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Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

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520 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.<br />

"Now the heart of a king should be at one time<br />

"meek like that of a child who knoweth not evil,<br />

"and at another like that of a roaring lion when<br />

"he seizeth his prey, even as Ecclesiastes [p. 325]<br />

"saith, 'As are the heavens for height and the<br />

"earth for depth, even so is the measure of the<br />

"heart of a king'.' Blessed is the man who suc-<br />

"ceedeth in pacifying it, and who rejecteth haughti-<br />

"ness through the fear of his God. Lying speech<br />

"is an accursed thing in a king, even as the<br />

"prophet saith, 'Thou dost reject all those who<br />

"speak lies.'^ To remember to take vengeance is<br />

"an accursed thing in a king, but to be long-<br />

Advice to "suffering and to leave off from evil are blessed.<br />

"The works of iniquity befit not the heart of a<br />

"king, who is the anointed of God Almighty, for<br />

"the prophet saith, 'To Thee, O God, belongeth<br />

"power, for Thou dost reward^ every man accord-<br />

"ing to his work.'* And say not, O king, 'Who<br />

"shall see me? Who shall hear me? Who shall<br />

"make me afraid? Who shall rebuke me? Who<br />

"shall set himself in opposition to me? For I am<br />

"over and above all.' Now when thou thinkest<br />

"such things the Spirit of God Almighty departeth<br />

"from thee, and an evil spirit draweth nigh unto<br />

"thee; let purity in prayer and keeping unde-<br />

"filed the body be preferred [by thee] before<br />

' Proverbs xxv. 3.<br />

= Compare Psalm xl. 4.<br />

3 Compare Psalm Ixii. ii; St. Matthew xvi. 27; Jeremiah<br />

xvii. 10. 4 Read 9""?n^ = s Read M •

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