c. 1100-1175 CE
translated by Jason Colavito
2026
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NOTE |
The Alexander Romance is often described as Antiquity's most successful novel. The Romance is a collection of legendary narratives about Alexander the Great that blend history, myth, and fantasy into a highly imaginative biography. Probably originating in the Hellenistic period, but certainly before the Latin translation of 334 CE, and later attributed falsely to Callisthenes (hence the “Pseudo-Callisthenes”), the text recounts Alexander’s miraculous birth, his conquests across the known world, and a series of fantastical adventures—such as encounters with strange peoples and monsters, journeys to the ends of the earth, and even ascents into the sky and descents beneath the sea. Over centuries, the work was translated and adapted into numerous languages. The Alexandri magni iter ad Paradisum (Alexander the Great’s Journey to Paradise”) is a medieval Latin expansion of the Alexander Romance which sends its hero to the ends of the earth where he encounters a massive wall behind which souls awaited the Resurrection. The influential text dates to somewhere in the Middle Ages, perhaps between the eighth and twelfth centuries, and found its way into many Latin Alexander stories. It depicts Alexander as a quasi-biblical figure and a seeker after divine mysteries, themes that would recur in later Alexander literature. I have made the translation below from the edition of the Iter ad paradisum published by Julius Zacher in 1859.
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ON THE JOURNEY TO PARADISE.
Therefore Alexander, laden with noble and manifold spoils, slipped away from the borders of the Indians with his forces, and by taking shorter routes he refreshed himself at the nearest stopping‑places on the promontories of the rivers that flow into the sea, granting a measure of rest to restore his army after the hardship of long and dangerous toil. Wherever he turned aside, he was received kindly and with honor, and was attended by the service of all peoples, both because of his generosity and graciousness, and also in order to restrain and avert the plundering of their goods by his men. For they strove to anticipate the king with gifts, so that they might find his companions peaceful and well‑disposed, whom they feared would otherwise prove hostile and rapacious.
In this order, he came to a very wide river, on the bank of which he encountered a ship of ample size, equipped with sails and oars, as well as with various armaments and in every way, and most sturdy for work. Having inquired about the name of the river, he learned that this is the Ganges, which is also the Physon, whose source is the Paradise of Pleasure. He also saw the leaves of very large trees placed on the roofs of houses, which, flowing along the course of the river, reach the inhabitants with very long branches, and which, dried in the sun and ground into powder, offer a wonderful taste to those who use them. Having learned the series of all these, and also about the creation and location of the place, he said with a sigh: “I have accomplished nothing in the world, and I value all my ambition for nothing, unless I earn a share of this pleasure.” And immediately, having established his forces safely in place, he selected five hundred shield-bearers, chosen youths of keen minds, undaunted by all danger and most ready for the exercise of continuous labor. After arranging provisions sufficient for the whole course of the summer, he boarded a ship and entrusted himself to the favorable winds.
But after a month of sailing had been spent with great difficulty against the onslaught of the raging river, for they were intent with all their hearts on reaching its source, if it were possible, the strength of the young men, who, encouraging one another, voluntarily exerted themselves in the work, began to grow weary. And since no possibility of advancing farther was available—for they were shaken and worn out by the frequent floods, and the unbelievable roar of the waves so weakened the hearing of almost all that no one could catch the voice of his companion unless he shouted more loudly. At last, on the thirty‑fourth day, they saw in the distance something like the wall of a city, of wondrous height and length.
Reaching it with great difficulty, because the river, held somewhat in check by the shores, moderated its surges and produced a gentler crashing sound, the narrowness of the shore and the muddy ground beside the wall prevented any passage on foot. Therefore, they sailed along the side of the city, which stretched without end from north to south, for nearly three days, not without weariness, searching whether anywhere by chance an entrance might lie open for going in. The uniformity of that wall was remarkable: no towers or battlements rose around it, and its whole surface was so covered with ancient moss that no arrangement or jointing of stones could be seen. But on the third day, an entrance appeared: a very small window, fortified on the inside. This sight relieved the labors and weariness of all who looked upon it, as though with the hope of great progress. Immediately Alexander, putting some of his men into a skiff, ordered them—if perhaps someone would open when they knocked—to deliver his commands to the inhabitants.
When they reached the place and struck the entrance somewhat heavily, they shouted for it to be opened. Soon someone inside, sliding back the bolt, asked them in a gentle voice who they were and whence they came, and demanded that the reason for such an unusual and unheard‑of demand be made known to him.
