Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

A CHRISTIAN ROMANCE. 473
forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber, and
it goeth round about in its course, and when it
hath revolved it goeth back again into the can-
opy of darkness. And it riseth in beauty over
the Country of the Living according to the decree
of its Creator, for the sun knoweth its place of
setting.
And it came to pass that, when it had been
proclaimed that Alexander would not take young
men with him on [p. 287] the expedition, two of
those whose beards had not grown came and thrust
hooks in their flesh to bring out their beards, and
they went into the presence of Alexander. And
when the king saw the courage of their hearts,
he said unto them, "Why did ye inflict wounds
"upon yourselves until the blood came forth?" And
they answered and said unto him, "We heard it
"said that those whose beards had not grown
"should not go forth with thee, and therefore we
"dared to do to ourselves what we have done;
"for we fear not death if only we may go forth
"with thee to the war. Those who have grown
"to man's estate have anxious care on account
"of their wives and children, and they are afraid
"for their own lives, but as for us, we would be
"with thee whether in life or whether in death."
Then the king marvelled greatly, and another
herald went round about and proclaimed, saying,
"Whosoever willeth to come forth with me, whether
"he be old or whether he be young, let him come;
"and whosoever hath fear in his heart let him not
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