the antiquities of the jews-1-第130章

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7。　This　was　the　reply　which　the　high　priest　made。　But　it　does　not
seem　to　me　to　be　necessary　to　set　down　the　names　of　the　seventy
＇two＇　elders　who　were　sent　by　Eleazar；　and　carried　the　law；　which
yet　were　subjoined　at　the　end　of　the　epistle。　However；　I　thought
it　not　improper　to　give　an　account　of　those　very　valuable　and
artificially　contrived　vessels　which　the　king　sent　to　God；　that
all　may　see　how　great　a　regard　the　king　had　for　God；　for　the　king
allowed　a　vast　deal　of　expenses　for　these　vessels；　and　came　often
to　the　workmen；　and　viewed　their　works；　and　suffered　nothing　of
carelessness　or　negligence　to　be　any　damage　to　their　operations。
And　I　will　relate　how　rich　they　were　as　well　as　I　am　able；
although　perhaps　the　nature　of　this　history　may　not　require　such
a　description；　but　I　imagine　I　shall　thereby　recommend　the
elegant　taste　and　magnanimity　of　this　king　to　those　that　read
this　history。

8。　And　first　I　will　describe　what　belongs　to　the　table。　It　was
indeed　in　the　king's　mind　to　make　this　table　vastly　large　in　its
dimensions；　but　then　he　gave　orders　that　they　should　learn　what
was　the　magnitude　of　the　table　which　was　already　at　Jerusalem；
and　how　large　it　was；　and　whether　there　was　a　possibility　of
making　one　larger　than　it。　And　when　he　was　informed　how　large
that　was　which　was　already　there；　and　that　nothing　hindered　but　a
larger　might　be　made；　he　said　that　he　was　willing　to　have　one
made　that　should　be　five　times　as　large　as　the　present　table；　but
his　fear　was；　that　it　might　be　then　useless　in　their　sacred
ministrations　by　its　too　great　largeness；　for　he　desired　that　the
gifts　he　presented　them　should　not　only　be　there　for　show；　but
should　be　useful　also　in　their　sacred　ministrations。　According　to
which　reasoning；　that　the　former　table　was　made　of　so　moderate　a
size　for　use；　and　not　for　want　of　gold；　he　resolved　that　he　would
not　exceed　the　former　table　in　largeness；　but　would　make　it
exceed　it　in　the　variety　and　elegancy　of　its　materials。　And　as　he
was　sagacious　in　observing　the　nature　of　all　things；　and　in
having　a　just　notion　of　what　was　new　and　surprising；　and　where
there　was　no　sculptures；　he　would　invent　such　as　were　proper　by
his　own　skill；　and　would　show　them　to　the　workmen；　he　commanded
that　such　sculptures　should　now　be　made；　and　that　those　which
were　delineated　should　be　most　accurately　formed　by　a　constant
regard　to　their　delineation。

