Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

362 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
head downwards; and some had bows with strings
which had been cut; and he placed them in the
box with their faces turned downwards, and he
nailed up the box with nails, and fastened' it
with an iron chain. And Aristotle commanded
Alexander to pray the petitions which he had
taught him, and he washed him with water, and
purified him ceremonially for four days in the
presence of [his] great army. Then he said unto
Alexander, "Carry this box with thee whithersoever
"thou goest and whithersoever thou encampest, and
"when thou makest thy habitation in any place
"lay thine own hand upon the box, and let no one,
"except^ such as are with thee among [thy] number,
"lay hold upon it; and thou shalt pray with the
"petitions [which I have taught thee], whenever
"thou earnest it about and whenever thou settest
"it down."
Alexander's And Aristotle said unto Alexander, "Know, O
foretold, "king, that I see [thy] star in the ascendant, and
"that thou shalt reign over all countries, and that
"thou shalt vanquish and overcome [all] kings, and
"that thou shalt heap up [their] treasure. This I
"see [that thou wilt do] by the power of thy star,
"and by the conquest [p, 212] of thy kingdom,
"and by the spirit of thy perfect nature, and thou
"shalt overcome all thine enemies; eo with the
"blessing of God Almighty, and may His help be
"with thee, and may He make straight thy path,
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