an account of egypt(埃及记)-第24章
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truth （he said） the time had expired； during which it had been prophesied
to him that he should rule Egypt before he departed thence。 For when he
was in Ethiopia the Oracles which the Ethiopians consult had told him that
it was fated for him to rule Egypt fifty years： since then this time was now
expiring； and the vision of the dream also disturbed him； Sabacos departed
out of Egypt of his own free will。
Then when the Ethiopian had gone away out of Egypt； the blind man
came back from the fen…country and began to rule again； having lived
there during fifty years upon an island which he had made by heaping up
ashes and earth： for whenever any of the Egyptians visited him bringing
food； according as it had been appointed to them severally to do without
the knowledge of the Ethiopian； he bade them bring also some ashes for
their gift。 This island none was able to find before Amyrtaios； that is； for
more than seven hundred years the kings who arose before Amyrtaios
were not able to find it。 Now the name of this island is Elbo； and its size is
ten furlongs each way。
After him there came to the throne the priest of Hephaistos； whose
name was Sethos。 This man； they said； neglected and held in no regard the
warrior class of the Egyptians； considering that he would have no need of
them； and besides other slights which he put upon them； he also took from
them the yokes of corn…land which had been given to them as a special gift
in the reigns of the former kings； twelve yokes to each man。 After this；
Sanacharib king of the Arabians and of the Assyrians marched a great host
against Egypt。 Then the warriors of the Egyptians refused to come to the
rescue； and the priest； being driven into a strait； entered into the sanctuary
of the temple and bewailed to the image of the god the danger which was
impending over him； and as he was thus lamenting； sleep came upon him；
and it seemed to him in his vision that the god came and stood by him and
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encouraged him； saying that he should suffer no evil if he went forth to
meet the army of the Arabians； for he would himself send him helpers。
Trusting in these things seen in sleep； he took with him； they said； those of
the Egyptians who were willing to follow him； and encamped in Pelusion；
for by this way the invasion came： and not one of the warrior class
followed him； but shop…keepers and artisans and men of the market。 Then
after they came； there swarmed by night upon their enemies mice of the
fields； and ate up their quivers and their bows； and moreover the handles
of their shields； so that on the next day they fled； and being without
defence of arms great numbers fell。 And at the present time this king
stands in the temple of Hephaistos in stone； holding upon his hand a
mouse； and by letters inscribed he says these words： 〃Let him who looks
upon me learn to fear the gods。〃
So far in the story the Egyptians and the priests were they who made
the report； declaring that from the first king down to this priest of
Hephaistos who reigned last； there had been three hundred and forty… one
generations of men； and that in them there had been the same number of
chief…priests and of kings： but three hundred generations of men are equal
to ten thousand years； for a hundred years is three generations of men； and
in the one…and…forty generations which remain； those I mean which were
added to the three hundred； there are one thousand three hundred and forty
years。 Thus in the period of eleven thousand three hundred and forty years
they said that there had arisen no god in human form； nor even before that
time or afterwards among the remaining kings who arise in Egypt； did
they report that anything of that kind had come to pass。 In this time they
said that the sun had moved four times from his accustomed place of
rising； and where he now sets he had thence twice had his rising； and in
the place from whence he now rises he had twice had his setting； and in
the meantime nothing in Egypt had been changed from its usual state；
neither that which comes from the earth nor that which comes to them
from the river nor that which concerns diseases or deaths。 And formerly
when Hecataios the historian was in Thebes； and had traced his descent
and connected his family with a god in the sixteenth generation before； the
priests of Zeus did for him much the same as they did for me （though I had
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not traced my descent）。 They led me into the sanctuary of the temple；
which is of great size； and they counted up the number； showing colossal
wooden statues in number the same as they said； for each chief…priest there
sets up in his lifetime an image of himself： accordingly the priests；
counting and showing me these； declared to me that each one of them was
a son succeeding his own father； and they went up through the series of
images from the image of the one who had died last； until they had
declared this of the whole number。 And when Hecataios had traced his
descent and connected his family with a god in the sixteenth generation；
they traced a descent in opposition to his； besides their numbering； not
accepting it from him that a man had been born from a god； and they
traced their counter…descent thus； saying that each one of the statues had
been /piromis/ son of /piromis/； until they had declared this of the whole
three hundred and forty…five statues； each one being surnamed /piromis/；
and neither with a god nor a hero did they connect their descent。 Now
/piromis/ means in the tongue of Hellas 〃honourable and good man。〃 From
their declaration then it followed； that they of whom the images were had
been of form like this； and far removed from being gods： but in the time
before these men they said that gods were the rulers in Egypt； not
mingling with men； and that of these always one had power at a time； and
the last of them who was king over Egypt was Oros the son of Osiris；
whom the Hellenes call Apollo： he was king over Egypt last； having
deposed Typhon。 Now Osiris in the tongue of Hellas is Dionysos。
Among the Hellenes Heracles and Dionysos and Pan are accounted the
lastest…born of the gods； but with the Egyptians Pan is a very ancient god；
and he is one of those which are called eight gods； while Heracles is of the
second rank； who are called the twelve gods； and Dionysos is of the third
rank； namely of those who were born of the twelve gods。 Now as to
Heracles I have shown already how many years old he is according to the
Egyptians themselves； reckoning down to the reign of Amasis； and Pan is
said to have existed for yet more years than these； and Dionysos for the
smallest number of years as compared with the others； and even for this
last they reckon down to the reign of Amasis fifteen thousand years。 This
the Egyptians say that they know for a certainty； since they always kept a
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reckoning and wrote down the years as they came。 N