But they replied: “We are envoys—not of just any prince, but of Alexander, king of kings, the invincible one, whom the whole world obeys and before whose power all tremble. By the counsel of his nobles he sends this royal command: What race of people are the inhabitants of this place, and under what laws do they live? How great are their forces? In what security do they trust? Who is their king, or on what hope does he rely? In what confidence does he glory?
On what strength does he depend? Finally, the lord commands: If you desire to enjoy the hope of life, the safety of your bodies, and the peace of your times, do not exalt yourselves through insolence, but pay him the tribute that is customary for all nations.”
But the hearer of the embassy, moved in no way by their words, answered the collectors with a cheerful face and mild speech: “Do not weary yourselves with piling up many threats or with manifold demands. Only wait patiently; I shall return to you as quickly as I can.”
Having said this, he closed the window; and after nearly two hours, opening it again, he presented himself to their sight. Bringing forth a gem of wondrous brilliance and rare color, which in size and shape resembled a human eye, he offered it to the collectors and said: “The inhabitants of this place command that, however you have decreed to exact your demand—whether as a gift or as tribute—this token of marvel be returned to you. Receive, then, this stone, which we send to you in the spirit of goodwill, a stone that can set a limit to your desires. For once you have learned its nature and its power, you will cease from every further ambition. Know also that it is not to your advantage, nor to that of your men, to remain here any longer; for if this river is stirred even by the slightest breath of a storm, without doubt you will suffer shipwreck, with danger to your lives. Therefore return to your companions, and do not appear ungrateful to the God of gods for the benefits granted to you.”
Having said this, he fell silent, and, closing the entrance, withdrew. But they, hastily returning to the ship, brought the gem and the message to Alexander. He, as a man of keen judgment, considering the outcome of the matter and weighing the force of the words, quickly made his way back to familiar shores and rejoined the quarters of his men. They, rejoicing at the long‑desired arrival of their leader and informed of the course of his adventure, offered praises to Fortune for having deserved to receive him back unharmed, though they had fallen into deep despair concerning his life. For they had learned from the manifold reports of experienced men the dangers of the raging river, the uncertainty of the winds, the grievous flooding of the waters, the swiftness and violence of the current, and the intolerable roar of the waves; and after great despair of their own strength, they rejoiced that their commander had, under happy auspices, overcome all these things.
From there they advanced and came to Susa, a most wealthy city, and were received with every honor, as befitted royal majesty. All were exceedingly generous toward them, especially the elders; for many of the nobles honored the imperial dignity with distinguished gifts, and they themselves departed no less enriched by royal bounty.
On the following day, having summoned privately to himself the wisest among the Jews and the Gentiles, those in whom there was hope of a sure answer, he began, by recounting the course of his adventure, to examine the mystery of the matter with them; and producing the gem, he sought from them an investigation of its nature and its power. But they, possessing no certainty about the questions proposed, did only what they could: they praised the man’s good fortune, magnified the outcome, extolled his power, and, buying time, busied themselves with ambiguity. Alexander, bearing this with difficulty, concealed the vexation of his mind with great self‑control, and, marking the ignorance and simplicity of the men with no hint of contempt, honored their persons with royal gifts.
Now in that place there was a certain very aged Jewish man, named Papas, who, worn out by the weakness of long life, could go nowhere unless carried by two men in a litter. Hearing from friends of the king’s arrival, and that he was greatly troubled by uncertainty concerning the mystery of the stone, he asked to be brought into the king’s presence. When Alexander saw him, he showed to the venerable old man the honor customary to his own nobility; and seating the elder suitably beside him, he congratulated him on his long life, his comely appearance, and his dignified bearing. Then, beginning a conversation, such as he was accustomed to and delighted in with old men, he began to inquire about the knowledge of antiquity.
