The Letter Of Aristeas
1926 anthology, complete selected publisher reading text
Rutherford H. Platt
45 And on the next day the banquet followed the same course as on previous occasions, and when the opportunity presented itself the king proceeded to put questions to the remaining guests, and he said to the first, ‘How can a man keep himself from pride?’
46 And he replied, ‘If he maintains equality and remembers on all occasions that he is a man ruling over men. And God brings the proud to nought, and exalts the meek and humble!
47 The king spoke kindly to him and asked the next, Whom ought a man to select as his counsellors?
48 And he replied, ‘Those who have been tested in many affairs and maintain unmingled goodwill towards him and partake of his own disposition. And God manifests Himself to those who are worthy that these ends may be attained.’
49 The king praised him and asked another, What is the most necessary possession for a king?
50 ‘The friendship and love of his subjects,’ he replied, ‘for it is through this that the bond of goodwill is rendered indissoluble. And it is God who ensures that this may come to pass in accordance with your wish.’
51 The king praised him and inquired of another, What is goal of speech? And he replied, ‘To convince your opponent by showing him his mistakes in a well-ordered army of arguments.
52 For in this way you will win your hearer, not by opposing him, but by bestowing praise upon him with a view to persuading him. And it is by the power of God that persuasion is accomplished.’
53 The king said that he had given a good answer, and asked another, how he could live amicably with the many different races who formed the population of his kingdom?
54 ‘By acting the proper part towards each,’ he replied, ‘and taking righteousness as your guide, as you are now doing with the help of the insight which God bestows upon you.’
55 The king was delighted by this reply, and asked another, ‘Under what circumstances ought a man to suffer grief?’
56 ‘In the misfortunes that befall our friends,’ he replied, ‘when we see that they are protracted and irremediable. Reason does not allow us to grieve for those who are dead and set free from evil, but all men do grieve over them because they think only of themselves and their own advantage. It is by the power of God alone that we can escape all evil!
57 The king said that he had given a fitting answer, and asked another, how is reputation lost?
58 And he replied, ‘When pride and unbounded self-confidence hold sway, dishonour and loss of reputation are engendered. For God is the Lord of all reputation and bestows it where He will.’
59 The king gave his confirmation to the answer, and asked the next man, To whom ought men to entrust themselves?
60 ‘To those,’ he replied, ‘who serve you from goodwill and not from fear or self-interest, thinking only of their own gain. For the one is the sign of love, the other the mark of ill will and time-serving.
61 For the man who is always watching for his own gain is a traitor at heart. But you possess the affection of all your subjects by the help of the good counsel which God bestows upon you.’
62 The king said that he had answered wisely, and asked another, What is it that keeps a kingdom safe?
63 And he replied to the question, ‘Care and forethought that no evil may be wrought by those who are placed in a position of authority over the people, and this you always do by the help of God who inspires you with grave judgement.’
64 The king spoke words of encouragement to him, and asked another, What is it that maintains gratitude and honour?
65 And he replied, ‘Virtue, for it is the creator of good deeds, and by it evil is destroyed, even as you exhibit nobility of character towards all by the gift which God bestows upon you.’
66 The king graciously acknowledged the answer and asked the eleventh (since there were two more than seventy), how he could in time of war maintain tranquillity of soul?
67 And he replied, ‘By remembering that he had done no evil to any of his subjects, and that all would fight for him in return for the benefits which they had received, knowing that even if they lose their lives, you will care for those dependent on them. For you never fail to make reparation to any--such is the kind-heartedness with which God has inspired you.’
68 The king loudly applauded them all and spoke very kindly to them and then drank a long draught to the health of each, giving himself up to enjoyment, and lavishing the most generous and joyous friendship upon his guests.
CHAP. X.
The questions and answers continue. Showing how the army officers ought to be selected. What man is worthy of admiration and other problems of daily life as true today as 2000 yearsago. Verses 15-17 are notable for recommending the theatre. Verses 2i-22 describe the wisdom of electing a president or having a king.
ON the seventh day much more extensive preparations were made, and many others were present from the different cities (among them a large number of ambassadors).
2 When an opportunity occurred, the king asked the first of those who had not yet been questioned, how he could avoid being deceived by fallacious reasoning?
3 And he replied, ‘By noticing carefully the speaker, the thing spoken, and the subject under discussion, and by putting the same questions again after an interval in different forms. But to possess an alert mind and to be able to form a sound judgement in every case is one of the good gifts of God, and you possess it, O King.’
4 The king loudly applauded the answer and asked another, Why is it that the majority of men never become virtuous?
5 ‘Because,’ he replied, ‘all men are by nature intemperate and inclined to pleasure. Hence, injustice springs up and a flood of avarice. The habit of virtue is a hindrance to those who are devoted to a life of pleasure because it enjoins upon them the preference of temperance and righteousness. For it is God who is the master of these things.’
6 The king said that he had answered well, and asked, What ought kings to obey? And he said, ‘The laws, in order that by righteous enactments they may restore the lives of men. Even as you by such conduct in obedience to the Divine command have laid up in store for yourself a perpetual memorial.’
7 The king said that this man, too, had spoken well, and asked the next, Whom ought we to appoint as governors?
S And he replied, ‘All who hate wickedness, and imitating your own conduct act righteously that they may maintain a good reputation constantly. For this is what you do, O mighty King,’ he said, ‘and it is God who has bestowed upon you the crown of righteousness.’
9 The king loudly acclaimed the answer and then looking at the next man said, ‘Whom ought we to appoint as officers over the forces?’
10 And he explained, ‘Those who excel in courage and righteousness and those who are more anxious about the safety of their men than to gain a victory by risking their lives through rashness. For as God acts well towards all men, so too you in imitation of Him are the benefactor of all your subjects.’
11 The king said that he had given a good answer and asked another, What man is worthy of admiration?
12 And he replied, ‘The man who is furnished with reputation and wealth and power and possesses a soul equal to it all. You yourself show by your actions that you are most worthy of admiration through the help of God who makes you care for these things.’
13 The king expressed his approval and said to another, ‘To what affairs ought kings to devote most time?’
14 And he replied, ‘To reading and the study of the records of official journeys, which are written in reference to the various kingdoms, with a view to the reformation and preservation of the subjects. And it is by such activity that you have attained to a glory which has never been approached by others, through the help of God who fulfils all your desires.’