for。
2。 Now； in the first year of the king's reign； Darius feasted
those that were about him； and those born in his house； with the
rulers of the Medes； and princes of the Persians； and the
toparchs of India and Ethiopia； and the generals of the armies of
his hundred and twenty…seven provinces。 But when they had eaten
and drunk to satiety； and abundantly； they every one departed to
go to bed at their own houses； and Darius the king went to bed；
but after he had rested a little part of the night； he awaked；
and not being able to sleep any more； he fell into conversation
with the three guards of his body； and promised； that to him who
should make an oration about points that he should inquire of；
such as should be most agreeable to truth； and to the dictates of
wisdom； he would grant it as a reward of his victory； to put on a
purple garment； and to drink in cups of gold； and to sleep upon
gold； and to have a chariot with bridles of gold； and a head tire
of fine linen； and a chain of gold about his neck； and to sit
next to himself； on account of his wisdom； 〃and；〃 says he； 〃he
shall be called my cousin。〃 Now when he had promised to give them
these gifts； he asked the first of them； 〃Whether wine was not
the strongest？〃the second； 〃Whether kings were not such？〃 … and
the third； 〃Whether women were not such？ or whether truth was not
the strongest of all？〃 When he had proposed that they should make
their inquiries about these problems； he went to rest； but in the
morning he sent for his great men； his princes； and toparchs of
Persia and Media； and set himself down in the place where he used
to give audience； and bid each of the guards of his body to
declare what they thought proper concerning the proposed
questions； in the hearing of them all。
3。 Accordingly； the first of them began to speak of the strength
of wine； and demonstrated it thus： 〃When；〃 said he；〃 I am to give
my opinion of wine； O you men； I find that it exceeds every
thing； by the following indications： It deceives the mind of
those that drink it； and reduces that of the king to the same
state with that of the orphan； and he who stands in need of a
tutor； and erects that of the slave to the boldness of him that
is free； and that of the needy becomes like that of the rich man；
for it changes and renews the souls of men when it gets into
them； and it quenches the sorrow of those that are under
calamities； and makes men forget the debts they owe to others；
and makes them think themselves to be of all men the richest； it
makes them talk of no small things； but of talents； and such
other names as become wealthy men only； nay more； it makes them
insensible of their commanders； and of their kings； and takes
away the remembrance of their friends and companions； for it arms
men even against those that are dearest to them； and makes them
appear the greatest strangers to them； and when they are become
sober； and they have slept out their wine in the night； they
arise without knowing any thing they have done in their cups。 I
take these for signs of power； and by them discover that wine is
the strongest and most insuperable of all things。〃
4。 As soon as the first had given the forementioned
demonstrations of the strength of wine； he left off； and the next
to him began to speak about the strength of a king； and
demonstrated that it was the strongest of all； and more powerful
than any thing else that appears to have any force or wisdom。 He
began his demonstration after the following manner； and said；〃
They are men who govern all things； they force the earth and the
sea to become profitable to them in what they desire； and over
these men do kings rule； and over them they have authority。 Now
those who rule over that animal which is of all the strongest and
most powerful； must needs deserve to be esteemed insuperable in
power and force。 For example； when these kings command their
subjects to make wars； and undergo dangers； they are hearkened
to； and when they send them against their enemies； their power is
so great that they are obeyed。 They command men to level
mountains； and to pull down walls and towers； nay； when they are
commanded to be killed and to kill； they submit to it； that they
may not appear to transgress the king's commands； and when they
have conquered； they bring what they have gained in the war to
the king。 Those also who are not soldiers； but cultivate the
ground； and plough it； and when； after they have endured the
labor and all the inconveniences of such works of husbandry； they
have reaped and gathered in their fruits； they bring tributes to
the king； and whatsoever it is which the king says or commands；
it is done of necessity； and that without any delay； while he in
the mean time is satiated with all sorts of food and pleasures；
and sleeps in quiet。 He is guarded by such as watch； and such as
are； as it were； fixed down to the place through fear； for no one
dares leave him； even when he is asleep； nor does any one go away
and take care of his own affairs； but he esteems this one thing
the only work of necessity； to guard the king； and accordingly to
