If the princess is pleased that her fervant fhould die, returned the lady, let her command fome death lefs dreadful than enclosure in this horrid cavern. You know I dare not disobey you: I must go if you command me; but, if I once enter, I never fhall come back.”

"The princefs faw that her fear was too ftrong for expoftulation or reproof, and embracing her, told her that she should stay in the tent till their return. Pekuah was yet not fatisfied, but entreated the princefs not to perfue fo dreadful a purpose as that of entering the receffes of the pyramid. "Though I cannot teach courage, faid Nekayah, I nor leave muft not learn cowardife;

at last undone what I came hither only to

do."

CHAP.

CHA P. XXXI.

They enter the Pyramid.

PEK

EKUAH defcended to the tents, and the rest entered the pyramid : they paffed through the galleries, furvey'ed the vaults of marble, and examined the cheft in which the body of the founder is fupposed to have been repofited. They then fat down in one of the moft fpacious chambers to rest a while before they attempted to return.

"We have now, faid Imlac, gratified our minds with an exact view of the greatest work of man, except the wall of China.

"Of

"Of the wall it is very easy to affign the motives. It fecured a wealthy and timorous nation from the incurfions of Barbarians, whofe unskilfulness in arts made it easier for them to fupply their wants by rapine than by induftry, and who from time to time poured in upon the habitations of peaceful commerce, vultures defcend upon domeftick fowl. Their celerity and fiercene's made the wall. neceffary, and their ignorance made it efficacious.

as

"But for the pyramids no reafon has ever been given adequate to the coft and labour of the work. The narrowness of the chambers proves that it could afford no retreat from enemies, and treasures might have been repofited at far less expence with equal fecurity. It feems to

have

have been erected only in compliance with that hunger of imagination which preys inceffantly upon life, and must be always appeafed by fome employment. Those who have already all that they can enjoy, must enlarge their defires. He that has built for ufe, till ufe is fupplied, must begin to build for vanity, and extend his plan to the utmost power of human performance, that he may not be foon reduced to form another wish.

"I confider this mighty ftructure as a monument of the infufficiency of human enjoyments. A king, whofe power is unlimited, and whofe treasures furmount all real and imaginary wants, is compelled to folace, by the erection of a pyramid, the fatiety of dominion and tastelesness of pleasures, and to amufe

the

the tediousness of declining life, by feeing thousands labouring without end, and one stone, for no purpose, laid upon another. Whoever thou art, that, not content with a moderate condition, imagineft happiness in royal magnificence, and dreameft that command or riches can feed the appetite of novelty with perpetual gratifications, furvey the pyramids, and confefs thy folly !”

CHA P. XXXII.

The princess meets with an unexpected misfortune.

TH

HEY rof up, and returned through the cavity at which they

had entered, and the princess prepared

for