Reprint Of Scarce, Or Curious, Books On Freemasonry. "The Life Of Sethos."

fever . That sorrow which had so tortured her mind in the first periods of her indisposition , and which she still continued to suppress , was now as visible in her attendants . They looked upon her death as an irrevocable decree of fate ; and the consequences of it , which they foresaw , as well with regard to themselves as the state , threw them into an inexpressible anguish of mind . It was not only that tender affliction arising from the approaching and eternal separation from a mistress and a friend

to whom tliey were entirely devoted . Their concern was like to that of persons who imagined they beheld all their fair possessions on the point of being laid in ashes b } the impetuous ravages of some sudden fire , which would reduce them from a state of plenty to that of extreme indigence , otto the consternation of a city brought to extremity by a barbarous enemy , ready to dcstwty its religion and laws . The anguish of despair was so

visible in their faces that the most beautiful were become ghastly , and those amongst them who were endued with the greatest presence of mind could not conceal their distraction , even in their attendances upon the queen , who still kept a profound silence . The deputies being at last returned , and taking the young prince , with the faithful Amedes , whom they found attending him , with them , they

entered the queen ' s apartment , where , in the presence of both and of her confidant , without airy other witnesses , the chief of the deputation thus unfolded the answer of the oracle , which the sequel of the life of Sethos so exactly verifies that the author of my memoirs may perhaps be suspected of having copied from thence . Yirtuous spouse , generous mother , and wise queen , said he , the gods , adverse , and at the same time propitious , send 3 ou this answer : —Be comforted in that death for which you are already prepared . It is only an uuhappiness to those in whom it puts an end to a wicked life , and when it loads the memory of the deceased with the hatred

and maledictions of the living . The gods are attending to bestow upon you that reward which is due to the good works you have performed , and even to those you designed . You will still live in the hearts of your people , and your son will one day restore to them that felicity which the loss of you is now about to deprive them of . He himself , however , will not be happy , according to the idea common souls form to themselves of the prosperity of princes . But the gods promise him all that heroic virtue which has most

satisfactory in itself , and all that the glory which attends it can indulge with . Born for the good of mankind , he will become a benefactor to nations , preserver of Egypt , and a conqueror of himself . But let those who now hear me keep as an inviolable secret whatever concerns the prince , and suffer the cloud which will overshadow his first years to disnerse of itself .

The priest had hardly made an end of speaking , when the queen , embracing young Sethos , said : —My son , my death is no longer a trouble to me . The gods deprive you of my relief only to give you a more eminent merit and lustre in those great actions they propose to effect by your means . Be faithful to the destiny they have prepared for you , and fulfil all thendesigns . And then , addressing herself to the priests—Return , said she , to

your temples , and continue your vows for my son , whom I have long since recommended to you . The presents I design for the gods shall . immediately follow you ; may they vouchsafe to accept of these slender marks of my gratitude . These presents were all the ornaments of a domestic chapel , which she had caused to be built contiguous to the apartment she slept in . She

had brought them from This , the place of her nativity , where the news of her lamented death was soon going to shorten the days of the king her father . Amongst these ornaments were statues of gold , some of the height of a cubit , which represented the common deities of all Egypt , and