The Irish standard., 1889-11-23


PLACE
r-zm7=Svz1 STOOD within a
!" ! ]
N/SNNNl9AN small, arched cham
k6MHhSsAMRAV8M Der, paved and lined
EX1IS|YAhISWIAW@ with great blocks of
NVEEssMltsV yXYGS the granite stone of
NHNMaB9}Aio Syene. There before
Nk 3AEaHmAP us-hewn| from single
lA4AAyA AaRsAA szAMSAV mass of basalt shaped
E4&sTz NJ like wooden house
Hsg1tsIW ssIIIlu and resting ON sphinx
SzS.K/L@NXygl|!' ' with face of gold
ISIS14&NZ{k> was the sarcophagus Of
Es@-NMmzloDC the divine Menka-ra.
l{N|'lS(G Awed, we stood and gazed,
lS2- I'D for the weight Of the silence
es2 and the solennity of that holy
e. place seemed to crush us. Above US,
cubit over cubit in its mighty measure, the
Pyramid lowered up 20 heaven and was
kissed Of the night air But we were deep
in the bowels of the rock beneath It's base
We were alone with the dead, whose rest
we were about to break; and no SOUND OF
the murmuring air ynd no sight OF life
came TO dull the awful edge OF solitude. l
gazed ON the sarcophagus; it's heavy lid
had been lifted and rested at its side.
Around it the dust Of ages had gathered
thick, and there in the dust was the stamp
of human feet. Then trembled, for knew
that looked on the footprints Of that fore
father of mine, who, generations gone, last
of living men, had visited this holy place
Long had he been gathered to Osiris, and
yet there in the powdered dust was the
press OF his dead foot. 80 "
"See,:' ( whispered, poin ting to a writing
ilaubed with pigment upon the wall in the
sacred symbols of ancient times.
s'Read it, Harmachis," answered Cleo
patra, in the same low voice; "for I can
not.''
Then read: II, Ranleses Miamun, did,
in my day and in my hour Of need, visit
this sepulcher. But, though great my
need and bold my heart, dared not face
the curse of Menka-ra. Judge, o thoucWho
shalt come after me. and, if thy soul be
pure and Khem he utterly distressed, take
thou that which have left.''
ssWhere, then, is the treasurer she
whispered. SIS that SPHINX face Of gold!"
"Eyen there,'' I answered, pointing to
the sarcophagus. ''DraW near and see"
And she took my hand and drew near
The lid was off, but within the depths Of
the sarcophagus lay the painted coffin OF
the Pharaoh. blew the dust from it with
nv breath and read that which was
written thereon. And this was written:
"Pharaoh Nenka-ra, the child OF
Heaven.
Pharaoh Mepka-ra, Royal Son Of the
Sun.
s'Pharaoh Menka-ra. who didst lie be-
pe;th the heart OF Nout
tNout, thy Mother, wraps thee III the speu
of Her holy name.
T,ft
mystery OF Heaven.
'Nout, thy Mother, gathers thee to the
number of the Gods ...-
ssNout, thy Mother, breathes ON thy foes
ana utterly destroys them.
40 Pharaoh Menka-ra, who Invest for
sve,!''
"Where, then, is the treasurer" she asked
again. 'sHere, indeed, is the body Of the
divine Menlsa- ra but the flesh even Of Pha-
eaohs is not gold, and If the face OF this
sphinx be gold how may we move it?'
For answer I babe her stand upon the
sphinx and grasp the upper part of the cot
Rn, while grasped its foot. Then, at my
word, we lifted, and the lid of the case,
which was not xed, came away, and we set
Il uuon the floor. And there in the case was
the mummy of the Pharaoh, as three thou
sond years before it had been laid. A large
mummy it was, and somewhat ungainly.
Nor was it adorned with gilded mask, as
Is the fashion of our day, for the head was
wrapped in cloths yellow with age, which
were made fast with pink faxen bandages,
whereunder were pushed the stems OF lotus
blooms. And on the breast, wreathed over
with lotus flowers, lay plate OF gold close
" written over with sacred writing. lifted
np the plate, and, holding it to the light, /
read:
II, Menka-ra, the Osir an, aforetime Pharaoh
Of the Land OF X lem, who in my day did live
Justly and ever walked in the path marked for
nv feet by the decree Of the Invisible, Who
WAS the beginning and is the end, speak from
my tomb to Tho Sc who after me shall for an
hour st upon my Throne Behold, l. Menka-
20, the Osi:iaa having in the days OF my LIE
been warned OF dream that . time Will come
Hhen Khem shall fear to fall into tire hands OF
strangers and her monarch shall have great
need of treasure wher ,with to furnish arm Cd
10 drive the barbarian back have out OF my
wisdom done this thing. For 1t having pleased
the protecting Gods to give me wealth beyond
any Pharaoh who has been since the days OF
Horus thousands OF cattle and geese, thou
sands OF camels and asses, thousands OF
measures OF corn, and hundreds OF measures
OF gold and gems This wealth have used
sparingly and that which remains have
bartered for prec Gus stones, eve, for emer-
aids the most beautiful and largest that are IN
the world. These stones, then, have Istored
mp against that day Of the need OF Khem. But
because as there have been, SO there shall be,
ahose who do wickedly on the earth, and who,
In the lusto gain, might selze this wealth that
I have stored and putt to theiruse Behold,
thou Unborn One. who in the fullness OF time
shalt stand above me and read this that have
caused to be written, thss have / stored the
treasure; even among my bones. Therefore,
o thou Unborn One sleeping In the womb OF
Nout, this say to theel II thou indeed hast
need OF riches to save Knem from the foes OF
Khen, fear not and delay not, but tear me, the
Ostr an, from my tomb, loose my wrappinRs
and rip the treasure from my breast, and all
Rhall be well with thee, tor this only do I COM
mand: That thou dost replace my bones
within my hollow coffin. But II the need be
passing and not great OF II there be guile
within thy heart, then the curse OF Menka, IA
be on theel On thee be the curse thar shall
iii ,ei him who breaks in upon the dead
ss fk H must be remembered that the an
HI sriatit ssyptiians held the dead ii greater
/ & sanctlsy lliiving tier
ssdesth dhes was still yisited by the soul,
personal