Bialik, Hayim - And It Came To Pass (hebrew Publishing, 1938)

AND IT CAME TO PASS

AND IT CAME TO PASS � LEGENDS AND STORIES

ABOUT KING DAVID AND KING SOLOMON TOLD BY HAYYIM NAHMAN BIALIK TRANSLATED BY HERBERT DANBY PROFESSOR OF HEBREW, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, ENGLAND

WITH WOODCUTS BY H OWARD SI MON NEW YORK HEBREW PUBLISHING COMPANY

CoPYRIGHT

'9JB BY

HEBREW PUBLISHTNG CoMPANY

L.ll righ:s reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in my fonn without pennission in writ­ ing from the publisher, except by a ret!iewer who wirbes to quote brief passages in connection with ll

re1,iew 'UlTitten for inclusion in magtJzines or newspapers.

Typography by S. A. Jacobs, M0U11t Vernon, N. Y. Printed and bound by Momauk Bookbinding Corp., Nc'W York

CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY NoTE

�LEGENDS AND STORIES ABOUT KING DAVID 1 � The Scroll of Orpah 2 � The Child David 3 � David the Shepherd 4 � David and the Madman . 5 � The Scorpion and the Spider . 6 � Yishbi the Philistine 7 � The Sweet Singer of Israel 8 � The Death of David 9 � How two Workmen broke into King David's Tomb 1 0 � The Pasha's Sword 11 � The Washerwoman 1 2 � King David in his Tomb �LEGENDS AND STORIES ABOUT KING SOLOi\lON . 1 3 � The Egg 14 � Th.;: Inheritance 1 5 � The White Eagle 16 � The White Lion I7 � The Bee . 18 � The Braggart Dove 1 9 � Whose was the Blame ? 20 � How the Hoopoe got its Crest 2 I ! The Flying Cloak . a) The Wind's Reproof b) The Queen of the Frags c) The J\lysterious Palace

VII

P.

P. P. P. P. P. P. P.

P. P. P. P.

I I

I6 22 25 29 32 36 38 40 42 46 5I

65 69 P. 75 P . 8I P. 87 P. 93 P. 95 P . 97 P. I02 P. P.

CONTENTS 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 3I 32 33

� The Throne of Solomon � The Milk of the Lioness . � Which was the Thief ? � Uzziel and Hannah � The Three Brothers � The W oman who sued the Wind � The Queen of Sheba � Solomon and Balkis � Asmodeus, King of the Demons � A Fatted Ox and a Dinner of Herbs � "The Way of a Man with a J\Iaid" . ! The Princess of Aram

II2 I 17 P. 128 P. 1 34 P. 1 42 P. 148 P. I 56 P . I 63 P. 1 80

P. P.

P.

199

221 P. 23 I P.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE ! THE

HEBREW POET BIALIK PUBLISHED THESE LEGENDS

AND STORIES IN SINGLE NUMBERS AT VARIOUS TIMES BETWEEN

1927

AND

1934·

HE COLLECTED THEM INTO A

single volume, Vay'hi hayom ("And it came to pass on a certain day") , which was published a few weeks after his death in June, 1934· ! They are all adaptations from Arabic and Jewish sources -ancient, medieval and modern. Most of the sources ex­ ist in written form but a few of the pieces have been de­ rived from oral sources. The degree of adaptation varies. Some, such as the legends about the Queen of Sheba (in both the Jewish and Arabic forms) , and about Asmodeus, king of the Demons, and "How the Hoopoe got its Crest," reproduce the standard versions with scarcely any alter­ ation. The majority, however, owe a large, or the main part of their atmosphere and much of their point to Bialik; while others, e. g. "The Princess of Aram" and "A Fatted Ox and a Dinner of Herbs," are almost entirely the fruit of Bialik's own imagination. ! It would be out of place here to go into detail about the sources. But attention may be drawn to the following points.

! The ceremony of the Blessing of the Moon, around which the story "King David in his Tomb" turns, will be found discussed in The Jewisb Encyclopedia, Vol. IX, 244. In the Autborised Daily Prayer Book of the Britisb Jewish

Congregations (ed. Singer) , p. 292, the exclamation "David King of Israel yet liveth and endureth" is omitted; but the full version is retained in The Book of Prayer of the

Spanish and Portuguese Jews (Oxford University Press, ' 901) , Vol. 1, p. 1 46. ! The legend entitled "The Milk of the Lioness" is de­ rived from

u

Samuel 2 3, 20, where the Authorised Ver­

sion reads "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. . . slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in the time of snow." This rendering, based on the traditional Jewish interpretation of "Ariel," has been discarded by the Revised Version which follows the Septuagint reading, "the two sons of Ariel of Moab." ! The two stories based on the stock "princess imprisoned in a tower" motif, here entitled "The Way of a Man with a Maid" and "The Princess of Aram," are adaptations from a single original. In the Hebrew volume they are entitled "Three Things and Four" (short version) , and "Three Things and Four" (long version) . See Proverbs 30, 18-1 9· H.

