m of the legislator. And he began to discourse
with Demetrius, "How it came to pass, that when this legislation was so
wonderful, no one, either of the poets or of the historians, had made
mention of it." Demetrius made answer, "that no one durst be so bold as
to touch upon the description of these laws, because they were Divine
and venerable, and because some that had attempted it were afflicted
by God." He also told him, that "Theopompus was desirous of writing
somewhat about them, but was thereupon disturbed in his mind for above
thirty days' time; and upon some intermission of his distemper, he
appeased God [by prayer], as suspecting that his madness proceeded from
that cause." Nay, indeed, he further saw in a dream, that his distemper
befell him while he indulged too great a curiosity about Divine matters,
and was desirous of publishing them among common men; but when he left
off that attempt, he recovered his understanding again. Moreover, he
informed him of Theodectes, the tragic poet, concerning whom it was
reported, that when in a certain dramatic representation he was desirous
to make mention of things that were contained in the sacred books,
he was afflicted with a darkness in his eyes; and that upon his being
conscious of the occasion of his distemper, and appeasing God [by
prayer], he was freed from that affliction.

15. And when the king had received these books from Demetrius, as we
have said already, he adored them, and gave order that great care should
be taken of them, that they might remain uncorrupted. He also desired
that the interpreters would come often to him out of Judea, and that
both on account of the respects that he would pay them, and on account
of the presents he would make them; for he said it was now but just to
send them away, although if, of their own accord, they would come to
him hereafter, they should obtain all that their own wisdom might justly
require, and what his generosity was able to give them. So he then sent
them away, and gave to every one of them three garments of the best
sort, and two talents of gold, and a cup of the value of one talent, and
the furniture of the room wherein they were feasted. And these were the
things he presented to them. But by them he sent to Eleazar the
high priest ten beds, with feet of silver, and the furniture to them
belonging, and a cup of the value of thirty talents; and besides these,
ten garments, and purple, and a very beautiful crown, and