He was not content with his mother’s kingdom, considering it too small for one of his
 endowment; and when he had conquered many peoples and had acquired supreme power he
 established his royal seat in Egypt , because he
 judged that country to be far superior as his place of residence, not only to the lands
 which then were his, but even to all other countries in the world. For he saw that all other regions are neither seasonably nor conveniently situated in
 relation to the nature of the universe, but some are deluged by rains and others scorched
 by heat; Egypt , Egypt here means the Delta of the Nile ; cf. Hdt. 2.14 . Praise
 of Egypt is found in Plat. Tim. 22c . however, having the most admirable situation of the
 universe, i.e., as regards climate and fertility. 
 was able to produce the most abundant and most varied products, and was defended by the
 immortal ramparts of the Nile , a river which by its nature provides not only protection to the land, but also its means
 of subsistence in abundance, being impregnable and difficult for foes to conquer, yet
 convenient for commerce and in many respects serviceable to dwellers within its bounds.
 For in addition to the advantages I have mentioned, the Nile has bestowed upon the Egyptians a godlike power in respect to the
 cultivation of the land; for while Zeus is the dispenser Cf. Hom. Il. 4.84 . of rains and droughts to the
 rest of mankind, of both of these each Egyptian has made himself master on his own
 account. And to so perfect a state of happiness have the Egyptians come that with respect to the
 excellence and fertility of their land and the extent of their plains they reap the fruits
 of a continent, and as regards the disposition of their superfluous products and the
 importation of what they lack, the river’s possibilities are such that they inhabit an
 island A reference to the Delta, enclosed and watered by
 the branches of the Nile . ; for the
 Nile , encircling the land and flowing through
 its whole extent, has given them abundant means for both. So Busiris thus began, as wise men should, by occupying the fairest country and also by
 finding sustenance sufficient for his subjects. Afterwards, he divided them into
 classes Isocrates here praises the caste system. Cf.
 Plato in the Republic . : some he appointed to priestly services,
 others he turned to the arts and crafts, and others he forced to practise the arts of war.
 He judged that, while necessities and superfluous products must be provided by the land
 and the arts, the safest means of protecting these was practice in warfare and reverence
 for the gods.