As the elder answered him point by point, Alexander perceived in the man a sea of wisdom close at hand; and entering upon the account of his own journey, he began to set forth the multiplicity of his labors and the prosperity of his success. But the Jew, when he heard of his prosperous voyage and the happiness of his outcome, marveled beyond all measure of human estimation; and lifting his hands upward before all, he said: “O king, do not neglect to consider in every way how much you owe to the God of heaven. For to no mortal has He granted anything like this. This is not the result of fate, but the gift of divine generosity. I remember that, when I was a boy, certain young men endowed with great strength undertook this voyage, but in no way were they able to reach the walls of that city; and yet almost all of them proved useless afterward. For many, exhausted in strength by excessive toil, were swallowed by the waves; many were blinded; many were made deaf; many were afflicted permanently with trembling of all their limbs. Later, others at various times attempted this hardship, but they strove in vain; for weakened by various kinds of afflictions, they scarcely escaped, and long before our time they put an end to this futile undertaking. But you, by what governance of fate did you, unharmed together with your men, overcome the raging waves, seize upon a city unknown to all, and receive answers unheard of among mortals? Truly, it was by divine permission or arrangement, or by the grace of some great marvel.”
By such words Alexander, made more confident and freed from his earlier uncertainty, replied with a gladdened heart: “By no means does the Scripture deceive, which declares that in the ancients there is wisdom. Your assertion, O Jew, by a certain spiritual mystery agrees with the truthful report that the inhabitants of that city sent to me. Therefore, in seeking out the marvel of which you suspect, I was greatly burdened with weariness after consulting the wise men of this place.” Then, opening the stone which lay hidden in his hand, he said: “Behold—the beginning and the sum of this matter!”
The Jew, receiving it and examining it for a long time, said: “This indeed is a marvel, and a token not to be despised by royal dignity.”
But Alexander said: “Since you do not differ at all from the judgment of the one who gave it, do not keep me in suspense any longer. If you know anything about this, explain it, so that you may break through the uncertainties of my ignorance.”
To this the Jew replied: “Although truthful words are often believed, yet in determining a new matter, sight can persuade more easily than hearing. This stone is small in size, but of immense weight, so that nothing can be compared to its heaviness. Now therefore, let a balance and a pound of gold be brought before me.”
When these were quickly produced, he placed the stone in one pan of the balance, and in the other a gold coin, which the stone, outweighing it, drew upward. Even when two, three, and four coins were added—finally the whole pound of gold, and even as much as the scale could hold—not even for a moment could the stone be moved from the heaviness of its own weight. Then, when a larger balance was sought and found—the largest that could be obtained in that place—it was hung from beams, and many hundreds of pounds of gold were placed upon it. Yet the stone, just as with the first coin, drew all of it upward with the same swift force, as though a feather of the lightest weight had been set upon the scale in place of so great a mass of gold.
Astonished at this sight, beyond the reach of human estimation, he said: “It moves me to no small wonder that the tiny substance of so small a gem, when handled in the hand, is almost without weight, yet when placed upon the balance seems of such great heaviness. Therefore, since clear experience has sufficiently persuaded the eyes—something no report of any narrative could ever suggest to the ears in a way that compels belief—now reveal with your voice the mystery of this marvel!”
But the Jew said: “Be patient, good king, until the evident operation of the demonstration brings its proof to completion; and then, with fitting inquiry, I shall open the sequence of mysteries in words.”
Then, taking the smaller balance with which he had begun the weighing, he placed the stone in one pan and covered it with a fine dust of earth; and in the other he placed a single gold coin, which immediately sank downward, drawing the stone after it with easy movement.
Removing the gold coin, he placed upon it a feather of the lightest kind, which in the same way outweighed the stone.
At this Alexander, almost beside himself with astonishment, said: “I confess that never in human affairs have I conceived in mind, or learned by hearing, or discovered by sight, anything similar to this.”
But the Jew replied: “Let the demonstration now suffice; and now let the clear execution of words reveal what lies hidden in these things.”
To this Alexander said: “Since concerning the city I saw, and its inhabitants, and their condition, no small uncertainty troubles me, I ask that you satisfy me on each point.”
