Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

248 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
"the darkness is deeper than in this, and the
"length [of the journey through them] is five
"hundred years; and beyond these countries are
"seventy countries of cold, similar in extent [to
"the dark countries], and there are others of fire
"also, similar in extent. Beyond all these are the
"angels which keep fast hold upon the earth and
"upon the seas that they move not away out of
"their sight, and if it were not for this mountain
"which serveth for a protection between myself
"and those who bear the Throne, the fire' of their
"brightness would consume me. For they are
Fiery "compouuded of divine fire, and in the midst of
"them is a secret place wherein are darkness, and
"cold, and fire, and but for this the fire of the
"rays of their light and the glory of God the
"Creator would consume me." And thou, O man,
hast thou never heard the words of the prophets
and their prophecies concerning His advent in the
world, which say, "He Whom the earth cannot
"endure, if He but look thereat, shall by [His]
"grace [p. 142] send His Word, and shall become
"mortal and shall put on the flesh of man, and
"all men shall see the power of the divine glory
"of God in the last days".'"
And it came to pass that, when the angel had
spoken to the Two-horned of that which should
be, and of what had been in the world, his soul
- Read ?i?"a>-'}f^ :
^ Compare Isaiah xl. 5; Psalm civ. 32.