ndulged all of them the evil manners of the Egyptians, and continued
their ancient hatred against us; for what is here so presumptuously
charged upon us, is owing to the differences that are amongst
themselves; while many of them have not obtained the privileges of
citizens in proper times, but style those who are well known to have
had that privilege extended to them all no other than foreigners: for it
does not appear that any of the kings have ever formerly bestowed those
privileges of citizens upon Egyptians, no more than have the emperors
done it more lately; while it was Alexander who introduced us into
this city at first, the kings augmented our privileges therein, and the
Romans have been pleased to preserve them always inviolable. Moreover,
Apion would lay a blot upon us, because we do not erect images for our
emperors; as if those emperors did not know this before, or stood in
need of Apion as their defender; whereas he ought rather to have admired
the magnanimity and modesty of the Romans, whereby they do not
compel those that are subject to them to transgress the laws of their
countries, but are willing to receive the honors due to them after such
a manner as those who are to pay them esteem consistent with piety and
with their own laws; for they do not thank people for conferring honors
upon them, When they are compelled by violence so to do. Accordingly,
since the Grecians and some other nations think it a right thing to make
images, nay, when they have painted the pictures of their parents, and
wives, and children, they exult for joy; and some there are who take
pictures for themselves of such persons as were no way related to them;
nay, some take the pictures of such servants as they were fond of;
what wonder is it then if such as these appear willing to pay the
same respect to their princes and lords? But then our legislator hath
forbidden us to make images, not by way of denunciation beforehand, that
the Roman authority was not to be honored, but as despising a thing that
was neither necessary nor useful for either God or man; and he forbade
them, as we shall prove hereafter, to make these images for any part of
the animal creation, and much less for God himself, who is no part of
such animal creation. Yet hath our legislator no where forbidden us to
pay honors to worthy men, provided they be of another kind, and inferior
to those we pay to God; with which honors we willingly testify our
respect to our e