After these preliminaries, and with all eyes fixed upon him, the Jew broke the silence with these words: “What you saw, good king, ought not to be called a city, nor is it one, but a solid wall, impenetrable to all flesh, which the Creator of all has established as the boundary beyond which no further progress may be made by the spirits of the righteous, freed from the flesh, who there await the resurrection of the body. There they enjoy a shadowed rest which God has appointed for them—but not eternal; for after the Judgment, when they have received back their flesh, they shall reign with their Creator forever. These spirits, eager for the salvation of humankind, have sent this stone as a reminder for your happiness: to warn you, and to restrain the disordered and unseemly impulses of your ambition. For indeed, what benefit does insatiable desire ever bring? It consumes the mind with constant cares; trusting no one, it is tormented by suspicion and by distrust; and a rational man, drained of all rest, becomes a shameful slave of his own servant, spending sleepless nights in anxious guarding, continued through the day. But you—if, content with your own seat, you delighted in the sufficiency of your patrimony—you would never reach the downfall of royal honor, while, as you rested and were freed from all cares, profit and wealth would serve you, and the abundance of the whole kingdom and all its treasures would fill your storehouses. Now, however, not content with your own forces nor with those of foreigners, you are crushed with poverty in the midst of your treasures; you are satisfied by no abundance; but with great danger to your life, and not without loss to your men, you are indecently burdened with the weight of what is not yours. In these proclamations of admonition the whole meaning of the marvel is contained, as the nature of this stone bears witness. This stone, as its shape and color show, is truly a human eye: which, so long as it possesses the light of life, is stirred by the heat of every desire, is fed by the multiplicity of new things, and—gold supplying it with renewed hunger—is restrained by no satisfaction at all; and the more it grows by multiplying, the more skillfully it strives to increase, just as the new demonstration of its wondrous weight has now proved. But when the motion of life is taken away, and it is entrusted to the bosom of its native earth, it is open to no use, delights in nothing, desires nothing, is moved by no affection, because it does not feel. Hence even a light feather—which, though small, is still of some use—outweighed this stone when covered with the dust of earth. Therefore you, good king—you, I say, ruler of all prudence, conqueror of kings, possessor of kingdoms, lord of the world—this stone prefigures you; it warns you; it reproves you; its slight substance restrains you from the pursuit of the most worthless ambition. Which, with your favor, my lord king, I have said; and if by my admonishing speech I have exceeded the rule of royal honor, I have yielded to my own foolishness, compelled by the command of your inquiry.”
At once Alexander, impatient of delay, rushed to embrace the old man, and, loading him with royal gifts, sent him back to his home, praying for the prosperity and health of his life. He himself, setting a limit to all desire and all ambition, devoted himself to generosity and honor, and, as befitted royal magnificence, was bountiful to his own and lavish to all.
Departing from there, he passed through the regions subjected to his rule, and, detained by various necessary arrangements of justice, at last, after the course of another half‑year, he came to Babylon, where, as though returned to his homeland, after the manifold struggles of his labors he began to indulge in security and rest. He granted dismissal to his companions of the journey, enriching all according to the quality of each one’s merit with abundance of gold and silver.
And when, having set aside all suspicion of danger, he flourished in noble magnificence and rejoiced in royal glory, he was poisoned by one of his own household, by the one he least suspected, just as he had learned in India from the oracles of the Trees of the Sun and Moon. And when he felt the force of the poison raging within him, with death already near, he summoned the young men who had been nobly raised with him from childhood, as befitted royal magnificence, and divided among them the rights of his kingdoms, establishing the boundaries of his monarchy, confirming the companies of soldiers in mutual peace and concord, urging all to the pursuit of truth, honor, and generosity, and instructing them to imitate him in every virtue. Having spoken his farewell to each, he closed his last day.
Alleluia.
Here ends the life of the magnificent King Alexander.
In this order, he came to a very wide river, on the bank of which he encountered a ship of ample size, equipped with sails and oars, as well as with various armaments and in every way, and most sturdy for work. Having inquired about the name of the river, he learned that this is the Ganges, which is also the Physon, whose source is the Paradise of Pleasure. He also saw the leaves of very large trees placed on the roofs of houses, which, flowing along the course of the river, reach the inhabitants with very long branches, and which, dried in the sun and ground into powder, offer a wonderful taste to those who use them. Having learned the series of all these, and also about the creation and location of the place, he said with a sigh: “I have accomplished nothing in the world, and I value all my ambition for nothing, unless I earn a share of this pleasure.” And immediately, having established his forces safely in place, he selected five hundred shield-bearers, chosen youths of keen minds, undaunted by all danger and most ready for the exercise of continuous labor. After arranging provisions sufficient for the whole course of the summer, he boarded a ship and entrusted himself to the favorable winds.
