forefathers transported, not merely their beneficent institutions,
but their vast temples and tomb-buildings which covered so much space?
Always to the desert outside the town. Arrianus had even written these
verses on the gigantic sphinx near the Pyramids.

"The gods erewhile created these far-shining forms, wisely sparing the
fields and fertile corn-bearing plain."

The moderns had forgotten thus to spare the arable land, and they had
also neglected to make good use of the desert. The dead and plague-
stricken must not be allowed to endanger the living; they must therefore
be lodged away from the town, in the Necropolis in the desert.

"But we cannot let them be under the broiling sun," cried the president.

"Still less," added another, "can we build a house for them in a day."

To this Horapollo replied:

"And who would be so foolish as to ask you to do either? But there are
linen and posts to be had in Memphis. Have some large tents pitched in
the Necropolis, and all who fall sick of the pestilence removed there at
the expense of the city and tended under their shade. Appoint three or
four of your number to carry this into execution and there will be a
shelter for the roofless sick in a few hours. How many boatmen and
shipwrights are standing idle on the quays! Call them together and
in an hour they will be at work."

This suggestion was approved. A linen-merchant present exclaimed: "I can
supply what is needed," and another who dealt in the same wares, and