the antiquities of the jews-1-第119章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


manner：　I　have　read　the　epistle　that　was　sent　from　you；　and　I
gave　order　that　the　books　of　my　forefathers　should　be　searched
into；　and　it　is　there　found　that　this　city　hath　always　been　an
enemy　to　kings；　and　its　inhabitants　have　raised　seditions　and
wars。　We　also　are　sensible　that　their　kings　have　been　powerful
and　tyrannical；　and　have　exacted　tribute　of　Celesyria　and
Phoenicia。　Wherefore　I　gave　order；　that　the　Jews　shall　not　be
permitted　to　build　that　city；　lest　such　mischief　as　they　used　to
bring　upon　kings　be　greatly　augmented。〃　When　this　epistle　was
read；　Rathumus；　and　Semellius　the　scribe；　and　their　associates；
got　suddenly　on　horseback；　and　made　haste　to　Jerusalem；　they　also
brought　a　great　company　with　them；　and　forbade　the　Jews　to　build
the　city　and　the　temple。　Accordingly；　these　works　were　hindered
from　going　on　till　the　second　year　of　the　reign　of　Darius；　for
nine　years　more；　for　Cambyses　reigned　six　years；　and　within　that
time　overthrew　Egypt；　and　when　he　was　come　back；　he　died　at
Damascus。

CHAPTER　3。

How　After　The　Death　Of　Cambyses　And　The　Slaughter　Of　The　Magi　But
Under　The　Reign　Of　Darius；　Zorobabel　Was　Superior　To　The　Rest　1n
The　Solution　Of　Problems　And　Thereby　Obtained　This　Favor　Of　The
King；　That　The　Temple　Should　Be　Built。

1。　After　the　slaughter　of　file　Magi；　who；　upon　the　death　of
Cambyses；　attained　the　government　of　the　Persians　for　a　year；
those　families　which　were　called　the　seven　families　of　the
Persians　appointed　Darius；　the　son　of　Hystaspes；　to　be　their
king。　Now　he；　while　he　was　a　private　man；　had　made　a　vow　to　God；
that　if　he　came　to　be　king；　he　would　send　all　the　vessels　of　God
that　were　in　Babylon　to　the　temple　at　Jerusalem。　Now　it　so　fell
out；　that　about　this　time　Zorobabel；　who　had　been　made　governor
of　the　Jews　that　had　been　in　captivity；　came　to　Darius；　from
Jerusalem；　for　there　had　been　an　old　friendship　between　him　and
the　king。　He　was　also；　with　two　others；　thought　worthy　to　be
guard　of　the　king's　body；　and　obtained　that　honor　which　he　hoped
for。

2。　Now；　in　the　first　year　of　the　king's　reign；　Darius　feasted
those　that　were　about　him；　and　those　born　in　his　house；　with　the
rulers　of　the　Medes；　and　princes　of　the　Persians；　and　the
toparchs　of　India　and　Ethiopia；　and　the　generals　of　the　armies　of
his　hundred　and　twenty…seven　provinces。　But　when　they　had　eaten
and　drunk　to　satiety；　and　abundantly；　they　every　one　departed　to
go　to　bed　at　their　own　houses；　and　Darius　the　king　went　to　bed；
but　after　he　had　rested　a　little　part　of　the　night；　he　awaked；
and　not　being　able　to　sleep　any　more；　he　fell　into　conversation
with　the　three　guards　of　his　body；　and　promised；　that　to　him　who
should　make　an　oration　about　points　that　he　should　inquire　of；
such　as　should　be　most　agreeable　to　truth；　and　to　the　dictates　of
wisdom；　he　would　grant　it　as　a　reward　of　his　victory；　to　put　on　a
purple　garment；　and　to　drink　in　cups　of　gold；　and　to　sleep　upon
gold；　and　to　have　a　chariot　with　bridles　of　gold；　and　a　head　tire
of　fine　linen；　and　a　chain　of　gold　about　his　neck；　and　to　sit
next　to　himself；　on　account　of　his　wisdom；　〃and；〃　says　he；　〃he
shall　be　called　my　cousin。〃　Now　when　he　had　promised　to　give　them
these　gifts；　he　asked　the　first　of　them；　〃Whether　wine　was　not
the　strongest？〃the　second；　〃Whether　kings　were　not　such？〃　…　and
the　third；　〃Whether　women　were　not　such？　or　whether　truth　was　not
the　strongest　of　all？〃　When　he　had　proposed　that　they　should　make
their　inquiries　about　these　problems；　he　went　to　rest；　but　in　the
morning　he　sent　for　his　great　men；　his　princes；　and　toparchs　of
Persia　and　Media；　and　set　himself　down　in　the　place　where　he　used
to　give　audience；　and　bid　each　of　the　guards　of　his　body　to
declare　what　they　thought　proper　concerning　the　proposed
questions；　in　the　hearing　of　them　all。

