topAristeas #6
(172-202)

Chapter 6
Verses 172-202

172 Ὁ δὲ Ἐλεάζαρος ποιησάμενος θυσίαν καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐπιλέξας καὶ πολλὰ δῶρα τῷ βασιλεῖ κατασκευάσας προέπεμψεν ἡμᾶς μετὰ‎ ἀσφαλείας πολλῆς. 172 And Eleazar, after offering the sacrifice, and selecting the envoys, and preparing many gifts for the king, despatched us on our journey in great security.
173 ὡς‎ δὲ παρεγενήθημεν εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν, προσηγγέλη τῷ βασιλεῖ περὶ τῆς ἀφίξεως ἡμῶν. {παρειμένοι} δ’ εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν Ἀνδρέας τε καὶ ἐγώ, φιλοφρόνως ἠσπασάμεθα τὸν βασιλέα καὶ τὰς ἐπιστολὰς ἀποδεδώκαμεν τὰς παρὰ τοῦ Ἐλεαζάρου. 173 And when we reached Alexandria the king was at once informed of our arrival.

On our admission to the palace, Andreas and I warmly greeted the king and handed over to him the letter written by Eleazar.
174 περὶ πολλοῦ‎ δὲ ποιούμενος τοῖς ἀπεσταλμένοις ἀνδράσιν ἐντυχεῖν, ἐκέλευσε τοὺς λοιποὺς πάντας ἀπολῦσαι τοὺς ἐπὶ τῶν χρειῶν, καλεῖν δὲ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους. 174 the king and handed over to him the letter written by Eleazar.

The king was very anxious to meet the envoys, and gave orders that all the other officials should be dismissed and the envoys summoned to his presence at once.
175 οὗ πᾶσι παραδόξου φανέντος – διὰ τὸ κατὰ ἔθος εἶναι, πεμπταίους εἰς πρόσωπον ἔρχεσθαι βασιλεῖ τοὺς περὶ χρήσιμον ἀφικνουμένους, τοὺς δὲ παρὰ βασιλέων ἢ πόλεων ἐν ὑπεροχαῖς μόλις ἐν τριάκοντα εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν παρίεσθαι – τοὺς δὲ ἥκοντας τιμῆς καταξιῶν μείζονος, καὶ τὴν ὑπεροχὴν κρίνων τοῦ πέμψαντος, ἀπολύσας οὓς ἐνόμιζε περισσούς, ὑπέμενε περιπατῶν, ἕως ἂν‎ παραγινομένους ἀσπάσηται. 175 Now this excited general surprise, for it is customary for those who come to seek an audience with the king on matters of importance to be admitted to his presence on the fifth day, while envoys from kings or very important cities with difficulty secure admission to the Court in thirty days – but these men he counted worthy of greater honour, since he held their master in such high esteem, and so he immediately dismissed those whose presence he regarded as superfluous and continued walking about until they came in and he was able to welcome them.
176 παρελθόντων δὲ σὺν τοῖς ἀπεσταλμένοις δώροις καὶ ταῖς διαφόροις διφθέραις, ἐν αἷς ἡ‎ νομοθεσία γεγραμμένη χρυσογραφίᾳ τοῖς Ἰουδαϊκοῖς γράμμασι, θαυμασίως {εἰργασμένου τοῦ ὑμένος}, καὶ τῆς πρὸς ἄλληλα συμβολῆς ἀνεπαισθήτου κατεσκευασμένης, ὡς‎ εἶδεν ὁ βασιλεὺς‎ τοὺς ἄνδρας, ἐπηρώτα περὶ τῶν βιβλίων. 176 When they entered with the gifts which had been sent with them and the valuable parchments, on which the law was inscribed in gold in Jewish characters, for the parchment was wonderfully prepared and the connexion between the pages had been so effected as to be invisible, the king as soon as he saw them began to ask them about the books.
177 ὡς‎ δὲ ἀπεκάλυψαν τὰ τῶν ἐνειλημάτων καὶ τοὺς ὑμένας ἀνείλιξαν, πολὺν ἐπιστὰς χρόνον καὶ προσκυνήσας σχεδὸν ἑπτάκις εἶπεν Εὐχαριστοῦ μέν, ἄνδρες, ὑμῖν, τῷ δ’ ἀποστείλαντι μᾶλλον, μέγιστον δὲ τῷ θεῷ, οὗτινός ἐστι τὰ λόγια ταῦτα‎. 177 And when they had taken the rolls out of their coverings and unfolded the pages, the king stood still for a long time and then making obeisance about seven times, he said: “I thank you, my friends, and I thank him that sent you still more, and most of all God, whose oracles these are.”
178 ὁμοθυμαδὸν δὲ πάντων εἰπόντων ὑπὸ μίαν φωνήν, τῶν τε παραγεγονόντων καὶ τῶν συμπαρόντων, Εὖ βασιλεῦ, προήχθη δακρῦσαι τῇ χαρᾷ πεπληρωμένος.

