The
first was asked, whether he thought the living or the dead to be the
more numerous. He answered, "The living, for the dead are not."
The second was asked, which breeds the largest animals, the sea or the
land. He answered, "The land, for the sea is only a part of it."
The third was asked, which is the cleverest of beasts. He answered,
"That which man has not yet discovered."
The fourth was asked why he made Sabbas rebel. He answered, "Because I
wished him either to live or to die with honour."
The fifth was asked, which he thought was first, the day or the night.
He answered, "The day was first, by one day." As he saw that the king
was surprised at this answer, he added, "impossible questions require
impossible answers."
Alexander now asked the sixth how a man could make himself most
beloved. He answered, "By being very powerful, and yet not feared by
his subjects."
Of the remaining three, the first one was asked, how a man could
become a god. He answered, "By doing that which is impossible for a
man to do."
The next was asked, which was the stronger, life or death. He
answered, "Life, because it endures such terrible suffering."
The last, being asked how long it was honourable for a man to live,
answered, "As long as he thinks it better for him to live than to
die."
Upon this Alexander turned to the judge and asked him to pronounce
his decision.
Pages:
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560