D.

LEGENDS AND STORIES ABOUT KING DAVID

THE SCROLL OF ORPAH 0 R,

THE

R EST

0F

T HE

B 00K

0 F

R U T H

ORPAH AND RUTH WERE MOABITES. THEY WERE SISTERS, DAUGHTERS O F EGLON, KING O F ;\IOAB. BOTH WERE BEAU­ TIFUL AND A JOY TO BEHOLD, BRED I N THE PLAI:--IS AND

broad valleys; but while Orpah had ever been noisy, un­ ruly and impudent like a young camel, Ruth, like a wild doe, was simple, modest and timid. �Eglon, King of Moab, was a lusty man and fat, as thick­ necked as a buffalo of Bashan; for he lived in the eanh's richest regions where the grass of the plains grew high as a man; and there was no end to his flocks. He worshipped his god Chemosh in joy and gladness and he sacrificed to Chemosh the choicest he-goats and rams. His hand was heavy against his neighbours, the children of Israel, and he

II

oppressed them in all their gates. Yet in his inmost heart he feared the God of Israel and honoured His name, for, said he, "Who knoweth? It may be that the God of the Hebrews is God in truth and His hand may be great and strong." � In those days there was famine in Judea, but in Moab there was bread in plenty. And an Ephrathite whose name was Elimelech came from Bethlehem of Judea to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wonhy wife Naomi and his two young sons, Mahlon and Chilion. And Eglon had pity on these Ephrathites and did them no harm. More­ over he gave them a place to dwell in, in a distant pan of his domain. And they dwelt in the country of Moab. � And Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died in the land where he sojourned, and she was left, and her two sons, in their deep mourning and sorrow in a strange land. And Eglon saw the young and tenderly nurtured sons of the Ephra­ thite that they were seemly, and he gave to them his daugh­ ters in marriage; moreover he dealt kindly with their mother for their sakes, and rejoiced that he was united with the seed of the Lord. � But with this union God was not well pleased and from the two sisters He withheld both sons and daughters; and thev dwelt in the house of the widow, their mother in law, stni ngers, and downheaned, passing their days joylessly. And likewise Mahlon and Chilion after the death of their father found no comfon in their wives and knew no plea­ sure: all their days they were like blossoms wilting in the summer droughts, and, after ten years, they both died in silent grief. Their mother buried them in the field beside their father, one on one side and one on the other. And Eglon saw that the bond was broken and his hand grew yet heavier against Israel, and he oppressed them exceed­ ingly; and the Lord killed him by the hand of Ehud, the son of Gera, who j udged Israel in those days.

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! And Naomi was left without husband and sons, and she said, "Whom have I yet here and what have I here ? " ! And when she heard that the Lord had visited his people to give them bread, she arose and went forth from the country of Moab to return to Judea, her own country. And Ruth would not go back from following her mother in law, for the Lord had touched her heart; and she for­ sook her people and her country and the land of her birth and her gods, and went with her mother in law to the land of Judea. ! But Orpah bade farewell to her mother in law at the border of Moab and kissed her and returned to her own mother's house as in the days of her youth. ! And there came a day when a Philistine passed by the country of Moab. Now the Philistine was a man of great stature and mighty in vigour, offspring of the giants of old time; and he was clothed in martial raiment and girt with weapons and instruments of death from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head; he was all iron and brass; for he was a mighty man of war. And the giant turned aside to the house of Orpah and passed the night there; and Orpah beheld his might, his stature, the splendour of his raiment and his weapons, and she joined herself to him. And, as a dog followeth after his master, so she followed after her Philistine lover to his own place, the city of Gath. ! But Ruth came and took refuge beneath the wings of the God of Israel and dwelt with her mother in law in Beth­ lehem of Judea. And in her poverty she went out to glean in the field of Boaz the Bethlehemite, to save herself alive and her mother in law. Now Boaz was a man of wealth and of many possessions, a man greatly beloved and a noble of the people. He was of the family of Elimelech and a kinsman of Naomi. And he saw the damsel as she gleaned, and he perceived the simplicity of her ways and the purity of her spirit, and he brought her unto his own 13