ἡ‎ γὰρ τῆς ψυχῆς ἔντασις καὶ τὸ τῆς τιμῆς ὑπερτεῖνον δακρύειν ἀναγκάζει κατὰ τὰς ἐπιτυχίας. 		178 And when all, the envoys and the others who were present as well, shouted out at one time and with one voice: “God save the King!” he burst into tears of joy.

For his exaltation of soul and the sense of the overwhelming honour which had been paid him compelled him to weep over his good fortune.
179 κελεύσας δὲ εἰς τάξιν ἀποδοῦναι τὰ τεύχη, τὸ τηνικαῦτα ἀσπασάμενος τοὺς ἄνδρας εἶπεν Δίκαιον ἦν, θεοσεβεῖς ἄνδρες, ὧν χάριν ὑμᾶς‎ μετεπεμψάμην, ἐκείνοις πρῶτον σεβασμὸν ἀποδοῦναι, μετὰ‎ ταῦτα‎ τὴν δεξιὰν ὑμῖν προτεῖναι·

διὸ πεποίηκα τοῦτο πρῶτον. 		179 He commanded them to put the rolls back in their places and then after saluting the men, said: “It was right, men of God, that I should first of all pay my reverence to the books for the sake of which I summoned you here and then, when I had done that, to extend the right-hand of friendship to you.

It was for this reason that I did this first.
180 μεγάλην δὲ τέθειμαι τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην, ἐν ᾗ παραγεγόνατε, καὶ κατ’ ἐνιαυτὸν ἐπίσημος ἔσται‎ πάντα‎ τὸν τῆς ζωῆς‎ ἡμῶν χρόνον·

συντέτυχε γὰρ καὶ τὰ κατὰ τὴν νίκην ἡμῖν προσπεπτωκέναι τῆς πρὸς Ἀντίγονον ναυμαχίας.

διὸ καὶ δειπνῆσαι σήμερον μεθ’ ὑμῶν βουλήσομαι. 		180I have enacted that this day, on which you arrived, shall be kept as a great day and it will be celebrated annually throughout my life time.

It happens also that it is the anniversary of my naval victory over Antigonus.

Therefore I shall be glad to feast with you to-day.”
181 πάντα‎ {δ’ ὑμῖν}, εἶπε, παρέσται καθηκόντως, οἷς συγχρήσησθε, κἀμοὶ μεθ’ ὑμῶν.

τῶν‎ δὲ ἀσμενισάντων ἐκέλευσε καταλύματα δοθῆναι τὰ κάλλιστα‎ πλησίον τῆς ἄκρας αὐτοῖς‎, καὶ τὰ κατὰ τὸ συμπόσιον ἑτοιμάζειν. 		181 “Everything that you may have occasion to use,” he said, “shall be prepared (for you) in a befitting manner and for me also with you.”