But after a month of sailing had been spent with great difficulty against the onslaught of the raging river, for they were intent with all their hearts on reaching its source, if it were possible, the strength of the young men, who, encouraging one another, voluntarily exerted themselves in the work, began to grow weary. And since no possibility of advancing farther was available—for they were shaken and worn out by the frequent floods, and the unbelievable roar of the waves so weakened the hearing of almost all that no one could catch the voice of his companion unless he shouted more loudly. At last, on the thirty‑fourth day, they saw in the distance something like the wall of a city, of wondrous height and length.
Reaching it with great difficulty, because the river, held somewhat in check by the shores, moderated its surges and produced a gentler crashing sound, the narrowness of the shore and the muddy ground beside the wall prevented any passage on foot. Therefore, they sailed along the side of the city, which stretched without end from north to south, for nearly three days, not without weariness, searching whether anywhere by chance an entrance might lie open for going in. The uniformity of that wall was remarkable: no towers or battlements rose around it, and its whole surface was so covered with ancient moss that no arrangement or jointing of stones could be seen. But on the third day, an entrance appeared: a very small window, fortified on the inside. This sight relieved the labors and weariness of all who looked upon it, as though with the hope of great progress. Immediately Alexander, putting some of his men into a skiff, ordered them—if perhaps someone would open when they knocked—to deliver his commands to the inhabitants.
When they reached the place and struck the entrance somewhat heavily, they shouted for it to be opened. Soon someone inside, sliding back the bolt, asked them in a gentle voice who they were and whence they came, and demanded that the reason for such an unusual and unheard‑of demand be made known to him.
But they replied: “We are envoys—not of just any prince, but of Alexander, king of kings, the invincible one, whom the whole world obeys and before whose power all tremble. By the counsel of his nobles he sends this royal command: What race of people are the inhabitants of this place, and under what laws do they live? How great are their forces? In what security do they trust? Who is their king, or on what hope does he rely? In what confidence does he glory?
On what strength does he depend? Finally, the lord commands: If you desire to enjoy the hope of life, the safety of your bodies, and the peace of your times, do not exalt yourselves through insolence, but pay him the tribute that is customary for all nations.”
But the hearer of the embassy, moved in no way by their words, answered the collectors with a cheerful face and mild speech: “Do not weary yourselves with piling up many threats or with manifold demands. Only wait patiently; I shall return to you as quickly as I can.”
Having said this, he closed the window; and after nearly two hours, opening it again, he presented himself to their sight. Bringing forth a gem of wondrous brilliance and rare color, which in size and shape resembled a human eye, he offered it to the collectors and said: “The inhabitants of this place command that, however you have decreed to exact your demand—whether as a gift or as tribute—this token of marvel be returned to you. Receive, then, this stone, which we send to you in the spirit of goodwill, a stone that can set a limit to your desires. For once you have learned its nature and its power, you will cease from every further ambition. Know also that it is not to your advantage, nor to that of your men, to remain here any longer; for if this river is stirred even by the slightest breath of a storm, without doubt you will suffer shipwreck, with danger to your lives. Therefore return to your companions, and do not appear ungrateful to the God of gods for the benefits granted to you.”
Having said this, he fell silent, and, closing the entrance, withdrew. But they, hastily returning to the ship, brought the gem and the message to Alexander. He, as a man of keen judgment, considering the outcome of the matter and weighing the force of the words, quickly made his way back to familiar shores and rejoined the quarters of his men. They, rejoicing at the long‑desired arrival of their leader and informed of the course of his adventure, offered praises to Fortune for having deserved to receive him back unharmed, though they had fallen into deep despair concerning his life. For they had learned from the manifold reports of experienced men the dangers of the raging river, the uncertainty of the winds, the grievous flooding of the waters, the swiftness and violence of the current, and the intolerable roar of the waves; and after great despair of their own strength, they rejoiced that their commander had, under happy auspices, overcome all these things.
From there they advanced and came to Susa, a most wealthy city, and were received with every honor, as befitted royal majesty. All were exceedingly generous toward them, especially the elders; for many of the nobles honored the imperial dignity with distinguished gifts, and they themselves departed no less enriched by royal bounty.
On the following day, having summoned privately to himself the wisest among the Jews and the Gentiles, those in whom there was hope of a sure answer, he began, by recounting the course of his adventure, to examine the mystery of the matter with them; and producing the gem, he sought from them an investigation of its nature and its power. But they, possessing no certainty about the questions proposed, did only what they could: they praised the man’s good fortune, magnified the outcome, extolled his power, and, buying time, busied themselves with ambiguity. Alexander, bearing this with difficulty, concealed the vexation of his mind with great self‑control, and, marking the ignorance and simplicity of the men with no hint of contempt, honored their persons with royal gifts.
