domination thâ— Quest of mettals was left off tâ— charge being more then the gayâ— and the labour vnprofitable yet theâ— say this excuse was inuented by tâ— Inhabitamsâ— of those places to tâ— end that those Earthes should not bâ— swallowed vp in the hollownesse â— the Mines so that the Earth beeiâ— open passage could not bee giuen â— Strangers in those straites And so much for these things Brâ—ther Philocrates I haue discouerâ— vnto thee Now I will declare thâ— which concernes the Law and hâ— Interpretation and first Translation What the Translators of the Holy Law were THose which were chosen were very honest and vertuous men â—xcellent in all Knowledge descenâ—ed of Noble Parentage and not oneâ—y vnderstanding in their owne Iudaâ—cke Learning but also passing well â—eene and exercised in the Greâ—ke â—etters for they were reserued men â—nd alwayes ready to be employed as â—Embassadours vpon occasion For â—hich they were as it were purposeâ—y bred and so proper and able to â—udge of those things and courses as â—he case required And were those â—hat Constructed the Publicke Aduerâ—isements and gaue Answeres with great sufficiency touching all difficulâ—ies concerning their owne Law and â—ad â—aruailous promptitude both for Orationing and giuing Iudgmentâ— They were men cleerely voyd of aâ— barbarous Inciuility but of good anâ— sweete Condition and complexioneâ— as it were to follow their propeâ— manner of Liuing and Estate in a Mâ— diocrity and most prayseable Modâ—sty still striuing aboue all things tâ— excell all others in Wisedome anâ— good Knowledges and in these eâ— deauours consisted all their Study â— steeming no other search more theâ— how to excell one the other in acceâ—sible graciousnesse and sweetnesseâ— hearing and answering so that euâ—ry one of them were esteemed of â— their Tribe as men worthy to haâ— Preheminence and Principality fâ— the Vertue that was in them And it is worthy the noting â— what Honour they held Eleazer aâ— in what Respect hee held them Fâ— besides that hee Writt to the Kiâ— concerning his care of their conuenâ—ent returne hee recommended aâ— that with a louing and great desirâ— and with a great affection these reuerent Persons to Andrea desiring by many proposes and requests how we should with our Credits and Grace with the King make them all fayre way To which we made answer that as these things were matters of our especiall charge so wee would bee answerably carefull to discharge our selues with all due care so that we desired he would not too much trouble himselfe therewith for that they should therein bee absolutely free I assure you sayd he I am therein somewhat and not a little troubled and not without iust cause For I know the King a Prince so diligent a Louer of vertuous and worthy Persons and how industriously he seekes them that there is no place free from his desires when he heares where such are that excell or are noted for Knowledge or Prudence And I haue beene aduertised that he vseth to say that which is most true that in such manner of men dwels consists the force and defence of his Kingdome and in especiall when hee hath neere about his person good store of iust and prudent men which haue prouident Councell to giue him least all may fall Which I perceiueâ— well by those he hath pleased to senâ— hether And we professe in modest earnestâ— that wee send not these persons vntoâ— him to ayde him in such his affaireâ— of his Republicke but for a generalâ— profit and an Vniuersall good of aâ— his people in which regard nothinâ— ought to be refused or what we wâ— not indure For although the formâ— of well liuing consists in the obseruation and accomplishment of the precepts and Commandments Neuerthelesse it is better learn'd anâ— taught by the Knowledge and experience of the things themselues theâ— in the simplicity of the Words Bâ— this speech and such like wee camâ—â—o know what great affection Eleazâ— did beare to these Persons Of the Answeres made by ELIAZER vpon certayne poynts of the Law of MOSES IT behoueth also we touch briefly the Answeres Eleazer made vs being asked by vs For knowing the Iewes make great curiosity â—teeme of the obseruances and diffoâ—nce that they put vpon their meates â—d drinke according with their â—aw and of certayne Beasts they eâ—eeme vncleane and infected Wee â—iestioned saying since all things are â— one and the same Creation and â—ceiues one selfe-same substance â—herefore it is that some are reiected â— infectious as well to eate as to â—ndle so that it seemes the Law â—treateth more prolixiuely then proâ—rly Eleazer then answered you knoâ— not sayd he what vertue and prâ—priety custome hath in regard â— well-liuing and what mutations aâ— changes she brings in humane thingâ— See we not that those who conuâ—â— with the Euill let themselues runâ— to a course of corruption in manneâ— whereby they become Wretched â— their liues after In the contrary thâ—â— that custome and acost themselâ— with men Wise and Prudent â— though they are yet ignorant charâ— from good to better and becoâ— happy and fortunate The which oâ— Law-maker considering resoluiâ— his ends to Piety and Iustice hâ— not onely taught vs all wee ought do by Words but shewed vs all â— Examples and forbidding vs to â— Euill putting before our Eyes â— causes wherefore GOD hath creaâ— euery thing First he hath taught that Gâ—â— is One and All by the Power whom are Couerned and consistâ— all things and that He is presentâ— â—ll places and without Whom Noâ—hing can remayne in its being be it â—euer so little and that Nothing can â—e hidden from Him whatsoeuer â—en do vpon Earth neuer so secretly â—uen what men do and thinke with â—hemselues or what they plod and â—ontract with another all is to Him â—otorious and Naked before his Eies For He sees the things to come as â—f they were present Moreouer He with his gracious Goodnesse teacheth â—hat when any one intends to Worke â—uill that he may assure himself it cannot be hidden and pretends by â—ll the Law no other thing then to â—hew the power and strength of our good GOD. Being then heedfull of the beginning of these things he sheweth that other people who haue opinion that â—here are many Gods are themselues more powerfull then the Gods they by folly adore For they affirme fooâ—ishly that the Images and likenesses they frame of stone or of Wood are the representances and formes of those who haue brought somethâ— profitable by their inuentions to â— common vse of their liuing and thâ— they Worship prostrating themselâ— vpon their knees before them â— they are out of their rightsences aâ— indeede out of themselues and if oâ— demaund of them what is their â—uentions they alleadge somethiâ— produc'd from Nature as a thiâ— produc'd Created and Composâ— by the fore-sayd Inuentors althouâ— such neuer thereto put their hands â— which they sufficiently prooue thâ— blind Wils and Beastiality For it well knowne that if there be
