Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

ALEXANDER AT JERUSALEM. XLVII
Other things we are told that he translated the
books of Hermes from the Egyptian into the
Greek lan^uaee, and a further reference is made
to magical figures, each of which had a drum and
a trumpet (p. 382).
"ishest both of them thou wilt certainly inflict an injury on
"him that hath not revealed it, and if thou forgivest both
"of them thou wilt not do even an act of grace in the case
'of him that revealed it not". Aristotle wrote to Alexander
and commanded him, saying: "Take good heed that thy
"soldiers think no evil concerning thee, for to him v^fho can
"think easily it is easy to speak, and to him who can speak
"easily it is easy to act" ; and this he said that Alexander
might do good unto every man. The following stories are
told of Alexander: — i. Alexander saw among the ranks of
his army a man called Alexander who constantly took to flight
in the time of war, and he said to him, "Either be strong
"in battle or change thy name, lest listeners be deceived by
"the similarity of our names" 2. Gifts of certain glass
vessels were given to Alexander, and although he admired them
gready he ordered them to be broken. And when he was
asked why he did so he replied, "I know that they would
"be broken one after another by the hands of the servants,
"and that I should be moved to anger continually; therefore
"by indulging in one [great] burst of wrath I have driven
"away many [lesser] rages". 3. It was reported to Alexander
that the women of Darius were exceedingly beautiful, and
he replied, "It would be a most shameful thing for us to
"be conquered by men of any nation whatsoever, and shall
"we allow their women to conquer us?" 4. When Alexander
was about to wage war with the Amazons he said, "If we
"conquer these people it will not be a matter of boasting
"for us, but if they vanquish me it will be a great disgrace
"[for us]".