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

in particular of Apollo , who was held in peculiar veneration at This , and at Abydus , which was dependant upon it . Having thus previously sent to the gods what was most dear to her , she addressed herself to Amedes , in the following discourse : —Wise and faithful counsellor , said she , the kingdom will not be so happy to have you for its support under the administration which will succeed my death . ' Devote yourself to my son , and be his governor and council . The gods assure mo that those virtues they have

promised him will be the effects of your instructions and example . Amedes immediately embracing young Sethos , with the respect duo to him , —My prince , said ho , to you I entirely devote the remains of my strength and life . All the services I am capable of rendering my country arc included in the education I shall have the honour of giving to him to whom the sovereignty

ot it will one day or right belong . In that instant the king , who , not to bo wanting in his devoirs , had made it a rule to visit the queen twice a day , entered her apartment : — My lord , said she , upon seeing him approach , the oracle has pronounced my doom . It may not be seemly to recommend a son to his father ; but since he is _ going to be deprived of me , vouchsafe to accept my entreaty that you will be to him a lather and a mother . Madam , answered the

king , my son is dear to me for my own sake , and will be still dearer to me for yours , but I do not 3 'et despair of moving the gods to pity for your preservation , —upon which , covering his eyes with his hands , he departed . The next thing the queen did was to distribute jewels to all her attendants , according to their birth and quality . That ' serenity which ' appeared in her countenance had changed their despair into gentle tears . At last , turning to the young prince—For you , my son said she , I have

reserved tms casket ; in it you will find jewels ¦ to an inestimable value , and sufficient for your support , to whatever state fortune may reduce you . Amedes will keep them for you , or employ them for your service . But for-this emerald , set in the form of a heart , which I have hitherto caused you to wear about your neck , and which you shall convert into a ring , when you put off the habit of a child , never part with it on any account . About four years since your father caused us all three to be

represented in relievo upon the same stone ; himself in the form of Osiris , me in the resemblance of Isis , and you , like Horus , standing between us . The ingenious workman afterwards , by his command , cut this stone into three pieces , according to the bigness of the figures . One of them is that you wear , another is set in the ring I now take from my finger and put into your casket . These two , when divested of their ornaments , will exactly

correspond with the third , which your father has himself upon his finger . Adieu , my son ! May the gods protect you and receive me ! Sethos , touched with all the sentiments his tender years were susceptible of , replied : —I receive , madam , what you are pleased to bestow upon me . I have given attention to what you have said ; and when I am of riper years , I will endeavour to do as you have done . The queen pressed his hand , and made a , sign for him to he removed . She spoke no more , and an hour afterwards yielded to the fatal stroke .

I will not pretend to give a description of the grief which overspread Memphis and all the provinces of the kingdom as this melancholy news reached them . The tears which were shed upon a bare apprehension of this catastrophe may give some idea of it . * The Egjqitians in former daj's were so much devoted to their sovereigns that a mourning in the royal mansion was generally , a domestic mourning in every family . They gave testimony