"It is this. In the ancient days of the earth, before the deluge of the gods, the thrice great Hermes, who knew all the secrets of alchemy, engraved them upon an emerald table and placed it in a cave, which he sealed up. His motive for doing this was both to preserve them and to conceal them from men—for the race of man had grown so wicked, that they made use of what they knew of alchemy to injure one another and defy the deities, answering back the thunder of heaven with thunders of their own. Over this cave the first pyramid was built, and there the emerald table, with all its secrets, so dear to our sex, has remained to this hour!"
I thanked Luxora for her legend, and assured her that I had quite as much curiosity to see the wonderful emerald as she had.
"But if it were discovered," said Osiria, "who could read and understand the writing upon it! Now, O prince, hear my tradition; for, having visited the pyramids, it will be agreeable to you to hear all that is said about them."
"I will listen with the greatest pleasure," I answered.
But, dear mother, I will here close this long letter, and reserve, for the commencement of my next, the singular tradition related to me by Osiria.
Your affectionate son,
Sesostris
LETTER XVII.
Palace of the Hierarch, at Memphis.