It is told that the Caliph Al-Maamun, son of Harun al-Rashid, when he entered the God-guarded city of Cairo, was minded to pull down the Pyramids so that he might take what was within them. But when he went about to do this, he could not succeed, although he did his best. He expended a mint of money in the attempt. And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased her permitted tale.

When it was the Three Hundred and Ninety eighth night

And another said:

"Look on the Pyramids, and hear the twain Recount their annals of the long gone Past: Could they but speak, high marvels had they told Of what Time did to man from beginning to end."

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And a third said:

My friend I please tell me, 'neath the sky Is anything with Egypt's Pyramids can compare? Buildings which frighten Time, albe what dwells On back of earth in fear of Time must fare: If on their marvels rest my sight no more, Yet these I ever shall in memory bear."

And a fourth said:

Where is the man who built the Pyramids? What was his tribe, what day and where his tomb? The monuments survive the men who built Awhile, till overthrown by touch of Doom."

And men also tell a tale of