9。　When　therefore　the　workmen　had　undertaken　to　make　the　table；
they　framed　it　in　length　two　cubits　＇and　a　half＇；　in　breadth　one
cubit；　and　in　height　one　cubit　and　a　half；　and　the　entire
structure　of　the　work　was　of　gold。　They　withal　made　a　crown　of　a
hand…breadth　round　it；　with　wave…work　wreathed　about　it；　and　with
an　engraving　which　imitated　a　cord；　and　was　admirably　turned　on
its　three　parts；　for　as　they　were　of　a　triangular　figure；　every
angle　had　the　same　disposition　of　its　sculptures；　that　when　you
turned　them　about；　the　very　same　form　of　them　was　turned　about
without　any　variation。　Now　that　part　of　the　crown…work　that　was
enclosed　under　the　table　had　its　sculptures　very　beautiful；　but
that　part　which　went　round　on　the　outside　was　more　elaborately
adorned　with　most　beautiful　ornaments；　because　it　was　exposed　to
sight；　and　to　the　view　of　the　spectators；　for　which　reason　it　was
that　both　those　sides　which　were　extant　above　the　rest　were
acute；　and　none　of　the　angles；　which　we　before　told　you　were
three；　appeared　less　than　another；　when　the　table　was　turned
about。　Now　into　the　cordwork　thus　turned　were　precious　stones
inserted；　in　rows　parallel　one　to　the　other；　enclosed　in　golden
buttons；　which　had　ouches　in　them；　but　the　parts　which　were　on
the　side　of　the　crown；　and　were　exposed　to　the　sight；　were
adorned　with　a　row　of　oval　figures　obliquely　placed；　of　the　most
excellent　sort　of　precious　stones；　which　imitated　rods　laid
close；　and　encompassed　the　table　round　about。　But　under　these
oval　figures；　thus　engraven；　the　workmen　had　put　a　crown　all
round　it；　where　the　nature　of　all　sorts　of　fruit　was　represented；
insomuch　that　the　bunches　of　grapes　hung　up。　And　when　they　had
made　the　stones　to　represent　all　the　kinds　of　fruit　before
mentioned；　and　that　each　in　its　proper　color；　they　made　them　fast
with　gold　round　the　whole　table。　The　like　disposition　of　the　oval
figures；　and　of　the　engraved　rods；　was　framed　under　the　crown；
that　the　table　might　on　each　side　show　the　same　appearance　of
variety　and　elegancy　of　its　ornaments；　so　that　neither　the
position　of　the　wave…work　nor　of　the　crown　might　be　different；
although　the　table　were　turned　on　the　other　side；　but　that　the
prospect　of　the　same　artificial　contrivances　might　be　extended　as
far　as　the　feet；　for　there　was　made　a　plate　of　gold　four　fingers
broad；　through　the　entire　breadth　of　the　table；　into　which　they
inserted　the　feet；　and　then　fastened　them　to　the　table　by　buttons
and　button…holes；　at　the　place　where　the　crown　was　situate；　that
so　on　what　side　soever　of　the　table　one　should　stand；　it　might
exhibit　the　very　same　view　of　　the　exquisite　workmanship；　and　of
the　vast　expeses　bestowed　upon　it：　but　upon　the　table　itself　they
engraved　a　meander；　inserting　into　it　very　valuable　stones　in　the
middle　like　stars；　of　various　colors；　the　carbuncle　and　the
emerald；　each　of　which　sent　out　agreeable　rays　of　light　to　the
spectators；　with　such　stones　of　other　sorts　also　as　were　most
curious　and　best　esteemed；　as　being　most　precious　in　their　kind。
Hard　by　this　meander　a　texture　of　net…work　ran　round　it；　the
middle　of　which　appeared　like　a　rhombus；　into　which　were　inserted
rock…crystal　and　amber；　which；　by　the　great　resemblance　of　the
appearance　they　made；　gave　wonderful　delight　to　those　that　saw
them。　The　chapiters　of　the　feet　imitated　the　first　buddings　of
lilies；　while　their　leaves　were　bent　and　laid　under　the　table；
but　so　that　the　chives　were　seen　standing　upright　within　them。
Their　bases　were　made　of　a　carbuncle；　and　the　place　at　the
bottom；　which　rested　on　that　carbuncle；　was　one　palm　deep；　and
eight　fingers　in　breadth。　Now　they　had　engraven　upon　it　with　a
very　fine　tool；　and　with　a　great　deal　of　pains；　a　branch　of　ivy
and　tendrils　of　the　vine；　sending　forth　clusters　of　grapes；　that
you　would　guess　they　were　nowise　different　from　real　tendrils；
for　they　were　so　very　thin；　and　so　very　far　extended　at　their
extremities；　that　they　were　moved　with　the　wind；　and　made　one
believe　that　they　were　the　product　of　nature；　and　not　the
representation　of　art。　They　also　made　the　entire　workmanship　of
the　table　appear　to　be　threefold；　while　the　joints　of　the　several
parts　were　so　united　together　as　to　be　invisible；　and　the　places
where　they　joined　could　not　be　distinguished。　Now　the　thickness
of　the　table　was　not　less　than　half　a　cubit。　So　that　this　gift；
by　the　king's　great　generosity；　by　the　great　value　of　the
materials；　and　the　variety　of　its　exquisite　structure；　and　the
artificer's　skill　in　imitating　nature　with　graying　tools；　was　at
length　brought　to　perfection；　while　the　king　was　very　desirous；
that　though　in　largeness　it　were　not　to　be　different　from　that
which　was　already　dedicated　to　God；　yet　that　in　exquisite
workmanship；　and　the　novelty　of　the　contrivances；　and　in　the
splendor　of　its　construction；　it　should　far　exceed　it；　and　be
more　illustrious　than　that　was。

