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[43]
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?"
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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- LSJ, κατεργ-άζομαι
- LSJ, περικρα^τ-έω
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