of their privileges; we can take nothing from them, how then can we offend them?

My dear Pekuah, said the princess, I will

always go before you,

and Imlac shall follow

you. Remember that you are the companion of the princess of Abyssinia.

If the princess is pleased that her servant should die, returned the lady, let her command some death less dreadful than enclosure in this horrid cavern. You know I dare not disobey you : go if you command me: but, if I once enter, I never shall come back. »

I must

The princess saw that her fear was too strong for expostulation or reproof, and embracing her, told her that she should stay in the tent till their return. Pekuah was yet not satisfied, but entreated the princess not to pursue so dreadful a purpose as that of entering the recesses of the Pyramid. «Though I cannot teach courage, said Nekayah, I must not learn cowardice; nor leave at last undone what I came hither only to do. >>

leurs priviléges : nous ne pouvons rien leur dre; comment pourrions-nous les offenser?

pren

Ma chère Pékuah, dit la princesse, j'irai devant vous et Imlac vous suivra. Rappelez-vous que vous êtes la compagne de la princesse d'Abyssinie.

S'il plaît à la princesse que son esclave meure, reprit Pékuah, qu'elle daigne ordonner un supplice moins horrible que d'être ensevelie dans cet affreux séjour. Vous le savez, je ne puis désobéir : parlez donc, et je vous suis. Mais si j'entre dans ces lieux, c'en est fait, je ne reverrai jamais la lumière. »

La princesse voyant que ses prières ou ses reproches ne prévaudraient point sur sa frayeur, l'embrassa, et lui permit de rester dans la tente jusqu'à leur retour. Pékuah, à demi satisfaite, suppliait la princesse de renoncer elle-même au projet de visiter ces lieux épouvantables. « Si je ne puis vous donner de leçon de courage, dit Nékayah, je ne veux pas du moins en recevoir de faiblesse ni retourner sans avoir contenté la curiosité qui

m'amène. »

CHAPTER XXXII.

THEY ENTER THE PYRAMID.

PEKUAH descended to the tents, and the rest entered the Pyramid : they passed through the galleries, surveyed the vaults of marble, and examined the chest in which the body of the founder is supposed to have been reposited. They then sat down in one of the most spacious chambers, to rest awhile before they attempted

to return.

« We have now, said Imlac, gratified our minds with an exact view of the greatest work of man, except the wall of China.

<< Of the wall it is very easy to assign the motive. It secured a wealthy and timorous nation from the incursions of barbarians, whose unskilfulness in arts made it easier for them to supply their wants by rapine than by industry, and who from time to time poured in upon the habitations of peaceful commerce, as vultures descend upon domestic fowl. Their celerity and

CHAPITRE XXXII.

ENTRÉE DANS LES PYRAMIDES.

PÉKUAH redescendit vers la tente, et les voyageurs entrèrent dans la pyramide; ils traversèrent les galeries, examinèrent les voûtes de marbre, et virent le coffre dans lequel on suppose que fut déposé le corps du fondateur; puis ils s'assirent dans l'une des plus vastes salles, afin de se reposer un moment avant de revenir sur leurs pas.

« Nous voilà satisfaits, dit Imlac, nous connaissons maintenant le plus grand ouvrage qui, après la muraille de la Chine, soit sorti de la main des hommes.

Cette muraille, ajouta-t-il, avait une destination dont il est facile de se rendre compte. Elle mettait une nation riche et timide à l'abri de peuplades barbares qui, étrangères aux procédés des arts, trouvaient plus simple de pourvoir à leurs besoins par la rapine que par le travail, et qui de temps en temps venaient fondre sur une contrée paisible et commerçante comme les vautours sur les oiseaux

fierceness rendered the wall necessary, and their ignorance made it efficacious.

«But for the Pyramids no reason has ever been given, adequate to the cost and labour of the work. The narrowness of the chambers proves that it could afford no retreat from enemies, and treasures might have been reposited at far less expense with equal security. It seems to have been erected only in compliance with that hunger of imagination which preys incessantly upon life, and must be always appeased by some employment. Those who have already all that they can enjoy, must enlarge their desires. He that has built for use, till use is supplied, must begin to build fort vanity, and extend his plan to the utmost power of human performance, that he may not be soon reduced to form another wish.

<< I consider this mighty structure as a monument of the insufficiency of human enjoyments. A king, whose power is unlimited, and whose treasures surmount all real and imaginary wants, is compelled to solace, by the erection of a Pyramid, the satiety of dominion, and tastelessness of pleasures and to amuse the tediousness of declining life, by seeing thousands labouring without end,