home and took her to wife. And when the time was come about she bore him a son and called his name Obed. � And Ruth clave continually to the seed of the pure and holy people, as it is written in the Book of Ruth. And Ruth waxed old and full of days, yet she continued fresh and buxom. Her hands never wearied in sowing righteous­ ness, mercy and compassion upon them that were round about her. And she beheld children's children, and children to the third generation, all of them mighty men and such as feared God. � And at the end of her days, on her knees was born a son to her grandson, Jesse, in his old age, and his name was called David. And the child grew and God blessed him, and he was ruddy, of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look upon, courageous in spirit and steadfast in deed. He taught his fingers to play upon the harp, and he was a sweet singer and skilled in music. When he tended his father's flock he fought doughtily against wild beasts, and smote the lion and the bear and delivered the prey out of their mouth. The sound of his sweet songs filled the hills, and pervaded earth and heaven. � But, in the land of the Philistines, Orpah shrivelled from old age and became shrewish and wayward. All day long she sat at crossroads and street corners like any wanton, spinning flax and toying with the spindle-whorl. She, too, beheld children by her giant husband, to the third genera­ tion. Among them was Goliath, and Yishbi his brother. In their childhood no hand ruled them and they grew up to be violent and lawless men. They were tall and terrible in appearance, and like their forefather they clothed them­ selves in iron and brass; and from their youth up they learned slaughter and murder. Whenever they went out marauding they were like wolves from the wilderness and they drenched the land with tears and blood. � As is the tree so is the fruit thereof, and the fruit of the 14·

fruit; for the vigour of the fathers continueth for ever in their seed after them . •

•

•

� And when the time was come about, the Philistines gath­ ered together in their camp to fight against Israel, and they stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, and there was a valley be­ tween them. And there went out a champion from the camp of the Philistines whose height was six cubits and a span, and he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clad with a coat of mail. And the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs and a javelin of brass between his shoulders, and the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the blade of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron, and his shield-bearer went before him, and the Philistine stood and defied the armies of the living God. � He was Goliath, a Philistine from Gath, the great-grand­ son of Orpah. � And from the ranks of Israel there came out to meet him a youth, ruddy and of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look upon. He had neither weapons nor armour, and nothing in his hand save his staff and his sling, and five smooth stones in his wallet: and on his lips the name of the living God. � He was David, a shepherd from Bethlehem, the great­ grandson of Ruth. � A Philistine giant and a Hebrew boy, offspring of the Moabitish sisters, they stood opposite one another in the valley; and in their eyes burned a deadly enmity, the enmity of one nation and its god against another nation and its God.

THE CHILD DAVID

I N THE DAYS OF KING SAt:L THERE DWELT AT ASCALON AMONG THE PHILISTINES A HEBREW WOMAN WHO WAS A WIDOW. SHE WAS COMELY IN FORM AND GOODLY TO LOOK

upon, and she had much money which her rich husband had left her at his death. And a ruler of the Philistines be­ held her and lifted his eyes unto her and soug-ht devices how he might lay hold ori her and bring her by torce to his own home; for in those davs the hand of Saul prevailed not against the Philistines, and they affiicted Israel and did with them according- to their own will. And the woman feared greatlv lest t.he Philistine fulfil his evil will upon her, and she rose up and gathered together her shekels of silver and gold and hid them, some here and some there, in earthen vessels; and in the necks of the jars she put some I6

honey, and she bore them secretly to a Hebrew neighbour who beforetime had been the friend of her husband. And she entrusted them to him in the presence of witnesses; but she told him nothing of the silver and gold that was hidden in them. That night the woman fled from the city and the evil devices of the ruler were brought to naught. The friend of the widow hid the jars of honey in a corner of his store-chamber and forgot them. ! One day this man made a feast in his house, for he had brought a wife for his son. He set honey before the guests, but he found not enough for them all. And he remembered the jars which had been entrusted to him and went into his store-chamber to borrow from them a little honey, and when he emptied the first jar, behold, gold and silver shone from the midst thereof. He searched also in the other jars, and, behold, beneath a layer of honey they were all full of shekels of silver and shekels of gold. ! And the glitter of the gold tempted him and he com­ mitted transgression and put forth his hand against the d�posit of his neighbour, the widow, and took secretly all the silver and the gold and put it among his own goods. Then he filled the jars with honey to the brim, as in the be­ ginning. And when he had made an end of committing this abomination, he wiped his hands and went out and ate and drank, and no man knew of his theft.

! After certain days Saul went forth to fight against the Philistines, and he smote them with a great smiting and there fell of them a great number and among the fallen was also the ruler of Ascalon. And the widow from Ascalon heard that the man who had pursued her was dead, and she gave thanks to God and returned in haste to her citv and

