cular to have examined the testimonies given on our behalf, under
Alexander and all the Ptolemies, and the decrees of the senate and of
the greatest Roman emperors. And if Germanicus was not able to make a
distribution of corn to all the inhabitants of Alexandria, that only
shows what a barren time it was, and how great a want there was then of
corn, but tends nothing to the accusation of the Jews; for what all the
emperors have thought of the Alexandrian Jews is well known, for this
distribution of wheat was no otherwise omitted with regard to the Jews,
than it was with regard to the other inhabitants of Alexandria. But they
still were desirous to preserve what the kings had formerly intrusted to
their care, I mean the custody of the river; nor did those kings think
them unworthy of having the entire custody thereof, upon all occasions.

6. But besides this, Apion objects to us thus: "If the Jews [says he] be
citizens of Alexandria, why do they not worship the same gods with the
Alexandrians?" To which I give this answer: Since you are yourselves
Egyptians, why do you fight it out one against another, and have
implacable wars about your religion? At this rate we must not call you
all Egyptians, nor indeed in general men, because you breed up with
great care beasts of a nature quite contrary to that of men, although
the nature of all men seems to be one and the same. Now if there be such
differences in opinion among you Egyptians, why are you surprised that
those who came to Alexandria from another country, and had original laws
of their own before, should persevere in the observance of those laws?
But still he charges us with being the authors of sedition; which
accusation, if it be a just one, why is it not laid against us all,
since we are known to be all of one mind. Moreover, those that search
into such matters will soon discover that the authors of sedition have
been such citizens of Alexandria as Apion is; for while they were the
Grecians and Macedonians who were ill possession of this city, there
was no sedition raised against us, and we were permitted to observe our
ancient solemnities; but when the number of the Egyptians therein came
to be considerable, the times grew confused, and then these seditions
brake out still more and more, while our people continued uncorrupted.
These Egyptians, therefore, were the authors of these troubles, who
having not the constancy of Macedonians, nor the prudence of Grecians,
i