Kebra Nagast

canst do with thy people what thou wishest." And Rehoboam drove out the elders and brought in the foolish young men who had been brought up with him. And he took counsel with them, and told them of the message which the house of Israel had sent to him and what the elders of the house of the king had counselled And those foolish young men said unto him, aged man giveth the counsel of an aged man, and the elder giveth the counsel of an elder, and a man stricken in years giveth the counsel of the man who is stricken in years, and a young man like thyself giveth him to do. " An the counsel which appertaineth to youth. As for these men who are stricken in years, their loins are as tender as those of a young animal that cannot walk. And as this of can matter which thou who concerning speakest, ? the of our Lord the And command King dispute >: one of them leaped up into the air before Rehoboam, and another drew his sword, and another brandished his And spear, and another seized his bow and quiver. when they had made an end of their playing they " O our lord, may we be with counselled him, saying, Now thy father in wisdom thee, and thou with us ! gave us, the sons of men of Israel who are learned in the art of war, to grow up with thee that thy kingdom might be strong after him. O our lord, show not a timid face to those men, lest they think that thou art weak and art not able to make war against them and against thine For if they see in us an attitude of weakness enemies. in word and in deed, we shall be held in contempt by them, and they will not give us gifts, or presents, or slaves, or tribute, and thy kingdom will be destroyed. But address them with bold words, and speak unto them * In respect of my father ye say in haughtily, saying, wood and in stone, but I will make you to serve me with For my thin chains of iron and with scorpion-whips. flank shall be stronger than the thickest part of my father's body, and my counsel is greater than the counsel 118