Now in that place there was a certain very aged Jewish man, named Papas, who, worn out by the weakness of long life, could go nowhere unless carried by two men in a litter. Hearing from friends of the king’s arrival, and that he was greatly troubled by uncertainty concerning the mystery of the stone, he asked to be brought into the king’s presence. When Alexander saw him, he showed to the venerable old man the honor customary to his own nobility; and seating the elder suitably beside him, he congratulated him on his long life, his comely appearance, and his dignified bearing. Then, beginning a conversation, such as he was accustomed to and delighted in with old men, he began to inquire about the knowledge of antiquity.
As the elder answered him point by point, Alexander perceived in the man a sea of wisdom close at hand; and entering upon the account of his own journey, he began to set forth the multiplicity of his labors and the prosperity of his success. But the Jew, when he heard of his prosperous voyage and the happiness of his outcome, marveled beyond all measure of human estimation; and lifting his hands upward before all, he said: “O king, do not neglect to consider in every way how much you owe to the God of heaven. For to no mortal has He granted anything like this. This is not the result of fate, but the gift of divine generosity. I remember that, when I was a boy, certain young men endowed with great strength undertook this voyage, but in no way were they able to reach the walls of that city; and yet almost all of them proved useless afterward. For many, exhausted in strength by excessive toil, were swallowed by the waves; many were blinded; many were made deaf; many were afflicted permanently with trembling of all their limbs. Later, others at various times attempted this hardship, but they strove in vain; for weakened by various kinds of afflictions, they scarcely escaped, and long before our time they put an end to this futile undertaking. But you, by what governance of fate did you, unharmed together with your men, overcome the raging waves, seize upon a city unknown to all, and receive answers unheard of among mortals? Truly, it was by divine permission or arrangement, or by the grace of some great marvel.”
By such words Alexander, made more confident and freed from his earlier uncertainty, replied with a gladdened heart: “By no means does the Scripture deceive, which declares that in the ancients there is wisdom. Your assertion, O Jew, by a certain spiritual mystery agrees with the truthful report that the inhabitants of that city sent to me. Therefore, in seeking out the marvel of which you suspect, I was greatly burdened with weariness after consulting the wise men of this place.” Then, opening the stone which lay hidden in his hand, he said: “Behold—the beginning and the sum of this matter!”
The Jew, receiving it and examining it for a long time, said: “This indeed is a marvel, and a token not to be despised by royal dignity.”
But Alexander said: “Since you do not differ at all from the judgment of the one who gave it, do not keep me in suspense any longer. If you know anything about this, explain it, so that you may break through the uncertainties of my ignorance.”
To this the Jew replied: “Although truthful words are often believed, yet in determining a new matter, sight can persuade more easily than hearing. This stone is small in size, but of immense weight, so that nothing can be compared to its heaviness. Now therefore, let a balance and a pound of gold be brought before me.”
When these were quickly produced, he placed the stone in one pan of the balance, and in the other a gold coin, which the stone, outweighing it, drew upward. Even when two, three, and four coins were added—finally the whole pound of gold, and even as much as the scale could hold—not even for a moment could the stone be moved from the heaviness of its own weight. Then, when a larger balance was sought and found—the largest that could be obtained in that place—it was hung from beams, and many hundreds of pounds of gold were placed upon it. Yet the stone, just as with the first coin, drew all of it upward with the same swift force, as though a feather of the lightest weight had been set upon the scale in place of so great a mass of gold.
Astonished at this sight, beyond the reach of human estimation, he said: “It moves me to no small wonder that the tiny substance of so small a gem, when handled in the hand, is almost without weight, yet when placed upon the balance seems of such great heaviness. Therefore, since clear experience has sufficiently persuaded the eyes—something no report of any narrative could ever suggest to the ears in a way that compels belief—now reveal with your voice the mystery of this marvel!”
But the Jew said: “Be patient, good king, until the evident operation of the demonstration brings its proof to completion; and then, with fitting inquiry, I shall open the sequence of mysteries in words.”
Then, taking the smaller balance with which he had begun the weighing, he placed the stone in one pan and covered it with a fine dust of earth; and in the other he placed a single gold coin, which immediately sank downward, drawing the stone after it with easy movement.
