The ancient history of the Septuagint written in Greek by Aristeus near two thousand years ago ; being his voyage to Jerusalem, as ambassadour from Ptolomæus Philadelphus, unto Eleazar, then High Priest of the Jews, concerning the first translation of the Holy Bible by the seventy two interpreters with many other remarkable circumstances, no where else to be found ; first English'd from Greek, by the learned and reverend Dr. John Done ... now revised, and very much corrected from the original.

To the Reader.

ALthough Time and Death, from our Cradles to our Graves, pur∣sue us swiftly, and, according to the Almighties Ordinance, overtake and seize upon our frail and earthly parts, upon some sooner, upon others later: yet Excellent Acts, like strong Eagles, break from their seizure, and soar above them in so sublime a pitch, as neither Time, with all his Power and rusty Powder, with which he blots and rubs out Brass and Marble, can quite obscure or extinguish them, nei∣ther Death close in his dark-gaping Mouth (the Grave) their Nobleness. Witness this small, yet ancient Histo∣ry, which this last Summer I made part of my Exercise, to put into an English Habit.

That the Story is ancient, I may well say; for it is 1900 years since Aristeus Writ it to his Brother Philo∣crates; which Aristeus, St. Hierom, in his Epistle to the Pentateuk of the Bible, says, was* 1.1 Hyperaspistes to Ptolomeus Philadelphus, King of Egypt, Syria, Phenicia, and Cilicia, and son of Ptolomeus Lagus, one of the great Captains of Alexan∣der Magnus, that divided his Con∣quests (the World) amongst them.

This Ptolomeus Philadelphus was a most accomplish'd young Gentleman, vertuously disposed and so great a lover of Learning, as he had accumu∣lated into his Library according to some Authors, 1800000 Volumes,* 1.2 Printing being not then risen in our He∣misphere, was by the said Aristeus, a most Noble Person, and a great friend of (the then captive Iews) (as an Instrument of God) for the Liber∣ty and Freedom of them, (then his People) practised with Demetrius

Phalerius, to tell the King, that his so abundant Library was but poor, because it wanted the Book of Books, the sacred Volume of God, which we call the Holy Bible: The King, ver∣tuously covetous thereof, demanded how he should best acquire it? Ari∣steus, waiting this desired Occasion, proportioned his advice, that he should first set all the Captived Iews, not only in Egypt, but also in Syria, &c. at free Liberty: and send Ambas∣sadors and Presents to Eleazar their High Priest and Pontiff. The King willingly consents thereto, as to the Musick of his desires, and prepares most rich Presents, as a Table of Mas∣sie Gold, embellish'd with precious Stones, Cups of Gold and Silver like∣wise adorned, sets at freedom the Captived by publick Edict, and sends as Ambassadours Aristeus, and Andrea, Prince and great Captain of the Guard of his Person, with these Gifts, and divers Talents of Gold and Silver.

They go, deliver his Letters of Request and Commends, have graci∣ous entertainment, return with the 72 Interpreters Iews Letters, and also Eleazars Presents to the King, and in especial, with the Sacred Volume and Word of God.

The good King adores the Books, feasts the Bringers, who after fall to the Business, and Translated it out of the Hebrew into the Greek, the common learned Language of those Times, made famous by the Sword of Alexander. And this in brief is the effect of this Venerable History, which is by me thus made yours.

And though I seem to Anticipate thus to you, yet it is as nothing; for in it self, as you may further see, it is Elaborately and Eloquently Writ∣ten by the said Aristeus; and let no man wonder too much thereat, as thinking our Times excell theirs in Eloquence: No; For who ever ex∣ceeded Demostenes the Greek, or Ci∣cero the Latin, therein?

Lastly, to speak the Praise of Hi∣story, Libri sunt vasa memoriae, and worthy Historical Books have in them a kind of Divine Permanency; and as Eminent Persons should affect Noble Actions, so ought they to cherish the Registers, as their Honou∣rers.

For, hath not Plutarch made those Gyant Heroes, as Theseus, Romulus, Alexander, Iulius Caesar, and the rest, yet live? and himself, more praisfully, longer then them all? So as an igno∣rant swaggering Fellow threatned his Adversary to kill him if he had as many lives as Plutarch•• Did not Alexander sigh for another Ho∣mer?

Lastly, (If I have in honour of the History) like one holding a lighted Taper to the clear No••••••shining Sun, made an Appendix, shewing the An∣tiquity and Dignity of the Books, by the said S••••tuagint Translated, and the Excelle••••y of their inspired Wri∣ter,

Moses; and have therein been too prolixious, pardon me, because of the Profundity and Worthiness of the matter: So I referr you to that, and the rest;

and so rest Yours, Iohn Done.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Great Esquire.
• * 1.2

  Argument of the History.