of the Captaines of Great Alexander the third Monarch Lagus began his Reigne in the 271. yeare before the incarnation of our Lord Iesus Christ This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was endoctrined in the Science of good letters by Strabo the Peripateticke in which he became so excellent that he was esteemed one of the most accomplished Princes of his Time but that which was in him the most admirable was the Bounty Debonarity Sweetnesse and Gentlenesse of his Spirit accomodated with the manners and complexions of all worthy and deseruing persons By this meanes he entred so farre and before in the grace of all the World that euery one in his thought wisht he were King And his Father knowing his right of Succession was to be so and reioycing in his hopes of him made him to bee Crowned King and deuested himselfe of all Authority without reseruing any Power Right or Preheminence to himselfe onely a Superintendency ouer the Guard of the King his Sonne glorying to be Father of such a King For the admiration he had of his high Vertues kindled and gaue occasion betweene them both of a most kind contention in mutuall offices the Son yeelding to the Father and the Father to the Sonne in all and by all through instinct of Deuotion and Piety so they gaue liuely touches to one the other in all reduceable fitting offices which was cause that the People conceiued a great fidelity and amity towardes them so as it seemed euen the diuine prouidence prepared this noble spirit to introduce that great good amongst Humanes as to make them participants of the Lawes and Diuine illuminations wherewith God had fauoured the People of the Iewes aboue all the Nations of the world And it seemeth that euen then his Almightinesse made a preparatiue for the vocation of the Ethnicks and Gentiles by communication so of his holy Law whereof Ptolomy was the ordayned Minister to call the Seuenty Interpretors into Aegypt to Translate into the Greeke Language which then was the most traded and vulgar As the Latines now in Christendome through the whole Vniuerse So as I am amazed at some fanaticall spirits that hinders vs from the knowledge of God in not giuing his Word in the Language of the People wheresoeuer as is appertaining to euery one in regard of Saluation I would aske those men what language spake those Dames of Rome Paula Eustochina Melania Susanna Fabiola Demetria Furia Flauia Blesilla and others For the institution of whom Saint Hierome Translated many Bookes of Holy Scriptures out of strange tongues into Latine which was the naturall language of the sayd Ladies I would also know who was more wise or better inspired then Saint Hierome Further it seemes they eyther are or would seeme to be ignorant of the institution of the Emperour Iustinian who ordained that those who song in the Temples that they should sing high and so intelligible that all the people might vnderstand them But to returne to Ptolomy he vndertooke to erect a Lybrary in the Capitall City of his Realme Alexandria the Charge whereof hee gaue to Demetrius Phalerius Prince and an Athenian Philosopher who erected it so sumptuously that there was not the like in all the world and it lasted vntill the first Warre of the Romanes against the Alexandrians This King had to wife Arsinöe to whom hee caused a Statue to bee raysed in height 4. Cubits of one entire Stone call'd a Topace the which had beene giuen to Berince the Mother of Ptolomy by a Prince named Philemon 2. Of ARISTEVS the Author of this HISTORIE ARISTEVS the neere Kinsman and Friend of King Ptolomeus Philadelphus is named by a Praesal in Pentatauchum Mosi St. Hierome Ptolomei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Shield of the King or hee that definds the King with his Shield or â—earer of the Shield Royall which â—emes to me that he held some such â—ace about the King his Maister as wee call at this day the Great Esquier of the Kings body he was the principall Sollicitor for Liberty of the Iewes that then were held Slaues throughout all the Dominions of Ptolomy for hee made the first request for them and obtained it And for this cause hee was sent Embassadour with Andrea Prince of the Gardes belonging to the King vnto Hierusalem to deale with the Great Pontiffe Eleazar who sent to the King Ptolomus sixe Doctors of euery Tribe to goe on with the Translation and Version of the holy Bookes of Moses Hee writ diligently his Voyage where hee shews openly how and by what course those 72. Interpreters behaued themselues in the sayâ— Bookes b Iustin dialog cum Tryphone Irenaeus Lîb 3. Cap. 25. Clemon Alexandr lib. 1. stroÌ„ Epiphanius de mâ—ns et Ponditbus Euseb preparat lib. 8. ca. 1. Some haue beene of Opinion that they Translated all the Bible but it is more likely to many thâ— c Hieron in questionibus Hebraicis in Cap. 5 Ezechielis et in Cap. 2 Michiae Iosephi praefat in Antiquit. et lib. 12. Antiquit. Cap. 13. Philo. de â—â—â—a Mosis 〈◊〉 2. they Translated but the fiue Bookes that is Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numbers and Deuteronomy which they call the Pentaleucke which â— the Law of Moses for Aristeus speakes but of the Law of Moses and it is not likely that they touched the Bookes Historicall nor the Prophets for if it had beene so Aristeus would not thereof haue beene silent Moreouer that which they Translated was finished in the space of 72. dayes which is about two Moneths and a halfe and that 's a Time too small and therefore impossible to Translate all the Old Testament Neuerthelesse I am not ignorant that there was a Turning of other Bookes of the Bible that goe by the Name of the Seuenty two Interpreters But I am perswaded that they were not then done in Aegypt vnlesse that after they were returned to Hierusalem they Translated the rest of the Holy Bookes although both in that and other Opinions I submit mee to the deliberation of the Church from which I will not stray But howeuer this Translation was manifestly Miraculous which is sufficiently shewed by that our Lord Iesus Christ and his Apostles in Alegations of the Law vseth the Version of these Seuentie two Interpretors I haue spoken these few words of Aristeus to the end the Reader shall not thinke that this is that Aristeus Proconensis that could bee invisible when hee listed making folkes beleeue that hee could dye and rise againe when hee would of whom speakes Suidas Herodotus Pliny and Plutarch in the life of Romulus 3. Of ELEAZER the Great Pontiffe of the Iewes ELEAZER of whom Aristeus makes mention was brother of Simon surnamed the Iust Hee after the decease of his Brother Simon in the yeere of the raigne of Ptolomy Ptolomeus Laegus first of that Name 35. was made Chiefe of the Synagogue of the Iewes by reason that Onias Sonne of Simon his Brother was vncapable of
