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[110]
So the king rejoiced when he saw that his design of this nature
was brought to perfection, to so great advantage; and he was chiefly delighted
with hearing the Laws read to him; and was astonished at the deep meaning
and wisdom 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.
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