Kebra Nagast

not be eaten by worms, and sapphires. And that merchant, whose name was Tamrin, the merchant of the Queen of Ethiopia, went to Solomon the King and Solomon took whatsoever he desired from him, and he gave to the merchant whatsoever he wished for in great abundance. Now that merchant was a man of great understanding, and he saw and comprehended the wisdom of Solomon, and he marvelled [thereat], and he watched carefully so that he might learn how the King made answer by his word, and understand his judgment, and the readiness of his mouth, and the discreetness of his speech, and the manner of his life, and his sitting down and his rising up, and his occu; and his love, and his administration, and his and his law. To those to whom Solomon had to table, orders he spake with humility and graciousness, give and when they had committed a fault he admonished them [gently]. For he ordered his house in the wisdom and fear of God, and he smiled graciously on the fools and set them on the right road, and he dealt gently He opened his mouth in with the maidservants. parables, and his words were sweeter than the purest honey ; his whole behaviour was admirable, and his whole aspect pleasant. For wisdom is beloved by men of understanding, and is rejected by fools. And when that merchant had seen all these things he was astonished, and he marvelled exceedingly. For those who were wont to see Solomon held him in complete affection, and he [became] their teacher and because of his wisdom and excellence those who had once come to him did not wish to leave him and go away from him. And the sweetness of his words was like water to the man who is athirst, and like bread to the hungry man, and like healing to the sick man, and And he was like a like apparel to the naked man. father to the orphans. And he judged with righteousness and accepted the person of no man (*'.*., he was pations, ; 18