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[167]
When Ptolemy's ambassador was come into Egypt, he told the king of
the thoughtless temper of Onias; and informed him of the goodness of the
disposition of Joseph; and that he was coming to him to excuse the multitude,
as not having done him any harm, for that he was their patron. In short,
he was so very large in his encomiums upon the young man, that he disposed
both the king and his wife Cleopatra to have a kindness for him before
he came. So Joseph sent to his friends at Samaria, and borrowed money of
them, and got ready what was necessary for his journey, garments and cups,
and beasts for burden, which amounted to about twenty thousand drachmae,
and went to Alexandria. Now it happened that at this time all the principal
men and rulers went up out of the cities of Syria and Phoenicia, to bid
for their taxes; for every year the king sold them to the men of the greatest
power in every city. So these men saw Joseph journeying on the way, and
laughed at him for his poverty and meanness. But when he came to Alexandria,
and heard that king Ptolemy was at Memphis, be went up thither to meet
with him; which happened as the king was sitting in his chariot, with his
wife, and with his friend Athenion, who was the very person who had been
ambassador at Jerusalem, and had been entertained by Joseph. As soon therefore
as Athenion saw him, he presently made him known to the king, how good
and generous a young man he was. So Ptolemy saluted him first, and desired
him to come up into his chariot; and as Joseph sat there, he began to complain
of the management of Onias: to which he answered, "Forgive him, on
account of his age; for thou canst not certainly be unacquainted with this,
that old men and infants have their minds exactly alike; but thou shalt
have from us, who are young men, every thing thou desirest, and shalt have
no cause to complain." With this good humor and pleasantry of the
young man, the king was so delighted, that he began already, as though
he had had long experience of him, to have a still greater affection for
him, insomuch that he bade him take his diet in the king's palace, and
be a guest at his own table every day. But when the king was come to Alexandria,
the principal men of Syria saw him sitting with the king, and were much
offended at it.
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