The Letter Of Aristeas
1926 anthology, complete selected publisher reading text
Rutherford H. Platt
33 After pondering for a moment he replied, ‘You could best establish its security if you were to imitate the unceasing benignity of God. For if you exhibit clemency and inflict mild punishments upon those who deserve them in accordance with their deserts, you will turn them from evil and lead them to repentance.’ [8]
34 The king praised the answer and then asked the next man, how he could do everything for the best in all his actions?
35 And he replied, ‘If a man maintains a just bearing towards all, he will always act rightly on every occasion, remembering that every thought is known to God. If you take the fear of God as your starting-point, you will never miss the goal.’
36 The king complimented this man, too, upon his answer and asked another, how he could have friends like-minded with himself?
37 He replied, ‘If they see you studying the interests of the multitudes over whom you rule; you will do well to observe how God bestows his benefits on the human race, providing for them health and food and--all other things in due season.’
38 After expressing his agreement with the reply, the king asked the next guest, how in giving audiences and passing judgments he could gain the praise even of those who failed to win their suit?
39 And he said, ‘If you are fair in speech to all alike and never act insolently nor tyrannically in your treatment of offenders. And you will do this if you watch the method by which God acts. The petitions of the worthy are always fulfilled, while those who fail to obtain an answer to their prayers are informed by means of dreams or events of what was harmful in their requests and that God does not smite them according to their sins or the greatness of His strength, but acts with forbearance towards them.’
40 The king praised the man warmly for his answer and asked the next in order, how he could be invincible in military affairs?
41 And he replied, ‘If he did not trust entirely to his multitudes or his warlike forces, but called upon God continually to bring his enterprises to a successful issue, while he himself. discharged all his duties in the spirit of justice.’
42 Welcoming this answer, he asked another how he might become. an object of dread to his enemies.
43 And he replied, ‘If while maintaining a vast supply of arms and forces he remembered that these things were powerless to achieve a permanent and conclusive result. For even God instils fear into the minds of men by granting reprieves and making merely a display of the greatness of his power.’
44 This man the king praised and then said to the next, ‘What is the highest good in life?’
45 And he answered, ‘To know that God is Lord of the Universe, and that in our finest achievements it is not we who attain success but God who by his power brings all things to fulfilment and leads us to the goal.’
46 The king exclaimed that the man had answered well and then asked the next how he could keep all his possessions intact and finally hand them down to his successors in the same condition?
47 And he answered, ‘By praying constantly to God that you may be inspired with high motives in all your undertakings and by warning your descendants not to be dazzled by fame or wealth, for it is God who bestows all these gifts and men never by themselves win the supremacy.’
48 The king expressed his agreement with the answer and inquired of the next guest, how he could bear with equanimity whatever befell him?
49 And he said, ‘If you have a firm grasp of the thought that all men are appointed by God to share the greatest evil as well as the greatest good, since it is impossible for one who is a man to be exempt from these. But God to whom we ought always to pray, inspires us with courage to endure.’
50 Delighted with the man’s reply, the king said that all their answers had been good. ‘I will put a question to one other,’ he added, ‘and then I will stop for the present: that we may turn our attention to the enjoyment of the feast and spend a pleasant time.’
51 Thereupon he asked the man, ‘What is the true aim of courage?’
52 And he answered, ‘If a right plan is carried out in the hour of danger in accordance with the original intention. For all things are accomplished by God to your advantage, O king, since your purpose is good.’
53 When all had signified by their applause their agreement with the answer, the king said to the philosophers (for not a few of them were present), ‘It is my opinion that these men excel in virtue and possess extraordinary knowledge, since on the spur of the moment they have given fitting answers to these questions which I have put to them, and have all made God the starting-point of their words.’
54 And Menedemus, the philosopher of Eretria, said, ‘True, O King--for since the universe is managed by providence and since we rightly perceive that man is the creation of God, it follows that all power and beauty of speech proceed from God.’
55 When the king had nodded his assent to this sentiment, the speaking ceased and they proceeded to enjoy themselves. When evening came on, the banquet ended.
CHAP. VIII.
More questions and answers. Note Verse 20 with its reference to flying through the air written in 150 B. C.
ON the following day they sat down to table again and continued the banquet according to the same arrangements.
2 When the king thought that a fitting opportunity had arrived to put inquiries to his guests, he proceeded to ask further questions of the men who sat next in order to those who had given answers on the previous day.
3 He began to open the conversation with the eleventh man, for there were ten who had been asked questions on the former occasion.
4 When silence was established, he asked how he could continue to be rich?
5 After a brief reflection, the man who had been asked the question replied--’If he did nothing unworthy of his position, never acted licentiously, never lavished expense on empty and vain pursuits, but by acts of benevolence made all his subjects well disposed towards himself. For it is God who is the author of all good things and Him man must needs obey.’
6 The king bestowed praise upon him and then asked another how he could maintain the truth?
7 In reply to the question he said, ‘By recognizing that a lie brings great disgrace upon all men, and more especially upon kings. For since they have the power to do whatever they wish, why should they resort to lies? In addition to this you must always remember, O King, that God is a lover of the truth.
8 The king received the answer with great delight and looking at another said, ‘What is the teaching of wisdom?’
9 And the other replied, ‘As you wish that no evil should befall you, but to be a partaker of all good things, so you should act on the same principle towards your subjects and offenders, and you should mildly admonish the noble and good. For God draws all men to Himself by his benignity.’
10 The king praised him and asked the next in order how he could be the friend of men?
11 And he replied, ‘By observing that the human race increases and is born with much trouble and great suffering: wherefore you must not lightly punish or inflict torments upon them, since you know that the life of men is made up of pains and penalties. For if you understood everything you would be filled with pity, for God also it pitiful!
12 The king received the answer with approbation and inquired of the next, ‘What is the most essential qualification for ruling?’
13 ‘To keep oneself,’ he answered, ‘free from bribery and to practise sobriety during the greater part of one’s life, to honour rightousness above all things, and to make friends of men of this type. For God, too, is a lover of justice!
13 Having signified his approval, the king said to another, ‘What is the true mark of piety?’
14 And he replied, ‘To perceive that God constantly works in the Universe and knows all things, and no man who acts unjustly and works wickedness can escape His notice. As God is the benefactor of the whole world, so you, too, must imitate Him and be void of offence!