The Lantern

The Preparation of the Gospel · BOOK 938

CCEL

CHAPTER XXXVII

'PHILO too says, in his Account of Jerusalem, that there is a fountain, and that it is dried up in winter, but becomes full in summer. And in his first Book he speaks thus:

" Νηχόμενος δ' ἐφύπερθε τὸ θαμβηέστατον ἄλλο

δέρκηθρον συναοιδὰ μεγιστούχοιο λοετροῖς

ῥεύματος ἐμπίπλησι βαθὺν ῥόον ἐξανιείσης ."

'And so forth. Again, lower down he adds to these a description of the refilling:

"For flashing from on high the joyous stream,

Flooded by rain and snow, rolls swiftly on

Beneath the neighbouring towers, and spreading o'er

The dry and dusty ground, far-shining shows

The blessings of that wonder-working fount."

'And the rest that follows. Then again, concerning the High Priest's fountain and the canal that carries off the water, he proceeds as follows:

"A headlong stream by channels under ground

The pipes pour forth,"

'And all that follows this.'

Thus far then our quotations from Alexander Polyhistor.