Now Philammon believed most utterly in the devil, and night and day devoutly prayed to be delivered from him; so he crossed himself, and ejaculated, honestly enough, 'Lord, turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity!'....

and looked nevertheless....
And who could have helped looking at those four colossal kings, who sat there grim and motionless, their huge hands laid upon their knees in everlasting self-assured repose, seeming to bear up the mountain on their stately heads?
A sense of awe, weakness, all but fear, came over him.

He dare not stoop to take up the wood at his feet, their great stern eyes watched him so steadily.
Round their knees and round their thrones were mystic characters engraved, symbol after symbol, line below line--the ancient wisdom of the Egyptians, wherein Moses the man of God was learned of old--why should not he know it too?
What awful secrets might not be hidden there about the great world, past, present, and future, of which he knew only so small a speck?
Those kings who sat there, they had known it all; their sharp lips seem parting, ready to speak to him....

Oh that they would speak for once!....

and yet that grim sneering smile, that seemed to look down on him from the heights of their power and wisdom, with calm contempt....