them of their everlasting felicity.

To conclude this article of the ceremonies of funerals, it may not be
amiss to observe to young pupils the different manners in which the bodies
of the dead were treated by the ancients. Some, as we observed of the
Egyptians, exposed them to view after they had been embalmed, and thus
preserved them to after-ages. Others, as the Romans, burnt them on a
funeral pile; and others again, laid them in the earth.

The care to preserve bodies without lodging them in tombs, appears
injurious to human nature in general, and to those persons in particular
to whom respect is designed to be shown by this custom; because it exposes
too visibly their wretched state and deformity; since, whatever care may
be taken, spectators see nothing but the melancholy and frightful remains
of what they once were. The custom of burning dead bodies has something in
it cruel and barbarous, in destroying so hastily the remains of persons
once dear to us. That of interment is certainly the most ancient and
religious. It restores to the earth what had been taken from it; and
prepares our belief of a second restitution of our bodies, from that dust
of which they were at first formed.

Chapter III. Of The Egyptian Soldiers And War.

The profession of arms was in great repute among the Egyptians. After the
sacerdotal families, the most illustrious, as with us, were those devoted
to a military life. They were not only distinguished by honours, but by
ample liberalities. Every soldier was allowed twelve Arourae, that is, a
piece of arable land very near answering to half a French acre,(364)
exempt from all tax or tribute. Besides this privilege, each soldier
received a daily allowance of five pounds of bread, two of flesh, and a
quart of wine.(365) This allowance was sufficient to support part of their
family. Such an indulgence made them more affectionate to the person of
their prince, and the interests of their country, and more resolute in
their defence of both; and as Diodorus observes,(366) it was thought
inconsistent with good policy, and even common sense, to commit the
defence of a country to men who had no interest in its preservation.

Four hundred thousand soldiers were kept in continual pay;(367) all
natives of Egypt, and trained up in the exactest discipline. They were
inured to the fatigues of war, by a severe and rigorous education. There
is an art of forming the body as well as the mind. This ar