46 THE RENAISSANCE. 



merchants ran about with sample flasks under their 

 arms, and where garlands of flowers, strange-looking 

 fish, and heaps of purple dates, were set out for sale. 

 They could resort to the barbers' shops and gather 

 the gossip of the day ; or to taverns, where quail 

 fighting was always going on. Nor were the chief 

 ornaments of sea-port society wanting to grace the 

 scene. No Egyptian girl, as Herodotus discovered, 

 would kiss a Greek. But certain benevolent and 

 enterprising men had imported a number of Heterce, 

 or lady-friends, the most famous of whom was Rho- 

 dopis, the rosy-faced, whom Sappho's brother fell in 

 love with, and whom the poetess lampooned. 



The foreign policy of Egypt was now completely 

 changed. A long period of seclusion had followed the 

 conquests of the new Empire. But the battle-pieces 

 of the ancient time still glowed upon the temple walls. 

 With their vivid colours and animated scenes they 

 seemed to incite the modern Pharaohs to heroic deeds. 

 The throne was .surrounded by warlike and restless 

 men. It was determined that Egypt should become 

 a naval power. For this timber was indispensable, 

 and the forests of Lebanon must be seized. War was 

 carried to the continent. Syria was reduced. A 

 garrison was planted on the banks of the Euphrates. 

 A navy was erected in the Mediterranean Sea, and 

 the Tyrians defeated in a great sea battle. The Suez 

 Canal was opened for the first time, and an exploring 

 expedition circumnavigated Africa. 



Yet, for all that, and all that, the Egyptian people 

 were not content. The victories won by mercenary 

 troops excited little patriotic pride, and the least re- 

 verse occasioned the most gloomy forebodings, the 

 most serious discontent. The Egyptians indeed had 