equity and bearing themselues iustly for good workes are gifts of GOD. To the other How hee should liue without sorrow IF you offend no body and that you ayde euery one doing Iustice to all the world For from so doing one gathereth such pleasant fruites as they shall liue alwayes pleasantly Neuerthelesse wee ought to craue of GOD that the accidents which comes against our hope bring vs not damage as death sicknesses and such like inconueniences the which can doe you no damage if that you bee full of Piety To the other What is the thing of the World worthy of the most great Glory THat is to serue GOD not by Sacrifices neyther by oblations so much but by purity and sincerity of Spirit and to conforme himselfe to the will of a simple and liuely faith Which if you doe Great King you will imprint firmely in your heart that all you haue done and shall doe hereafter shall be euident and discouered to all the World After these things the King with a high voyce saluted them all attributing to them great praise and so did also the assistants especially the Philosophers which were there present and not without cause for these Personages were excellent in deeds and in words putting alwayes the foundations of their Answers and Opinions in GOD. This done the King began to reioyce in this Feast and Bâ—nquet merrily The day following the Tables were couered in the same manner as before aod all the Lords aforesayd being set to the Table the King taking his opportunity of Deuising began to to interrogate those who followed the others in the precedent day of answering and made this Question I would know if Prudence may be taught PRudence is a certaine decoration and ornament to the Soule flowing from the puissance Diuine hauing propriety to receiue good things and to repulse the contrary To the other Which is the thing is most profitable to the health of the Soule THat is Prudence which no person can acquire or obtayne vnlesse GOD prepares his vnderstanding to receiue it To the other By what meanes may one sufficiently and enough yeeld thankes to their Father and Mother IF you giue them no cause of griefe in the world although there is scarse any person to bee found which can so gouerne themselues excepting GOD Prince of all light doe inluminate his vnderstanding to all the actions of Vertue To the other How he might be made couetous to heare many things IF you consider Great King how much it is to you gainefull and profitable to know euery thing Created for by that meanes accommodating and comparing that which you haue vnderstood to the quality of the times present you shall haue the choice and election of that which to you shal be most agreeable and conveniable in which you ought alwayes to pray vnto GOD that hee wil be your succourer for from him proceeds all the accomplishment of good workes To the other What he shoul'd doe not to transgresse the Lawes IF you know that GOD hath inspired the vnderstanding of those who hath established the Lawes for the gouernment and addresse of the life of vs humanes you shall well follow the Lawes To the other What profit may arise to him by Parentage GReat King if wee will weigh the accidents which happen we shall finde that when our Parents fall into any aduersity that wee receiue our part thereof and are oppressed and also grieued with the greatnesse of their sorrow And if there come also any prosperity and happy fortune wee are glad finde content and pleasure in which wee reioyce And in verity if the Parents are so well aduised that they can transpose and so intreate their affaires amiably together and that all things betweene them be so well linked together by astriction of firme Amity one neede not desire a life more happy and from the same there remaineth no other or further blessing but onely to pray vnto GOD that hee will giue prosperity vnto all things To the other How he might be free from all feare IF your conscience be free from all knowings of former euill dealings putting alwayes GOD before your eyes for your guide and addresse of all your counsels to happy and good issue To the other How he should be readily prouided with right Reason and Sense at all times IF you seriously bethinke you how â—to the importunate accidents of this humane life all the world is exposed putting often before your eyes the admirable changes that GOD hath sent to men How some are aduanced vnto riches and honours others fettered with calamities and strucke downe into extreame ignominy To the other What meanes hee should hold and follow not to be vanquished by idlenesse or by voluptuousnes THe same to you Great King is easâ—e that haue the Regiment of a great Kingdom and by consequent so the management of great affayres So that by doing according to your estate it is impossible that you shall haue the leasure to settle seriously your fantasie vpon other things then to your affaires which will neyther promit nor permit any repose For it is conuenient therefore you be alwayes carefull of your charge and to pray vnto GOD that â—ee will giue you the grace to omit nothing of that which concernes your function To the other By what signes he may know those that would deceiue him IF you take heede in your selfe what liberty euery one vseth in your behalfe if hee hath alwayes so ☞ done and if hee continueth the same fashion still so to court you according to his will Or if hee holds the same meanes in giuing you Counsell as a custome and if his conuersation and manner of life is the same as before And if hee hath forgot nothing of that which loue and obseruance that hee owes you doth requireâ— Briefly if his affections and other fashions of doing are changed GOD instruct your vnderstanding to fore-see the surplus Then the King gaue prayse to all naming euery one by his name wherewith all the assistants reioyced The next day when the King espied his oâ—portunity in the Feast he began to Question the others in this same manner What is the most greatest negligence of the World THat is not to hold an account of his Children and not to take care for their instruction to institute them in Vertue and good manners behauiour For pray we not ordinarily to GOD not for our selues but also desire him that it will please him to addresse our Children in all goodnesse and to impart to them Doctrine and Wisedome the which proceeds from the grace of GOD also To the other How he should come to be a louer of his Country IF you perswade your selfe that it is a happy thing to liue and dye in your House and that peregrinations brings nothing but folly to the poore and dishonour to the Rich for most people are of opinion that they haue beene chased out of their Countries for some misdeed