I7

to her house. And she came to her neighbour to take back her deposit, and he brought out to her all the jars to the very last one, and he gave them back into her hand before the former witnesses, all the jars according to their number and according to their appearance, filled with honey to the brim as on the day when they were entrusted to him: nothing was lacking. And the woman took the jars and brought them to her house. She emptied them and, be­ hold, her silver and gold she did not find. And she lifted up her voice and wept greatly, for what could she do now that all her possessions had perished in a single day, and she a widow, grieved in spirit, downcast and full of sorrow. ! So she ran and cried out to the judge of the city and told him the whole matter. The judge heard her cry and gave ear to all her words. And he said, ! "i\Iy daughter, hast thou any to testify that thou didst put thy silver and thy gold into the jars ? " ! But she answered, "No." ! "Then what can I do for thee, my daughter ? " said the judge. "Go to King Saul: perhaps he may help thee." ! And she went and came before Saul, and he too heard her words, and he sent her to the elders who were at the gate of Bethel. And she came and stood before the two and seventy elders in Bethel and told in their ears all the matter of the transgression which her neighbour had com­ mitted against the deposit and how in a single day he had robbed her of all her possessions. ! And the chief of the elders asked her as did the former j udge, saying, ! "My daughter, hast thou any to testify that thy words are true when thou sayest that thou didst put thy silver and gold under the honey ? " ! But she answered, "Alas, my lord, witnesses have I none, for I acted stealthily and in haste from fear of the ruler of the Philistines."

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! And the chief of the elders said, ! "If thou hast no witnesses the hand of the judges is too shon to help thee. May God help thee ! " ! So the widow left the presence of the elders in despair. She staned on her way back to her home, weeping as she went, for she saw herself forsaken, helpless and without hope. ! She went out of the city and saw before her a band of small boys playing by the wayside. And one of them, a ruddy child and of a beautiful countenance, came near to her and asked her in pity, ! "What aileth thee, and why weepest thou' Whose hand hath been lifted up against thee? The hand of God or the hand of man ? " ! And she told him of all the wrong that her Hebrew neighbour had done to her and how the judges had dis­ missed her plea because she had no witnesses. And she wept bitterly and said, ! "Alas, my son! How can I now go back to my house? I have no help or succour, for I am but a woman and a widow with naught in my hand ! " ! And the hean of the boy went fonh at her words, for his pity was stirred for her. And he comfoned her, saying, ! "Do not weep, I pray. All hope is not yet gone. Go back to King Saul and ask of him to put thy plea into my hand and I will bring thy cause to the light. Go quickly, and I will wait for thee here until thy return." ! And the woman did according to his words and went back to the King and told him how the boy had spoken, And the King said, ! "Bring him to me." ! And the woman called to the boy and he came and bowed down before the King with his face to the ground. And the King saw his tender years and scoffed at him in his hean. And he said to him, 19

! "Art thou the boy who boasted in the ears of this woman, saying, I will bring thy cause to the light ? " ! The boy answered, ! "The cause rests with God and in His goodness do I trust. Let the King command his servant, and what God shall instruct me that will I observe to do." ! And the King turned his face from him to the woman and said, ! "Go with him, and let him save thee if he is able." ! And the boy went with the woman. And he bade her bring out the jars to him. And she brought them out. And he showed them to the man with whom they had been entrusted, and he asked him, ! "Look, now, and see: are these the jars which were en­ trusted into thy hands ? " ! And the man answered, ! "These are they ! " ! And the boy commanded that all the honey b e emptied into other vessels. This done, he lifted up the jars one by one and broke them in the presence of all who stood there. And it carne to pass that as he was breaking them they sud­ denly found among the broken pieces two shining shekels of gold, for these had stuck to the sides of the jars, and the hand of the thief had not reached them, and there they had remained. ! Then the boy lifted up the two shekels in the sight of all the people and said, ! "See, here are two witnesses ! That man performed his abomination in secret, but two dumb shekels have re­ vealed his iniquity in the sight of all the people." ! And the thief saw that his sin had been made manifest, and he confessed. He gave back to the woman all that had been entrusted to him. He kept back nothing. And that day by his wisdom the boy saved the widow from the hand of her oppressor.

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! And Saul and all Israel heard the matter of the judgment which the boy had performed, and they marvelled. And they knew, all of them, that the spirit of God was in him. ! And the name of that boy was David, the same David, son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who afterward became King over Israel.

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DAVID THE SHEPHERD

' NOW WHEN DAVID TENDED HIS FATHER S FLOCK H E LED THEI\1 WITH KINDNESS AND WITH GREAT UNDERSTANDING. HE APPLIED HIS HEART TO KNOW EACH O F THE SHEEP IN

his flock and their nature, and every one of them he tended according to its need and its strength. And thus used David to do: he first brought out the kids and the lambs, the smallest in the flock, and they fed from the tender and sweet tips of the grass; he then brought out the old rams with feeble teeth, and they ate the middle parts of the blades of grass; and the young flocks, full grown and with strong teeth, he brought out last, and they devoured the hard stems and roots. He shut up each group apart in the fold, until the flock was fully fed at its appointed time. � And God saw that he was a faithful shepherd, and He said, � "Him will I take from the sheepfolds to tend my people."

