representing the Theban Sphinx. 15 



that the priests, appointed, as in appearance, for objects only of 

 religious service, wasted the substance of the people. The 

 soldiery, having no proper citadel at the time of the British 

 irruption into their settlement, fled for shelter within the walls 

 of the temple ; there they endeavoured, but in vain, to defend 

 themselves for two days, when it was taken by storm. The 

 temple would appear to have been destroyed with the rest of 

 the colonial buildings, which were burnt or razed to the ground 

 by the exasperated Britons. The Sphinx fell, as we may sup- 

 pose, in the undiscriminating ruin ; and although the statues of 

 Claudius, or of the Roman Mars himself might be objects so 

 hateful, as to merit the more particular enmity of Boadicea 

 and her people ; yet the less prominent magnitude of our 

 relic might escape the observation of the wild destroyers ; and 

 might have lain concealed for centuries, and would probably 

 have still remained so for as many ages more, had not the 

 most unexpected accident brought it to light, from amidst 

 the confused variety of ruin whence I so lately assisted in dis- 

 interring it. 



The engravings here presented, are sufficiently satisfactory 

 for a general view of the sculpture ; and, as a contemplation of 

 the original can alone enable one to form a correct idea of its 

 beauties in detail, I shall subjoin only a few words, with 

 respect to the chief characteristics of the Colchester Sphinx. 



It comprises every component part of the allegoric monster 

 of classic fable. The stone presents us with the bust 

 of a young maiden of graceful delicacy, conjoined in a gra- 

 dual transition, that is admitted by the intermediate form of 

 the body of a bitch, with the ponderous yet evidently active 

 powers of a lion's hinder quarter. This portion of the sym- 

 bolic figure, is completed by that most expressive emblem the 

 serpent, which forms the tail; and it is introduced with con- 

 siderable skill in tortuous foldings, that keep it, without undue 

 constraint, within the narrow limits, that the confined size of 

 the material has imposed upon the artist. The back of the 

 Sphinx is furnished with the wings of an eagle, beautifully 

 raised, though not expanded. Thus, our various emblem, 