After they had expressed their delight, he gave orders that the best quarters near the citadel should be assigned to them, and that preparations should be made for the banquet.
182 Ὁ δὲ {ἀρχεδέατρος} Νικάνωρ Δωρόθεον προσκαλεσάμενος, ὃς {ἦν} ἐπὶ τούτων ἀποτεταγμένος, ἐκέλευσε τὴν ἑτοιμασίαν εἰς ἕκαστον ἐπιτελεῖν.

ἦν γὰρ οὕτω διατεταγμένον ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέων, ἃ μὲν ἔτι‎ καὶ νῦν ὁρᾷς·

ὅσαι γὰρ πόλεις εἰσίν, {αἳ τοῖς αὐτοῖς‎} συγχρῶνται πρὸς τὰ ποτὰ καὶ βρωτὰ καὶ στρωμνάς, τοσοῦτοι καὶ προεστῶτες ἦσαν·

καὶ κατὰ τοὺς ἐθισμοὺς οὕτως‎ ἐσκευάζετο, ὅταν παραγένοιντο πρὸς τοὺς βασιλεῖς, ἵνα‎ κατὰ μηθὲν δυσχεραίνοντες ἱλαρῶς διεξάγωσιν·

ὃ καὶ περὶ τούτους ἐγεγόνει. 		182 And Nicanor summoned the lord high steward, Dorotheus, who was the special officer appointed to look after the Jews, and commanded him to make the necessary preparation for each one.

For this arrangement had been made by the king and it is an arrangement which you see maintained to-day.

For as many cities (as) have (special) customs in the matter of drinking, eating, and reclining, have special officers appointed to look after their requirements.

And whenever they come to visit the kings, preparations are made in accordance with their own customs, in order that there may be no discomfort to disturb the enjoyment of their visit.

The same precaution was taken in the case of the Jewish envoys.
183 προσεχέστατος γὰρ ὢν‎ ἄνθρωπος ὁ Δωρόθεος εἶχε τὴν τῶν τοιούτων προστασίαν.

συνέστρωσε δὲ πάντα‎ τὰ δι’ αὐτοῦ‎ χειριζόμενα, πρὸς τὰς τοιαύτας ὑποδοχὰς διαμεμερισμένα.

διμερῆ τε ἐποίησε τὰ τῶν κλισμῶν, καθὼς προσέταξεν ὁ βασιλεύς·

τοὺς γὰρ ἡμίσεις ἐκέλευσεν ἀνὰ χεῖρα κατακλῖναι, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς μετὰ‎ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ κλισίαν, οὐδὲν ἐλλιπὼν εἰς τὸ τιμᾷν τοὺς ἄνδρας. 		183 Now Dorotheus who was the patron appointed to look after Jewish guests was a very conscientious man.

All the stores which were under his control and set apart for the reception of such guests, he brought out for the feast.

He arranged the seats in two rows in accordance with the king's instructions.

For he had ordered him to make half the men sit at his right hand and the rest behind him, in order that he might not withhold from them the highest possible honour.
184 Ὡς δὲ κατεκλίθησαν, ἐκέλευσε τῷ Δωροθέῳ τοῖς ἐθισμοῖς οἷς χρῶνται πάντες οἱ‎ παραγινόμενοι πρὸς αὐτὸν‎ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας, οὕτως‎ ἐπιτελεῖν.

διὸ τοὺς ἱεροκήρυκας καὶ θύτας καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους, οἷς ἔθος ἦν τὰς κατευχὰς ποιεῖσθαι, παρῃτήσατο·

τῶν‎ δὲ παραγεγονότων σὺν ἡμῖν Ἐλισσαῖον ὄντα τῶν ἱερῶν πρεσβύτερον ποιήσασθαι κατευχήν, ὃς ἀξιολόγως στὰς εἶπε 		184 When they had taken their seats he instructed Dorotheus to carry out everything in accordance with the customs which were in use amongst his Jewish guests.

Therefore he dispensed with the services of the sacred heralds and the sacrificing priests and the others who were accustomed to offer the prayers, and called upon one of our number, Eleazar, the oldest of the Jewish priests, to offer prayer instead.

