Thebes.

[THEBES extends over many square miles on both banks of the Nile, very much as Paris and London over those of the Seine and Thames. On the east bank are the temples of Luxor and Karnac; on the west, the temples of Koorneh, Dayr-el-baharee, Dayr-el-medineh, the Ramesium, the two Colossi, and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, containing the cave-tombs of ancient royalty. The existing monuments belong chiefly to the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries B.C.]

O THEBES! thy wonders 'mid remotest ages Formed a fit theme for ancient bards and sages; But how shall my poor unskilled modern muse Presume to thrust my toes into their shoes,

Or strive in lofty lay with them to vie,

Without their wings through fancy's realms to fly?
Still, since our Log demands renewed attention,
I must proceed our recent deeds to mention;
Behold us, then, at THEBES, where MENES reigned
Sometime before the flood; 'tis not explained
How he and his escaped from being drowned,
And thus contrived a dynasty to found;

But we are bound to take facts as we find them,

And these old kings have left such marks behind

them

As to this day the minds of men astonish,

And modern feeble vanity admonish;

For Pharaoh's royal race reigned here, and flourished,

Ere infant Greece had yet been born or nourished,
And ere the father of the Jewish race

In Egypt sought out an abiding place,
When his fair SARAH was in no small danger
Of being taken from him by a stranger;
For Pharaoh, thinking she was ABRAM's sister,
Found she had raised within his heart a blister;
Which might have led to some domestic strife
Between the faithful Patriarch and his wife!
At all events, we can't such proof refuse
That Pharaohs flourished long before the Jews.
Here, then, with certainty we look around
And know we really tread on ancient ground,
The very cradle of our human history,
Though shrouded still by a thick veil of mystery;
And, much as we lament that superstition

Should have debased, thus early, man's condition,

9

Here, lost to modern sage inquiries,
Lies buried deep the great Osiris,
Enwrapt in mystery;

The object once of adoration

To the old, old Egyptian nation
From dawn of history.

ΙΟ

Here, SETHOS, ere his rule was done,
And RAMESES, his warrior son,

Raised each a fane

Whose wondrous ruins still attest
The skill by architects possessed
Throughout their reign.

II

Into the former as we entered,

Our gaze upon a group was centered
Of German gobblers,

Who, in the very holiest part,

Were feasting on meat-chops and tart

Like famished cobblers.

12

Great SETHOS! how thine injured ghost

Would have rejoiced their limbs to roast

O'er hottest fires!

Thus to defile those sacred halls

Recording on their storied walls
Thy kingly sires!

13

From MENES, founder of thy race,

Each regal name thou here didst place,
That future ages

Might render tribute to their glory,
And make immortal Egypt's story

In history's pages.

14

And though thy race be passed away
Amid long ages of decay,

Still be thy deed

Held by all noble souls in honour,

Though mourning Egypt wears upon her

The widow's weed:

15

Though her great day of might be gone, And her degenerate sons now groan

'Neath tyrant's sway,

Still let the memory of the past
Over her present darkness cast
Its deathless ray!

16

Having thus moralised awhile,
We sought out a secluded aisle
For our own dinner;

For PHARAOH's self, were he our judge,

Would not some crumbs of comfort grudge To a poor sinner!

17

To Nature having tribute paid,

Back to our boats all haste we made,

Halting awhile

At the Copt's hospitable gate

Right glad to sleep, though somewhat late,

On dear old Nile!