debt or forfeit But to you great King you shall haue easily that which you demaund in doing well as you do to all the World for GOD will giue you a good share in all your good affaires and actions To the other What one ought to doe to liue agreeingly with his Wife ALthough that some race of Women are deficile and troublesome and that opinion of themselues grow obstinate in their affections Moreouer frayle by reason of the imbecillity of the Sexe and subiect to commit some faultes yet neuerthelesse it behooueth to temporize with them and to vse them for our health and commodity contesting not with them nor contradicting them with the Spirit of frowardnesse for it is necessary to addresse ones life to a certayne Butt or End as the Gouernours and Pylots of Ships doe by obseruing Land-markes all which things are conducted by the order and Prouidence of our great GOD. To the other What meanes he should not to be deceiued IF you do all things by reason you will not suffer your selfe to be perswaded by the reports of detractors but as you are indowed with a very good spirit put a difference betwixt the deedes and sayings of euery one By the meanes whereof you shall so doing that you shal bee out of the danger of being circumuented accomplishing your desires in your designes the which you shall proiect by assured iudgement neuerthelesse you must resolue and thinke that the intelligence of such businesse and the effect and execution of them is the worke of the Diuine puissance To the other What he should do not to be Cholericke at all GReat King if you consider that Hee of whom Dependeth the Life of many is the cause of the Death of abundance of folkes when he executeth his Will with fury and choller and it is a thing accursed to extinguish the life of many by ambition of dominationâ— But when the subiects conforme themselues to the will of the Prince humbly yeelding and obaying What reason hath hee then to vexe himselfe and to enter into Choller Moreouer hee must thinke that GOD who guideth and Gouerneth the Vniuersall world is not any way subiect vnto Wrath nor heated with Choller of whom a Prince ought to follow the benigne and sweete goodnesse To the other What thing is that which may well be fore-seene by good Counsell THat is to Administer well all things by the Rule and Discourse of Reason and to conduct them to a certayne end and designe pretended and to reiect all that which is Vnprofitable and contrary to right and reason in such manner that discouering the Spirit by euery thing wee come to the head of our affayres by good Counsell But GOD by his Vertue makes all counsell assured and firme and yours principally because you are giuen to the exercise of Piety To the other What is it to Philosophize THat is Well and Wisely to argue and consult of all things which present themselues and come vppon one and not to suffer ones selfe to â—lide along in his Appetites to desâ—se all follies and vanities proceeding from Couetousnesse and Lusts and to bee alwayes ready to the accomplishment of good Workes by good and iust measure which to attayne vnto wee ought to implore the ayde of GOD incessantly To the other What is the Soueraigne grace of Hospitality IT is to shewe oneâ— selfe not to be ingratfull but mensurable and equitable to all the World redoubling with bounty the pleasure you haue receiued from another in such sort as you may beare the prize of Courtesie For GOD exalteth the humble greatly bearing great fauour and loue to those abate themselues to exalt and shewe Vertue to others To the other What are the workes of most Durability A Person is esteemed to do a du 〈…〉 Worke when he hath brought to passe a weighty businesse and worthy of Reuerence and when it is such as the Beholders durst not put their hands to it for the difficulty and excellency of the businesse and that he neuerthelesse suffers not any body that hath trauelled therein to be vnrecompensed Likewise forgetting not to prouide for those that hee hath constrayned to busie themselues therein of all things to them necessary For GOD regarding all things in this world gratifieth men with Infinity of gifts enlarging to some health of Body and of Vnderstanding and many such goods Wherefore Great King you in the imitation of GOD ought to giue comfort to the afflicted and to change their calamities into solace and rest being assured that what is done by iustice and equity is of longest lasting euen perpetuall To the other What is the fruite of Wisedome THe fruite of Wisedome is when wee haue committed nothing whereof our conscience doth not remember vs knowingly and when we haue passed the course of our liues in â—â—rity For of such things Excelâ—ent King there is ingendred in our spirits a very great contentment and an infinite ioy with a pleasant voluptabitity For you Great King you can neuer want hope in GOD conducting your Raigne in Piety and Religion These Answers heard all the assistants made signes of great Iouisance with an applauding approbation Then the King prouoked them graciously to drinke The morrow when all the company returned to the Table the King asked the others in this manner What meanes hee should hold neuer to be lifted vp with Pride YOu shall neuer bee blowne vp or lifted with Pride if you keepe equally in your selfe that is to say if in all things you haue this Maxiâ—e imprinted in your spirit that you which haue commandement vpon Men consider you are a Man alsoâ— thinking also with your selfe that God extermineth the proud and high minded and that he lifteth vp those who What Counsellours he ought to haue neere his Person THose shall bee your Counsellours Great King which haue beeneâ— long exercised and versed in your affayres and such as you know beare you great fidelity and loue those which know to conforme and accommedate themselues to your conditions the light of GOD will discouer those which are worthy of such a function To the other What is the thing is most necessary to a King THe loue of his Subiects for by that meanes he will make a bond of indissoluable good willâ— To the rest GOD accomplisheth that which one chuseth for the best To the other What is the end of a Speech or Oration in one pleading IT is after he hath proposed your intention perswading your cause to be good confuting the Obiections of your aduerse party and shewing them to be inept worthlesse and ☞ impertinent But the mayne end is to march rightly in the businesse in all affayres and not to stray with ambages for the true perswasion is a thing addressed from GOD. To the other How hee should accommodate himselfe to diuers People in one Kingdome DOing and administring Iustice to euery one equally and by the same you shall Gouerne and Rule them as you list for the