! Sometimes David would go and seek out fresh pasrures for his flocks and lead them to distant fields in the wilder­ ness and bring them to hills and valleys and dales where neither flock nor shepherd had ever trodden. Then he made his flocks lie down in the fresh pastures while he went and sat on a mound near by and played before God on his harp or on his flute and poured out his soul in song. ! And there came a day when he led his flocks far away from the resorts of shepherds, and a bear came and took a sheep from the flock. And David was in the field by him­ self and none was with him; but he took his life in his hand and smote the bear and discomfited it and saved the sheep from its mouth. And the bear rose up against David, and David seized it by the beard and smote it and slew it, and went back to his mound, and to his harp. When evening came and the flock returned from the field, behold, David entered the city with a bear, three times bigger than him­ self, bundled on his shoulder. And all who saw it marvelled at him. ! Another time he led his flock into the wilderness and again went a far distance, and he came to a place where a wild buffalo lay asleep among the bushes. But David said, "It is but a little hill", for he did not look at it closely; and he went up and sat on it and, as his custom was, from there watched over his flock. While he was yet sitting there, be­ hold, the wild buffalo woke up and shook itself and rose up on its legs and lifted up David to the sky. And David was astonished, for it happened suddenly, and never had his eyes seen a buffalo so great and high. He seized hold of the buffalo's horns and cried out loudly to God, "Hear me from the horns of the buffalo ! " ! While h e yet cried out, a terrible and mighty lion chanced that way; and the buffalo beheld its monarch and crouched down before it, and David alighted from off it. And David was afraid because of the lion, for he had no 23

weapon in his hands, and what warrior, unarmed, dare stand before the monarch of all wild beasts ? And a second time he cried out to God, "Save me from the lion's mouth ! " � The cry was still in his mouth when, behold, a gazelle sped by and the lion bounded after it; and so David was saved from death.

2Ll.

DAVID AND THE MADMAN IT HAPPENED ONE DAY THAT DAVID LOOKED THROUGH THE WINDOW AKD SAW A 1\IADMAN WITH HAIR U:-IKEJ\lPT AND RAIME:-IT TORN RUNNING THROUGH THE STREET AND A

band of children pursuing after him and mocking at him. And a complaint rose up on David's lips and he said, ! "I know, 0 Lord, how great are thy works and that in wisdom thou hast made them all. Therefore e\·erv one is good and fair, while wisdom, the glory of thy i inage, is best and fairest of them all, and through it alone doth man excel the beasts. But this madness, wherewith thou smitest man to quench the light of his soul and make his form con­ temptible - wherefore hast thou created that ? What profit is there in it or what pleasure? Is it befitting that the seal of thine image be made contemptible ? "

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�And God answered. "David, dost thou find a fault in my handiwork? I swear that a day will come when with all thy heart thou wilt beg for madness: thou wilt surely cry out to me to bestow it upon thee, even if it be but a little." ! And David heard, and he kept this thing in his heart.

�

! When David carne back from smiting Goliath, the Phil­ istine of Gath, the women carne out from all the cities of Israel with cymbals and dances and with tabrets, and they sang before Saul and before David, saying, ! Saul hath smitten his thousands ! And David his tens of thousands ! ! And Saul was greatly angered and he said, ! "To David have they given tens of thousands and to me have they given but thousands: yet a little while and they will give him the kingdom also ! " ! And from that day forth Saul looked upon David in enmity and sought counsel how he might put him to death. ! And there carne a day when Saul detennined to put David to death. And David fled from before him and carne by night to the land of the Philistines, to the city of Gath, to hide himself there. And the sword of Goliath was in his hand. And David's heart smote him that he had come to Gath, for he said within himself, ! "Yesterday I slew Goliath the Gittite, the chief of the warriors of the Philistines, and his blood is not yet dry. And the brethren of Goliath are the servants of Achish, King of Gath, and the keepers of his head. And now when I fall into their hand and they see the sword of Goliath in my hand, will they deem me guiltless ? Surely I have done foolishly ! "

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! While he yet spake within himself the men of Gath laid hold on him and brought him before the gate of the King, and the servants said unto the King, ! "Lo, David hath been taken and brought unto the gate of the King. Is not this that same David who slew Goliath and of whom they sang, Saul hath smitten his thousands And David his tens of thousands ! As our god Dagon liveth, surely the murderer shall this day be put to death ! " ! But Achish was minded to save David, for he knew that God was with him and he feared to engage in strife with him. And he made answer to his servants, ! "Shall David be put to death like a murderer? Did he not smite Goliath in battle like a warrior? And was not the word of Goliath with the men of Israel, saying, If he be able to fight with me and shall smite me then will we be your servants ? " ! And his servants answered him, saying, ! "If it be so, then do thou come down from thy throne and let David sit in thy stead. So shall we all be his servants! Was not this the word of Goliath ? " ! And Achish held his peace. ! And David saw that he was in evil plight and he was greatly afraid. He lifted his eyes to heaven and said, ! "Whence shall come my help ? " ! And, behold, the voice of God came into his ears: ! "What is thy bequest, 0 David ? " ! And David remembered the word o f God concerning madness, and he said, ! "Would that thy servant had but a little of that matter . . ." ! And God said,

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! "That it is whereof I spake: Whoso despiseth a thing, he shall suffer thereby." ! And God put it into the hean of David, and he made his behaviour strange in the sight of Achish and in the sight of his servants, and he behaved riotously in their hands, and he raged and mocked and let his slaver run down on his beard, and he scrabbled on the doors of the gate, saying, In King Achish's hands have I hundreds of myriads of silver; And in the hands of the princess, his wife, scores of myriads !

