*'  At  this  time  Pythagoras  wns  in  Egypt,
and  had  become  a  pnest  through  favor
of  my  husband  and  others  of  the  Greek
faction,  who  meant  to  break  down  the  old
prejudices.  Seeing  the  militar}-^  spirit  of
their  nation  extinct,  and  the  Phaiaos  de-
pendant on  foreigners  for  the  defence  of
his  territory,  they  wished  to  mingle  the
two  nations,  declaring  that  as  they  were
of  Egyptian  origin,  the  Greeks  should  be
admitted  of  the  military  order,  and  treat-
ed as  the  brothers  of  the  Egyptians.  But
these  projects  and  opinions  came  all  to
nought.
"  Pvthafforas  came  often  to  our  house
in  Ilehopolis  to  converse  with  my  husband.
I  remember  well  his  tall,  spare  tigure,  and
delicate  complexion.  His  appearance  and
expression  were  unlike  anything  I  have
ever  seen,  for  they  combined  the  expres-
sion of  an  enthusiast  with  the  manners  of
an  aristocrat.
*'  We  lived  splendidly  at  Heliopohs.
My  husband's  palace  adjoined  the  great
temple,  where  the  worship  of  Ammon  and
of  the  Sun  is  daily  solemnized.  From  the
windows  of  the  balcony  and  from  the  roof,
we  overlooked  the  great  avenue  leading  to
the  temple,  along  which  processions  moved
on  each  one  of  the  many  feast  days  of  the
Egyptians.  One  half  the  time  we  spent  in
Iwnqiieting  and  celebrations,  the  remainder


in  study  and  the  rites  of  the  Sun.  My
husband  instructed  me  in  all  the  mysteries.
I  read  secretly  the  books  of  thrice  great
Hermes,  which  treat  of  polity,  medicine,
and  indeed  of  all  that  appertains  to  this
life ;  I  composed  poems  in  the  sacred
character,  and  soon  had  the  reputation  of
the  most  learned,  as  well  as  of  the  hand-
somest woman  in  Egypt.  My  evening
parties,  suppers  and  festivrtls,  were  attend-
ed by  all  the  nobility  and  their  wives.
