Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

ALEXANDER'S EPISTLE TO ARISTOTLE. 1 57
when I had gone into the temple I saw therein
two thousand five hundred steps, and they were
built of stones of gold/ and inside that place, that
is to say, inside the temple, was a large chamber The gowen
in which was a window of gold. And when I
had come therein I found there figures of gold,^
and they all [stood] in windows {or niches). Now
there was an altar there made of gold, and in
the midst by the altar stood two candlesticks,^
each one of which was forty cubits high. And
^
upon a couch reclined
........
the form of a man, upon And god
. clothed ^
whom was a garment mlaid with gold and precious gow.
in
stones, and upon it, worked in gold, were the
branches of a vine, having its bunches of grapes
set with jewels. And near the couch was a table
of meats, the like of which I never looked upon
in this world. Now when I had seen these things
I stood at the door of the temple and did not go
therein, although I thought to have uncovered the
face of the lord of the couch and looked upon it,
but I was in fear and trembling at him, and I
cried out to God to tell me who that man was.
And when I wished to go out from the temple
loud and terrible cries were hurled at me, and
when these were ended I was called again by a
voice [which came] from behind me, saying, "OThe god
"king of the two horns, be not bold overmuch,
' In the Syriac, sapphire.
^ /. e., figures of Pan and the Satyrs.
3 These also were made of sapphire.