against apion-第17章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Had this man now read the epistles of king Alexander； or those of Ptolemy the son of Lagus； or met with the writings of the succeeding kings； or that pillar which is still standing at Alexandria； and contains the privileges which the great ＇Julius＇ Caesar bestowed upon the Jews； had this man； I say； known these records； and yet hath the impudence to write in contradiction to them； he hath shown himself to be a wicked man； but if he knew nothing of these records； he hath shown himself to be a man very ignorant： nay； when lie appears to wonder how Jews could be called Alexandrians； this is another like instance of his ignorance； for all such as are called out to be colonies； although they be ever so far remote from one another in their original； receive their names from those that bring them to their new habitations。 And what occasion is there to speak of others； when those of us Jews that dwell at Antioch are named Antiochians； because Seleucns the founder of that city gave them the privileges belonging thereto？ After the like manner do those Jews that inhabit Ephesus； and the other cities of Ionia； enjoy the same name with those that were originally born there； by the grant of the succeeding princes； nay； the kindness and humanity of the Romans hath been so great； that it hath granted leave to almost all others to take the same name of Romans upon them； I mean not particular men only； but entire and large nations themselves also； for those anciently named Iberi； and Tyrrheni； and Sabini； are now called Romani。 And if Apion reject this way of obtaining the privilege of a citizen of Alexandria； let him abstain from calling himself an Alexandrian hereafter； for otherwise； how can he who was born in the very heart of Egypt be an Alexandrian； if this way of accepting such a privilege； of which he would have us deprived； be once abrogated？ although indeed these Romans； who are now the lords of the habitable earth； have forbidden the Egyptians to have the privileges of any city whatsoever； while this fine fellow； who is willing to partake of such a privilege himself as he is forbidden to make use of； endeavors by calumnies to deprive those of it that have justly received it； for Alexander did not therefore get some of our nation to Alexandria； because he wanted inhabitants for this his city； on whose building he had bestowed so much pains； but this was given to our people as a reward； because he had； upon a careful trial； found them all to have been men of virtue and fidelity to him； for； as Hecateus says concerning us； 〃Alexander honored our nation to such a degree； that； for the equity and the fidelity which the Jews exhibited to him； he permitted them to hold the country of Samaria free from tribute。 Of the same mind also was Ptolemy the son of Lagus； as to those Jews who dwelt at Alexandria。〃 For he intrusted the fortresses of Egypt into their hands； as believing they would keep them faithfully and valiantly for him； and when he was desirous to secure the government of Cyrene； and the other cities of Libya； to himself； he sent a party of Jews to inhabit in them。 And for his successor Ptolemy； who was called Philadelphus； he did not only set all those of our nation free who were captives under him； but did frequently give money ＇for their ransom＇； and； what was his greatest work of all； he had a great desire of knowing our laws； and of obtaining the books of our sacred Scriptures； accordingly； he desired that such men might be sent him as might interpret our law to him； and； in order to have them well compiled； he committed that care to no ordinary persons； but ordained that Demetrius Phalereus； and Andreas； and Aristeas； the first； Demetrius； the most learned person of his age； and the others； such as were intrusted with the guard of his body； should take care of this matter： nor would he certainly have been so desirous of learning our law； and the philosophy of our nation； had he despised the men that made use of it； or had he not indeed had them in great admiration。 5。 Now this Apion was unacquainted with almost all the kings of those Macedonians whom he pretends to have been his progenitors； who were yet very well affected towards us； for the third of those Ptolemies； who was called Euergetes； when he had gotten possession of all Syria by force； did not offer his thank…offerings to the Egyptian gods for his victory； but came to Jerusalem； and according to our own laws offered many sacrifices to God； and dedicated to him such gifts as were suitable to such a victory： and as for Ptolemy Philometer and his wife Cleopatra； they committed their whole kingdom to the Jews； when Onias and Dositheus； both Jews； whose names are laughed at by Apion； were the generals of their whole army。 But certainly； instead of reproaching them； he ought to admire their actions； and return them thanks for saving Alexandria； whose citizen he pretends to be； for when these Alexandrians were making war with Cleopatra the queen； and were in danger of being utterly ruined； these Jews brought them to terms of agreement； and freed them from the miseries of a civil war。 〃But then （says Apion） Onias brought a small army afterward upon the city at the time when Thorruns the Roman ambassador was there present。〃 Yes； do I venture to say； and that he did rightly and very justly in so doing； for that Ptolemy who was called Physco； upon the death of his brother Philometer； came from Cyrene； and would have ejected Cleopatra as well as her sons out of their kingdom； that he might obtain it for himself unjustly。 （5） For this cause then it was that Onias undertook a war against him on Cleopatra's account； nor would he desert that trust the royal family had reposed in him in their distress。 Accordingly； God gave a remarkable attestation to his righteous procedure； for when Ptolemy Physco （6） had the presumption to fight against Onias's army； and had caught all the Jews that were in the city ＇Alexandria＇； with their children and wives； and exposed them naked and in bonds to his elephants； that they might be trodden upon and destroyed； and when he had made those elephants drunk for that purpose； the event proved contrary to his preparations； for these elephants left the Jews who were exposed to them； and fell violently upon Physco's friends； and slew a great number of them； nay； after this Ptolemy saw a terrible ghost； which prohibited his hurting those men； his very concubine； whom he loved so well； （some call her Ithaca； and others Irene；） making supplication to him； that he would not perpetrate so great a wickedness。 So he complied with her request； and repented of what he either had already done； or was about to do； whence it is well known that the Alexandrian Jews do with good reason celebrate this day； on the account that they had thereon been vouchsafed such an evident deliverance from God。 However； Apion； the common calumniator of men； hath the presumption to accuse the Jews for making this war against Physco； when he ought to have commended them for the same。 This man also makes mention of Cleopatra； the last queen of Alexandria； and abuses us； because she was ungrateful to us； whereas he ought to have reproved her； who indulged herself in all kinds of injustice and wicked practices； both with regard to her nearest relations and husbands who had loved her； and； indeed； in general with regard to all the Romans； and those emperors that were her benefactors； who also had her sister Arsinoe slain in a temple； when she had done her no harm： moreover； she had her brother slain by private treachery； and she destroyed the gods of her country and the sepulchers of her progenitors； and while she had received her kingdom from the first Caesar； she had the impudence to rebel against his son： （7） and successor； nay； she corrupted Antony with her love…tricks； and rendered him an enemy to his country； and made him treacherous to his friends； and ＇by his means＇ despoiled some of their royal authority； and forced oth
