the oxen, and distributed their
flesh among the laborers, and cut their hides into several pieces, and
made him yokes, and yoked the oxen together with them; by which means he
sowed as much land as his father had appointed him to sow, and returned
to him. And when he was come back, his father was mightily pleased with
his sagacity, and commended the sharpness of his understanding, and his
boldness in what he did. And he still loved him the more, as if he were
his only genuine son, while his brethren were much troubled at it.

7. But when one told him that Ptolemy had a son just born, and that all
the principal men of Syria, and the other countries subject to him, were
to keep a festival, on account of the child's birthday, and went away in
haste with great retinues to Alexandria, he was himself indeed hindered
from going by old age; but he made trial of his sons, whether any of
them would be willing to go to the king. And when the elder sons excused
themselves from going, and said they were not courtiers good enough for
such conversation, and advised him to send their brother Hyrcanus, he
gladly hearkened to that advice, and called Hyrcanus, and asked him
whether he would go to the king, and whether it was agreeable to him to
go or not. And upon his promise that he would go, and his saying that
he should not want much money for his journey, because he would live
moderately, and that ten thousand drachmas would be sufficient, he was
pleased with his son's prudence. After a little while, the son advised
his father not to send his presents to the king from thence, but to give
him a letter to his steward at Alexandria, that he might furnish him
with money, for purchasing what should be most excellent and most
precious. So he thinking that the expense of ten talents would be enough
for presents to be made the king, and commending his son, as giving
him good advice, wrote to Arion his steward, that managed all his money
matters at Alexandria; which money was not less than three thousand
talents on his account, for Joseph sent the money he received in Syria
to Alexandria. And when the day appointed for the payment of the taxes
to the king came, he wrote to Arion to pay them. So when the son had
asked his father for a letter to the steward, and had received it, he
made haste to Alexandria. And when he was gone, his brethren wrote to
all the king's friends, that they should destroy him.

8. But when he was come to Alexandria, h