eart with care all that agrees in their judgments concerning
Assyria. If all tell thee that danger is coming from that point, Thou
wilt know that it is coming; but if different men speak variously, be
on thy guard also, for wisdom commands us to look for less good and
more evil."

"Thy speech is like that of the gods," whispered the heir of Egypt,

"I am old, and from the height of the throne things are seen of which
mortal men have not even a suspicion. Wert Thou to inquire of the sun
what he thinks of this world's affairs, he would tell thee things still
more curious."

"Among the people from whom I am to gain knowledge of Assyria, Thou
hast not mentioned the Greeks, O father," put in Ramses.

The pharaoh nodded, and said with a kindly smile,

"The Greeks! oh, the Greeks! A great future is in store for that
people. In comparison with us they are in childhood, but what a spirit
is in them!

"Dost remember my statue made by a Greek sculptor? That is my second
self, a living person! I kept it a month in the palace, but at last I
gave it to the temple in Thebes. Wilt Thou believe, fear seized me lest
that stone should rise from its seat and claim one-half of the
government. What a disorder would rise then in Egypt!

"The Greeks! Hast Thou seen the vases which they make, the palaces
which they build? From that clay out there and from stone something
comes that delights my old age and forbids me to think of my
feebleness.

"And their language! O gods, it is music and sculpture and painting. In
truth, I say that if Egypt could ever die as a man dies, the Greeks
would take all its property. Nay more, they would persuade the world
that everything done by us was their work, and that we never existed.
And still they are only the pupils of our primary schools, for, as Thou
knowest, we have no right to communicate the highest knowledge to
foreigners."

"Still, father, it seems that Thou hast no trust in the Greeks."

"No, for they are peculiar; one can trust neither Greek nor Phoenician.
The Phoenician, when he wishes, sees and will tell thee genuine truth
of Egypt, but Thou wilt never know when he is telling it. The Greek, as
simple as a child, would tell the truth always, but he is never able.

"The Greeks look at the world in a manner different altogether from our
way. In their wonderful eyes everything glitters, assumes colors and
changes, as the sky and the water of Egypt. How then could we rely on
their judgmen