Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

A CHRISTIAN ROMANCE. 479
Then Alexander uncovered his face with awe
and reverence, and said, "Why is your habitation Alexander
"here by yourselves? What manner of food is converse,
"yours? What solace have ye? And what manner
"of existence is yours? Tell me, I beseech you,
"that my mind may be healed." And Enoch, the
righteous,' answered and said, "Our existence is
"a happy one, for it is without sickness and pain,
"and there is neither sorrow nor Satan in it. Our
"solace is with the angels and with the Spirit of
"our God, Who maketh glad^ our hearts, and each
"morning^ we see new things to make us glad.
"Our food is of the Spirit of Life, and our drink
"is of the dew of life which floweth from Paradise,
"and we never, by any means, [p. 292] seek any
"other; for the spirit of the knowledge of our
"Lord satisfieth us. And we desire not food for
"the belly as dost thou, and we enjoy the solace of
"conversation with the angels by day and by night.
"And, moreover, our mouth cannot tell of the solace
"and gladness which we enjoy in our converse with
"the angels, and the righteous, and the martyrs,
"and each of the shining ones, and of the elect,
"and of the spiritual beings hath his own face and
"form. The water of Life is white like the sun, speech ot
"and the fish which go forth from the water of
"Life are white like milk, for they never die. This
"city is the storehouse of Life, and there is no
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