dred years. On these
Stygian shores the bones of some are still dug up in our day: they have
remained unsepulchred for more than thirty times their predestined
century. Even to wicked kings a burial had thus been denied. But, if the
verdict of the assessors was favourable, a coin was paid to the boatman
Charon for ferriage; a cake was provided for the hippopotamus Cerberus;
they rowed across the lake in the baris, or death-boat, the priest
announcing to Osiris and the unearthly assessors the good deeds of the
deceased. Arriving on the opposite shore, the procession walked in
solemn silence, and the mummy was then deposited in its final
resting-place--the catacombs.

[Sidenote: Ceremonies, creeds, oracles, prophecy.]

From this it may be gathered that the Egyptian religion did not remain a
mere speculative subject, but was enforced on the people by the most
solemn ceremonies. Moreover, in the great temples, grand processional
services were celebrated, the precursors of some that still endure.
There were sacrifices of meat-offerings, libations, incense. The
national double creed, adapted in one branch to the vulgar, in the other
to the learned, necessarily implied mysteries; some of these were
avowedly transported to Greece. The machinery of oracles was resorted
to. The Greek oracles were of Egyptian origin. So profound was the
respect paid to their commands that even the sovereigns were obliged to
obey them. It was thus that a warning from the oracle of Amun caused
Necho to stop the construction of his canal. For the determination of
future events, omens were studied, entrails inspected, and nativities
were cast.

CHAPTER IV.

GREEK AGE OF INQUIRY.

RISE AND DECLINE OF PHYSICAL SPECULATION.

IONIAN PHILOSOPHY, _commencing from Egyptian Ideas, identifies
in Water, or Air, or Fire, the First Principle.--Emerging from
the Stage of Sorcery, it founds Psychology, Biology,
Cosmogony, Astronomy, and ends in doubting whether there is
any Criterion of Truth._

ITALIAN PHILOSOPHY _depends on Numbers and Harmonies.--It
reproduces the Egyptian and Hindu Doctrine of Transmigration._

ELEATIC PHILOSOPHY _presents a great Advance, indicating a
rapid Approach to Oriental Ideas.--It assumes a Pantheistic
Aspect._

RISE OF PHILOSOPHY IN EUROPEAN GREECE.--_Relations and
Influence of the Mediterranean Commercial and Colonial
System.--Athens attains to commer