And he rose up and made a remarkable prayer.
185 Πληρώσαι σε, βασιλεῦ, πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν ὧν ἔκτισεν ὁ παντοκράτωρ‎ θεός·

καὶ δῴη σοι ταῦτ’ ἔχειν καὶ γυναικὶ καὶ τέκνοις καὶ τοῖς ὁμονοοῦσι πάντα‎ ἀνέκλειπτα τὸν τῆς ζωῆς‎ χρόνον. 		185 “May Almighty God enrich you, O king with all the good things which He has made and may He grant you and your wife and your children and your comrades the continual possession of them as long as you live !”
186 Εἰπόνοτος δὲ ταῦτα‎ τούτου κατερράγη κρότος μετὰ‎ κραυγῆς καὶ χαρᾶς εὐφροσύνου πλείονα χρόνον·

καὶ τὸ τηνικαῦτα πρὸς τὸ τέρπεσθαι διὰ τῶν ἡτοιμασμένων ἐτράπησαν, τῶν λειτουργιῶν ἁπασῶν διὰ τῆς τοῦ Δωροθέου συντάξεως ἐπιτελουμένων·

ἐν οἷς καὶ βασιλικοὶ παῖδες ἦσαν, καὶ τῶν τιμωμένων ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως. 		186 At these words a loud and joyous applause broke out which lasted for a considerable time, and then they turned to the enjoyment of the banquet which had been prepared.

All the arrangements for service at table were carried out in accordance with the injunction of Dorotheus.

Among the attendants were the royal pages and others who held places of honour at the king's court.
187 Ὅτε δὲ καιρὸν ἔλαβεν ἐκ διαστήματος, ἠρώτησε τὸν ἔχοντα‎ τὴν πρώτην ἀνάκλισιν (ἦσαν γὰρ καθ’ ἡλικίαν τὴν ἀνάπτωσιν πεποιημένοι) Πῶς ἂν‎ τὴν βασιλείαν μέχρι τέλους ἄπταιστον ἔχων‎ διατελοῖ; 187 Taking an opportunity afforded by a pause in the banquet the king asked the envoy who sat in the seat of honour (for they were arranged according to seniority), “How can I keep the kingdom unimpaired to the end?”
188 βραχὺ δὲ ἐπισχὼν εἶπεν Οὕτως ἂν‎ μάλιστα διευθύνοις, μιμούμενος τὸ τοῦ θεοῦ διὰ παντὸς‎ ἐπιεικές.

μακροθυμίᾳ γὰρ χρώμενος, καὶ βλιμάζων τοὺς ἀξίους ἐπιεικέστερον, καθώς εἰσιν ἄξιοι, μετατιθεὶς ἐκ τῆς κακίας καὶ εἰς μετάνοιαν ἄξεις. 		188 After pondering for a moment he replied, “You could best establish its security if you were to imitate the unceasing benignity of God.

For if you exhibit clemency and inflict mild punishments upon those who deserve them in accordance with their deserts, you will turn them from evil and lead them to repentance.”
189 Ἐπαινέσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς‎ τὸν ἐχόμενον ἠρώτα Πῶς ἂν‎ ἕκαστα πράττοι; ὁ‎ δὲ ἀπεκρίθη Τὸ‎ δίκαιον εἰ πρὸς ἅπαντας διατηροῖ, ἑαυτῷ καλῶς τὰ ἕκαστα πράξει, διαλαμβάνων ὅτι πᾶν ἐννόημα σαφές ἐστι θεῷ·

καταρχὴν δὲ θείου φόβου λαμβάνων ἐν οὐδενὶ διαπίπτοις. 		189 The king praised the answer and then asked the next man, How he could do everything for the best in all his actions? And he replied, “If a man maintains a just bearing towards all, he will always act rightly on every occasion, remembering that every thought is known to God.