all things neoessary for the Life carefully prouided and prepared with great conuenience and ease In this place Demetrius entreated them they would dispose themselues to the Interpretation of the Law in which they began to trauell disputing and conferring together of euery thing vntill they came all to one generall accord and consent to resolue in a true sence aduisedly The which done they set downe in Writing that which was so by them composed and reduced into good order the most learnedly and the most eloquently that they could by the aduice and counsell of all they put it apart that the same after might bee put into the hands of Demetrius Their Colloquiums and Conferences lasted from the Morning vntill nine of the Clocke and so rising from these Disputes they went to take Recreation and Ayre for their health after all things were sumptuously administred vnto them For Dâ—rothea who had the same in charge was therein so carefull that there was nothing made ready for the Kings Person but euery day they had as much of the same to euery single person and hee would once the day come to visit them with courtship in his owne proper Person and they sometimes to salute with reuerence the King and so returne to priuacy Euery Morning it was custome to make their prayers to GOD after they had washt their hands in the Sea as the Iewes accustomably vse Lauations so after to their readings and interpretations I was so bold to aske them why they so washed their hands before they made their prayers to which demâ—â—nd they made this Answere that this washing of the hands did admonish them to doe nothing wickedly but to accomplish all things of their actions to Piety and Sanctity because that all the workes they doe with their hands might bee effected according to iustice and truth and cleanenesse as we haue before-sayd To conclude these Personageâ— being in such Serenity of ayre Beauty of dwelling Tranquility of silence and Pleasantnesse of repose and Royall entertainment finished the worke vndertaken and which is a note of maruaile they had so expresly taken order amongst themselues and followed it with such care and diligence that the Interpretation of Law was fully finished in the space of 72. dayes Demetriuâ— then seeing the Translation and Interpretation of the Law was so wel and happily brought to an end made the meanes that the multitude of the Iewes then being in Aegypt were conuccated to the place where the Worke was then perfited to whom hee shewed how all things had beene done beginning with all circumstances of the Enterprize and all in the presence of the Interpreters To the King all the Multitude attributed great praise and gaue infinite thankes for being the mediate cause of so important a good and a benefit of such excellency Lâ—â—ewise they shared a part of the Honour to Demetrius intâ—earing him to shew them that fauour as to haue a Copie for their Princes for to haue their aduice and to deliberate vpon the profit or damage might arise vpon the same In this sort was the Law reuiewed visited and re-knowne in the assistance of the Princes of the Iewes and of the Multitude and of the Ambassadors of Townes vpon the which spoken and proclaimed the 72. Doctors being present that all was well and holily Translated and that all was most very well so prouided that nothing thereof should be changed and that all things should remaine in the same estate without alteration of the least thing or title of the world As the Translation was thus approued of all and the Decree made for the ratification of the same Demetrius â— commanded that according to their custome they should make Imprecations and Maledictions against those which should vndertake or should presume to adde any thing thereto or to transferre it otherwayes by changing efficacing ordering any thing whatsoeuer it were vnto that which was so perfectly now written And when all was perfected and accomplished in this manner hee adjured the Iewes to hold keepeâ— and preserue it inviolably foreuer the which they promised to doe with great Ioy and Acclamation So Demetrius finding himselfe greatly satisfied in himselfe especially because hee had beene a Conductor of the Worke and that hee had giuen to the King such contentment in the happy execution and accomplishment of his charge and of this his felicity made great congratulations to the King Who hauing after with great diligence visited this Interpretation and considered the profundity of the Sence of the Law-maker which hee admired with an astonished regard hee sayd to Demetrius how comes it to passe that none of the Poets or Historians hath not put their hands to this Law being that it is a thing of so high and ☞ perfect Excellency To which Demetrius answered that no body neuer durst touch it as well for the reuerence of the same as also that GOD hath forbidden it so as some hauing presumed to attempt it haue beene chastised with Diuine punishment Whereupon they haue beene constrayned to desiste from their enterprize For as testifieth Theopompuâ— which by a recitall of himselfe saith that presuming to transferre into his History some secrets of the Holy Law hee was afflicted more then 30. dayes following with a perturbation of his vnderstanding But calling vpon GOD in the interuals and cessations of the most vehement fitts of this his Malady it was told him in his sleepe this punishment was sent him from God for hauing presumed to prophane and falcifie things Sacred So by this Vision he was corrected repented and re-came to his good sences againe And sayd Demetrius vpon mine owne knowledge I affirme that Theodorus a Tragickeâ— Poet willing to vsurpe something from this Law therwith to enrich his Poesie lost his sight Neuerthelesse aduising with himselfe and concluding that this his audaciousnesse was the cause of his blindnesse prayed to God for many dayes whereby hee came againe to health The King saying that this was wisely spoken adored the Law making Commandement that the Books of the same should bee preserued the most curiously and carefullest that might be possible and deuising with the Interpreters benignely and graciously prayed them that when they were in Iudea they would often come and see him Finally hee gaue order that they should be honourably returned backâ— and conducted into theirâ— Countrey promising them that how oft soeuer and when they pleased to returne he would entertaine them as his principall friends so honouring them with faire presents according to their merits and commanding that all things should bee made ready for the dispatch of their returne vsing towards them all Royall Magnificence Hee gaue to euery one of them three rich Habilliments and two Jalents of Gold and an excellent Cup of the waight of a Talent Moreouer furniture for the whole furnish of a Chamber ouer and aboue hee sent to Eleazer ten Table-beds or Couches of ease which had the feete of Siluer and ornified with all that was
