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γλυκὺν ... αἰῶνα. God himself, in the enjoyment of eternal happiness, gives man but a brief spell of pure pleasure, to make the succeeding pain more bitter (cf. i. 32 ad fin., Plut. Mor. 1107 A). For the jealousy of God cf. Introd. § 36. Artabanus here, as elsewhere (iv. 83), plays the part of the chorus in tragedy, warning and dissuading the king in vain. But the views expressed are not in accordance with the Persian faith in the Zend-avesta (Darmesteter, Introd. lvi. f.): the true believer must not resign himself to fate with gentle pessimism, but fight on the side of Ormuzd in the battle with Ahriman.

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