Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

ALEXANDERS CHARACTER. XXVII
Greek version made Alexander accept the God
of the" Hebrews there is little wonder that the
Ethiopian made him a servant of Jesus Christ;
but there is, perhaps, another explanation of the
matter.
Serious historians of Alexander testify to the Alexander's
habits of moderation which he practised in hishlbte"''
early life. Ouintus Curtius speaks of his simple
dress, his affability to his attendants, his avoidance
of intoxication, and adds that "he appeared to
"have extinguished voluptuous wishes rather than
"to have regulated them; and from his indifference
"to the charming half of society, it was apprehended
"that the house of Macedonia would be left without
"an heir."' He cared little about his lodging and
food, and joined in the gymnastic exercises with
his soldiers with such spirit that he endeared
himself to them all.^ He was brave even to reck-
lessness and as magnanimous as he was brave; His contin-
death he despised. Among all the good qualities^""'
which Arrian^ attributes to him are those of con-
tinence and moderation in the use of wine, which
he enjoyed more for the pleasure of the conver-
sation which accompanied it than for the desire
to drink. According to Plutarch'* his continence
TTupTHJ '^'^' TrdvTa? eSouBeviicre tou^ Qeoiiq xfji; yhS ^ai
|u6vov eva 9e6v dXn^ivov dveKripuSev dGetupriTov, dveSix-
viacTTOV, Tov erri xiJuv Zepacpi|n eTTOxou|uevov Kai xpicraTiuj
qjLuvri &oSaZ:6|uevov.
/ ' Bagster's translation, Bk. i. 4. ^ See Bk. iii. 17.
3 iv. 19; vii. 29. * Life of Alexander, iv.