"
"A Phoenician, then?"
"No, a Hebrew. My forefathers came out of Ur of the Chaldees, then
fell into bondage in Egypt, but were brought by Moses and Joshua to
the land of Canaan, where we became powerful under our own kings,
David and Solomon."
"I don't know them."
"Two hundred years ago our city Jerusalem was destroyed by
Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, and our people were carried captive
to Babylon. But when Babylon was overthrown by the King of Persia,
we fell under the power of the Persians, and have groaned under the
successors of your Xerxes of Salamis, whom we called Ahasuerus."
"Your enemies, our enemies! Very well, friend; how did you come
here."
"When the Assyrian was about to carry us for the first time into
captivity, those who could flee, fled to Rhodes, Crete, and the
islands of Greece. But of those who were carried away some were sent
northwards to Media. My ancestors came hither from Media, and I am a
new-comer."
"Your speech is dark to me, but I have heard your nation praised
because they are faithful to the gods of the State."
"God! There is only One, the Single and True, who has created heaven
and earth, and given the promise to our people."
"What promise?"
"That our nation shall possess the earth."
"By Heracles! But the commencement is not very promising.
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