Removing the gold coin, he placed upon it a feather of the lightest kind, which in the same way outweighed the stone.
At this Alexander, almost beside himself with astonishment, said: “I confess that never in human affairs have I conceived in mind, or learned by hearing, or discovered by sight, anything similar to this.”
But the Jew replied: “Let the demonstration now suffice; and now let the clear execution of words reveal what lies hidden in these things.”
To this Alexander said: “Since concerning the city I saw, and its inhabitants, and their condition, no small uncertainty troubles me, I ask that you satisfy me on each point.”
After these preliminaries, and with all eyes fixed upon him, the Jew broke the silence with these words: “What you saw, good king, ought not to be called a city, nor is it one, but a solid wall, impenetrable to all flesh, which the Creator of all has established as the boundary beyond which no further progress may be made by the spirits of the righteous, freed from the flesh, who there await the resurrection of the body. There they enjoy a shadowed rest which God has appointed for them—but not eternal; for after the Judgment, when they have received back their flesh, they shall reign with their Creator forever. These spirits, eager for the salvation of humankind, have sent this stone as a reminder for your happiness: to warn you, and to restrain the disordered and unseemly impulses of your ambition. For indeed, what benefit does insatiable desire ever bring? It consumes the mind with constant cares; trusting no one, it is tormented by suspicion and by distrust; and a rational man, drained of all rest, becomes a shameful slave of his own servant, spending sleepless nights in anxious guarding, continued through the day. But you—if, content with your own seat, you delighted in the sufficiency of your patrimony—you would never reach the downfall of royal honor, while, as you rested and were freed from all cares, profit and wealth would serve you, and the abundance of the whole kingdom and all its treasures would fill your storehouses. Now, however, not content with your own forces nor with those of foreigners, you are crushed with poverty in the midst of your treasures; you are satisfied by no abundance; but with great danger to your life, and not without loss to your men, you are indecently burdened with the weight of what is not yours. In these proclamations of admonition the whole meaning of the marvel is contained, as the nature of this stone bears witness. This stone, as its shape and color show, is truly a human eye: which, so long as it possesses the light of life, is stirred by the heat of every desire, is fed by the multiplicity of new things, and—gold supplying it with renewed hunger—is restrained by no satisfaction at all; and the more it grows by multiplying, the more skillfully it strives to increase, just as the new demonstration of its wondrous weight has now proved. But when the motion of life is taken away, and it is entrusted to the bosom of its native earth, it is open to no use, delights in nothing, desires nothing, is moved by no affection, because it does not feel. Hence even a light feather—which, though small, is still of some use—outweighed this stone when covered with the dust of earth. Therefore you, good king—you, I say, ruler of all prudence, conqueror of kings, possessor of kingdoms, lord of the world—this stone prefigures you; it warns you; it reproves you; its slight substance restrains you from the pursuit of the most worthless ambition. Which, with your favor, my lord king, I have said; and if by my admonishing speech I have exceeded the rule of royal honor, I have yielded to my own foolishness, compelled by the command of your inquiry.”
At once Alexander, impatient of delay, rushed to embrace the old man, and, loading him with royal gifts, sent him back to his home, praying for the prosperity and health of his life. He himself, setting a limit to all desire and all ambition, devoted himself to generosity and honor, and, as befitted royal magnificence, was bountiful to his own and lavish to all.
Departing from there, he passed through the regions subjected to his rule, and, detained by various necessary arrangements of justice, at last, after the course of another half‑year, he came to Babylon, where, as though returned to his homeland, after the manifold struggles of his labors he began to indulge in security and rest. He granted dismissal to his companions of the journey, enriching all according to the quality of each one’s merit with abundance of gold and silver.
And when, having set aside all suspicion of danger, he flourished in noble magnificence and rejoiced in royal glory, he was poisoned by one of his own household, by the one he least suspected, just as he had learned in India from the oracles of the Trees of the Sun and Moon. And when he felt the force of the poison raging within him, with death already near, he summoned the young men who had been nobly raised with him from childhood, as befitted royal magnificence, and divided among them the rights of his kingdoms, establishing the boundaries of his monarchy, confirming the companies of soldiers in mutual peace and concord, urging all to the pursuit of truth, honor, and generosity, and instructing them to imitate him in every virtue. Having spoken his farewell to each, he closed his last day.
Alleluia.
Here ends the life of the magnificent King Alexander.