! Now in an upper chamber, on the wall of the house of Achish, were shut up two women that were mad, the daughter of Achish and her mother. And when David be­ haved himself foolishly, and they heard the sound of the outcry, they put fonh their heads through the lattice and ogled with their eyes and snapped their fingers, and bab­ bled and hooted like owls and like jackals from the wilder­ ness. And David feigned himself mad and cried out be­ fore them, and there arose great uproar and tumult ancl lamenting, a veritable riot. ! AndAchish rebuked his servants and said, ! "Ha\·e I so few mad folk that ye bring this one to play the madman against me ? Drive him away ! " ! And David went out and escaped and his life was saved. ! Then could David say in his joy, ! "0 God, how good a thing is madness ! Hencefonh will I bless the Lord at all times: in time of understanding and likewise in time of madness ! "

THE SCORPION AND THE SPIDER

ONE DAY WHILE DAVID SAT IN HIS GARDEN, H E SAW A SCORPION D EVOL'RING A SPIDER. AND HE SAID,

'"o

GOD,

? The scorpion destroyeth honey but never maketh it; and the spider spinneth the whole year through, yet will its webs never make a garment. What profit is there in them or what pleasure ? " ' And the voice o f G o d came in his ears: ' "David, wouldest thou despise the things which my hands have created ? A day will come when thou shalt find great help through them; then shalt thou know that not a thing have I created for naught." ' Not many days after, Da\·id fled from before Saul the WHY HAST THOU CREATED THESE THINGS FOR NAUGHT

29

King, for Saul sought to take away his l ife. And David hid himself in a cave in the wilderness. And God ordained for him a spider, and it wove its web over the mouth of the cave and blocked it up. And Saul and his men passed by. One man said, � "Come, let us go and search this cave: it may chance that David is here in hiding." � But another said, � "See, a spider's web, unbroken, is over the mouth of the cave: had any man entered thither the spider's web would be torn to shreds. The cave is surely empty." � And the men turned aside and did not enter into the cave. And David, lying at the far end of the cave, heard all their words. � When his pursuers were gone a far way off, he left his hiding place, and he saw the salvation which the spider had wrought for him, and he gave thanks and said, � "Blessed be He that created thee ! And blessed also art thou, 0 spider ! " � After these things, while Saul was still pursuing after David, David heard that Saul and his men were come after him into the wilderness. And he knew the place where they were encamped, and he came thither and found Saul lying asleep with his men surrounding him. His spear was thrust into the ground and a pot of water stood by his head; and around him lay Abner and the people. So David came near in secret, and he looked, and, lo, the legs of Abner, as he slept, were bent upright like two pillars, for he was a man of great stature. And David passed beneath them, like as a man passeth between the sideposts of a gate, and entered within the circle of men; and he took the spear and the pot of water from beside the head of Saul. And none saw, and none knew, and none awakened. For they all slept, and the deep slumber of God was upon them. And he turned back to go out; but, lo, Abner stretched out

JO

his legs and covered up David, and the legs oore heavily upon him as though they had been two beams: a little more and he had been crushed. David was in very grievous plight, so he cried out to God in his tribulation. And there came a scorpion and it thrust its sting into the leg of Abner, so that Abner again bent his legs upright. And David came out in safety. !Thus David learnt that none of God's works goeth for naught and that a spider can serve as His messenger and a scorpion perform His command.

YISHBI THE PHILISTINE ONE DAY DAVID SADDLED HIS HORSE AND WENT OUT WITH HIS BOW AND Ql:I\.ER TO Hl:XT I N THE FOREST NEAR TO THE BORDER OF THE PHILISTINES.

