DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12664#0118
THE FRENCH AT THEBES.
109
On the 20th the wind was light but favourable,
and part of the time the men were on shore tow-
ing with the cords. We were now approaching
the most interesting spot on the Nile—perhaps in
the world. Thebes, immortal Thebes, was before
us, and a few hours more would place us among
her ruins. Towards noon the wind died away,
and left us again to the slow movement of the
tow-line. This was too slow for my then excited
humour. I could not bear that the sun should
again set before I stood among the ruins of the
mighty city; and landing on the right side of the
river, I set out to walk. About an hour before
dark the lofty columns of the great temple at
Luxor, and the still greater of Carnac, were visi-
ble. The glowing descriptions of travellers had
to a certain extent inflamed my imagination.
Denon, in his account of the expedition to Egypt,
says that when the French soldiers first came in
sight of Thebes, the whole army involuntarily
threw down their arms and stood in silent admi-
ration ; a sublime idea, whether true or not; but I
am inclined to think that the French soldiers
would have thrown down their arms, and clapped
their hands with much greater satisfaction, if they
had seen a living city and prospect of good quar-
ters. For my own part, without at this moment
referring to particulars, I was disappointed in the
first view of the ruins of Thebes. We walked on
the right side of the river, the valley as usual
running back to the desert.
VOL. I.—K
109
On the 20th the wind was light but favourable,
and part of the time the men were on shore tow-
ing with the cords. We were now approaching
the most interesting spot on the Nile—perhaps in
the world. Thebes, immortal Thebes, was before
us, and a few hours more would place us among
her ruins. Towards noon the wind died away,
and left us again to the slow movement of the
tow-line. This was too slow for my then excited
humour. I could not bear that the sun should
again set before I stood among the ruins of the
mighty city; and landing on the right side of the
river, I set out to walk. About an hour before
dark the lofty columns of the great temple at
Luxor, and the still greater of Carnac, were visi-
ble. The glowing descriptions of travellers had
to a certain extent inflamed my imagination.
Denon, in his account of the expedition to Egypt,
says that when the French soldiers first came in
sight of Thebes, the whole army involuntarily
threw down their arms and stood in silent admi-
ration ; a sublime idea, whether true or not; but I
am inclined to think that the French soldiers
would have thrown down their arms, and clapped
their hands with much greater satisfaction, if they
had seen a living city and prospect of good quar-
ters. For my own part, without at this moment
referring to particulars, I was disappointed in the
first view of the ruins of Thebes. We walked on
the right side of the river, the valley as usual
running back to the desert.
VOL. I.—K