and

Situate in a plain, and round it Nile

Marks off the boundary and separates

All Libya and Ethiopia.

And Syrians short-lived, one from one place,

A great and careful lord shall be their king,

Training up youth and sending off for men,

And planning something fearful about those

The lofty-minded. And when he shall come

And fastening evil war and battle dire

And fastening evil war and battle dire

And now will I for Alexandrians sing

Shall conquer, and thou shalt bid them that know

A fearful lot, and be shall over all

And then straightway an army of Sicilians

Come suddenly; and the fruit, when it grows,

Of the flesh-eating lion and there comes

Away from him. And as in friendly feast

They perform valiant deeds, and one restrains

Another, and among them there is much

And many shall be utterly destroyed

And others kill each other by hard fights.

And then one, covered with dark scales shall come;

With one another, and with them a third

And then the lengths of the revolving years

In Egypt be stirred up, and there shall be

And it shall be a spoil of war not long.

And then men having common boundaries

Of much land shall flee wretched, and shall lead

Their wretched parents. And they shall again

And shall destroy the Jews, men staunch in war,

For father-land and parents. And a race

For father-land and parents. And a race

Many shall lie; and heads of golden hair

And then for the Arabians mortal blood

And the city that suffered very many things

But one fast friendship and one mode of life

With cheerful soul; and all things shall be common

And equal light among the means of life.

And wickedness shall sink down from the earth

Into the vast sea. And then near at hand

That these things be fulfilled. And at that time

And then a holy nation shall prevail

And hold the sovereignty of all the earth

These are the words of one named Ahikar, a wise and ready scribe, who taught his son . . .

For he said, 'Surely he shall be a son to me'. Before his words Ahikar had become great and had been counsellor of all Assyria

and bearer of the seal of Senacherib king of Assyria, and he said: I indeed had no sons and on my counsel

and bearer of the seal of Senacherib king of Assyria, and he said: I indeed had no sons and on my counsel

and bearer of the seal of Senacherib king of Assyria, and he said: I indeed had no sons and on my counsel

and words Senacherib king of Assyria used to (rely). Then Senacherib king of Assyria died and there arose

and words Senacherib king of Assyria used to (rely). Then Senacherib king of Assyria died and there arose

his son named Esarhaddon and became king in Assyria instead of Senacherib his father. At that time I said

'I am old and who shall be to me a son after me to . . . ? and who shall be

'I am old and who shall be to me a son after me to . . . ? and who shall be

scribe and bearer of the seal to Esarhaddon the king, as I was to Senacherib,

king of Assyria?' Then I, Ahikar, took Nadin, as he was called, the son of my sister, and brought him up,

and taught him and showed great kindness (to him), and set him in the gate of the palace with me before the king among

and taught him and showed great kindness (to him), and set him in the gate of the palace with me before the king among

and taught him and showed great kindness (to him), and set him in the gate of the palace with me before the king among

his courtiers. I brought him before Esarhaddon king of Assyria, and he told him whatever

he asked him. Then Esarhaddon king of Assyria loved him and said 'Long life be to Ahikar,

When the king of Assyria had thus spoken, I bowed down and made obeisance, I Ahikar, before Esarhaddon king of Assyria.

And in after days I, Ahikar, when I saw the face of Esarhaddon king of Assyria favourable, I answered

and said before the king, 'I served Senacherib the king your father who was king before you

. . . and now behold

I am old. I cannot work in the gate of the palace and do my service to you.

Behold, my son, Nadin by name, is full-grown. Let him take my place as scribe and counsellor of all Assyria, and let him

Behold, my son, Nadin by name, is full-grown. Let him take my place as scribe and counsellor of all Assyria, and let him

be seal-bearer to you. My wisdom also and my counsel I have taught him.' Then answered Esarhaddon

king of Assyria and said to me, 'So indeed it shall be. Your son shall be scribe and seal-bearer to me

king of Assyria and said to me, 'So indeed it shall be. Your son shall be scribe and seal-bearer to me

the promise given, went away to my house and was resting in my house. And this my son

the promise given, went away to my house and was resting in my house. And this my son

whom I had brought up and set in the gate of the palace before Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, among

the son of my sister whom I had brought up, imagined against me evil and said in his heart,

to Senacherib the king your father has corrupted the land against you, for he is a counsellor and a skilful

scribe and by his counsel and words all Assyria was (guided)." Then Esarhaddon

scribe and by his counsel and words all Assyria was (guided)." Then Esarhaddon

will be greatly troubled when he hears words like these which I shall speak to him, and will kill Ahikar.'

Then was Esarhaddon king of Assyria filled with rage and said,

and kill him. Even if this Ahikar, the old man, is a skilful scribe

and counsellor of all Assyria, why should he corrupt the land against us?' Then when

and those men with him. Then after three more days indeed

And when this Nabusumiskun the officer saw me then he rent his clothes, lamenting,

and said, 'Are you he, the skilful scribe, giver of good counsel, who

was a righteous man and by whose counsel and words all Assyria was (guided)?

was a righteous man and by whose counsel and words all Assyria was (guided)?

The son whom you brought up, whom you set in the gate of the palace, has injured you; he has ruined you, and

an evil return is it.' Then I, Ahikar, indeed was afraid. I answered and said to Nabusumiskun

the officer, '(Yes, and) also I am that Ahikar who formerly saved you from an undeserved death

as a man (deals) with his brother, and I hid you from him. I said, "I have killed him", until in after time and many days

as a man (deals) with his brother, and I hid you from him. I said, "I have killed him", until in after time and many days

after, I brought you before king Senacherib and took away your offences before him, and he did you no evil.

after, I brought you before king Senacherib and took away your offences before him, and he did you no evil.

Moreover king Senacherib was well pleased with me that I had kept you alive and had not killed you. Now

King Esarhaddon is kind as any man. Hereafter he will remember me and desire my counsel. Then you

shall bring me to him and he shall let me live.' Then answered Nabusumiskun the officer and said to me, 'Fear not. Surely

shall bring me to him and he shall let me live.' Then answered Nabusumiskun the officer and said to me, 'Fear not. Surely

you shall live, Ahikar, father of all Assyria, by whose counsel king Senacherib and all the army of Assyria

'Hearken, indeed, and listen to me, and I will tell you my counsel, and it is a good counsel

'Hearken, indeed, and listen to me, and I will tell you my counsel, and it is a good counsel