- 
 robians is partly resolved on ; of this embassy 
 I shall propose myself as the conductor, and 
 afterwards be governed as circumstances may 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 309 
 
 direct. For you, Emrid, if you can obliterate 
 the remembrance of the past, and sustain the 
 dishonour of the present hour, remain with 
 your new patron, and spend the rest of your 
 existence in inglorious tranquillity. 
 
 Emrid heard with astonishment the pas- 
 sionate expostulations of Tarcon ; but his grow- 
 ing admiration of Anisis, and his obligations 
 to that Egyptian, together with a different turn 
 of mind, prevented him from inwardly ac- 
 quiescing in the line of conduct which these 
 expostulations pointed out.. He, however, 
 feigned a compliance mth Tarcon, in order 
 that by accompanying him in his desertion of 
 Sesostris, he might penetrate and baffle any 
 scheme entered into by the Ethiopian, to the 
 detriment of that monarch. He accordingly 
 pretended to echo the sentiments of Tarcon, 
 and they both agreed that the intended depu- 
 tation to the Macrobians afforded the greatest 
 facility for the prosecution of their new design. 
 
 They found no difflculty in obtaining the 
 consent of Sesostris that they should conduct 
 the embassy. He could not refuse his con- 
 
310 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 fidence to men, who, by the indelible wrongs 
 they had committed against their country 
 seemed bound to his interest by a tie stronger 
 than a thousand professions. Besides which, 
 they were Ethiopians, and there appeared to 
 the king of Egypt many advantages in that 
 circumstance, while a happy termination of 
 the affair was further secured by the choice of 
 approved and experienced Egyptians for their 
 associates. 
 
 The object of the embassy was to endeavour 
 to win the Macrobian king to the interest of 
 Egypt, by representing, on the one hand, the 
 vast resources of Sesostris, and, on the other, 
 the easy terms by which his friendship might 
 be obtained; namely, by the payment of a 
 moderate tribute. This measure was dictated 
 by the extraordinary accounts the Egyptians 
 had received of the prowess of the above na- 
 tion ; — accounts which weighed heavily, even 
 on the minds of troops who had never been 
 repulsed. 
 
 Every thing arranged, the deputation left 
 the camp ; and, shortly after, supplies arrived 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 311 
 
 from Egypt. The Eg^^Dtians now began to 
 march southwards, under the pretence of sur- 
 veying the rest of the country they had already 
 conquered ; but, in reality, because their 
 monarch could not help suspecting that his 
 embassy would be in vain, and was desirous 
 to gain as much time as possible, in case he 
 might have to invade the Macrobians. 
 
 His emissaries at length reached that nation, 
 where Krobanhad just been elected* king, and 
 with whom their negociation immediately 
 commenced. Tarcon, however, contrived to 
 gain access to the latter, before his as- 
 sociates in the deputation, and inflamed 
 the haughty spirit of that monarch, by every 
 incentive his mind could suggest. 
 
 Shall the puny inhabitants of the valley 
 of the Nile despise thee,"’ he said, by re- 
 commending thee to submit to a tribute, as if 
 
 * The king of the Macrobian Ethiopians was elected ; 
 and superior strength and stature were the qualifications 
 requisite for the successful canditate. — See Herodotus’ 
 Thalia, chap. 20. 
 
312 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 they had been victorious over the Macrobians ? 
 They have^ indeed, conquered Meroe ; but it 
 was by treachery, and not by force ; of that 
 treachery I confess myself to have been partly 
 the instrument; yet, when mighty Kroban 
 hears the strange circumstances in which I 
 was then involved, he will, perhaps, pardon 
 the perfidy which was, in some sort, unavoid- 
 able ; and which, being once freed from the 
 tyrant who enforced it, I burn to wash from 
 the memory of man with the blood of Sesos- 
 tris. Reject, then, the terms he offers; call 
 thy warriors around thee ; bend your bows, and 
 sweep to destruction the northern usurpers/’ 
 
 Kroban was, naturally, sufficiently hostile 
 to the Egyptians, and listened, with delight, 
 to the proposal of Tarcon. 
 
 The rest of the deputation had an inter- 
 view with the mon^ch, from which they de- 
 parted, bearing to Sesostris a defiance instead 
 of a submission; while Emrid and Tarcon 
 suddenly left their companions, and remained 
 with the Macrobians; the one designing to 
 support, the other to ruin the Egyptian cause. 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 313 
 
 The emissaries of Sesostris returned to 
 their king ; who, in consequence of what they 
 reported, hastened his march, and, at length, 
 arnved within a day’s journey of the territor)' 
 of the Macrobians. No enemy had yet ap- 
 peared near; nor had anything happened of 
 importance, except the capture of a small 
 party of Ethiopians, who were totally without 
 arms, and apparently in complete destitution. 
 When taken, they laid terrible complaints on 
 Kroban, who, as they affirmed, wholly' bent on 
 his own preservation, had fled to his capital; 
 having defied the Egyptian monarch in words 
 only, whilst, in reality, he could not endure the 
 thought of meeting him in the field. 
 
 Sesostris had of late experienced too many 
 vicissitudes hastily to credit this news, which, 
 however, greatly relieved the minds of his 
 followers. The above mentioned captives 
 were now dismissed, and the Egyptians press- 
 ed forward to the first Maerobian city, where 
 every thing bore testimony to what they had 
 heard. All here wore the appearance of the 
 hurried departure of the inhabitants ; and a 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
314 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 few of these, whom nothing but old age or 
 sickness seemed to have detained, painted in 
 lively colours the terror of Kroban and their 
 countrymen. 
 
 Our king,” they said, “ desires, after all, 
 to have peace with Sesostris, whom, he knows, 
 it is in vain to resist. Would that^ he had 
 yielded before he had brought a hostile army 
 upon our cities !” 
 
 The son of Moeris bade them tranquillize 
 their fears ; saying, it was his wish to pre- 
 serve, and not to destroy them ; and that he 
 should seize eagerly any opportunity of treaty 
 with Kroban. 
 
 The same appearance of fear, and the same 
 tokens of the flight of their king were exhibit- 
 ed in the three Macrobian cities that lay next 
 in the Egyptian’s route, the last of which 
 seemed to have been abandoned with peculiar 
 precipitation ; since not only some gold, but 
 even a few heaps of copper,* were discovered here 
 
 ♦ Copper is said to have been the metal most esteem- 
 ed by the Macrobian Ethiopians. — See Herodotus’ 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 315 
 
 and there ; as if they had been brought out of 
 some depository, with an intention of cariydng 
 them away, and afterwards left, for want of 
 time. Bows, arrows, and other arms were also 
 scattered around; and, to crown all, many of 
 the crystal tombs* of the Ethiopians were to 
 be seen in the suburbs, some untouched, and 
 some without the bodies ; as though these had 
 been hastily snatched by their flying relatives. 
 A few individuals, who still remained in the 
 city came and prostrated themselves before 
 Sesostris ; complained to him of the pusillani- 
 
 Thalia, chap. 23. The Greek word, should 
 
 be translated, copper; since brass is an artificial com- 
 pound. 
 