H E FOl:ND A GAZELLE

and chased after it and shot arrows at it, but he could not catch it, for it a\·oided him again and again and escaped. And Da,·id was drawn after it bevond the border and came to the region of the Philistines on the border of Gath, and he was greatly wearied by his hunting. And there in a field was a Philistine warrior whose name was Yishbi, brother of that Goliath whom David slew. He, too, was of the offspring of the giants of old time, big and lofty like his brother, and like him heavily armed. When he saw David, he said, ' " Ha,·e I found thee, 0, thou slayer of my brother ! " 'And h e seized him, pulled him down from his horse,

32

bound him, put him beneath a thick and very heavy beam, a beam from the wine press, and sat upon the beam. And God wrought a miracle for David: the earth sank beneath him and the beam did not touch him or do him hurt. ' Now the horse on which David had been riding ran on homeward, rushing like the wind, leaping hills, mounting crags, snorting and sweating from fright. � It was the sixth day of the week, near the entering in of the Sabbath; and Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, captain of the army of David, came in with water and washed himself. And he perceived suddenly and, lo, the water wherein he washed brought up spots of blood, and it was marvellous in his sight. � While he yet marvelled, behold, a dove came and flut­ tered to and fro above his head, beating with its wings and moaning. While he yet wondered what this might mean, behold, the King's horse gave out a loud and bitter whin­ ny, and Abishai lifted up his eyes and saw the King's horse with loosened saddle running to and fro beyond the river as though it were possessed. � And Abishai trembled and said, ' "Some great evil must have befallen the King ! " � And h e put o n his shin and went i n haste to the King's house and, behold, the King was not yet returned from his hunting, and already the day was almost spent. And he was greatly anxious and he called his servants and said, ' "Bring hither the King's horse at once ! " � And they brought him the King's horse. Now i t was as fleet of foot as a gazelle, and he mounted it and rode out into the open country. He found the tracks of David and the tracks of the gazelle, and he flew like an eagle, leaping over mountain and valley, and hill and dale. A little while and the horse had borne him to the country of the Philis· tines. ' As he sped on the way, still some distance from Gath, lo.

33

Orpah, the old crone Orpah, wife of Yishbi's great-grand­ father, was squatting beside the highway at the cross-roads, beneath a sacred tree, spinning flax. When he was about to pass by she lay in wait to kill him, and hurled her spindle-whorl at his forehead. But Abishai was on his guard. He turned aside his head, put out his hand and caught the spindle-whorl. ! The old woman saw that her aim had failed, so she twisted her shrivelled features into a kindly look, and said, ! "Oh, thou mighty man, fetch me the spindle-whorl: it slipped by accident out of my hand." ! But Abishai, filled with bitterness against her, hurled back the spindle-whorl at her head with all his might, and said, ! "Here it is, thou wicked one ! " ! Dead she fell o n the highway on top of her spun flax with the spindle-whorl in her head. ! Abishai hurried away. When he drew near to Gath, Yishbi saw him from afar, and he said, ! "Now are they two, and I am but one ! Shall I stand up against them ? " ! He thrust his spear into the ground point upwards, and David, still bound, he tossed up into the air so as to make him drop on to the spear point. Then a mighty spirit came over Abishai, and he cried out, ! "0 Lord, save the King ! " ! And David remained poised between eanh and sky, and did not drop down on to the spear. ! That day Abishai saved the King from the hand of Yishbi. He set him on his horse, and they fled with Yishbi pursuing after them on his mighty steed along the high­ way. By the sacred tree he caught up with them: a single space separated them. Yishbi raised his javelin to strike through them both together. But suddenly Abishai turned to him and said,

! "See there ! See ! Thy mother's corpse ! " ! N o sooner did h e remind Yishbi of his mother than

Yishbi's strength turned from him and the javelin dropped out of his hand. Abishai rose up against him, cut off his head with his sword, and left the corpse on the highway beside the corpse of Orpah. Then David and he came back to their home in safety before the night had fallen. ! Then David's men sware unto him, saying, ! "No more shalt thou go fonh with us to war, that thou extinguish not the lamp of Israel."

35

THE SWEET SINGER OF ISRAEL

XOW DAVID THE KIXG

HAD

A

HARP

WHICH WAS HU�G

ABOVE HIS BED OPPOSITE THE WIXDOWS. WHEN MIDNIGHT DREW NEAR, A LIGHT ::\ORTH WI::\D BLEW UPON THE HARP,

making the strings vibrate and tremble gently, so that the harp made music by itself. Then would David awake and pour out his soul in music and song; and until break of day his voice ascended to God while the morning stars sang together. � And at dawn of day the elders of the people and his cap­ tains came up and brought before him all the affairs of the people and their many needs. Hardly had the sun risen than David, at the head of his warriors, stood up, mighry and terrible like a lion among young lions, and all his hosts rejoiced to go fonh to war. � In the daytime David gave himself to heroic deeds and to war, and in the night time to music and song. Such through all his days was David's rule of life. � There came a dav when David went fonh to muse in the field, and his 1-ieart was YCry cheerful. He called to 36

memory all the many songs which he had sung to God throughout his life from the beginning until now, and he lifted up his heart and said, ! "0 God, can there be yet another creature on earth who hath sung before thee so much as I?" ! The words were yet in his mouth, when suddenly a frog hopped up from the edge of a pool close by and uttered its voice, and said, ! "Let not thy heart be proud, 0 David ! My songs are mightier far than the songs of thy mouth ! "

