Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

136 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
men, saying, "Tell me, now, concerning what I
"am going to ask thee. Is the night older than
"the day, or is the day older than the night?"'
The interpreter answered and said unto him,
"The night is older than the day, for the crea-
"tion took place in the darkness. In the Book
"of the Law it saith thus: 'And darkness was
"upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of
"God was brooding above the deep'.^ Moreover,
"the child in the womb first dwelleth in darkness,
"and then cometh forth into the light of the world;
"even so are day and night."
Alexander's And again Alexander asked another of their
qulston. ^"' saying, "Who is he that cannot be deceived.-*"^
And [the interpreter answered] and said unto him,
"God Almighty, Who giveth understanding, and
"from Whom nothing can be hidden."
Alexander's And again Alexander asked another of their
^""' men, saying, "Which side ti'o^^"' of a man is the better,
"the right or the left?"* The [interpreter answered
and] said unto him, "The right and the left side
"have each their own [qualities], but the left side
"is better than the right, for when a woman
^ Gr. Ti TtpoTepov efevero, r) vu£ r\ r] f]}xipa.
' Genesis i. 2. There is no reference in the Greek or
Syriac to this verse of Genesis.
3 The Syriac, and not the Greek, has an equivalent for
this question and answer:—"Who is he whom we cannot
"deceive by lying?" The Brahman said, "He to Whom all
"secrets are revealed."
t Gr. TToTa KpeiiTova (aepri rd 5e2id 11 id euajvupa.