 * The Macrobian Ethiopians, after embalming their 
 dead, wrapped them in some kind of plaster, on which 
 a portrait of the deceased was drawn ; and the whole 
 was then deposited in a case formed of a soft species of 
 crystal, abounding m the country. These Sarcophagi 
 were kept, for a certain time, by the relatives of the 
 dead, and treated with great respect ; after which, they 
 were placed in the suburbs. — See Herodotus* Thalia, 
 chap. 24. 
 
316 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 mity of their king ; described the weak and 
 distracted condition of their state, — and im- 
 plored him to spare and protect from violence 
 what was yet left them. 
 
 The son of Moeris had hardly re-assured 
 them by his promises, when a Macrobian, ap- 
 parently in declining age, with his face smeared 
 with blood, and his robe tattered, broke into the 
 circle with a terrible outcry; and, falling on 
 his knees before Sesostris, exclaimed : — 
 
 Help me, mighty king ! for those eyes of 
 fire, and that regal form can assuredly be- 
 long to none but the monarch of Egypt — aid 
 me against oppression. A small band of 
 your troops, regardless of my entreaties, 
 came upon me as I was escaping with 
 my only daughter, some gold, and the se- 
 pulchre of my wife. What can the unassisted 
 hand of age avail against armed warriors ? I 
 was instantly wounded; and the carriage on 
 which my daughter and my goods were placed 
 would have fallen into their power, if some of 
 my countrymen had not perceived my distress, 
 and driven back the Egyptians. Yet though 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 317 
 
 they retired, they threatened to pursue us with 
 greater numbers : — come then, oh king !” he 
 continued, “ and guard us with your presence.” 
 The appeal was not in vain ; for the king of 
 Egypt, ever eager to avenge the unfortunate, 
 and anxious to repress every indication of li- 
 cence in his army, summoned Anisis and 
 Menros to attend him and followed the Ma- 
 crobian. He led them, vdth every demonstra- 
 tion of haste on his countenance, through se- 
 veral turnings, till they found themselves with- 
 out the city, among the sarcophagi : and then, 
 seeming to hsten, he exclaimed : — 
 
 I hear distant voices ; let us speed, they 
 are seizing my daughter.” 
 
 The three Eg}^tians quickened their pace ; 
 when Menros whispered to Anisis : — 
 
 I wish we may be running after no harm ; 
 but there is something by no means to my 
 taste in walking thus, with no other company 
 but yon tall forms, in their crystal cases, and 
 pursuing a stranger whose appearance I do not 
 like.” 
 
 “ I am not myself entirely without appre- 
 
318 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 hension rejoined Anisis, “ but see, our mo- 
 narch has got the start of us ; let us hasten 
 to his side.” 
 
 Most willingly,” answered the physician, 
 for our own sakes as well as his. O that he 
 were less adventurous 1” 
 
 Sesostris had, in fact, left his followers a 
 few paces behind, and the latter were exerting 
 themselves to overtake him, when they heard 
 the Ethiopian in front give a shriU whistle, 
 and a large body of his countrymen, rushing 
 from behind a row of tombs ; they were sur- 
 rounded, and, together with their monarch, at 
 the same moment, overpowered. All three 
 were now secured ; while their pretended guide 
 threw off his tattered robe, and said to the 
 son of Moeris : — 
 
 We are well met, most potent leader ; and 
 you doubtless perceive that Tarcon is as dex- 
 terous in seizing, as in aiding the escape of an 
 Egyptian. My king, Kroban, is not far dis- 
 tant ; from him you wiU certainly experience a 
 becoming reception ; and he wiU, probably, in 
 consideration of your fame, permit that the 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 319 
 
 manner of your death shall be such, as not 
 to prevent you from being embalmed — a con- 
 descension which will give you and your two 
 attendants, the honour of taking your station 
 in transparent sepulchres among the Macro- 
 bians.” 
 
 Such was the vaunt of Tarcon, at whose 
 suggestion Kjoban had resolved to confirm 
 the confidence, and abate the vigilance of the 
 Egyptians, by causing that part of his do- 
 minions, through which they would first pass, 
 to wear the semblance of fear, above des- 
 cribed. He had drawn his forces together at 
 a point where two ridges of hills rose, the one 
 on the right hand, the other on the left of the 
 plain, which Sesostris would probably tra- 
 verse; and here, placing his Ethiopians on 
 both sides, concealed by the rising ground, he 
 intended to rush on the enemy when marching 
 in careless assurance. Yet his indefatigable 
 emissary Tarcon was continually^ on the watch 
 for any opportunity that might present itself 
 of farther annoying Sesostris, whom he had at 
 length, as we have seen, succeeded in se- 
 
320 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 parating from his troops, and capturing, to- 
 gether with Anisis and Menros. 
 
 It was mid-day when these things took 
 place ; and Tarcon, considering the near neigh- 
 bourhood of the Egyptian army, and the dan- 
 ger of encountering any of their detached 
 parties, retreated, with his important prize, to 
 a large cavern in the vicinity ; from which, in 
 ancient times, that kind of soft crystal had 
 been dug, which was employed for the Macro- 
 bian dead. Here, accordingly, Sesostris and 
 his followers were, for the present, hidden; 
 and a messenger was despatched to receive the 
 orders of Kroban concerning them. In two 
 hours he returned, saying they were to be put 
 to death, and afterwards embalmed ; in order 
 that Kroban might constantly have before his 
 eyes the person of him who had once been the 
 terror of nations. 
 
 Emrid had watched, with increasing sohci- 
 tude, every proceeding of Tarcon ; he had ob- 
 served, with alarm, the admirable position 
 chosen by Kroban, and had shuddered at the 
 accounts, brought by spies, of the hourly in- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 321 
 
 creasing confidence and security of the invading 
 army. He had, moreover, been constrained to 
 aid Tarcon in taking the son of Moeris; and 
 beheld, without being able to check, the success 
 of the project. Yet his mental torture was 
 increased tenfold, by the necessity he was 
 under of counterfeiting the utmost hostihty 
 against the three prisoners, and the highest joy 
 at the mandate of the Macrobian king. He 
 represented to Tarcon that they should be ex- 
 ecuted and embalmed that very night 3 of all 
 which he proposed to take the management, 
 saying he was determined to share the glory 
 of destroying their common foe. 
 
 Whilst he was speaking to this effect, an- 
 other messenger arrived, from Kroban, sum- 
 moning Tarcon to the Ethiopian camp 3 who, 
 as he departed, entreated Emrid to lose no time 
 in despatching the Egyptians. 
 
 Sesostris and his two followers were now in 
 the cave, reflecting on the various turns in 
 their fortune, and endeavouring to console 
 each other in their present distress, by en- 
 umerating their passed escapes from what 
 
 p 3 
 
322 THE STORY OP SESOSTRIS 
 
 seemed inevitable destruction ; and by calling 
 to mind the oracle from Heliopolis. 
 
 It is all very well/’ thought Menros, ‘‘ for 
 our leader to draw consolation from the pro- 
 mises. of Heaven. Those promises declare 
 he shall be invincible — ^be it so ; but what is 
 this to Anisis^ or myself, who are unhappy 
 enough to be entangled in his calamities, with- 
 out having any such assurance to depend on.” 
 These meditations were interrupted by the 
 entrance of Emrid, attended by two others, 
 carrying a quantity of plaster, a vessel of 
 water, and some other apparatus. The phy- 
 sician started from his reverie, and enquired 
 their business. 
 
