nts, which the high priest had given them to bring to the
king, and with the membranes, upon which they had their laws written in
golden letters [7] he put questions to them concerning those books;
and when they had taken off the covers wherein they were wrapt up, they
showed him the membranes. So the king stood admiring the thinness of
those membranes, and the exactness of the junctures, which could not be
perceived; [so exactly were they connected one with another;] and this
he did for a considerable time. He then said that he returned them
thanks for coming to him, and still greater thanks to him that sent
them; and, above all, to that God whose laws they appeared to be. Then
did the elders, and those that were present with them, cry out with one
voice, and wished all happiness to the king. Upon which he fell into
tears by the violence of the pleasure he had, it being natural to men to
afford the same indications in great joy that they do under sorrows. And
when he had bid them deliver the books to those that were appointed
to receive them, he saluted the men, and said that it was but just to
discourse, in the first place, of the errand they were sent about, and
then to address himself to themselves. He promised, however, that he
would make this day on which they came to him remarkable and eminent
every year through the whole course of his life; for their coming to
him, and the victory which he gained over Antigonus by sea, proved to be
on the very same day. He also gave orders that they should sup with him;
and gave it in charge that they should have excellent lodgings provided
for them in the upper part of the city.

12. Now he that was appointed to take care of the reception of
strangers, Nicanor by name, called for Dorotheus, whose duty it was to
make provision for them, and bid him prepare for every one of them what
should be requisite for their diet and way of living; which thing was
ordered by the king after this manner: he took care that those that
belonged to every city, which did not use the same way of living, that
all things should be prepared for them according to the custom of those
that came to him, that, being feasted according to the usual method of
their own way of living, they might be the better pleased, and might
not be uneasy at any thing done to them from which they were naturally
averse. And this was now done in the case of these men by Dorotheus,
who was put into this office because of his gre