3。　Accordingly；　the　first　of　them　began　to　speak　of　the　strength
of　wine；　and　demonstrated　it　thus：　〃When；〃　said　he；〃　I　am　to　give
my　opinion　of　wine；　O　you　men；　I　find　that　it　exceeds　every
thing；　by　the　following　indications：　It　deceives　the　mind　of
those　that　drink　it；　and　reduces　that　of　the　king　to　the　same
state　with　that　of　the　orphan；　and　he　who　stands　in　need　of　a
tutor；　and　erects　that　of　the　slave　to　the　boldness　of　him　that
is　free；　and　that　of　the　needy　becomes　like　that　of　the　rich　man；
for　it　changes　and　renews　the　souls　of　men　when　it　gets　into
them；　and　it　quenches　the　sorrow　of　those　that　are　under
calamities；　and　makes　men　forget　the　debts　they　owe　to　others；
and　makes　them　think　themselves　to　be　of　all　men　the　richest；　it
makes　them　talk　of　no　small　things；　but　of　talents；　and　such
other　names　as　become　wealthy　men　only；　nay　more；　it　makes　them
insensible　of　their　commanders；　and　of　their　kings；　and　takes
away　the　remembrance　of　their　friends　and　companions；　for　it　arms
men　even　against　those　that　are　dearest　to　them；　and　makes　them
appear　the　greatest　strangers　to　them；　and　when　they　are　become
sober；　and　they　have　slept　out　their　wine　in　the　night；　they
arise　without　knowing　any　thing　they　have　done　in　their　cups。　I
take　these　for　signs　of　power；　and　by　them　discover　that　wine　is
the　strongest　and　most　insuperable　of　all　things。〃

4。　As　soon　as　the　first　had　given　the　forementioned
demonstrations　of　the　strength　of　wine；　he　left　off；　and　the　next
to　him　began　to　speak　about　the　strength　of　a　king；　and
demonstrated　that　it　was　the　strongest　of　all；　and　more　powerful
than　any　thing　else　that　appears　to　have　any　force　or　wisdom。　He
began　his　demonstration　after　the　following　manner；　and　said；〃
They　are　men　who　govern　all　things；　they　force　the　earth　and　the
sea　to　become　profitable　to　them　in　what　they　desire；　and　over
these　men　do　kings　rule；　and　over　them　they　have　authority。　Now
those　who　rule　over　that　animal　which　is　of　all　the　strongest　and
most　powerful；　must　needs　deserve　to　be　esteemed　insuperable　in
power　and　force。　For　example；　when　these　kings　command　their
subjects　to　make　wars；　and　undergo　dangers；　they　are　hearkened
to；　and　when　they　send　them　against　their　enemies；　their　power　is
so　great　that　they　are　obeyed。　They　command　men　to　level
mountains；　and　to　pull　down　walls　and　towers；　nay；　when　they　are
commanded　to　be　killed　and　to　kill；　they　submit　to　it；　that　they
may　not　appear　to　transgress　the　king's　commands；　and　when　they
have　conquered；　they　bring　what　they　have　gained　in　the　war　to
the　king。　Those　also　who　are　not　soldiers；　but　cultivate　the
ground；　and　plough　it；　and　when；　after　they　have　endured　the
labor　and　all　the　inconveniences　of　such　works　of　husbandry；　they
have　reaped　and　gathered　in　their　fruits；　they　bring　tributes　to
the　king；　and　whatsoever　it　is　which　the　king　says　or　commands；
it　is　done　of　necessity；　and　that　without　any　delay；　while　he　in
the　mean　time　is　satiated　with　all　sorts　of　food　and　pleasures；
and　sleeps　in　quiet。　He　is　guarded　by　such　as　watch；　and　such　as
are；　as　it　were；　fixed　down　to　the　place　through　fear；　for　no　one
dares　leave　him；　even　when　he　is　asleep；　nor　does　any　one　go　away
and　take　care　of　his　own　affairs；　but　he　esteems　this　one　thing
the　only　work　of　necessity；　to　guard　the　king；　and　accordingly　to
this　he　wholly　addicts　himself。　How　then　can　it　be　otherwise；　but
that　it　must　appear　that　the　king　exceeds　all　in　strength；　while
so　great　a　multitude　obeys　his　injunctions？〃