 “We are come to embalm you,” they re- 
 plied, “ and wrap you in plaster.” 
 
 “We are not yet dead,” said Menros, 
 hardly able to articulate, from fear. 
 
 That difficulty will be speedily removed,” 
 one of them rejoined, and then addressing his 
 companion, “ Measure the captives,” he said, 
 “ and report their dimensions to the cutters of 
 crystal ; and bid them lose no time in making 
 their tombs.” 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 32.S 
 
 He obeyed : and the Egyptians almost bade 
 adieu to hope, as, with a leather thong, he as- 
 certained the size of each. 
 
 Where is the poison ?” asked Emrid. 
 
 In that goblet,” was the reply, 
 
 “ Stay at the entrance of the cave, till I call 
 you,” rejoined Emrid, and they departed. 
 
 The Ethiopian now approached the captives, 
 and, motioning them to observe the strictest 
 silence, unfastened, with the greatest rapidity, 
 the cords that bound them; and then whis- 
 pered : — 
 
 ‘‘ This cave has two openings ; a circum- 
 stance well known to me when I proposed it 
 to Tarcon as a place of concealment : bare 
 your feet, and foUow.” 
 
 He now led them to the back part of the 
 excavation ; and, removing some rubbish with 
 as httle noise as possible, discovered a passage, 
 so low as obliged them to enter it on their 
 hands and knees. They continued to traverse 
 it with the utmost haste, and after taking two 
 or three turnings, once more found themselves 
 on the open plain ; when Emrid said to 
 Anisis : — 
 
324 
 
 THE STORY OF SESOSTRIS 
 
 Couid you suppose I had deserted my 
 benefactor, and the great Sesostris ? no ; 
 the voice of gratitude is not silent in my 
 breast. I saw Tarcon about to betray your 
 interests ; and seemed to follow him, that I 
 might defeat his machinations. But let us 
 mount,’" he continued, pointing, as he spoke, 
 to some horses belonging to Tarcon’s band, 
 ‘‘ let us fly from hence, and I will reveal aU 
 the stratagems of the Macrobian king ; which, 
 had they taken effect, would have rendered the 
 most resolute valour, and wisest conduct im- 
 potent and useless.” 
 
 They soon arrived at the Egyptian camp, 
 where Pakaris was already uneasy at the ab- 
 sence of his monarch ; the recital of whose 
 adventures made his followers, at the same 
 moment, tremble and rejoice. 
 
 Tarcon, when he learned the escape of the 
 Egyptians, and the desertion of Emrid, took 
 horse, and was never afterwards heard of ; while 
 the son of Moeris, profiting by the discovery of 
 the Macrobian’s plans, avoided many perils, 
 in which he might have been overwhelmed. 
 
 The Ethiopians were, indeed, possessed of in- 
 
IN ARABIA. 
 
 S25 
 
 trepid valour 3 but Sesostris was destined to pre- 
 vail. He subdued that mighty people ; and a 
 prodigious quantity of gold^* ebony, and ivory 
 was poured into the treasury of Egypt. His- 
 tory relates that Europe also felt the power of 
 Sesostris ; and that the Sc)i;hians, who covered 
 with dishonour the Persian diadem, f fled before 
 his arms ; while Asia, as far as the Ganges, 
 confessed his superiority. He is said, however, 
 to have been recalled by domestic treason, and 
 to have seen his triumphs tarnished bv some 
 unhappiness. Yet he shines forth on the 
 historic page the greatest of conquerors ; and 
 some of the proudest monuments of Eg)q>- 
 tian art arose to attest his fame. 
 
 • This metal was so common among the Macrobians, 
 that even the fetters for their prisons were made of it. — 
 See Herodotus’ Thalia, chap. 23. 
 
 t Darius Hystaspes, was repulsed by the Scythians, 
 whom he invaded. 
 
826 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 The smiles of fortune are as capricious as 
 her frowns : the former are not confined to the 
 worthy, nor the latter to the undeserving. It 
 might perhaps be well for society, if virtue 
 were always gifted with dexterity, and vice and 
 dishonesty never accompanied by ingenuity. 
 Yet this state of things seems at variance with 
 the laws of the moral atmosphere that surrounds 
 us; virtue is free and unsuspecting, while dis- 
 honesty is compelled by necessity to inves- 
 tigate every means of carrying her projects 
 into effect : dexterity thus appears almost 
 necessary to her existence, and it is therefore 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 327 
 
 no wonder if by study and exercise she 
 acquires it. 
 
 Rhampsinitus, fourth monarch of Mizraim 
 from Sesostris, whose fleets and armies had 
 swept with invincible rapidity over land and 
 sea, was the proprietor of overflowing wealth. 
 Egypt, herself, the richest of nations, was 
 dazzled by the splendour of his treasury^, and 
 the coffers of his most opulent successors 
 contained not the half of his riches. He 
 adorned with magnificent works the Temple 
 of Vulcan and two colossal statues, the one of 
 winter, and the other of summer, discoursed to 
 future ages in eloquent silence of the genius of 
 their founder. Strong from within and without, 
 his kingdom flourished under his sway, and 
 if the happiness of his subjects be the criterion 
 of the greatness of a monarch, Rhampsinitus 
 had few rivals. Yet poverty and misfortune 
 can never be excluded from the most flourish- 
 ing kingdom, and in Egypt there were those 
 who only beheld the wealth and happiness that 
 surrounded them, to sicken at their own want 
 and destitution. 
 
328 
 
 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 Among these was an architect, named 
 Rachis, a man of considerable ingenuity. He 
 had received his trade, the only estate be- 
 queathed him, from his father, to whom it had 
 been left by his ancestors, according to the 
 usage* of the country. 
 
 The father of Rachis had been unfortunate 
 and generous, and he was too often taught 
 that though there were many who were willing 
 to profit by his liberality, there were few to 
 alleviate the other circumstance of his fife. 
 
 How opposite,"’ he would often say (with a 
 sad pleasantry to which he was addicted,) is 
 my destiny to that of the birds ; they build 
 their own nests, heedless each of his feathered 
 companions, whilst I on the contrary, who 
 
 * The Egyptians always received their trades or pro- 
 fessions from their ancestors in perpetual succession. 
 The son of an embalmer, for instance, was an embalmer 
 himself, the son of an architect was an architect, etc. 
 See Herodotus’ Euterpe. The same custom seems to have 
 been observed by the Hindoos, it may indeed have 
 checked discontent, but it must often have clipped the 
 wings of genius. 
 
AND THE architect: 
 
 329 
 
 have built houses for many, have scarcely pro- 
 cured for myself a home.” 
 
 Such had been the father of Rachis, who 
 appeared in all respects his very echo, except 
 that he seemed stiU more proscribed by fortune. 
 His affections were warm, and his intellect 
 keen and penetrating; the former prompted 
 him to marry the daughter of a kinsman, 
 whose dowry consisted of a tolerable share of 
 beauty, bvebness of character, and an affec- 
 tionate disposition. The complexion of his 
 destiny now assumed a somewhat brighter hue : 
 his services were contracted for by a rich 
 merchant, whose remuneration placed him in 
 a state, which to him appeared affluence. 
 