this he wholly addicts himself。 How then can it be otherwise； but
that it must appear that the king exceeds all in strength； while
so great a multitude obeys his injunctions？〃
5。 Now when this man had held his peace； the third of them； who
was Zorobabel； began to instruct them about women； and about
truth； who said thus： 〃Wine is strong； as is the king also； whom
all men obey； but women are superior to them in power； for it was
a woman that brought the king into the world； and for those that
plant the vines and make the wine； they are women who bear them；
and bring them up： nor indeed is there any thing which we do not
receive from them； for these women weave garments for us； and our
household affairs are by their means taken care of； and preserved
in safety； nor can we live separate from women。 And when we have
gotten a great deal of gold and silver； and any other thing that
is of great value； and deserving regard； and see a beautiful
woman； we leave all these things； and with open mouth fix our
eyes upon her countenance； and are willing to forsake what we
have； that we may enjoy her beauty； and procure it to ourselves。
We also leave father； and mother； and the earth that nourishes
us； and frequently forget our dearest friends； for the sake of
women； nay； we are so hardy as to lay down our lives for them。
But what will chiefly make you take notice of the strength of
women is this that follows： Do not we take pains； and endure a
great deal of trouble； and that both by land and sea； and when we
have procured somewhat as the fruit of our labors； do not we
bring them to the women； as to our mistresses； and bestow them
upon them？ Nay； I once saw the king； who is lord of so many
people； smitten on the face by Apame； the daughter of Rabsases
Themasius； his concubine； and his diadem taken away from him； and
put upon her own head； while he bore it patiently； and when she
smiled he smiled； and when she was angry he was sad； and
according to the change of her passions； he flattered his wife；
and drew her to reconciliation by the great humiliation of
himself to her； if at my time he saw her displeased at him。〃
6。 And when the princes and rulers looked one upon another； he
began to speak about truth； and he said； 〃I have already
demonstrated how powerful women are； but both these women
themselves； and the king himself； are weaker than truth； for
although the earth be large； and the heaven high； and the course
of the sun swift； yet are all these moved according to the will
of God； who is true and righteous； for which cause we also ought
to esteem truth to be the strongest of all things； and that what
is unrighteous is of no force against it。 Moreover； all things
else that have any strength are mortal and short…lived； but truth
is a thing that is immortal and eternal。 It affords us not indeed
such a beauty as will wither away by time； nor such riches as may
be taken away by fortune； but righteous rules and laws。 It
distinguishes them from injustice； and puts what is unrighteous
to rebuke。〃 （5）
7。 So when Zorobabel had left off his discourse about truth； and
the multitude had cried out aloud that he had spoken the most
wisely； and that it was truth alone that had immutable strength；
and such as never would wax old； the king commanded that he
should ask for somewhat over and above what he had promised； for
that he would give it him because of his wisdom； and that
prudence wherein he exceeded the rest； 〃and thou shalt sit with
me；〃 said the king； 〃and shalt be called my cousin。〃 When he had
said this； Zorobabel put him in mind of the vow he had made in
case he should ever have the kingdom。 Now this vow was； 〃to
rebuild Jerusalem； and to build therein the temple of God； as
also to restore the vessels which Nebuchadnezzar had pillaged；
and carried to Babylon。 And this；〃 said he； 〃is that request
which thou now permittest me to make； on account that I have been
judged to be wise and understanding。〃
8。 So the king was pleased with what he had said； and arose and
kissed him； and wrote to the toparchs and governors； and enjoined
them to conduct Zorobabel and those that were going with him to
build the temple。 He also sent letters to those rulers that were
in Syria and Phoenicia to cut down and carry cedar trees from
Lebanon to Jerusalem； and to assist him in building the city。 He
also wrote to them； that all the captives who should go to Judea
should be free； and he prohibited his deputies and governors to
lay any king's taxes upon the Jews； he also permitted that they
should have all that land which they could possess themselves of
without tributes。 He also enjoined the Idumeans and Samaritans；
and the inhabitants of Celesyria； to restore those villages which
they had taken from the Jews； and that； besides all this； fifty
talents should be given them for the building of the temple。 He
also permitted them to offer their appointed sacrifices； and that
whatsoever the high priest and the priests wanted； and those
sacred garments wherein they used to worship God； should be made
at his ow