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Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

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2 8 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.<br />

"[even so shall he go round the world, and shall<br />

"not be able to return to his place because death<br />

"shall overtake him]."' And when he had said<br />

these things Philip gave him rich gifts, and honoured<br />

him exceedingly.<br />

The hour of Now"" when the days drew nigh that Olympias<br />

draws nigh, the quecn should be delivered, she took her place<br />

upon the midwife's seat, and Nectanebus was<br />

standing by her side that he might observe the<br />

lucky moment when the celestial bodies and the<br />

moon should have culminated and should be in a<br />

position favourable [for the birth of the child], and<br />

might keep away baleful influences; now he had<br />

knowledge and skill where by he was able to foretell<br />

what would happen in all the world. And he said<br />

to the queen, "Be strong, and of good cheer, and<br />

Augury of "take good heed that thou restrain thyself from<br />

"giving birth in this hour, for whosoever is born^<br />

"in this hour shall be a weak man, and of no<br />

"reputation, and of abject condition" ; so the woman<br />

restrained herself, and kept fast hold upon herself<br />

so as not to give birth to the child, and she held<br />

her with a mighty restraint. And Nectanebus said<br />

' It seems as if some words bearing the meaning of those<br />

in brackets have dropped out of the text, and this view is<br />

supported by the Syriac version which adds, "even so in this<br />

manner, when he has traversed the whole world and returns<br />

to enter his own land, he will die" (ed. <strong>Budge</strong>, p. ii).<br />

= See Pseudo-Callisthenes, Bk. i, chap. 12 (Muller, p. 11,<br />

Meusel, p. 713J.<br />

3 Read H-f'fllAift •

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