 They celebrated with gaiety and eagerness 
 Egypt’s many festivals,* entertained their 
 friends with hospitality, and gave to several of 
 their acquaintance, by liquidating their debts. 
 
 * The Egyptian year was enlivened by a great number 
 of sacred feasts, in which the worship of the gods was 
 blended with festivity. — See an account of these fairs in 
 the Euterpe of Herodotus. 
 
330 THE STORY OP RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 the sacred delight of once more receiving to 
 their arms the mummies* of their dead. 
 
 Two years of happiness were thus passed, 
 and they might have been the harbingers of 
 many more, if Rachis could have imagined^ 
 that the colour of the future must be ensured 
 in the present hour, and that he whose only 
 smiles flow from the favour of ever varying 
 fortune, will probably have cause at least to 
 sigh from her frowns. This, however, formed 
 no part of his creed, and prudence was not 
 amongst the accomplishments of Phiris, the 
 partner of his fortunes. 
 
 He was now the father of two sons, named 
 Sares and Salacris, whose increasing years de- 
 manded with an imperious voice his affections, 
 and the skilful management of his affairs. 
 His heart spontaneously bestowed the former, 
 
 * The Egyptians used to embalm their dead, and keep 
 them in that state with much care in their houses, till 
 they were at length deposited in family sepulchres. If an 
 Egyptian debtor was insolvent, his creditors might seize 
 the mummies he possessed as a security for the debt, 
 which it was considered most disgraceful not to redeem. 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 S31 
 
 but to the latter he was a stranger. He was 
 much addicted to jesting, and when under the 
 influence of wine, not unffequently gave way 
 too freely to that perilous pleasure. 
 
 There was amongst his acquaintance a certain 
 merchant, named Socon, a man who had raised 
 himself to opulence by considerable industry. 
 But as industry is necessarily long in achieving 
 its objects, he had found out certain short 
 cuts to wealth, not always of the most re- 
 spectable kind ; there were even slight whispers 
 of his having engaged with a party of desert 
 banditti to rob a valuable caravan, for the 
 consideration of sharing the booty. This cir- 
 cumstance, however, passed for mere scandal. 
 
 Yet Socon, grasping and envious, timid and 
 revengeful, was the very opposite to Rachis. 
 His person was short, and inclined to be 
 corpulent ; his countenance in the highest 
 degree repulsive, and those who were ignorant 
 of the fact that Rachis had occasionally had 
 the fortune or the unhappiness of pecuniary 
 assistance from him, wondered how men, so 
 much the reverse of each other, should keep 
 
332 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 up the slightest acquaintance. But though 
 they sometimes met at a private banquet, or a 
 public festival, friendship could not subsist 
 between them. 
 
 Rachis did not always restrain his sarcastic 
 humour, and it was impossible that the mer- 
 chant (who disliked all jokes,) should make an 
 exception in favour of those, of which himself 
 was the object. Yet if Socon was only tole- 
 rated by Rachis, he was actually hated by 
 Sares and Salacris, who, as they grew up, 
 had scarcely power or inclination to abstain 
 from demonstrations of their disgust. The 
 elements of a conflagration were thus ready, 
 and an incident soon called them into action. 
 A feast was given by Rachis to all his kindred, 
 to which Socon was invited, and the banquet 
 was spread in the garden beneath the delicious 
 light of a summer evening, — such as smiles in 
 the climes of Egypt. 
 
 Whilst some were partaking of this, others 
 were inspecting the various ornaments with 
 which the taste of their host had decorated his 
 residence. Amongst these was a piece of 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 333 
 
 water of moderate extent^ in which was kept 
 a sacred crocodile* after the manner of Egypt. 
 The animal was decorated with valuable jewels, 
 the care and skill of man had obhterated his 
 native ferocity, and he was so tame as to follow 
 Rachis everywhere at the ringing of a small 
 bell. It was towards this pond that Sares and 
 Salacris, bent upon their mischievous design, 
 allured the reluctant Socon. The pleasures of 
 the table were to him almost omnipotent, and 
 he was with difficulty prevailed on by the 
 youths to leave it for a moment. Had he 
 entertained the slightest idea he was about to 
 approach a crocodile, he would as soon have 
 thrown himself into the Nile at once. 
 
 The basin was carefully railed round, and 
 
 * The crocodile was held sacred in Egypt, and 
 they were often kept by individual families in 
 great splendour, adorned with valuable ornaments, and 
 when dead, carefully embalmed, — See Herodotus Euterpe. 
 The' animal is believed to have been considered by the 
 Egyptians an emblem of Typhon, the principle of des- 
 truction. See a discussion of this subject in the story of 
 Rameses. 
 
334 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINTTUS 
 
 the iron work covered with creeping plants. 
 The water itself, which was adorned in several 
 places with the hallowed lotos,* was accessible 
 by a flight of steps, at the top of which was 
 fixed a gate, and at the other end an elegant 
 miniature pier constructed of twisted iron 
 work, stretched some yards from the bank, 
 from which, by a shght ladder which could be 
 drawn up and let down at pleasure, Rachis 
 could reach a boat floating beneath. To this 
 pier his two sons introduced the merchant, 
 having first ascertained that the crocodile was 
 no where to be seen. They purposely avoided 
 mentioning the gateway at the top of the 
 
 flight of steps, and it was sufficiently hid -from 
 
 • 
 
 * Both collectively, and in each individual part, the 
 lotos was held by the Egyptians emblematical and sacred. 
 Never sinking below the water in which it grows, it 
 represents , the ark floating upon the deluge, described 
 perhaps in Egyptian mythology by the sacred chest of 
 Osiris, the personification of nature, who is related by the 
 Egyptian priests to have been overpowered for a time by 
 Typhon, the principle of destruction. — See the story of 
 Rameses, and the authorities there adduced. 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 335 
 
 cursory view by the innumerable climbing 
 plants and branches of trees bending to the 
 very water. 
 
 They however invited him with all imagin- 
 able courtesy into the boat, and were them- 
 selves astonished at the courage and alacrity 
 with which he descended the ladder, having 
 . first stipulated returning to the banquet after 
 once traversing the pond. He little thought 
 that, in a few moments, skill in rowing would 
 perforce be added to his other accomplish- 
 ments. 
 
 Watching an opportunity while the merchant 
 was taking his seat, Sares fastened the bell, 
 whose slightest sound could attract the croco- 
 dile, on the stem of the boat, and then, 
 together with his brother, re-ascended the 
 ladder, pretending to have left some part of 
 the boat’s furniture. Salacris, who first 
 reached the pier, instantly loosened three of 
 the four clasps which sustained the ladder, 
 whilst his confederate Sares purposely paused 
 in the ascent and amused the attention of 
 Socon ; but when he also was at the summit 
 
336 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 he pretended to stumble, uttering at the same 
 time a cry of terror, and the plot being 
 now ripe, the last clasp was unbound, and to 
 the dismay of the merchant the ladder fell, as 
 if it had been broken down, thus cutting off 
 his retreat. Nor was this the worst ; in its 
 fall it struck the bell, which instantly roused 
 the crocodile, and Socon felt his hair stand on# 
 end with terror, when he perceived the mo- 
 narch of the aquatic palace emerge from a 
 shady recess, and approach the boat. 
 
