Page:Ancient India as described by Megasthenês and Arrian.djvu/146

127 Fragm. LV. B. Ambrosius, De Morihus Brachmanoirwm, pp. 62, 68 et seq. ed. Pallad. Londin. 1668. Of Calanus and Mandanis, They {the Brachmans) eat what they find on the ground, snch as leaves of trees and wild herbs, like cattle "Calanus is your friend, but he is despised and trodden upon by us. He, then, who was the author of many evils among you, is honoured and worshipped by you ; but since he is of no importance he is rejected by us, and those things we certainly do not seek, please Calanus because of his greediness for money. But he was not ours, a man such as has miserably injured and lost his soul, on which account he is plainly unworthy to be a friend either of God or of ours, nor has he deserved security among the woods in this world, nor can he hope for the glory which is promised in the future." When the emperor Alexander came to the forests, he was not able to see Dandamis as he passed through. . . . When, therefore, the above-mentioned messenger came to Dandamis, he addressed him thus : — " The emperor Alexander, the son of the great Jupiter, who is lord of the human race, has ordered that you should hasten to him, for if you come, he will give you many gifts, but if you refuse he will be- head you as a punishment for your contempt." When these words came to the ears of Dandamis, he rose not from his leaves whereon he lay, but re- clining and smiling he replied in this way : — " The greatest God," he said, *'can do injury to no one, but Digitized by Google