Wherefore return to your companions and give thanks to the God of gods for the good fortune granted you."
Alexander returns to Susa and consults in secret all the wisest of the Jews and Greeks as to the meaning of these mysterious events, but receives no suitable explanation. At last he meets with an aged Jew named Papas,[1] who, hearing of his successful voyage, exclaims, "O King, fail not to repay to the God of Heaven what you owe him, for never before has anything similar been conceded to a mortal. Frequently in the past have adventurous youths essayed to navigate that river, but all in vain. You, however, have been permitted by divine grace to reach that city and receive replies denied to all others."
Alexander replies that clearly the Scripture was right in asserting that wisdom was the property of the ancient,[2] and producing the gem given him by the inhabitant of the mysterious city asks for an explanation of its meaning. The Jew thereupon calls for a balance and weights of gold. The stone is placed in one pan and the weights added by degrees to the other. Each time, however, the stone draws up the weights. The largest balance in the town is now sent for and loaded with beams and as much gold as possible. On placing the stone in the opposite pan it immediately descends as if it were only drawing down the lightest feather. Reverting to the smaller balance, the Jew places in one pan the gem and covers it with a small quantity of dust; it is now easily drawn up by the smallest weight. On taking out the weight and throwing in the lightest feather in its place the result is the same.
Alexander, amazed beyond description at these experiments, begs the Jew to clear up the mystery of the stone and hidden city.
"O King," replies the aged man, "the city you saw is the abode of souls freed from their bodies, placed by the
- ↑ Papias according to the Dublin MS.
- ↑ Alexander is here made to quote the Book of Job (xii. 12).
