bulky works of manual industry, faid Imlac, are the Pyramids; fabricks raised before the time of hiftory, and of which the earliest narratives afford us only uncertain traditions. Of these the greatest is ftill ftanding very little injured by time."

"Let us vifit them to-morrow, faid Nekayah. I have often heard of the Pyramids, and fhall not reft, till I have feen them within and without with my own eyes."

CHAP.

CHA P. XXX.

THEY VISIT THE PYRAMIDS.

HE refolution being thus taken,

THE

they set out the next day. They laid tents upon their camels, being refolved to stay among the Pyramids till their curiofity was fully satisfied. They travelled gently, turned afide to every thing remarkable, ftopped from time to time and converfed with the inhabitants, andob served the various appearances of towns ruined and inhabited, of wild and cultivated nature.

When they came to the great pyramid, they were astonished at the extent of the bafe, and the height of the top. Imlac explained to them the principles upon which the pyramidal form was

chofen

chofen for a fabrick intended to co-extend its duration with that of the world: he fhewed that its gradual diminution gave it such stability, as defeated all the common attacks of the elements, and could scarcely be overthrown by earthquakes themselves, the leaft refiftible of natural violence. A concuffion that should shatter the pyramid would threaten the diffolution of the continent.

They measured all its dimenfions, and pitched their tents at its foot. Next day they prepared to enter its interior apartments, and having hired the common guides climbed up to the first paffage, when the favourite of the princess, looking into the cavity, ftepped back and trembled." Pekuah, faid the princefs, of what art thou afraid?" " Of the narrow entrance, answered the lady,

and

and of the dreadful gloom. I dare not enter a place which muft furely be inhabited by unquiet fouls. The original poffeffors of these dreadful vaults will ftart up before us, and perhaps fhut us in for ever." She spoke, and threw her arms round the neck of her mistress.

"If all your fear be of apparitions, faid the prince, I will promife you safety: there is no danger from the dead; he that is once buried will be feen no more."

"That the dead are feen no more, faid Imlac, I will not undertake to maintain, against the concurrent and unvaried teftimony of all ages, and of all nations. There is no people, rude or learned, among whom apparitions of the dead are not related and believed. This opinion, which perhaps prevails as far as human nature is diffufed, could become univerfal

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univerfal only by its truth: those, that never heard of one another, would not have agreed in a tale which nothing but experience can make credible. That it is doubted by fingle cavillers, can very little weaken the general evidence; and fome who deny it with their tongues confefs it by their fears.

"Yet I do not mean to add new terrours to those which have already seized upon Pekuah. Pekuah. There can be no reason why spectres fhould haunt the pyramid more than other places, or why they should have power or will to hurt innocence and purity. Our entrance is no violation of their privileges; we can take nothing from them, how then can we offend them?"

"My dear Pekuah, faid the princess, I will always go before you, and Imlac shall follow you. Remember that you

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are