r to meet with him;
which happened as the king was sitting in his chariot, with his wife,
and with his friend Athenion, who was the very person who had been
ambassador at Jerusalem, and had been entertained by Joseph. As soon
therefore as Athenion saw him, he presently made him known to the king,
how good and generous a young man he was. So Ptolemy saluted him first,
and desired him to come up into his chariot; and as Joseph sat there,
he began to complain of the management of Onias: to which he answered,
"Forgive him, on account of his age; for thou canst not certainly
be unacquainted with this, that old men and infants have their minds
exactly alike; but thou shalt have from us, who are young men, every
thing thou desirest, and shalt have no cause to complain." With this
good humor and pleasantry of the young man, the king was so delighted,
that he began already, as though he had had long experience of him, to
have a still greater affection for him, insomuch that he bade him take
his diet in the king's palace, and be a guest at his own table every
day. But when the king was come to Alexandria, the principal men of
Syria saw him sitting with the king, and were much offended at it.

4. And when the day came on which the king was to let the taxes of the
cities to farm, and those that were the principal men of dignity in
their several countries were to bid for them, the sum of the taxes
together, of Celesyria, and Phoenicia, and Judea, with Samaria, [as
they were bidden for,] came to eight thousand talents. Hereupon Joseph
accused the bidders, as having agreed together to estimate the value of
the taxes at too low a rate; and he promised that he would himself give
twice as much for them: but for those who did not pay, he would send the
king home their whole substance; for this privilege was sold together
with the taxes themselves. The king was pleased to hear that offer; and
because it augmented his revenues, he said he would confirm the sale of
the taxes to him. But when he asked him this question, Whether he
had any sureties that would be bound for the payment of the money?
he answered very pleasantly, "I will give such security, and those of
persons good and responsible, and which you shall have no reason to
distrust." And when he bid him name them who they were, he replied, "I
give thee no other persons, O king, for my sureties, than thyself, and
this thy wife; and you shall be security for both parties." So Ptolemy
l