456 
for their ‘materials and fabric seem 
eapable of an eternal duration’; yet 
owing'to this defect, they have not 
been able to preserve with certainty 
even the names of most of their 
founders.—These were the reflec- 
tions of the young nobleman. 
Perhaps, added he, the time may 
come, when the Latin inscription 
which Augustus had engraved on 
the’ basis, which seeins as’ fresh as 
if the sculptor had finished it but 
last week, will be found as unin+ 
telligible as: these hierog!yphic cha- 
yacters. 
While the young nobleman was 
expressing these sentiments, Crito 
stood for some time in silence, fix- 
ing ‘his eyes on the vast ruins of the 
shaft of the obelisk. 
“* Ts not this,” said he, “a strong 
“emblem of the vanity of thegreat- 
‘“est human grandeur?’’ Such is 
become the monument and’ memo- 
vial of the proudest of kings. How 
awful is this spectacle! and how 
instractive, not enly to the’ philo- 
sophie moralist, but even to adh most 
mortified saint ! 
Oh, sons of earth! atlemptye still to rise 
By mountains. pil’d on mountains to the 
skies? 
Heay’n still, with laughter the vain toil 
surveys, 
Andibories madmen in theheaps they raise. 
But what,—continued he, after 
another short but solemn pause,— 
what has become of the empire of 
Egypt itself? 
Ruined, like this obelisk; 
fallen, never to rise again. 
An example for ever to mankind, 
that no excellence of situation (for 
Egypt was almost as well situated 
ss: any island) no degree of popu- 
Tousness or power, of wealth or sci- 
ence, is able to secure a vation from 
ruin and perpetual servitude, when- 
and 
‘ 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1702: 
ever the people, as was the caseinthe 
decline of Egypt; shall for the love 
of luxury quit the love’ of virtue’; 
whenever its: governors’ shall think 
wisdom to be consistent with: self- 
interest and pride: thus despising 
God, and injuring mankind; instead 
of labouring witb joy to be the -be+ 
nefactors of their fellow-creatures, 
and the dutiful servants of their 
great and common Creator. 
Saying this, Crito: looked with 
his usual kindness on his pupil, and 
repeated to him the following’ most 
poetic lines of the Hebrew’ prophet; 
leaving him'to judge which of the 
great modern cities of the world 
might most suitably bear the* appli+ 
cation, 
Art thou better than the populouscity of 
Ammon? 
She that was seated among the waters » 
The river of Egypt was her defence: 
The sea was her dominion and riches. 
Lybia and Africa were her helpers: 
JEthiopia and. Egypt were her infinite 
strength ; 
Yet even she » ent into captivity: 
Even she was destroyed utterly, 
O my dear pupil, though I am no 
prophet, let me contemplate, in ima- 
gination, the probable history of 
future ages, 
Two thousand years hence, some 
foreigners will perhaps be going up 
the Thames, in search of antiqui- 
ties; in the same manuer as Norden 
lately went up the Nile. 
Sailing by the ruins of Greenwich, 
they will look to Flamstead’s hill’; 
they will recollect the name of New- 
ton, and of other ancient. English 
astronomers: ‘* How is: this: island 
‘« degenerated!” they will’perhaps 
add, “It has not at present one 
6c bial of mathematics, or of na- 
“ tural philosophy}, in an of its 
** pruvinees !?’ ' 
Rowing 
