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and found he had no yokes with him； he contenmed the drivers of
the oxen； who advised him to send some to his father； to bring
them some yokes； but he thinking that he ought not to lose his
time while they should be sent to bring him the yokes； he
invented a kind of stratagem； and what suited an age older than
his own； for he slew ten yoke of the oxen； and distributed their
flesh among the laborers； and cut their hides into several
pieces； and made him yokes； and yoked the oxen together with
them； by which means he sowed as much land as his father had
appointed him to sow； and returned to him。 And when he was come
back； his father was mightily pleased with his sagacity； and
commended the sharpness of his understanding； and his boldness in
what he did。 And he still loved him the more； as if he were his
only genuine son； while his brethren were much troubled at it。
7。 But when one told him that Ptolemy had a son just born； and
that all the principal men of Syria； and the other countries
subject to him； were to keep a festival； on account of the
child's birthday； and went away in haste with great retinues to
Alexandria； he was himself indeed hindered from going by old age；
but he made trial of his sons； whether any of them would be
willing to go to the king。 And when the elder sons excused
themselves from going； and said they were not courtiers good
enough for such conversation； and advised him to send their
brother Hyrcanus； he gladly hearkened to that advice； and called
Hyrcanus； and asked him whether he would go to the king； and
whether it was agreeable to him to go or not。 And upon his
promise that he would go； and his saying that he should not want
much money for his journey； because he would live moderately； and
that ten thousand drachmas would be sufficient； he was pleased
with his son's prudence。 After a little while； the son advised
his father not to send his presents to the king from thence； but
to give him a letter to his steward at Alexandria； that he might
furnish him with money； for purchasing what should be most
excellent and most precious。 So he thinking that the expense of
ten talents would be enough for presents to be made the king； and
commending his son； as giving him good advice； wrote to Arion his
steward； that managed all his money matters at Alexandria； which
money was not less than three thousand talents on his account；
for Joseph sent the money he received in Syria to Alexandria。 And
when the day appointed for the payment of the taxes to the king
came； he wrote to Arion to pay them。 So when the son had asked
his father for a letter to the steward； and had received it； he
made haste to Alexandria。 And when he was gone； his brethren
wrote to all the king's friends； that they should destroy him。
8。 But when he was come to Alexaudria； he delivered his letter to
Arion； who asked him how many talents he would have （hoping he
would ask for no more than ten； or a little more）； he said he
wanted a thousand talents。 At which the steward was angry； and
rebuked him； as one that intended to live extravagantly； and he
let him know how his father had gathered together his estate by
painstaking； and resisting his inclinations； and wished him to
imitate the example of his father： he assured him withal； that he
would give him but ten talents； and that for a present to the
king also。 The son was irritated at this； and threw Arion into
prison。 But when Arion's wife had informed Cleopatra of this；
with her entreaty； that she would rebuke the child for what he
had done； （for Arion was in great esteem with her；） Cleopatra
informed the king of it。 And Ptolemy sent for Hyrcanus； and told
him that he wondered； when he was sent to him by his father； that
he had not yet come into his presence； but had laid the steward
in prison。 And he gave order； therefore； that he should come to
him； and give an account of the reason of what he had done。 And
they report that the answer he made to the king's messenger was
this： That 〃there was a law of his that forbade a child that was
born to taste of the sacrifice； before he had been at the temple
and sacrificed to God。 According to which way of reasoning he did
not himself come to him in expectation of the present he was to
make to him； as to one who had been his father's benefactor； and
that he had punished the slave for disobeying his commands； for
that it mattered not Whether a master was little or great： so
that unless we punish such as these； thou thyself mayst also
expect to be despised by thy subjects。〃 Upon hearing this his
answer he fell a laughing； and wondered at the great soul of the
child。
9。 When Arion was apprized that this was the king's disposition；
and that he had no way to help himself； he gave the child a
thousand talents； and was let out of prison。 So after three days
were over； Hyrcanus came and saluted the king and queen。 They saw
him with pleasure； and feasted him in an obliging manner； out of
the respect they bare to his father。 So he came to the merchants
privately； and bought a hundred boys； that had learning； and were
in the flower of their ages； each at a talent apiece； as also he
bought a hundred maidens； each at the same price as the other。
And when he was invited to feast with the king among the
principal men in the country； he sat down the lowest of them all；
because he was little regarded； as a child in age still； and this
by those who placed every one according to their dignity。 Now
when all those that sat with him had laid the bones Of the
several parts on a heap before Hyrcanus； （for they had themselves
taken away the flesh belonging to them；） till the table where he
sat was filled full with them； Trypho； who was the king's jester；
and was appointed for jokes and laughter at festivals； was now
asked by the guests that sat at the table ＇to expose him to
laughter＇。 So he stood by the king； and said； 〃Dost thou not see；
my lord； the bones that lie by Hyrcanus？ by this similitude thou
mayst conjecture that his father made all Syria as bare as he
hath made these bones。〃 And the king laughing at what Trypho
said； and asking of Hyrcanus； How he came to have so many bones
before him？ he replied；〃 Very rightfully； my lord； for they are
dogs that eat the flesh and the bones together； as these thy
guests have done； （looking in the mean time at those guests；） for
there is nothing before them； but they are men that eat the
flesh； and cast away the hones； as I； who am also a man； have now
done。〃 Upon which the king admired at his answer； which was so
wisely made； and bid them all make an acclamation； as a mark of
their approbation of his jest； which was truly a facetious one。
On the next day Hyrcanus went to every one of the king's friends；
and of the men powerful at court； and saluted them； but still
inquired of the servants what present they would make the king on
his son's birthday； and when some said that they would give
twelve talents； and that others of greater dignity would every
one give according to the quantity of their riches； he pretended
to every one of them to be grieved that he was not able to bring
so large a present； for that he had no more t