is
prohibition, into Egypt, after the taking of Jerusalem; and had forced
Jeremiah along with them.(497) The instant they had reached Egypt, and
were arrived at Tahpanhes, (or Tanis,) the prophet, after having hid in
their presence (by God's command) stones in a grotto, which was near the
king's palace, declared to them, that Nabuchodonosor should soon arrive in
Egypt, and that God would establish his throne in that very place; that
this prince would lay waste the whole kingdom, and carry fire and sword
into all places; that themselves should fall into the hand of these cruel
enemies, when one part of them would be massacred, and the rest led
captive to Babylon; that only a very small number should escape the common
desolation, and be at last restored to their country. All these prophecies
had their accomplishment in the appointed time.

(M95) AMASIS. After the death of Apries, Amasis became peaceable possessor
of Egypt, and reigned over it forty years. He was, according to Plato, a
native of the city of Sais.(498)

As he was but of mean extraction, he met with no respect in the beginning
of his reign, but was only contemned by his subjects:(499) he was not
insensible of this; but, nevertheless, thought it his interest to subdue
their tempers by management and address, and win their affections by
gentleness and reason. He had a golden cistern, in which himself and those
persons who were admitted to his table, used to wash their feet: he melted
it down, and had it cast into a statue, and then exposed the new god to
public worship. The people hasted in crowds to pay their adoration to the
statue. The king having assembled the people, informed them of the vile
uses to which this statue had once been put, which, nevertheless, was now
the object of their religious prostrations: the application was easy, and
had the desired success; the people thenceforward paid the king all the
respect that is due to majesty.

He always used to devote the whole morning to public business, to receive
petitions, give audience, pronounce sentence, and hold his councils: the
rest of the day was given to pleasure: and as Amasis, in hours of
diversion, was extremely gay, and seemed to carry his mirth beyond due
bounds, his courtiers took the liberty to represent to him the
unsuitableness of such a behaviour; when he answered, that it was as
impossible for the mind to be always serious and intent upon business, as
for a bow to continue always ben