Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

528 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
Now for the king to do what he himself coun-
selleth without the advice of his fellows is a sign
of his folly, and it is written that his folly shall
The author's rest
remar s.
upon hlmself and that his counsellors shall be
(jeliygred ; but
woe unto him that shall bring evil
counsel from out of his heart wherewith to counsel
the king, even like Ahithophel's' counsel unto Absa-
lom, the son of David, for straightway he shall be
hanged and shall die. This, now, is the prophecy
wherewith he symbolized Judah,^ the betrayer of
his God. Why did ye give evil counsel to your
gracious king, and meanwhile ate at his table and
drank of his cup, and arrayed yourselves in royal
apparel which were his possession.-^ Everything
which he had belonged to you and your followers,
both that which was in the house and that which
was in the field. Now everyone who is king is
subject unto God Almighty. And whither will
ye flee, and whither will ye escape so that ye may
not be found by your king? Whether [what ye
have done] be good or whether it be evil, it shall
find you out. But what hath your king done?
Were ye not yourselves counsellors, and princes,
and elders, and nobles, and governors? Ye have
brought envy and hatred upon yourselves and in
this ye shall find your reward. And your righteous
[p. 332] king, what hath he done? Did he not sit
upon his throne and decree gladness for his chosen
' Compare 2 Samuel xv. 1 2, ff.
' I. e., Judas Iscariot; see St. Matthew xxvii. 5.