The Works of Theophile Gautier, Volume 5

r with such emotion when, proceeding to view the triumphal return of the Pharaoh, she had

ks of the river and the foothills of the Libyan chain, over an immense extent of ground, covered during the inundation by th

croter with metal spikes, capable of stopping whosoever might attempt to climb over. Three doors, the leaves of which were hung on massive pillars, each adorned with a giant lotus-flower planted on

oundations, the great monumental lines, or the rich materials of city buildings, but had striven to attain elegant ligh

sycamore wood. Tall, fluted columns, extremely slender and resembling the staffs of the standards before the king's palace, sprang

thus left an empty space between the ceiling and the flat roof of the villa. Short, small pillars, with flowery capitals

h the Egyptian style, and closed with double sashes, lighted the first story.

heart and framed in a parallelogram cut in the lower part to allow the sign of

green capsules; the gilded palm-leaves of the cornices stood out upon a blue background; the white walls of the fa?ades set

ng, stood a row of trees cut to a point, which formed a screen ag

ther at right angles. Boughs of vine leaves joined one plant to another and formed a succession of leafy arches under which one could walk erect. The ground, carefu

ce aquatic birds and flowers. At the corners of these pools four great palm-trees

planted with fig, peach, almond, olive, pomegranate and other fruit trees; others, again, were planted with ornamental trees only: the tamarisk, the cassia, the acacia, the myrtle, the mimosa, and some still rarer gum-trees found beyond the cataracts of th

rom the Nile, each bore a small boat to enable the master of the estate to enjoy the pleasure of fishing. Fishes of divers forms and brilliant colours played in t

ed by an open balcony whence one could enjoy the sight of the waters and breathe the co

ously the vast enclosure with breeze and sunbeams, the contrast of the rich greenness with the bare whiteness of the chalky sterility of the Libyan chain, the crest of which was seen

dug at the foot of each plant. Others, handling a jar suspended from a pole working on a post, filled with water a wooden gutter which carried it to the parts of the garden that needed irrigating. Gardeners wer

of white drawers, going and coming amid the greenery with orderly activity, singing a rustic song to which their steps kept time.

t cheeks, his serious-looking, closed lips, the perfect oval of his face, were essentially different from the African nose, the projecting cheek-bones, the thick lips, and broad face characteristic of the Egyptians. Nor was his complexion the same; the copper tint was replaced by an olive pallor, which the rich, pure blood flushed slightly; his eye

not busy with the farm work-she had returned many times under pretext of driving, and had made her chariot pass under the balcony of the villa; but although she had put on her handsomest tunics, fastened around her neck her richest necklaces and encircl

for the priest's daughter he would have given Twea, Ta?a, Amense, Hont-Reché, his Asiatic captives, his vases of gold and silver, his necklaces of gems, his war chariots, hi

mes, surrounded herself with flowers, and drank draughts that bring forgetfulness. Music wearied her or overexcited her feelings; she had ceased to take any pleasure in the dances of her companions; at night, sleep fled from her eyelids, an

Tahoser felt so unhappy and life seemed so empty that she dete

d with the first light of the dawn, without being heard by Nofré, who was dreaming of the handsome Ahmosis, she left her room, crossed the garden, drew th

hand to her heart to still its beat

pening to give passage to the ox teams going to

icating gesture, more beautiful, perhaps, even in this humble attitude and in

er for what she was, ind

ter without fear. Thi