sure you would not praise him half as much, if he were not a foreigner
and a novelty."

Phanes happened to be only separated from the speaker by some thick
bushes, and heard these words. When the other had finished, he went up
and said, smiling: "I understood what you said and feel obliged to you
for your kind opinion. The last sentence, however, gave me even more
pleasure than the first, because it confirmed my own idea that the
Persians are the most generous people in the world--they praise the
virtues of other nations as much, or even more, than their own."

His hearers smiled, well pleased at this flattering remark, and Phanes
went on: "How different the Jews are now, for instance! They fancy
themselves the exclusive favorites of the gods, and by so doing incur the
contempt of all wise men, and the hatred of the whole world. And then
the Egyptians! You have no idea of the perversity of that people. Why,
if the priests could have their way entirely, (and they have a great deal
of power in their hands) not a foreigner would be left alive in Egypt,
nor a single stranger allowed to enter the country. A true Egyptian
would rather starve, than eat out of the same dish with one of us. There
are more strange, astonishing and wonderful things to be seen in that
country than anywhere else in the world. And yet, to do it justice,
I must say that Egypt has been well spoken of as the richest and most
highly cultivated land under the sun. The man who possesses that kingdom
need not envy the very gods themselves. It would be mere child's play to
conquer that beautiful country. Ten years there gave me a perfect
insight into the condition of things, and I know that their entire
military caste would not be sufficient to resist one such troop as your
Immortals. Well, who knows what the future may bring! Perhaps we may
all make a little trip together to the Nile some day. In my opinion,