 Instantly seizing the oars, which he had 
 scarcely ever handled in his life, he began to 
 puU away from the animal. The ringing of 
 the fatal beU was increased by the motion, 
 and the crocodile followed more speedily. 
 Sares and Salacris now fled as if for help, 
 having first, both by words and gestures, ex- 
 horted Socon to row with his utmost force ; 
 those exhortations were needless, and they 
 burst into fits of suppressed laughter, when 
 through a small gap in the fence behind, which 
 they had planted themselves, they beheld the 
 fat merchant, to whom fear had wonderfully 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 337 
 
 supplied the place of experience, rowing 
 round and round the basin, dashing the water 
 into foam, and making all the while the most 
 terrible grimaces, the bell still ringing, and the 
 indefatigable crocodile following with unabating 
 perseverance. 
 
 As he passed the flight of steps, he cast a 
 wistful eye at them, but the imaginary enemy 
 was so near that he dared not stop for a 
 moment. Perceiving, however, that such un- 
 accustomed exertion would soon exhaust him, 
 he resolved upon another expedient, and 
 seizing some branches of a tree inclining 
 towards the water, he endeavoured to climb 
 into it from the boat, which, in springing 
 upwards, his feet pushed away. The branches 
 which were not broken, were bent by his 
 ponderous weight, and the youths laughed 
 without mercy or restraint, when they saw 
 him precipitated into the water. 
 
 The beU was now silent, and the animal, 
 unused to the sight of such pranks, lay still at 
 a short distance with his eyes fixed upon 
 Socon. The poor merchant thought he was 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 Q 
 
338 THE STOEY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 meditating an instant attack, and his excessive 
 terror gave him an agility that astonished even 
 himself. In fact, though by no means an 
 adept at any thing that required activity, he 
 made the most amazing efforts, and availing 
 himself of a slight projection in the stone 
 work of the basin, contrived to scramble into 
 the tree, where he sat more dead than alive 
 with fear and fatigue. 
 
 Sares and Salacris now went to rejoin the 
 banquet, and on being interrogated respecting 
 Socon, replied with as much composure of 
 countenance as they could command, he had 
 been learning to row, and that they had seen 
 him practise, accompanied by an attendant ; 
 and then added they thought he must now be 
 thinking of returning. 
 
 For some time accordingly, they expected 
 him, but at length, the sun having set for half 
 an hour, Rachis himself went to seek him in 
 much perplexity. Approaching the basin, he 
 called the merchant by name, when, to his 
 astonishment, he was answered from the top of 
 a tree ; following the direction of the voice, he 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 339 
 
 was led to the side of the pond^ on which 
 grew the sanctuary of Socon, who, having in 
 few words explained his situation, assistance was 
 promptly procured, the] iron work opened — 
 for there were gateways in several places — and 
 the merchant at length extricated. 
 
 His fears allayed, indignation now took 
 possession of his breast, which was not to be 
 overcome by the regrets and apologies of 
 Rachis and his sons, in the one party real, in 
 the other affected. He indeed rejoined the 
 banquet, but it was to darken it with his 
 frowns ; and the architect w^as finally taught 
 that in some breasts anger is an undying and 
 ever blossoming weed. With the thoughtless 
 profusion so interwoven with his character, 
 Rachis expended the gifts of a transient hour 
 of prosperity, and the indigence in which 
 himself and his family were soon involved, 
 was embittered by self-reproach, — the most 
 terrible perhaps of all the enemies the im- 
 prudent can arm against themselves. The im- 
 placable mahce of Socon, ever mindful of 
 the fatal banquet, greatly contributed to his 
 
 Q 2 
 
340 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 ruin ; keeping off by his intrigues, those, if 
 there were any such, who might have assisted 
 the architect ; he made a shameful profit of 
 his necessities, till at length he saw him in 
 his toils. 
 
 The moment now approached for consum- 
 mating his revenge, the time stipulated by the 
 merchant for the payment of certain loans had 
 arrived. Rachis was unable to discharge them ; 
 Socon was inexorable ; and the sacred and 
 revered mummies of his immediate ancestors 
 were torn from the house of the architect, 
 who, together with his wife and sons, was 
 driven to an obscure cabin in a corner of the 
 capital, while the future seemed to menace 
 a still deeper fall, which was only averted for 
 the present by means of the jewels attached to 
 the sacred crocodile. The rapacity of Socon 
 was obliged, however reluctantly to respect 
 these, and thus the same animal which had 
 been instrumental to the decline of his for- 
 tunes, was now their sole support. 
 
 As he was one day perambulating one of 
 the more crowded parts of the city, he heard 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 341 
 
 some Egyptians in deep conversation respect- 
 ing the immense treasures of Rhampsinitus, 
 the king, and his intention of employing the 
 most skilful architect in his dominions to con- 
 struct a receptacle for them, of pecuhar strength 
 and secresy. 
 
 A ray of hope instantly broke in on the 
 mind of Rachis 5 he promptly repaired to the 
 officers of the palace, obtained the appoint- 
 ment, together with half the stipulated sum in 
 advance, which enabled him to extricate him- 
 self from the power of Socon; and the mer- 
 chant, fond as he was of gold, felt the pleasure 
 of receiving his loan, more than balanced by 
 the pain of beholding the object of his hatred 
 again on the flood of fortune. 
 
 Notwithstanding his age and increasing in- 
 firmities, Socon undertook a journey across 
 the desert, in order to carry on a profitable ne- 
 gociation with a caravan at the nearest Oasis. 
 The negociation was successful, but he died of 
 the fatigue : thus ridding Rachis of an im- 
 placable foe. 
 
 In the meantime the building was rapidly 
 
342 THE STORY OF RH AMPSINITUS, 
 
 proceeding ; and when the architect considered 
 the vast wealth of which it was to be the 
 repository, he began to agitate the project of 
 making himself and family the owners of it. 
 Against the dishonour of this idea, he balanced 
 the misfortunes from which he had just 
 emerged, and the triumph of circumventing 
 the monarch himself. The temptation of gold 
 has often proved invincible, and Rachis yielded 
 to its force. Under pretence of constructing 
 one part of the building with peculiar nicety, 
 he reserved the execution of it to himself, and 
 contrived that one stone in the work should 
 be removable at pleasure by a single man, and 
 yet fit so accurately as to defy the scrutiny of 
 the most observing eye. 
 
 The pile being erected, the countless riches 
 of Egypt’s monarch were stored within it, and 
 the rest of the money due to the architect 
 punctually paid. 
 
 He was again rich, but the salutary lesson of 
 misfortune was forgotten, and if his fife had 
 been prolonged, he would soon have been 
 reduced to open the royal treasury. 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 343 
 
 At this juncture, however, he was attacked 
 by a sudden disorder, and feeling his end ap- 
 proaching, he called his two sons, now arrived 
 at manhood, and spoke to them as follows : — 
 My children, notvdthstanding the various 
 reverses of fortune we have experienced, it has 
 been my constant endeavour to restore you 
 to that affluence my imprudence had dissi- 
 pated. I have at length succeeded, and if 
 you carefully follow my directions, you wdll 
 be the dispensers of our monarch’s treasm*e. 
 Of this we have far too little, whilst he has 
 more than he can possibly require. Mark me, 
 my sons, the clouds that cross our skies, when 
 charged with fire, burst asunder in lightning, 
 and in other countries* the same careering 
 messengers of the elements when swollen 
 with water, are distilled in rain which supplies, 
 though imperfectly, the place of our over- 
 flowing Nile. When the air of the desert 
 is overcharged with heat, nature displays her 
 abhorrence by a convulsion and the terrible si- 
 
 * Rain was so rare in Egypt that it was regarded as a 
 prodigy. — See Herodotus. 
 
