ON THE LIFE OF MOSES.

tempted by the reward to be paid, the providence of God thus ensuring that the child’s upbringing followed the genuine course of nature. Then she gave him a name, calling him Moses with great propriety, because she had received him out of the water, for the Egyptians call water “mos.”

V. But when the child began to grow and develop, he was weaned—not in accordance with the time of his age, but earlier than usual. Then his mother, who was also his nurse, came to bring him back to the princess who had given him to her, since he no longer required milk and was now a fine, noble child to look upon. When the king’s daughter saw that he was more perfect than could have been expected at his age, and when she conceived an even greater goodwill toward him from his appearance, she adopted him as her son. She first used all sorts of tricks to simulate the physical appearance of pregnancy, so that he might be looked upon as her own genuine child and not as a substitute. But God easily brings to pass whatever he intends to accomplish, however difficult it may be to bring to a successful end.

Therefore, the child, now being thought worthy of a royal education and royal attendance, was not, like an average child, long delighted with toys, laughter, and amusement, even though those who had undertaken his care allowed him holidays and relaxation, never behaving in a stern or grumpy way toward him. Instead, he exhibited a modest and dignified manner in all his words and gestures, attending diligently to every lesson that could tend to the improvement of his mind. He immediately had all kinds of masters, one after another—some coming of their own accord from neighboring countries and different districts of Egypt, and some even brought from Greece by the temptation of large presents. But in a short time he surpassed all their knowledge, anticipating their lessons through the excellent natural talents of his own genius. Everything in his case seemed to be a remembering rather than a learning, while he also understood many difficult subjects instinctively, without any teacher; for great abilities carve out their own new paths to knowledge.