The time will come When these stupendous piles you deem immortal, Worn out with age, shall moulder on their bases, And down, down, low to endless ruin verging, O'erwhelm'd by dust, be seen and known no more!-- Ages ago, in dark oblivion's lap Had they been shrouded, but the atmosphere In these parch'd climates, hostile to decay, Is pregnant with no rain, that by its moisture Might waste their bulk in such excess of time, And prove them merely mortal. 'Twas on this plain the ancient Memphis stood, Her walls encircled these tall pyramids-- But where is Pharoah's palace, where the domes Of Egypt's haughty lords?--all, all are gone, And like the phantom snows of a May morning Left not a vestige to discover them! _Traveller_ How shall I reach the vortex of this pile-- How shall I clamber up its shelving sides? I scarce endure to glance toward the summit, It seems among the clouds--When was't thou rais'd, O work of more than mortal majesty-- Was this produc'd by persevering man, Or did the gods erect this pyramid? _Genius_ Nor gods, nor giants rais'd this pyramid-- It was the toil of mortals like yourself That swell'd it to the skies-- See'st thou yon' little door? Through that they pass'd, Who rais'd so high this aggregate of wonders! What cannot tyrants do, When they have subject nations at their will, And the world's wealth to gratify ambition! Millions of slaves beneath their labours fainted Who here were doom'd to toil incessantly, And years elaps'd while groaning myriads strove To raise this mighty tomb--and but to hide The worthless bones of an Egyptian king.-- O wretch, could not a humbler tomb have done, Could nothing but a pyramid inter thee! _Traveller_ Perhaps old Jacob's race, when here oppress'd, Rais'd, in their years of bondage this dread pile. _Genius_ Before the Jewish patriarchs saw the light, While yet the globe was in its infancy These were erected to the pride of man-- Four thousand years have run their tedious round Since these smooth stones were on each other laid, Four thousand more may run as dull a round Ere Egypt sees her pyramids decay'd. _Traveller_ But suffer me to enter, and behold The interior wonders of this edifice. _Genius_