Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

432
THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
rose up and took it' with him, and marched day
and night until [he came to] the city of Alexandria,
and he brought forth the coffin' and set it among
the people. Then Aristotle, the sage, and many
of the Greek philosophers who dwelt in Alexan-
dria came forth, and each of them pronounced
certain words of wisdom concerning him over
Alexander's coffin.
The sayings 1. And Arfstotlc spake first, and said, "Inasmuch as
sophers. "there must be an end to this world, it was better
"[for Alexander] to leave it before [it came to pass]."
ii. Antiochus said, "It is our fate to travel by
"this road, whereby we attain unto that which
"passeth not away and leave behind that which
"doth pass away."^
iii. Philemon said, "To-day hath drawn nigh the
"evil which was afar off, and the happiness which
"was nigh hath departed."
iv. Plato said, "O thou that wast smitten with
"the desire [to possess] the wealth of others, and
"who didst, indeed, gather it together, now art
"thou bearing thy sin, and the joy which was thine
"hath departed unto others."
V. Diogenes said, "Alexander went away from
"us uttering speech, and now hath he returned
"unto us speechless."
vi. Tiros said, "To-day the sheep pasture their
"shepherd."
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