If you take the fear of God as your starting-point, you will never miss the goal.
190 Καὶ τοῦτον δὲ εὖ μάλα παραδεξάμενος ἕτερον ἐπηρώτα Πῶς ἂν‎ ὁμοίους ἑαυτῷ ἔχοι τοὺς φίλους; κἀκεῖνος εἶπεν Εἰ θεωροίησαν πολλήν σε πρόνοιαν ποιούμενον ὧν ἄρχεις ὄχλων·

σὺ δὲ τοῦτο πράξεις ἐπιβλέπων ὡς‎ ὁ θεὸς εὐεργετεῖ τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος, ὁ ὑγείαν αὐτοῖς‎ καὶ τροφὴν καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ κατὰ καιρὸν παρασκευάζων ἅπαντα. 		190 The king complimented this man, too, upon his answer and asked another, How he could have friends like-minded with himself? He replied, “If they see you studying the interests of the multitudes over whom you rule; you will do well to observe how God bestows his benefits on the human race, providing for them health and food and all other things in due season.”
191 Συνεπιμαρτυρήσας δὲ τούτῷ τὸν ἐχόμενον ἠρώτα Πῶς ἂν‎ ἐν τοῖς χρηματισμοῖς καὶ διακρίσεσιν εὐφημίας {τυγχάνοι} καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀποτυγχανόντων; ὁ‎ δὲ εἶπεν Εἰ πᾶσιν ἴσος γένοιο τῷ λόγῳ, καὶ μηδὲν ὑπερηφάνως μηδὲ τῇ περὶ σεαυτὸν ἰσχύι πράσσοις κατὰ τῶν ἁμαρτανόντων. 191 After expressing his agreement with the reply, the king asked the next guest, How in giving audiences and passing judgments he could gain the praise even of those who failed to win their suit? And he said, “If you are fair in speech to all alike and never act insolently nor tyrannically in your treatment of offenders.
192 τοῦτο δὲ ποιήσεις τὴν διάταξιν βλέπων τὴν ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ·

τὰ γὰρ ἱκετευόμενα συντελεῖσθαι τοῖς ἀξίοις, τοῖς δὲ ἀποτυγχανόυσιν ἢ δι’ ὀνείρων ἢ πράξεων σημαίνεσθαι τὸ βλαβερὸν αὐτοῖς‎, οὐ‎ κατὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας οὐδὲ {κατὰ} τὴν μεγαλωσύνην τῆς ἰσχύος τύπτοντος αὐτούς, ἀλλ’ ἐπιεικείᾳ χρωμένου τοῦ θεοῦ. 		192 And you will do this if you watch the method by which God acts.

The petitions of the worthy are always fulfilled, while those who fail to obtain an answer to their prayers are informed by means of dreams or events of what was harmful in their requests and that God does not smite them according to their sins or the greatness of His strength, but acts with forbearance towards them.”
193 Εὖ δὲ‎ καὶ τοῦτον κατεπαινέσας ἠρώτα τὸν ἑξῆς Πῶς ὢν‎ ἐν ταῖς πολεμικαῖς χρείαις ἀήττητος εἴη; ὁ‎ δὲ εἶπεν Εἰ μὴ‎ πεποιθὼς ὑπάρχοι τοῖς ὄχλοις μηδὲ ταῖς δυνάμεσιν, ἀλλὰ τὸν θεὸν ἐπικαλοῖτο διὰ πάντων, ἵνα‎ τὰς ἐπιβολὰς αὐτῷ κατευθύνῃ δικαίως διεξάγοντι πάντα‎. 193 The king praised the man warmly for his answer and asked the next in order, How he could be invincible in military affairs? And he replied, “If he did not trust entirely to his multitudes or his warlike forces, but called upon God continually to bring his enterprises to a successful issue, while he himself discharged all his duties in the spirit of justice.”
194 ἀποδεξάμενος δὲ‎ καὶ τοῦτον τὸν ἕτερον ἠρώτα Πῶς ἂν‎ φοβερὸς εἴη τοῖς ἐχθροῖς; ὁ‎ δὲ εἶπεν Εἰ τῇ τῶν ὅπλων καὶ δυνάμεων παρασκευῇ πολλῇ χρώμενος {εἰδείη} ταῦτα‎ ὄντα κενὰ ἐπὶ πλείονα χρόνον πρὸς τὸ συμπέρασμα δρᾷ τι·