succeeding in his Fathers place as being vnder age This Eleazer therefore receiued the Honour that in his Time the Holy Translation of the Law was made by the Seuenty two Doctors that hee sent to Ptolomeus second of that Name King of Egypt as Aristeus hath left by writing 4. Of DEMETRIVS PHALERIVS DEMETRIVS PHALERIVS was an Athenian Orator and Philosopher as Cicero notes in the first Booke of his Offices calling him a subtill and sharpe Disputant and in the rest an Orator little vehement Hee had beene Disciple of Theophrastus hee was a man of such Knowledge excellent Carriage that forraigne Kings had him in admiration and drew him to their Seruice euen Cassander King of Macedon And for this Reputation the Athenians gaue him the Principality of the City and Common-weale in which hee was Ten yeeres in great prosperity But some of the Citizens hauing conceaued malice against him chased and threw him out of his estate and then he was honorably receiued of King Ptolomy of whom we speake where hee was Maister of the Lybrary Royall the Athenians hauing formerly raysed to him 360. Statues of Marble in despight cast them to the earth and iudged him to death as a Traytor of which Demetrius being aduertised sayd a At virtutem non euerterunt Diog. Laert in vit Demet. The Athenians haue throwne downe my Statues * but they cannot ouer-turne my Vertue for which they first erected those Statues He was wont to say that b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diog. Laert ibid. Eloquence was as necessary in a Common-weale as a Sword in the Warres Hee dyed by the byting of an Aspick and was buried in the Region of Busina neere to Diospolis NOW FOLLOWETH the History of ARISTEVS Ambassador of King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS concerning his Voyage vnto Ierusalem and the first Translation of the Holy Bible by the seauenty two Elders Written in Greeke 1900. yeares since ARISTEVS to his brother PHILOCRATES WEll knowing your Naturall and good inclination Philocrates to haue alwayes had in great esteeme the knowledge of all things and that you haue beene desirous nay couetous to vnderstand the occurrences and passages of good achiuements I haue deliberated to frame vnto you by Writing a thing not onely excellent but well deseruing to be knowne which vnto vs is hapned being sent Excellence of this History of late vnto Eleazer great Pontiffe of the Iewes But because these things shal bee more facile vnto you I will first declare you the Causes by the which we were sent and then I will come to the Progresse of the Matter so as I will fashion my Discourse to Your vnderstanding and that the most truely I possible can aswell for the dignity of the Subiect as to delight your Spirit desirous of all good Knowledges assuring my selfe that man hath in him nothing more excellent and praysable then incessantly to desire Learning eyther by the meanes of Histories or by the Obiects of things or by experience of Affaires themselues For the Spirit of Man though Rude and Childish is greatly adorned and embellished when from the beginning it Delighteth to Taste and Rellish those most nectarine faire worthy and excellent things that may conduct him by an infallible course to follow Piety and Reason WE therefore searching with great curiosity the Knowledge of Diuine things and could not attayne them not vnderstanding the Diuine Law without being interpreted and rendred into our knowing tongue we vndertooke to goe Ambassador vnto one onely Person who amongst his Cittizens and others by debonarity and great glory was the most Honorable and who not onely did great Honor and Profit to the Citizens with whom He conuersed but also to all the other Iewes of what other place or wheresoeuer WE beeing then well informed that they had the DIVINE LAVV written in Hebrew Characters in â—kins of Parchment we were ioyfull to accept this charge giuen vs by the King as also that the Colonies heere of the Captiue Iewes desired the same aboue all things of the World who had beene hither ledâ— by the Kings Father who had puâ— into his Obedience the City of Ierusalem and all the Countrey adjacent BVT since we are falne to makâ— mention of that businesse it shaâ— not be impertinent to giue you to vnderstand the whole Discourse thaâ— thereby you may haue better intelligence knowing well that it shalbâ— much better more carefully to informe you how to fashion you to thâ— seruice of GOD Reuerently theâ— to trauayle your selfe in the search oâ— mens Lawes or Actions although they may be iust Which affectioâ— you haue sufficiently manifested since from an â—le so far Remote you are come into this Countrey to see in Person those things which may serue you to the adornment of your Spirit without hauing Respect to place whatsoeuer I haue here therefore Reduced by Writing First what hath seemed to me worthy of Memory touching the Nation of the Iewes as I haue something vnderstood by the Learned and Wise Priests of Aegypt to the end that by this meanes I may ayde and encrease by some meanes Your knowledge For one ought to haue in Remembrance the good they haue receiued from persons and especially to those to shewe all gratitude who appertayne vnto vs And principally You that haue knowledge of Vertue drawing from your Brother not onely Resemblance Proximity of blood and Linage which may thrust on with the same impetuosity of Courage to attayne the Honour Glory and Beauty of Vertue assuring my selfe that neyther the admiration of Gold or Riches neither the appearance of things more precious serue to nothing but vayne-glory neyther will yeeld you such fruit as we may gather from Knowledge Institution and consideration of all good Disciplines For the rest to the ende that it may not seeme that we exercise ostentation in being prolix in this Preface I will reduce me to that which from my purpose hath extrauagated DEmetrius Phalerius master of the Kings Library giuing order with the greatest care hee could to buy Bookes from all parts of the World And to that end imploying great numbers of Persons as Factors spread abroad in many places who had charge to buy and Transcript them they so doing and that diligently the designe of the King was accomplished and executed at leastwise in the best manner for him possible For wee being present the King asking him how many thousand Volumes he had gotten together in his Bibliotheicke He answered that for the present hee had no more then two hundred thousand and that he ☞ hoped erelong to haue to the number of 500000. But Sir sayd hee I haue vnderstood that the Lawes of the Iewes deserues also to bee Copied and Translated and to be put in your Library And what hinders it answered the King that they be not haue you not all things to serue you commodiously to this purpose Demetrius Answerd that it was needefull that those Lawes were Translated and Interpreted because that the Iewes
