The Works of Philo Judaeus, Vol. 2

ON THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES.

they say that just as among men Greeks speak the same language as Greeks, and barbarians speak the same language as barbarians, so every animal was able to converse with every other animal it met. They sympathized with one another at their mutual misfortunes and rejoiced at any good fortune; they could impart their pleasures and annoyances to one another through this sameness of language. This similarity of manners and union of feelings lasted until, being sated with the great abundance of good things they enjoyed, they were drawn into a desire for the unattainable. They even sent an embassy to treat for immortality, requesting to be released from old age and to be always endowed with the vigor of youth. They argued that one animal of their body, the serpent, had already received this gift—for he, having put off old age, was allowed to grow young again—and that it was absurd for the more important animals to be left behind by an inferior one. However, they suffered a punishment suitable to their audacity, for they were immediately separated in their language, so that, from that time forth, they have not been able to understand one another.

IV. But he who brings his account closer to the truth has distinguished between rational and irrational animals, testifying that identity of language belonged to men alone: and this, too, is a fable. They affirm that the separation of language into an infinite variety of dialects, which Moses calls the "confusion of tongues," was effected as a remedy for sins, so that men might not be able to cooperate in deeds of wickedness through understanding one another. But this precaution does not appear to have been of much use; for since that time, though men have been separated into different nations and no longer use one language, the land and sea have been repeatedly filled with unspeakable evils.