nor indeed in general men, because you breed up with great
care beasts of a nature quite contrary to that of men,
although the nature of all men seems to be one and the
same. Now if there be such differences in opinion among you
Egyptians, why are you surprised that those who came to
Alexandria from another country, and had original laws of
their own before, should persevere in the observance of those
laws? But still he charges us with being the authors of
sedition; which accusation, if it be a just one, why is it not
laid against us all, since we are known to be all of one mind.
Moreover, those that search into such matters will soon
discover that the authors of sedition have been such citizens
of Alexandria as Apion is; for while they were the Grecians
and Macedonians who were ill possession of this city, there
was no sedition raised against us, and we were permitted to
observe our ancient solemnities; but when the number of the
Egyptians therein came to be considerable, the times grew
confused, and then these seditions brake out still more and
more, while our people continued uncorrupted. These
Egyptians, therefore, were the authors of these troubles, who
having not the constancy of Macedonians, nor the prudence
of Grecians, indulged all of them the evil manners of the
Egyptians, and continued their ancient hatred against us; for
what is here so presumptuously charged upon us, is owing to
the differences that are amongst themselves; while many of
them have not obtained the privileges of citizens in proper
times, but style those who are well known to have had that
privilege extended to them all no other than foreigners: for it
does not appear that any of the kings have ever formerly
bestowed those privileges of citizens upon Egyptians, no more