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ning and ignorance （which are the light and darkness of thinking beings）； the extinction and resuscitation of arts； and the revolutions of the intellectual world。 If accounts of battles and invasions are peculiarly the business of princes； the useful or elegant arts are not to be neglected； those who have kingdoms to govern have understandings to cultivate。
〃Example is always more efficacious than precept。 A soldier is formed in war； and a painter must copy pictures。 In this； contemplative life has the advantage。 Great actions are seldom seen； but the labours of art are always at hand for those who desire to know what art has been able to perform。
〃When the eye or the imagination is struck with any uncommon work； the next transition of an active mind is to the means by which it was performed。 Here begins the true use of such contemplation。 We enlarge our comprehension by new ideas； and perhaps recover some art lost to mankind； or learn what is less perfectly known in our own country。 At least we compare our own with former times； and either rejoice at our improvements； or； what is the first motion towards good； discover our defects。〃
〃I am willing；〃 said the Prince； 〃to see all that can deserve my search。〃
〃And I；〃 said the Princess； 〃shall rejoice to learn something of the manners of antiquity。〃
〃The most pompous monument of Egyptian greatness； and one of the most bulky works of manual industry；〃 said Imlac； 〃are the Pyramids： fabrics raised before the time of history； and of which the earliest narratives afford us only uncertain traditions。 Of these the greatest is still standing； very little injured by time。〃
〃Let us visit them to…morrow；〃 said Nekayah。 〃I have often heard of the Pyramids； and shall not rest till I have seen them； within and without； with my own eyes。〃
CHAPTER XXXI … THEY VISIT THE PYRAMIDS。
THE resolution being thus taken； they set out the next day。 They laid tents upon their camels； being resolved to stay among the Pyramids till their curiosity was fully satisfied。 They travelled gently； turned aside to everything remarkable； stopped from time to time and conversed with the inhabitants； and observed the various appearances of towns ruined and inhabited； of wild and cultivated nature。
When they came to the Great Pyramid they were astonished at the extent of the base and the height of the top。 Imlac explained to them the principles upon which the pyramidal form was chosen for a fabric intended to co…extend its duration with that of the world： he showed that its gradual diminution gave it such stability as defeated all the common attacks of the elements； and could scarcely be overthrown by earthquakes themselves； the least resistible of natural violence。 A concussion that should shatter the pyramid would threaten the dissolution of the continent。
They measured all its dimensions； and pitched their tents at its foot。 Next day they prepared to enter its interior apartments； and having hired the common guides； climbed up to the first passage； when the favourite of the Princess； looking into the cavity； stepped back and trembled。 〃Pekuah；〃 said the Princess； 〃of what art thou afraid？〃
〃Of the narrow entrance；〃 answered the lady； 〃and of the dreadful gloom。 I dare not enter a place which must surely be inhabited by unquiet souls。 The original possessors of these dreadful vaults will start up before us； and perhaps shut us in for ever。〃 She spoke； and threw her arms round the neck of her mistress。
〃If all your fear be of apparitions；〃 said the Prince； 〃I will promise you safety。 There is no danger from the dead： he that is once buried will be seen no more。〃
〃That the dead are seen no more；〃 said Imlac； 〃I will not undertake to maintain against the concurrent and unvaried testimony of all ages and of all nations。 There is no people； rude or learned； among whom apparitions of the dead are not related and believed。 This opinion； which perhaps prevails as far as human nature is diffused； could become universal only by its truth： those that never heard of one another would not have agreed in a tale which nothing but experience can make credible。 That it is doubted by single cavillers can very little weaken the general evidence； and some who deny it with their tongues confess it by their fears。
〃Yet I do not mean to add new terrors to those which have already seized upon Pekuah。 There can be no reason why spectres should haunt the Pyramid more than other places； or why they should have power or will to hurt innocence and purity。 Our entrance is no violation of their privileges： we can take nothing from them； how； then； can we offend them？〃
〃My dear Pekuah；〃 said the Princess； 〃I will always go before you； and Imlac shall follow you。 Remember that you are the companion of the Princess of Abyssinia。〃
〃If the Princess is pleased that her servant should die；〃 returned the lady； 〃let her command some death less 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 shall come back。〃
The Princess saw that her fear was too strong for expostulation or reproof； and； embracing her； told her that she should stay in the tent till their return。 Pekuah was not yet satisfied； but entreated the Princess not to pursue so dreadful a purpose as that of entering the recesses of the Pyramids。 〃Though I cannot teach courage；〃 said Nekayah； 〃I must not learn cowardice； nor leave at last undone what I came hither only to do。〃
CHAPTER XXXII … THEY ENTER THE PYRAMID。
PEKUAH descended to the tents； and the rest entered the Pyramid。 They passed through the galleries； surveyed the vaults of marble； and examined the chest in which the body of the founder is supposed to have been deposited。 They then sat down in one of the most spacious chambers to rest awhile before they attempted to return。
〃We have now；〃 said Imlac； 〃gratified our minds with an exact view of the greatest work of man； except the wall of China。
〃Of the wall it is very easy to assign the motive。 It secured a wealthy and timorous nation from the incursions of barbarians； whose unskilfulness in the arts made it easier for them to supply their wants by rapine than by industry； and who from time to time poured in upon the inhabitants of peaceful commerce as vultures descend upon domestic fowl。 Their celerity and fierceness made the wall necessary； and their ignorance made it efficacious。
〃But for the Pyramids； no reason has ever been given adequate to the cost and labour of the work。 The narrowness of the chambers proves that it could afford no retreat from enemies； and treasures might have been reposited at far less expense with equal security。 It seems to have been erected only in compliance with that hunger of imagination which preys incessantly upon life； and must be always appeased by some employment。 Those who have already all that they can enjoy must enlarge their desires。 He that has built for use till use is supplied must begin to build for vanity； and extend his plan to the utmost power of human performance that he may not be soon reduced to form another wish。
〃I consider this mighty structure as a monument of the insufficiency of human enjoyments。 A king whose power is unlimited； and whose treasures surmount all real and imaginary wants； is compelled to solace； by the erection of a pyramid； the satiety of dominion and tastelessness of pleasures； and to amuse the tediousness of declining life by seeing thousands labouring without end； and one stone； for no purpose； laid upon another。 Whoever thou art that； not content with a moderate condition； imaginest happiness in royal magnificence； and dreamest that command or riches can feed the appetite of novelty with perpetual gratifications； survey the Pyramids； and confess thy folly！〃
CHAPTER XXXIII … THE PRINCESS MEETS WITH AN UNEXPECTED MISFORTUNE。
THEY rose up； and returned through the cavity at which they had entered； and the Princess prepared for her favourite a long narrative of dark labyrinths and costly rooms； and of the different impressions which the varieties of the way had made upon her。 But when they came to their train； they found every one silent and dejected： the men discovered shame and fear in their countenances； and the women were weeping in their tents。
What had happened they did not try to conjecture； but immediately inquired。 〃You had scarcely entered into the Pyramid；〃 said one of the attendants； 〃when a troop of Arabs rushed upon us： we were too few to resist them； and too slow to escape。 They were about to search the tents； set us on our camels； and drive us along before them； when the approach of some Turkish horsemen put them to flight： but they seized the Lady Pekuah with her two maids； and carried them away： the Turks are now pursuing them by our instigation； but I fear they will not be able to overtake them。〃
The Princess was overpowered with surprise and grief。 Rasselas； in the first heat of his resentment； ordered his servants to follow him； and prepared to pursue the robbers with his sabre in his hand。 〃Sir；〃 said Imlac；