5。　Now　when　this　man　had　held　his　peace；　the　third　of　them；　who
was　Zorobabel；　began　to　instruct　them　about　women；　and　about
truth；　who　said　thus：　〃Wine　is　strong；　as　is　the　king　also；　whom
all　men　obey；　but　women　are　superior　to　them　in　power；　for　it　was
a　woman　that　brought　the　king　into　the　world；　and　for　those　that
plant　the　vines　and　make　the　wine；　they　are　women　who　bear　them；
and　bring　them　up：　nor　indeed　is　there　any　thing　which　we　do　not
receive　from　them；　for　these　women　weave　garments　for　us；　and　our
household　affairs　are　by　their　means　taken　care　of；　and　preserved
in　safety；　nor　can　we　live　separate　from　women。　And　when　we　have
gotten　a　great　deal　of　gold　and　silver；　and　any　other　thing　that
is　of　great　value；　and　deserving　regard；　and　see　a　beautiful
woman；　we　leave　all　these　things；　and　with　open　mouth　fix　our
eyes　upon　her　countenance；　and　are　willing　to　forsake　what　we
have；　that　we　may　enjoy　her　beauty；　and　procure　it　to　ourselves。
We　also　leave　father；　and　mother；　and　the　earth　that　nourishes
us；　and　frequently　forget　our　dearest　friends；　for　the　sake　of
women；　nay；　we　are　so　hardy　as　to　lay　down　our　lives　for　them。
But　what　will　chiefly　make　you　take　notice　of　the　strength　of
women　is　this　that　follows：　Do　not　we　take　pains；　and　endure　a
great　deal　of　trouble；　and　that　both　by　land　and　sea；　and　when　we
have　procured　somewhat　as　the　fruit　of　our　labors；　do　not　we
bring　them　to　the　women；　as　to　our　mistresses；　and　bestow　them
upon　them？　Nay；　I　once　saw　the　king；　who　is　lord　of　so　many
people；　smitten　on　the　face　by　Apame；　the　daughter　of　Rabsases
Themasius；　his　concubine；　and　his　diadem　taken　away　from　him；　and
put　upon　her　own　head；　while　he　bore　it　patiently；　and　when　she
smiled　he　smiled；　and　when　she　was　angry　he　was　sad；　and
according　to　the　change　of　her　passions；　he　flattered　his　wife；
and　drew　her　to　reconciliation　by　the　great　humiliation　of
himself　to　her；　if　at　my　time　he　saw　her　displeased　at　him。〃

6。　And　when　the　princes　and　rulers　looked　one　upon　another；　he
began　to　speak　about　truth；　and　he　said；　〃I　have　already
demonstrated　how　powerful　women　are；　but　both　these　women
themselves；　and　the　king　himself；　are　weaker　than　truth；　for
although　the　earth　be　large；　and　the　heaven　high；　and　the　course
of　the　sun　swift；　yet　are　all　these　moved　according　to　the　will
of　God；　who　is　true　and　righteous；　for　which　cause　we　also　ought
to　esteem　truth　to　be　the　strongest　of　all　things；　and　that　what
is　unrighteous　is　of　no　force　against　it。　Moreover；　all　things
else　that　have　any　strength　are　mortal　and　short…lived；　but　truth
is　a　thing　that　is　immortal　and　eternal。　It　affords　us　not　indeed
such　a　beauty　as　will　wither　away　by　time；　nor　such　riches　as　may
be　taken　away　by　fortune；　but　righteous　rules　and　laws。　It
distinguishes　them　from　injustice；　and　puts　what　is　unrighteous
to　rebuke。〃　（5）

7。　So　when　Zorobabel　had　left　off　his　discourse　about　truth；　and
the　multitude　had　cried　out　aloud　that　he　had　spoken　the　most
wisely；　and　that　it　was　truth　alone　that　had　immutable　strength；
and　such　as　never　would　wax　old；　the　king　commanded　that　he
should　ask　for　somewhat　over　and　above　what　he　had　promised；　for
that　he　would　give　it　him　because　of　his　wisdom；　and　that
prudence　wherein　he　exceeded　the　rest；　〃and　thou　shalt　sit　with
me；〃　said　the　king；　〃and　shalt　be　called　my　cousin。〃　When　he　had
said　this；　Zorobabel　put　him　in　mind　of　the　vow　he　had　made　in
case　he　should　ever　have　the　kingdom。　Now　this　vow　was；　〃to
rebuild　Jerusalem；　and　to　build　therein　the　temple　of　God；　as
also　to　restore　the　vessels　which　Nebuchadnezzar　had　pillaged；
and　carried　to　Babylon。　And　this；〃　said　he；　〃is　that　request
which　thou　now　permittest　me　to　make；　on　account　that　I　have　been
judged　to　be　wise　and　understanding。〃

8。　So　the　king　was　pleased　with　what　he　had　said；　and　arose　and
kissed　him；　and　wrote　to　t