Page:Thotharomance00nichgoog.djvu/77

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72
THOTH.

"The total number of men, women, and children does not exceed twenty thousand."

"And is this the only city in thy dominion?"

"Yes."

"How, then, canst thou boast of conquering the world?—and thou didst say so. Thine oath was soon forgotten."

"We have long since learned that safety and power are not in multitudes, but in wisdom and skill. Our archers, few as they are, are equal almost to Apollo. Thou hast seen that we can ride through the air, and thou shalt learn that we can perform other wonders unknown to the rest of the world. But it is best to begin with the simplest things. I will show thee our lowest class of workers."

They drove to a distant part of the city, and as they passed along, the signs of life became much more abundant. The dwellings, though still large, were smaller and much