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Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

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LIV<br />

INTRODUCTION.<br />

Chap. XXV. <strong>Alexander</strong>'s preparation of Christ's<br />

way upon earth.<br />

Chap. xxvi. Philo's testimony to <strong>Alexander</strong>.<br />

Chap, xxvii. Efforts of <strong>Alexander</strong> to please God.<br />

Chap, xxviii. The Spirit warns <strong>Alexander</strong> of his<br />

approaching end, and he writes a letter to his mother<br />

Olympias to console her. The Lament of Olympias.<br />

Chapp. xxix—xxxiii. <strong>Alexander</strong> and his friend<br />

Komsat discuss the Resurrection. Komsat dis-<br />

believes and demands proofs, and <strong>Alexander</strong> de-<br />

scribes confidently in what manner the dead shall<br />

rise, quoting the XXXVIIth chapter of Ezekiel;<br />

finally a voice like thunder is heard inviting<br />

<strong>Alexander</strong> to come, in peace, to heaven, and the<br />

form of a hand, which shone more brightly than<br />

the sun, appeared and took his soul to glory.<br />

vi. In the curious document which records the<br />

history of the "Blessed Men" who lived in the<br />

days of Jeremiah the Prophet, we have another<br />

<strong>Alexander</strong> attempt to accouut for the origin of the sages<br />

scarlet whom <strong>Alexander</strong> visited, in India or Taprobane<br />

(see above, p. li), and the episode of <strong>Alexander</strong><br />

and the scarlet cloak, which occurs nowhere else<br />

in the other <strong>Ethiopic</strong> legends of <strong>Alexander</strong>. The<br />

story of Gerasimas and his travels is interesting<br />

as shewing the alleged effect of the <strong>Alexander</strong><br />

story upon the mind of this eminent monk; but<br />

the attempt which he made to corrupt the mind<br />

of his host in the Country of the Blessed is not<br />

creditable to him.

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