344 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 moom breathes destruction over the plains. 
 Thus you observe throughout the universe, a 
 mean state is aimed at, and so it should be with 
 men. In endeavouring therefore to make 
 you participate in the accumulated wealth of 
 our king, I do but execute the will of nature, 
 which he has resisted : be wise, therefore, and 
 secret.” 
 
 Sares and Salacris, at the outset of their 
 father’s declaration, had felt some scruples; 
 yet at its conclusion, they failed not to admire 
 and assent to the force of reasoning, whose 
 inference was so agreeable, lamenting, perhaps, 
 at the same time, that all the decrees of 
 nature were not equally in accordance with 
 inclination. 
 
 Rachis now gave his children the directions 
 requisite for finding the moveable stone,* to- 
 gether with its dimensions : overcame, or at 
 
 * It may not be improper to remark, that all the pro- 
 ceedings between the king of Egypt and the robbers of 
 the treasury, mentioned in the story, are in strict coin- 
 cidence with history, as they are described at large in 
 the Euterpe of Herodotus. 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 345 
 
 least combated the scruples of his mourning 
 consort, and soon after expired. 
 
 In a few days, Sares and Salacris thought 
 of the royal treasury, and prepared to open 
 it at the dead of night. They easily found 
 the stone, and entering, were astonished at 
 the magnificence of the scene ; but erery mo- 
 ment as it passed, seemed pregnant with death 
 and torture. Calling therefore to remem- 
 brance the wisdom or sophistry of their fa- 
 ther’s arguments, they fell hastily on a vessel 
 of coined gold, loaded a bag with it and de- 
 parted, having carefully replaced the impor- 
 tant stone. 
 
 The next day, Rhampsinitus entered the 
 treasury, when on looking at the vase con- 
 taining the gold coin, he was amazed to see 
 its contents diminished and the more so, as 
 no traces of violence were to be seen about 
 the building, — the seals being all unbroken. 
 
 The same practice was repeated again and 
 again by the youths, custom lessening their 
 apprehension ; and the monarch of Egypt, who 
 greatly valued himself on his wealth, was 
 in the most terrible perplexity at behold- 
 
346 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 ing the rapid consumption of it by an unseen 
 hand. His questions were as numerous as 
 they were fruitless, yet his mind was somewhat 
 relieved by the expedient which presented it- 
 self of setting a concealed trap within the 
 building — which was accordingly put in execu- 
 tion. 
 
 At night, the indefatigable robbers repaired as 
 usual to the treasury ; but as they had of late 
 taken the precaution of alternately keeping 
 watch whilst the other entered, Sares, whose 
 turn it was to seize the money, went into the 
 enclosure, and on going up to the vase of gold, 
 was instantly caught in the trap. As soon as 
 he perceived his desperate condition, he thus 
 addressed his brother : 
 
 Salacris, I am fallen into a snare, lose no 
 time then, but enter the building instantly, 
 cut off my head and carry it away, since it is 
 thus only we can elude detection.'' 
 
 The words of his brother fell like sparks 
 of fire on the heart of Salacris, yet he con- 
 sidered that if Sares remained alive till morn- 
 ing, he would only exchange one death for 
 another, aggravated, perhaps, by torture and 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 347 
 
 ignominy, whilst a recognition of the robbers, 
 that would probably ensue when his brother’s 
 face should be seen, might lead to the extirpa- 
 tion of his house. He nevertheless still hesi- 
 tated ; when his brother continued in a voice 
 hat thrilled his heart: — Wretched man, 
 wherefore dost thou pause ?” 
 
 “ That I may mingle my blood with thine,” 
 he rephed. 
 
 And that of our mother,” rejoined Sares, 
 in a whispered scream of agony, knowest 
 thou not that a sight of my face is instant 
 discovery ?” 
 
 Peace !” interrupted Salacris, “ even then, 
 I thought I heard a footstep.” His voice 
 trembled with intense agitation, both hstened 
 for a breathless moment, it was but the 
 wind in yonder copse,” at length he muttered 
 with a choaking voice. 
 
 ‘‘ Obey me, I charge thee,” replied his 
 brother, or we are lost for ever. I will re- 
 lease thee from taking the hfe of a brother, 
 by instantly stranghng myself with a fragment 
 of my robe.” 
 
348 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 In a state of almost delirious excitement, 
 Salacris now entered the treasury, where he 
 found Sares already fallen; with a frenzied 
 haiid severed his head from his body, and 
 having fitted in the stone, hurried from the place. 
 
 Early the next day, the king visited the 
 treasury with a few attendants ; one of whom 
 being commanded to enter and seize the pri- 
 soner, who all imagined would be found in 
 the trap, returned with a look of surprise and 
 terror, exclaiming : — Most mighty monarch, 
 what prodigy is about to happen, or rather, 
 what has already occurred ? there is a man 
 caught in the trap without a head.’" 
 
 On this intelligence some of the courtiers 
 looked incredulous, and Rhampsinitus, whose 
 temper was not of the most pacific kind, re- 
 plied : — Make thy words good by presenting 
 to our own eyes this robber without a head, 
 or I swear by Osiris thou shalt lose thine, 
 that thou mayest learn not to dally with thy 
 prince for the sake of an insipid jest.” 
 
 All now prepared to enter the* building; 
 and the king was aghast with astonishment, 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 349 
 
 on perceiving the report was no less true than 
 extraordinary. As he stood gazing on the 
 body, in a state of perplexity amounting to 
 pain, the same courtier who had been the first 
 to discover the unprecedented fact, proposed, 
 in order, if possible, to investigate the matter, 
 and find out the robbers, that the dead man 
 should be suspended over the entrance of the 
 treasury, and guards placed at some distance ; 
 and that whoever should be seen lamenting 
 for, or displaying a remarkable interest in the 
 body, should instantly be seized, offering 
 withal, himself to command the band. The 
 king agreed, and the arrangements were com- 
 pleted. 
 
 In the meantime, Salacris had reached his 
 home, and having related to his mother the 
 catastroj^e of Sares, of which himself bore 
 the dreadful token, she broke out into in- 
 vectives against him, for not having burst the 
 trap, and risked every thing rather than leave 
 his brother’s body in the power of his enemies. 
 
