382 PHARAOH THE OPPRESSOR. 



viewing it, can attest, after the lapse of considerably 

 more than 3000 years since his death, could in all prob- 

 ability be still easily recognised by anyone who had 

 known him in life. The attitude and expression is 

 that of dignified repose and the face still bears the 

 traces of considerable intellect, and possesses a somewhat 

 aristocratic cast of countenance, with high forehead, 

 sharply chiselled features, and curved nose. In some 

 of the other mummies, however, the process of em- 

 balmment had proved less successful, and they crumbled 

 to dust on being opened. 



We cannot call to mind any circumstance that has 

 ever come under our notice, which exhibits in so 

 striking a manner the strange vicissitudes which time 

 produces, or the hollowness of human greatness and 

 glory, as this exhibition of the mouldering remains of 

 a once renowned sovereign (as a public show), who had 

 formerly ruled over the land with absolutely despotic 

 power, at a time w r hen Egypt was justly regarded as 

 the mistress of the east. These sentiments have been 

 so well expressed in some verses, written upon the 

 subject of this celebrated mummy by a young Australian 

 poetess (who was herself soon afterwards snatched away 

 by death in the flower of her youth), that we have no 

 hesitation in reproducing the opening lines, which run 

 as follows : 



"Pharaoh Lives for Ever" 



[Lines suggested by a Photo of the mummy of 

 Ramses the Great.] 



"Most Mighty Monarch can it ever be 

 That thou, sun of sun's, giv'r of life, shall be, 

 Torn from thy tomb, thine unguent scented shrouds, 

 And set, drear sight of death, to gaping crowds, 



