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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. XIL SEPT. 19, 1903.
The modern Georgians are said to be
descendants of a tribe called by Greek
writers Iberians, but in physical type they
resemble the Ligurians. Probably the name
Iberian was given to the Caucasian tribe
and also to the Spanish tribe without imply-
ing any racial connexion. May I take this
opportunity of thanking several of your
correspondents for lists of books on the races
of mankind which will be valuable guides to
me when I have an opportunity of visiting
a library ? FEED. G. ACKERLEY.
Care of British Vice-Consul, Libau, Russia.
ANALOGUES OF THE SYRIAC APOCRYPH
OF APHIKIA, THE WIFE OF JESUS BEN
SIRACH.
THE story of Aphikia is an interesting Christian document brought to light by the researches of Dr. Margaret Dunlop Gibson, and is printed in the 'Studia Sinaitica/ No. VIII. (Cambridge, 1901). Mrs. Gibson gives the Karshuni text from a MS. in the National Library of France (Fonds Syriaque, 179), and also from an Arabic text in the same collection (Fonds Syriaque, 50). Another Arabic copy she found in a Coptic monastery at Deir Abou Macar, and yet another at Deir es-Suriani.
The Syriac scribe, who at the beginning of his writing invokes "the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, the one God," tells us that he transcribes the story of Aphikia, wife of Jesus the son of Sirach, vizier of King Solomon, the son of David, king of the children of Israel. The wise king heard that for beauty and wisdom there was no woman equal to Aphikia. Desiring to see and converse with her, he sent a message by the eunuch, his chan- cellor. She replied, deprecating the king's visit, but agreeing in this " unworthy idea" if it is carried out in the absence of her husband. Solomon thereupon sends Jesus ben Sirach on an embassy to the King of Mosul. Aphikia is then informed that Solo- man is about to visit her. In reply she begs that he will not taste any food until "he comes and eats it in the abode of his servant. Then she went to her cook and said, " Ask for all thou requirest, fowls, fish, or mutton. Cook me from them forty kinds with one taste, and let them be different and various in kind." In the early part of the night Solomon went, and was it to avoid scandal ? was accompanied by servants bearing lanterns. He was taken into a chamber where the feast was spread for him. He began to eat with great gusto, but found
that different as the dishes were in appear-
ance they all tasted alike. After he had
satisfied his hunger more were brought, and
these he merely tasted, only to find that there
was no difference between one dish and
another. Then he understood that the meal
prepared for him was a parable, and he
asked Aphikia for an' explanation of its
meaning. Her reply must be given in full :
" my lord the King, thy wisdom is sufficient
for thee, and for the whole world. Of what worth
is the light of a candle placed before the sun?
And what is the measure of thy handmaid that
she should speak before the lord the King? The
soul from God moves in her body. To-day she
hides her corruption and her fetidness, and to-
morrow she will be thrown into a grave beyond
the place of the field in which she appears, and she
will be a naked soul with a soul that never dies."
Thereupon Solomon, satisfied with this proof of the wisdom of Aphikia, arose and departed. Before he left, however, a ruby fell from his crown, and lay, unperceived, on the lintels of the door until the return of the son of Sirach. He at once recognized the jewel as belonging to the king, and, believing that his wife was unfaithful, he remained apart from her for a couple of years. Then the mother of Aphikia came on a visit, and saw that her daughter was suffering in health because of the estrangement from her husband.
Learning what had happened, the mother went to Solomon and said :
"0 my lord the King, live for ever! I had a pleasant vineyard, where I could enjoy life, by God ! in the first place, and be comforted by it ; I gave it over to a vinedresser to cultivate it. He waited to give me fruit for a time, then also to himself. I trusted in regard to this vinedresser that he should not neglect to improve my vineyard. I did not visit it for two years. I walked to-day till I reached it, and I found it waste, going to ruin. I implore thee, O my lord the King, to judge between me and this vinedresser, for he has spoiled a noble vineyard."
Solomon at once understood the hidden meaning of this parable, and made her repeat it before the son of Sirach. The answer of the husband was :
"All that she said is true, except that I did not weary of doing my best for the vineyard until the day that my lord the King sent me to Damascus. But on my return, King, to my vineyard, as I went up to the interior of my vineyard looking about, behold there was a trace of the steps of a great lion within the threshold. And I feared and turned back, lest the lion should destroy me."
Solomon then swears by the God of Abra- ham that " the lion did not aim at anything beyond conversation in speech suitable to wisdom." Jesus ben Sirach accepts this assurance and is reconciled to his wife.
This particular MS. is stated to have been