 In vain he represented to her that it was 
 considerably past midnight, wh?n the event 
 
350 THE STORY OP RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 took place ; she was not to be pacified, but on 
 the contrary, the more he reasoned, the less 
 she seemed convinced, and at length told him 
 that if he did not, by some means, contrive to 
 rescue his brother’s remains, she would herself 
 inform against him. Salacris intreated her to be 
 more moderate, but she continued inexorable. 
 The youth seemed devoted to destruction, yet 
 he resolved to grapple with his destiny. Having, 
 towards night, loaded some asses with skins 
 of wine, he drove them in the road which 
 passed by the royal treasury. As soon as he 
 came within sight of the guards who were 
 watching the body, he unfastened, without 
 being seen, one or two of the skins, and the 
 wine running out, he began to beat himself 
 and utter the most doleful exclamations, as if 
 in perplexity which skin he should fitst stop. 
 The guards hearing the outcry, and, perceiving 
 the cause of it, ran eagerly to the spot, each 
 with a drinking vessel in his hand, and con- 
 gratulating themselves on their good fortune, 
 began with avidity to collect the wine. 
 
 Alas ! woe is me,” said the pretended 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 351 
 
 merchant, I called for help, and you do but 
 increase my unhappiness ; yet if there is any 
 justice in Egypt, I will make you repent of 
 your robbery.” 
 
 At these words, they seemed to become 
 more gentle, and some of them even assisted 
 him in preventing any farther waste of the 
 wine. On this the artful Egyptian also softened 
 his tone, and in conclusion offered them a 
 skin to drink upon the spot ; the guards 
 thanked him for his courtesy, of which they 
 availed themselves ; and having drunk it, Sa- 
 lacris requested them to take a second, this 
 likewise they accepted on condition that he 
 would join them, which he agreed to do, and 
 forthwith sitting down among them, he pledged 
 them freely, and urged them not to spare the 
 wine — observing it could not be tasted by more 
 worthy bps. Intoxication is a load-stone 
 Vhich draws its victims with an accelerated 
 force the nearer it is approached, and thus it 
 w^as with the guards ; they w^ere pleased with 
 the stranger, gratified by his liberahty, and 
 secretly amused by w'hat they deemed his sim- 
 
352 THE STORY OP RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 plicity. That simplicity and that liberality 
 were forming a net^ in whose mazy entangle- 
 ments they were already overwhelmed. Night 
 had now set in, and the crafty Salacris beheld 
 his guests stretched around him and aban- 
 doned to the sleep of inebriety. 
 
 This was the moment he anticipated ; in- 
 stantly seizing his brother’s body, he secured 
 it on one of the asses, shaved the right cheek 
 of each of the guards, by way of mockery, and 
 as a token of his triumph, and departed 
 with the utmost speed. His mother rejoiced 
 in the recovery of her son’s remains, and, 
 if she mourned over his death, she con- 
 gratulated herself on still having a child in 
 whom the snares of his enemies only seemed 
 to discover a dexterity that derided their vi- 
 gilance. 
 
 The fumes of the wine had evaporated ere 
 the dawn of day; and the guards, who but* 
 slightly und imperfectly remembered their 
 last night’s adventure, were paralyzed with 
 amazement on seeing the body had vanished ; 
 and rage was added to their astonishment when 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 353 
 
 they discovered the indignity practised on 
 their right cheeks : yet the object of that anger 
 and that amazement was unknown ; they, how- 
 ever, all joined in one vociferation. 
 
 It is the same wretch who has robbed us 
 of the body, our senses, and our beards.'’ 
 
 They were not mistaken 5 but this conclu- 
 sion was suflB-cient only to establish their neg- 
 ligence, without detecting the thief. A\Tien 
 these things were repeated to the monarch, in- 
 dignation and wonder took possession of his 
 breast ; he spent the day in council ; nor, at 
 night, did sleep for a moment reheve him from 
 the vexatious, nay almost fearful image, of a 
 being, who could thus penetrate his coffers; 
 whom neither force could subdue, nor strata- 
 gem entangle. 
 
 In the meantime, Salacris, whose youthful 
 temperament, like a vigorous branch, was 
 flexible and elastic, had recovered from the 
 excessive grief into which he had been lately 
 thrown ; he had, indeed, in some sense, been 
 the author of a brother’s death; but it was 
 
354 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 to protect the life and honour of his parent; 
 and his tears were, perhaps, justly moderated 
 by the dangers he had undergone, and the 
 difficulties he had baffled in rescuing that 
 brother from farther ignominy. He was now 
 insatiable of adventure, and soon embarked 
 in a new project. 
 
 All Egypt resounded with the beauty of 
 Anobis, the only daughter of Rhampsini- 
 tus — the pride of Egypt’s throne, and the 
 secret spark that inflamed the bosoms of her 
 most lofty princes. Salacris, to whose ardour 
 nothing seemed unattainable, had fed eagerly 
 on the report of her graces, of which he re- 
 solved himself to be the witness. Carefully 
 concealing his design from every one, he dis- 
 guised himself as a priest of Isis, and, 
 providing himself with a number of tablets, 
 sought the palace, pretending to be the bearer 
 of oracles of great moment; to which the 
 goddess had attached peculiar directions to be 
 observed, by the ladies of the court, for the 
 weal of Egypt. His disguise was accurate. 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 355 
 
 and his deportment consistent with the as- 
 sumed character , yet he well nigh forgot his 
 composure when, after traversing various 
 apartments, he stood in the presence of the 
 queen and the beautiful Anobis. 
 
 Of all the tablets, except the one presented 
 to herself, the import was vague and trifling ; 
 all of them' were sealed, and the priest 
 pronounced it to be the command of the 
 goddess that the queen and her daughter 
 should peruse her mandates in complete soli- 
 tude. Salacris had now accomplished his de- 
 termination, and was conducted from the 
 palace, himself amazed at his audacity and 
 success. He had, indeed, triumphed over 
 obstacles, and eluded detection ; but he had 
 planted a dagger in his heart, and the exulta- 
 tion of triumph was lost in the throbbings of 
 a hopeless passion. He had concealed the 
 outset ; he divulged the result of the adven- 
 ture to his astonished parent, who, though 
 she doubted the sanity of her son, neverthe- 
 less, on the chance of his yet retaining some 
 
356 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 portion of sense, endeavoured to dissuade him 
 from grasping at a phantom. 
 
 The counsels of age are seldom regarded 
 by youth; and, if her reasoning convinced 
 the understanding of Salacris, his heart was 
 wholly occupied, and his will biassed by the 
 image of Anobis. 
 
 Immediately after the departure of the 
 pretended priest, the queen and princess 
 proceeded to inspect alone their respective 
 tablets : the former beheld some general in- 
 structions in morality; but the latter read, 
 with the utmost astonishment, the following 
 communication : — 
 
 Think not, fair Anobis, this tablet con- 
 tains an oracle ; thou art thyself a divinity, on 
 whose lips depends the happiness of Egypt’s 
 greatest princes ; yet there is one, among thy 
 suitors, whom the gifts of nature have made 
 greater than them all. His glance, like light- 
 ning, hath pierced the recesses of thy palace, 
 and scanned the matchless beauty it contains ; 
 his intellect hath baffled difficulties, and 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 357 
 
 compassed projects insuperable and unattain- 
 able to the rest of mortals; and his hand 
 hath grasped treasures worthy of the coffers 
 of the richest monarch, and inscrutable to the 
 eyes of common men. Those treasures shall 
 be laid at thy feet ; since, though he should 
 retain them, their possessor, without thee, 
 must be poor indeed. Let the secret rest in 
 thy heart, as in obhvion. Farewell; destiny 
 shall finish the strain she hath begun, and 
 that strain must, to me, be sweet, since 
 thou art its glorious theme. 
 