ordayning that from our Money a iust ransome should bee payed to all those that held them Prisoners valuing at a certayne price and summe for euery head of them with desire to giue order by reason and to remit them into good estate and tranquillity whom the Impetuosity Cruelty and Disorder of Warre had disturb'd and diuerted from Right and Equity In which wee esteeme to haue done a good and holy deede as a worke yeelding thankes to the Great GOD for all his great benefits receiued from him wee make him this Offering for hauing adorned and celebrated before all the World this our Kingdome with a most remarkable Peace Tranquility and notable Glory And those others which had beene Slaues and Bondmen in our Army wee haue ordayned Souldiers in the Company and them who haue beene found more recommendable in Faith and Fidelity wee haue made them Chiefes and most aduanced in our Court. Further because we desire those and all others of the Nation spread and scattered through the Vniuerse to bee thankefull to our Fauours wee haue deliberated to make that your Law which is Written in Hebrew Letters should bee Translated into the Greeke Language and that our Royall Library bee adorned therewith as it is with other Books you shall doe well then as a thing to vs very agreeable and correspondent to our Designe and Intention if you elect out of euery Tribe or Line of your Nation sixe of the most Ancient Personages and those shall bee found of the best breeding and sufficiency and most Authorised in the Seruice of the Law and haue the best Style in Writing to make for vs this Translation for so shall the Verity thereof bee best and cafiliest drawne if the Company of the Interpreters bee men of mature Iudgement and well exercised in the Law well waighing that to effect well and worthily such an Interpretation and Translation it is needefull there be Solicitude curious Study and Meditation which may bee found in the Many see more then one onely consideration of many who are more sharpe more subtile and more cleare-seeing then of one alone Moreouer wee shall esteeme that by th' accomplishment of so great a Worke there will redound to vs great Honour and Glory For this cause therefore wee haue sent vnto you Andrea Chiefe of the Guarde belonging to our Person and Aristeus men of Honorable place in our Court hauing Commission from our part to present you with Iewels for your Sacrifices and for other vses an Hundred Talents of Siluer Besides heerein you shall doe vs contentable pleasure and courtesie resenting Amitie if you haue neede of any thing to require it of vs for wee will not fayle to accomplish and accommodate you therwith immediately To this Epistle Eleazar made Answere in these words ELIAZER Pontiffe to King PTOLOMEVS PHILADELPHVS our most illustrious Friend IF you are well Sir and the Queene Arsinöe and my Lady your Sister and your Children my Lords praysed be God for health is a thing to be desired and thanked for as a due vnto him which is the Giuer thereof As for vs wee are in good prosperity also lauded be the Giuer Wee haue receiued your Letters which brought vnto Vs great Contentment by reason of your Counsell Enterprise and Designe as also for the loue and good will you beare to vs. Hauing receiued them wee made a great Assembly of the People to whom by a long Discourse hauing made knowne your Liberality towards our Nation and demonstration of your Presents and Oblations to the end they should vnderstand your holy affection and Piety towards our God Shewing publickely the twenty Vessels and Viols of Golde the thirty of siluer which we haue sent the fiue cuppes of Gold with the Table of proportion and the hundred Talents of siluer for the prouision and re-eadying of the victimes and other Vses requisite to the Sacrificers Which Iewells were to vs presented by Andrea one of our Princes and Aristeus Persons truely worthy of note both in corporall beauty and excellency of Behauiour and Condition as also rare Knowledge briefely Lords worthy in all things of your Conuersation and Iustice by whom wee haue beene fully informed of your will and intention according with the Tenor of your Letter Wherefore wee will wholy put our selues into endeauour to accomplish your desire For although it be a difficult thing to well bring to perfect effect yet for the Times to come it will be an Argument of our great Confederation and Amity For you haue obliged our Citizens with a great and as it were an inestimable Benificence Whereupon wee haue offered to GOD the Sacrifice of Thankesgiuing for You your Sister Children and Friends and the whole multitude of people hath prayed to GOD for your Prosperity and that it will please him to addresse your affection in all your Acts and that GOD the Ruler of all things will make your Realme to flourish and increase in Peace and Glory And that the Translation of the Sacred Law may redound vnto your Vtility and Profite After these Sacrifices were accomplished all the People being to 〈…〉 wee haue chosen the persons 〈…〉 sort and men of honor and of good life and Report beeing sixe of euery Tribe or Line which we haue sent to you with the Holy Law which was left to vs by the Inspired Writer Moses Be it your pleasure Sir to returne them vs after the Translation of the Bookes shal be accomplished These are the Names of those which were chosen from all the Lines and Tribes of the Iewes for to go into Aegypt to make the first Translation of the Holy Bible or Law of MOSES Of the first Tribe IOsephus Ezechias Zacharias Ioannes Ezechias Heliseus Of the second Iudas Simon Somoâ—lus Adeus Mathias Eschâ—â—ias Of the third Neemias Iosephus Theodosius Baseas Ornias Dacis Of the fourth Ionathas Auxeus Heliseus Annanias Chebrias Sacheus Of the fifth Iasacus Iacobus Iesus Cabateus Simon Leuis Of the sixth Iudas Iosephus Simon Zacharias Somelns Selemias Of the seauenth Sabbateus Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The eighth Theodosius Iason Iesus Theodotus Ioannes Ionathas The ninth Theophilus Abrahamus Arsamus Iason Endemias Danielus The tenth Hieremias Eleazarus Zacharias Baneas Heliseus Datheus The eleauenth Samuel Iosephus Iudas Ioathes Chabel Desitheus The twelfth Isaelus Ioannes Theodosius Arsamenus Abiethas Ezecelus Number of all 72. Such was the answere to the Letters of the King NOw I will declare vnto you the most succinctly I possible can the beauty and Decoration of the things we found in Hierusalem being with Eleazer and those also which were sent vnto him for all was wrought with singularity of manufacture and of most exquisite beauty the King beeing therein so carefull and intentiue to performe abundantly all that was necessary for excellency of finishing the Worke that of his owne proper motion hee went and came visiting euery one of the Maister-Worke-men and Gold-smithes whom hee helde so close to their businesse
