Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

ALEXANDER SETS OUT ON FURTHER TRAVELS. 223
generals of his army who were dwelling In Egypt
came unto him, and said, "O good king, [p. 127]
"it is meet that there should be smiths in thine
"army. Now there are in the land of Egypt more
"smiths than in all [the rest of] the world, and
"they work with knowledge and understanding;
"nevertheless' those who are with thee are better
"workmen than all others on the earth." Now when
Alexander heard their words he approved and
sent for the king of Egypt," who reigned subject
unto him, and when he had come he said unto
him, "Send with me seven thousand smiths of the
"most skilful men of thy country, and let them
"be with me wheresoever I am." And the king The wng of
of Egypt obeyed his command, and gathered him'' bia"k-
together cunning craftsmen, and when they had^""^'
come to him, Alexander spake unto them, saying,
"P will deal graciously both with you and with
"your beloved ones who shall come after you,
"and, behold, ye shall find a country which is better
"than this country in which ye are, and I will do
"for you good things therein".*
Then Alexander set out from Egypt by sea, Alexander
and his troops were [with him] in large ships jgyp^
now they carried the horses in ships,' but the
^ Read fl)H9"AA.h :?
^ In the Syriac he is called Sarnakos (p. 147), or Sortk,
but Ji»icu» is clearly a mistake for .nlioco.
3 h-iip : =
h'iA
t There is no equivalent in the Syriac version for this
speech. s Read hihIC •