 The perusal of these words threw the 
 princess into a fever of excitement and per- 
 plexity ; she possibly felt her dignity offended 
 at the boldness of the unseen lover ; yet his dic- 
 tion pleased her imagination, and, since herself 
 was the object of the supposed audacity, her 
 breast could not be otherwise than a lenient 
 judge. She read the tablet again ; and, finally, 
 resolved on the secresy it enjoined ; yet, when 
 she sank to repose, her fancy was stiU haunted 
 with the mysterious circumstances of the day ; 
 wild and fantastic visions rose before her. 
 
358 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 and songs of strange and unheard-of sweet- 
 ness ravished the ear of her fancy yet they 
 all ended in the same words : — 
 
 Destiny shall finish the strain she hath 
 begun, and that strain must be sweet to me, 
 since thou art its glorious theme/’ 
 
 Early the next morning she received a sum- 
 mons from her father, in pursuance of a new 
 plan he had resolved to adopt, for the detec- 
 tion of the crafty robber. He had taken the 
 strange resolution of placing his daughter 
 within the treasury, with some attendants at 
 a proper distance, the circumstance being ge- 
 nerally known ; and commanded the princess 
 to make a feint of receiving, with caresses, 
 him that should present himself, but first to 
 require an account of that adventure of his 
 life which he considered most strange and un- 
 exampled; and, having thus extorted a con- 
 fession from the thief, to seize him, and call 
 for the attendants. 
 
 Anobis shuddered at the order ; but Rhamp- 
 sinitus was resolute. The project was as weak 
 as it was extraordinary, and might easily have 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 359 
 
 been eluded by the crafty Egyptian, if he had 
 determined not to approach the building ; but 
 Salacris was dauntless and adventurous, and 
 resolved to seize the opportunity thus afforded 
 of again beholding the object of his affections. 
 Tlie circumstance, indeed, of the attendants 
 was, of course unknown to him, and, if he had 
 been aware of it, his resolution would have been 
 equally unshaken. Waiting, accordingly, till 
 midnight, he cut off one of the arms of his 
 deceased brother, as high as the shoulder, and, 
 having fastened a sleeve upon it, hid it under 
 his cloak, and proceeded, with the utmost se- 
 cresy, to the treasury. Removing the stone, 
 as usual, he entered the building, without his 
 sandals, and said in a low voice : — 
 
 Is it true that these walls enshrine Anobis 
 — the fairest of Egypt’s daughters ?” 
 
 The princess trembled at his words ; for 
 there was something in the tone that reminded 
 her of the priest, from whom she had re- 
 ceived so mysterious a communication the day 
 before. She, however, collected her utmost 
 resolution, and rephed : — 
 
THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 That unhappy princess is indeed here/' 
 She would have continued; but Salacris, 
 fired at the well-known voice, sprang towards 
 the speaker, and, in spite of the almost total 
 darkness, gently seized and kissed her hand. • 
 Pause, presumptuous stranger,” said Ano- 
 bis, ‘^the mandate of a father and a king 
 ought, perhaps, to bind a daughter and a 
 subject ; yet, before we have any farther con- 
 verse, I require of thee an account of the 
 most extraordinary adventure that ever 
 befell thee in the whole course of thy 
 life.” 
 
 Bright Anobis,” answered Salacris, “ thy 
 curiosity hath touched a string, in this heart, 
 whose thrilling vibration tells alike of pain and 
 triumph : thy slave is, in truth the most im- 
 pious and crafty of mankind. The most 
 impious, inasmuch as he cut off his bro- 
 ther’s head, when the latter was caught in 
 a trap in this treasury ; and the most crafty, in- 
 asmuch as he afterwards rescued that brother’s 
 body, by intoxicating the guards set to watch 
 it.” 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 361 
 
 “ Treason/’ cried the princess, ‘‘ by Osiris, 
 these words of thine are mortal.” 
 
 As she said this, she seized his clothes, and 
 the wily Salakris, favoured by the darkness, 
 thrust out the arm of his dead brother from 
 his cloak, which Anobis grasped with all her 
 might, caUing, at the same time, for the at- 
 tendants ; whilst, vdth rapid and noiseless 
 step, the incomparable robber had escaped 
 through the aperture, and replaced the stone. 
 At the signal of the princess, the guards ap- 
 peared from a secret station ; each vdelded a 
 weapon and a torch ; but the former was 
 useless, since the latter only revealed the 
 princess holding an arm, the owner of which 
 had vanished. 
 
 In mute astonishment Anobis repaired 
 to the palace ; and Rhampsinitus, ha^ung 
 heard the affair, convened a council to con- 
 sider by what means they should farther 
 pursue, or propitiate a being who could pene- 
 trate walls, hke the most subtle elements, and 
 surrender his head and hmbs, with as httle 
 
 VOL. T. 
 
 R 
 
862 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS 
 
 scruple and difficulty, as a part of his 
 dress. 
 
 The opinions of the assembly were va- 
 rious; and many strange circumstances were, 
 as is usually the case, added to those which 
 had really transpired. Streams of blood were 
 reported to have been seen ; nor were there 
 wanting some who swore, by all the gods, that 
 a man, without an head, and with one arm, 
 had been discovered walking up and down by 
 the royal treasury. 
 
 The monarch heard and weighed their sen- 
 timents ; and, finally, came to the resolution 
 of proclaiming through his dominions that 
 if the man who had so long deceived and 
 baffled his king, would make himself known, 
 he should not only be pardoned, but receive, 
 in addition, a great reward. 
 
 Salakris listened to the proclamation; he 
 had defied the power and vigilance, and 
 he now resolved to trust the word of the 
 monarch. He accordingly revealed himself 
 to the court; and, when he had explained 
 
AND THE ARCHITECT. 
 
 363 
 
 the various stratagems he had employed, 
 Rhampsinitus forgot his indignation at the 
 recital of such matchless ingenuity ; con- 
 firmed his pardon on the spot, and gave 
 him in marriage the fair Anobis. 
 
 An immeasurable distance, doubtless, in- 
 tervened between the princess and the plebeian, 
 yet the former had, perhaps, been lowered by 
 the strange part she had been obliged to 
 execute, by her father’s command; and the 
 latter was at least distinguished and, in his 
 monarch’s estimation, elevated by the versati- 
 lity of his genius. 
 
 When introduced to her lover, the princess 
 could not be insensible to his fine form, flash- 
 ing eyes, and graceful deportment ; and, as 
 he pressed her hand with a thrill of ardour, he 
 awakened a thousand sensations of pleasure, 
 a thousand soft emotions, as he whispered : — 
 “ Destiny shall complete the strain she hath 
 begun ; and that strain must be sweet to me, 
 since thou art its glorious theme.” 
 
 The nuptials were celebrated with splendour ; 
 Salakris never, for a moment, forgot his 
 
364 THE STORY OF RHAMPSINITUS &C. 
 
 parent, who shared the full tide of his fortune ; 
 and the affection and fidelity with which he 
 ever served, more than obliterated the fraud 
 which had formerly mocked his king. 
 
 EXD OF VOL I. 
 
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