καὶ γὰρ ὁ θεὸς διδοὺς ἀνοχὰς καὶ ἐνδεικνύμενος τὸν τῆς δυναστείας φόβον ἐγκατασκευάζει πάσῃ‎ διανοίᾳ. 		194 Welcoming this answer, he asked another how he might become an object of dread to his enemies.

And he replied, “If while maintaining a vast supply of arms and forces he remembered that these things were powerless to achieve a permanent and conclusive result.

For even God instils fear into the minds of men by granting reprieves and making merely a display of the greatness of his power.”
195 Καὶ τοῦτον δὲ ἐπαινέσας εἶπε πρὸς τὸν ἐχόμενον Τί κάλλιστον αὐτῷ πρὸς τὸ ζῇν ἂν‎ εἴη; κἀκεῖνος ἔφη Τὸ‎ γινώσκειν ὅτι θεὸς δυναστεύει τῶν ἁπάντων, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν καλλίστων πράσεων οὐκ‎ αὐτοὶ κατευθύνομεν τὰ βουλευθέντα·

θεὸς δὲ τελειοῖ τὰ πάντων καὶ καθηγεῖται δυναστεύων. 		195 This man the king praised and then said to the next, What is the highest good in life? And he answered “To know that God is Lord of the Universe, and that in our finest achievements it is not we who attain success but God who by his power brings all things to fulfilment and leads us to the goal.”
196 ἐπιφωνήσας δὲ‎ καὶ τούτῳ καλῶς λέγειν τὸν ἕτερον ἠρώτα Πῶς ἂν‎ ἀκέραια συντηρήσας ἅπαντα τοῖς ἐγγόνοις τὴν αὐτὴν παραδιδοῖ διάθεσιν ἐπὶ τέλει; ὁ‎ δὲ εἶπεν Εὐχόμενος ἀεὶ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀγαθὰς ἐπινοίας λαμβάνειν πρὸς τὰ μέλλοντα πράσσεσθαι, καὶ τοῖς ἐγγόνοις παρακελευόμενος μὴ‎ ἐκπλήττεσθαι τῇ δόξῃ μηδὲ τῷ πλούτῴ θεὸν γὰρ εἶναι τὸν χαριζόμενον ταῦτα‎, καὶ οὐ‎ δι’ ἑαυτοὺς ἔχει τὴν ὑπεροχὴν ἁπάντων. 196 The king exclaimed that the man had answered well and then asked the next How he could keep all his possessions intact and finally hand them down to his successors in the same condition? And he answered “By praying constantly to God that you may be inspired with high motives in all your undertakings and by warning your descendants not to be dazzled by fame or wealth, for it is God who bestows all these gifts and men never by themselves win the supremacy'.
197 Ἐπιμαρτυρήσας δὲ τούτοις‎ τοῦ μετὰ‎ ταῦτα‎ ἐπυνθάνετο Πῶς ἂ τὰ συμβαίνοντα μετρίως φέροι; Ἐκεῖνος δὲ ἔφησεν Εἰ πρόληψιν λαμβάνοις, ὅτι γέγοναν ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ πάντες ἄνθρωποι μετασχεῖν τῶν μεγίστων κακῶν, ὡσαύτως δὲ‎ καὶ ἀγαθῶν, καὶ οὐκ‎ ἔστιν‎ ἄνθρωπον ὄντα τούτων ἀμιγῆ γενέσθαι·

ὁ θεὸς δὲ τὴν εὐψυχίαν δίδωσιν, ὃν ἱκετεύειν ἀναγκαῖον. 		197 The king expressed his agreement with the answer and enquired of the next guest, How he could bear with equanimity whatever befell him? And he said, “If you have a firm grasp of the thought that all men are appointed by God to share the greatest evil as well as the greatest good, since it is impossible for one who is a man to be exempt from these.

