Ten thousand populous cities rise on the shores of the Nile, not a foot of the soil lies untilled, every child enjoys the protection of law and justice, and every ill-doer shuns the watchful eye of the authorities.
"In case of attack from without, have we not, as defenders of those god-given bulwarks, our cataracts, our sea and our deserts, the finest army that ever bore arms?
Thirty thousand Hellenes beside our entire Egyptian military caste?
such is the present condition of Egypt! Rameses purchased the bright tinsel of empty fame with the blood and tears of his people.

To me they are indebted for the pure gold of a peaceful welfare as citizens--to me and to my predecessors, the Saitic kings!" [The science of fortification was very fairly understood by the ancient Egyptians.

Walled and battlemented forts are to be seen depicted on their monuments.

We have already endeavored to show (see our work on Egypt.

I.78 and following) that, on the northeast, Egypt defended from Asiatic invasion by a line of forts extending from Pelusium to the Red Sea.] "And yet I tell thee," cried the prince, "that a worm is gnawing at the root of Egypt's greatness and her life.