ON THE LIFE OF MOSES.

from poisonous serpents or carnivorous beasts—wild beasts in human form—clothed in a human body to give an appearance of gentleness in order to deceive and catch their victim, but in reality harder than iron or adamant.

One of these men, then, the most violent of them, was not only unmoved by his purpose, but was even exasperated at the exhortations of Moses and rendered more savage by them. He beat those who did not labor with energy and persistence at the work imposed upon them, insulting them and subjecting them to every kind of ill-treatment, even causing the death of many. Moses slew this man, thinking the deed a pious action; and indeed, it was a pious action to destroy one who lived only for the destruction of others.

When the king heard of this action, he was very indignant. He thought it was an intolerable thing—not for one man to be dead, or for another to have killed him, whether justly or unjustly—but for his own grandson not to agree with him, and not to regard his friends or enemies as his own. He was enraged that Moses would hate the people the king loved, love those whom the king looked upon as outcasts, and pity those whom he regarded with unchangeable and implacable aversion.

IX. But when the Egyptian authorities once got an opportunity of attacking the young man, having already had reason to look upon him with suspicion (for they well knew that he would hereafter bear them ill-will for their evil practices and would revenge himself on them when he had an opportunity), they poured in, at all times and from all quarters, thousands of slanders into the willing ears of his grandfather. They even implanted in his mind an apprehension that Moses was plotting to deprive him of his kingdom, saying to him, "He will strip you of your crown. He has no humble designs or notions. He is continually seeking to busy himself in what does not concern him, and to acquire additional power. He is eager for the kingdom before his time. He flatters some people, threatens others, and kills others without a trial; he hates all those who are best affected toward you. Why do you delay? Why do you not cut short all his designs and schemes? Delay on the part of those against whom people are plotting is of the greatest advantage to those who wish to attack them."