But God, to whom we ought always to pray, inspires us with courage to endure.”
198 Φιλοφρονηθεὶς δὲ‎ καὶ τοῦτον καλῶς εἶπεν ἅπαντας ἀποφαίνεσθαι·

Ἐπερωτήσας δὲ ἔτι‎ ἕνα καταλήξω τὸ νῦν ἔχον, ἵνα‎ καὶ πρὸς τὸ τέρπεσθαι τραπέντες ἡδέως διεξάγωμεν.

ἐν‎ δὲ ταῖς μετὰ‎ ταῦτα‎ ἓξ ἑξῆς ἡμέραις καὶ παρὰ τῶν λοιπῶν ἑξῆς μαθήσομαί τι πλέον. 		198 Delighted with the man’s reply, the king said that all their answers had been good.

“I will put a question to one other,” he added, “and then I will stop for the present: that we may turn our attention to the enjoyment of the feast and spend a pleasant time.”
199 εἶτ’ ἐπηρώτα τὸν ἄνδρα‎ Τί πέρας ἀνδρείας ἐστίν; ὁ‎ δὲ εἶπεν Εἰ τὸ βουλευθὲν ὀρθὸν ἐν ταῖς τῶν κινδύνων πράξεσιν ἐπιτελοῖτο κατὰ πρόθεσιν.

τελειοῦται δὲ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ πάντα‎ σοι καλῶς βουλευομένῳ, βασιλεῦ, συμφερόντως. 		199 Thereupon he asked the man, What is the true aim of courage? And he answered, “If a right plan is carried out in the hour of danger in accordance with the original intention.

For all things are accomplished by God to your advantage, O king, since your purpose is good.”
200 Ἐπιφωνησάντων δὲ πάντων καὶ κρότῳ σημηναμένων πρὸς τοὺς φιλοσόφους εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς‎ (οὐκ ὀλίγοι γὰρ παρῆσαν τούτοις) οἴομαι διαφέρειν τοὺς ἄνδρας ἀρετῇ καὶ συνιέναι πλεῖον, οἵτινες ἐκ τοῦ καιροῦ τοιαύτας ἐρωτήσεις λαμβάνοντες, ὡς‎ δέον ἐστὶν ἀποκέκρινται, πάντες ἀπὸ θεοῦ τοῦ λόγου τὴν καταρχὴν ποιούμενοι. 200 When all had signified by their applause their agreement with the answer, the king said to the philosophers (for not a few of them were present), “It is my opinion that these men excel in virtue and possess extraordinary knowledge, since on the spur of the moment they have given fitting answers to these questions which I have put to them, and have all made God the starting-point of their words.”
201 Μενέδημος δὲ ὁ Ἐρετριεὺς φιλόσοφος εἶπε Ναί, βασιλεῦ·

προνοίᾳ γὰρ τῶν ὅλων διοικουμένων, καὶ ὑπειληφότων ὀρθὸν τοῦτο, ὅτι θεόκτιστόν ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, ἀκολουθεῖ πᾶσαν δυναστείαν καὶ λόγου καλλονὴν ἀπὸ θεοῦ κατάρχεσθαι. 		201 And Menedemus, the philosopher of Eretria, said, “True, O King – for since the universe is managed by providence and since we rightly perceive that man is the creation of God, it follows that all power and beauty of speech proceed from God.”
202 τοῦ‎ δὲ βασιλέως ἐπινεύσαντος τὰ περὶ τούτων ἔληξεν, ἐτράπησαν δὲ πρὸς εὐφροσύνην.

ἐπιλαβούσης δὲ τῆς ἑσπέρας τὸ συμπόσιον ἐλύθη. 		202 When the king had nodded his assent to this sentiment, the speaking ceased and they proceeded to enjoy themselves.

When evening came on, the banquet ended.