10。　Now　of　the　cisterns　of　gold　there　were　two；　whose　sculpture
was　of　scale…work；　from　its　basis　to　its　belt…like　circle；　with
various　sorts　of　stones　enchased　in　the　spiral　circles。　Next　to
which　there　was　upon　it　a　meander　of　a　cubit　in　height；　it　was
composed　of　stones　of　all　sorts　of　colors。　And　next　to　this　was
the　rod…work　engraven；　and　next　to　that　was　a　rhombus　in　a
texture　of　net…work；　drawn　out　to　the　brim　of　the　basin；　while
small　shields；　made　of　stones；　beautiful　in　their　kind；　and　of
four　fingers'　depth；　filled　up　the　middle　parts。　About　the　top　of
the　basin　were　wreathed　the　leaves　of　lilies；　and　of　the
convolvulus；　and　the　tendrils　of　vines　in　a　circular　manner。　And
this　was　the　construction　of　the　two　cisterns　of　gold；　each
containing　two　firkins。　But　those　which　were　of　silver　were　much
more　bright　and　splendid　than　looking…glasses；　and　you　might　in
them　see　the　images　that　fell　upon　them　more　plainly　than　in　the
other。　The　king　also　ordered　thirty　vials；　those　of　which　the
parts　that　were　of　gold；　and　filled　up　with　precious　stones；　were
shadowed　over　with　the　leaves　of　ivy　and　of　vines；　artificially
engraven。　And　these　were　the　vessels　that　were　after　an
extraordinary　manner　brought　to　this　perfection；　partly　by　the
skill　of　the　workmen；　who　were　admirable　in　such　fine　work；　but
much　more　by　the　diligence　and　generosity　of　the　king；　who　not
only　supplied　the　artificers　abundantly；　and　with　great
generosity；　with　what　they　wanted；　but　he　forbade　public
audiences　for　the　time；　and　came　and　stood　by　the　workmen；　and
saw　the　whole　operation。　And　this　was　the　cause　why　the　workmen
were　so　accurate　in　their　performance；　because　they　had　regard　to
the　king；　and　to　his　great　concern　about　the　vessels；　and　so　the
more　indefatigably　kept　close　to　the　work。

11。　And　these　were　what　gifts　were　sent　by　Ptolemy　to　Jerusalem；
and　dedicated　to　God　there。　But　when　Eleazar　the　high　priest　had
devoted　them　to　God；　and　had　paid　due　respect　to　those　that
brought　them；　and　had　given　them　presents　to　be　carried　to　the
king；　he　dismissed　them。　And　when　they　were　come　to　Alexandria；
and　Ptolemy　heard　that　they　were　come；and　that　the　seventy　elders
were　come　also；　he　presently　sent　for　Andreas　and　Aristens；　his
ambassadors；　who　came　to　him；　and　delivered　him　the　epistle　which
they　brought　him　from　the　high　priest；　and　made　answer　to　all　the
questions　he　put　to　them　by　word　of　mouth。　He　then　made　haste　to
meet　the　elders　that　came　from　Jerusalem　for　the　interpretation
of　the　laws；　and　he　gave　command；　that　every　body　who　came　on
other　occasions　should　be　sent　away；　which　was　a　thing
surprising；　and　what　he　did　not　use　to　do；　for　those　that　were
drawn　thither　upon　such　occasions　used　to　come　to　him　on　the
fifth　day；　but　ambassadors　at　the　month's　end。　But　when　he　had
sent　those　away；　he　waited　for　these　that　were　sent　by　Eleazar；
but　as　the　old　men　came　in　with　the　presents；　which　the　high
priest　had　given　them　to　bring　to　the　king；　and　with　the
membranes；　upon　which　they　had　their　laws　written　in　golden
letters　（7）　he　put　questions　to　them　concerning　those　books；　and
when　they　had　taken　off　the　covers　wherein　they　were　wrapt　up；
they　showed　him　the　membranes。　So　the　king　stood　admiring　the
thinness　of　those　membranes；　and　the　exactness　of　the　junctures；
which　could　not　be　perceived；　（so　exactly　were　they　connected　one
with　another；）　and　this　he　did　for　a　considerable　time。　He　then
said　that　he　returned　them　thanks　for　coming　to　him；　and　still
greater　thanks　to　him　that　sent　them；　and；　above　all；　to　that　God
whose　laws　they　appeared　to　be。　Then　did　the　elders；　and　those
that　were　present　with　them；　cry　out　with　one　voice；　and　wished
all　happiness　to　the　king。　Upon　which　he　fell　into　tears　by　the
violence　of　the　pleasure　he　had；　it　being　natural　to　men　to
afford　the　same　indications　in　great　joy　that　they　do　under
sorrows。　And