tying of all the Members a thing truely worthy of admiration But it wil be more admirable if thou takest regard to the composition of the sense which is giuen to euery member If thou weighest the actions of the Vnderstanding if thou considerest the Inuisible moouings and how in euery of them there shines a vigour and acuity of Spirit from whence is proceeded the inuention of Artes euen almost innumerable Wherefore not without cause Moses commaundeth vs to haue in continuall consideration that all things haue beene established and related exemplary by the DIVINE Power and Prouidence for so hath he finished and contermined euery thing according with its time and place Recalling alwayes into the memory the consideration of GOD the Lord Ruler and Creator of the whole Vniuerse And if wee will begin with that which concernes Eating and Drinking hath hee not well and prudently commaunded that we should giue prayses and thankes to GOD when we sit at Table In which hee hath not permitted vs to deuise or Discourse of any thing in the world that should make vs forget or deface in our memories the power and prouidence of GOD. Wherefore hee hath ordayned we draw vpon the Doores and Ports of our houses such Inscriptions as shall mooue vs to actions of thankes still to renewe our memories GOD and his goodnesse in our thoughts shewing by a most euident signe that all our Study ought alwayes to bring to the memory Equity and Sincerity and that the thought ought alwayes to represent GOD before our eyes Also hee hath ordayned that not onely when wee sit to the Table but Order of meates when wee rise that wee prayse the Workes and Deeds of GOD not onely with words but also with a sober and reuerent countenance redâ—cing into the memory the perpetuall mouing of the Heauens and that this alternatiue and successiue Nature is not onely Diuine but also incomprehensible to Man Thus to you is expounded the reason of the diuision the remembrance thereof by Reminiscence concerning the cleft of the hoofe and in Beasts their chewing of the Cudde which you haue propounded assuring you that there is nothing ordayned which is superfluous or improper for the vnderstanding ofâ— the Spirit but by this figuratiue manner and vse hee hath accommodated all things according to Verity Also the sayd Law-giuer by a like figure hath admonished vs from falling into Iniustice and sinne by the hearing or too much relying vpon our Eloquence Prattle and leastingâ— which wee may learne in the consideration of vilde Beasts for the Weasels are of a filthy complexion as also Rats and such like Creatures which he hath forbidden vs to handle or touch For Rats they make all things foule infectious and hurtfullâ— and are not onely pernicious to eate but wholy vnprofitable to man in all things And Weasels are a kinde of vermine which are yet more foule more infectious and the most filthy and vncleane of all those we can speak of For they conceiue by the eares and bring forth their little ones by the throat which is a thing abhominable in Men when they heare any thing receiuing by the hearing any accursed folly to vtter augment the same by their tongue and report and to exagerate the same by words odious and bitter Whereof there comes many times cause of great inconuenience and that which of it selfe is foule and filthy they fill and multiply with more great wickednesse and deprauation by all the meanes they may Wherefore your King as we haue heard say instly makes the race of such men to be punished with Death I thinke sayd I then that by such Calumniators â—alse reporters or Spies Some Copies call them Emphanists you meane the Emphanists â— for the King punisheth those without cease or mercy by Proces by Torments and sufferings euen to infamous death They are the same said Eleazer for their idlenesse and negligence brings nothing to Men but perdition and most dangerous ruine and destruction And likewise our Law commands to doe no wrong or damage to any person eyther by deed or word See then how I aduertize you in briefe and shew you that all our actions by the Law are addressed to Iustice and Equity and that our holy Scriptures aduoucheth not any thing that is euill beseeming nor to bee done impertinently and with choller But wee are commanded that in all our liues wee beare our selues towards all persons both in all our operations and negotiations iustly and graciously neuer putting out of our memories GOD the great Dominator Now to whom could it seeme otherwise but that Eleazer had well and pertinently spoken of those beastly Vermine Reptiles and such filth and of other Creatures also shewing thereby very properly that all the Letter of the Law tended to no other end then to iustice and to forme and well addresse the manners and wils of Men. Further he declared concerning the oblations of Calues â— of Sheepe and of Goares making thereof a faire discourse shewing that it was their custome to chuse such Beasts from the Folds and from Heards of houshold and tame breed to make with them their Offerings to GOD neuer offering Sacrifice with wild or harmfull beasts because those which made such oblations and them offered should not conceiue any height of heart or bee puffed vp with pride of minde but instructed by the gentle and sufferable nature of the Victimes and that they should make their profit from such examples to become humble and gentle and to alwayes haue in their sacrificing their spirits stretched to GOD the Creator of all things Hitheâ—to Philocrates I haue framed vnto you by Writing these memorable things considering the desire you haue to learne and to know the which I haue done to the end that by this little you may vnderstand the Maiesty of the Law the Causes and naturall considerations that in it are contayned and now I will come againe from what wee are digressed Returne of the Ambassadors into Alexandria with the Doctors of the â—ewes and how the King adored the Holy LAVV seauen times with teares in his eyes ELEAZER then after the Sacrifices were accomplished as was vsuall Hâ—uing chosen the Personâ— as is before specified to send vnto the King hee seâ—t him also many fayre Presents which indeede were very Magnificent When therefore wee had taken leâ—ue and parted from him very amiable with his salutation of Peace and were returned into Alexandria our arriuall was incontinently shewed to the King And soone after Andrea and my Selâ—e entred into the Kingâ— Hall wee making most humble Reuerence and presented to his Maiâ—sty the Letters of Eleazer Then the King as very ioyous that the successe of this Voyage had succeeded so well to him hauing obtained the personages â—e so much wisht for made the troupe of those were there about their petitions and suites to auoyde and commaunded that the Doctors Iewes should bee incontinently cald sooner then they expected so to be For