37

THE DEATH OF DAVID XOW AFTER DAVID HAD LIVED SEVENTY YEARS HIS TIME DREW NEAR, AND, BY THE WORD O F GOD, THE ANGEL O F DEATH CAJ\IE D O W N TO HIM AT THE ENDING O F THE D A Y

to take away his soul. He found David sitting in the house of cedars, and David's mouth ceased not from psalms and son[!s to God. For it was the Sabbath day, and all his life the 'King had devoted that day to God, from its coming in until its going out. And the Angel could not come near to him, for songs to God are a defence from death for them that sing. Therefore the Angel of Death dealt subtly. �He came to the garden behind the house and made a mstling among the trees. David came out to the garden to see what was the noise, but the high praises of God ceased not in his mouth. He was yet treading the steps of the garden, and, behold, a stair beneath him was broken, and, for a moment, his singing ceased. ! Then was it that the Angel of Death overcame him; and David fell backwards into the bosom of the flowers in the garden beds with his face turned toward heaven. .. �

-..·· ·

' One moment the face of the King in his hoary majesty still reflected the glow of the setting sun at the ending of the Sabbath, with rich and abiding glory; then, suddenly, the sun kissed his mouth with a farewell kiss, and the lips of the sweet singer grew dumb for ever amid the sweet scented flowers. ' King David died. Yet surely his spirit endureth in his people for ever, and his songs shall not depan from the mouth of all who, thirsting on eanh for the living God, are ever refreshed by the breath of the Almighty. ' So, Sabbath by Sabbath, as the shadows fall and the eve­ ning breeze rustleth in the trees, when the humble in the lan
39

HOW

TWO

W O R KM E N

B ROKE

I N T O

KING DAVID'S TOMB T H E Y THAT HAVE RETURNED FROM E XILE AND DWELL IN JERUSALEM TELL

THESE THINGS ABOUT THE

TOMB O F

T H E KINGS O F T H E HO L'SE O F DAVID.

'Long after the Jews were exiled and the land was left desolate, none knew where was the place of the Tomb of the Kings, for as destruction waxed great in the land, the place was forgotten and all memory of it perished. 'It came to pass after many days that the chief priest of the Gentiles which ruled in Jerusalem came to build him­ self a house of prayer. He hired workmen and bade them make the foundations of the house of stones from the ruins which were on Mount Zion, the City of David, the place where aforetime was the Tomb of the Kings of the house of David. ' And two of the workmen went thither to hew stones. When they raised a certain large stone they found the en­ trance of a cavern below it. And they said one to the other, ' "Come, let us go down into the cavern and search there­ in: it may be that we shall find hidden treasure." 40

! And they did so and went down through the mouth of

the cavern. They entered into a tunnel below the ground and carne to a great palace. And the palace was built of marble columns overlaid with silver and gold. And therein stood a table of gold, and on the table was a sceptre of gold and a crown of gold. And stone coffins, tightly sealed, stood one beside the other. These were the coffins wherein lay the bones of the Kings of Judah, a coffin for every King. ! And the two workmen pressed forward to reach the inner palace, when, of a sudden, there arose a mighty wind which hurled them fonh from the door of the palace and cast them down to the ground. And until evening they lay like dead men. ! While they still lay there, a voice carne into their ears: ! "Arise, get ye gone from this place, lest ye perish ! ! They gathered strength enough to stand up, and they left the cavern oppressed and affrighted, and carne and told all these things to the priest. ! Now there was in Jerusalem a good and pious Jew, from among them that mourn over Zion, whose name was Rabbi Abraham. And the priest summoned him and asked of him the interpretation of the vision which the work­ men had seen in the cave. ! And the good man said, ! "This must be the cavern of the Tomb of the Kings of the house of David; and it is not fitting in God's sight that strangers should break into it." ! And the priest commanded them to put back the stone over the mouth of the tomb and to seal it up. They left but a single small air-hole. And whatsoever may be in the cave is hidden from the eyes of men unto this day. "

THE PASHA'S SWORD THE PASHA O F

J ERUSALE:\1 ONCE

CAME TO VISIT THE

PLACE O F THE TOMB O F THE KINGS O F THE HOUSE O F DAVID, A N D , A S H E BOWED D O W N TO PRAY, HIS SWORD

slipped out of its scabbard and fell through the hole which led down to the tomb. Now the hilt of this sword was en­ cmsted with gems and precious stones, and the Pasha com­ manded them that stood by to fetch up his sword, no matter what happened. So they let down an Ishmaelite with ropes into the lowest part of the tomb. After they had waited until patience failed them yet heard nothing from him, they drew him up and brought him out, and lo, he was dead: there was no breath of life in his nostrils. � They let down another man; and he died likewise. So too \\·as it with a third man and with a fourth. �Then the Pasha sware in his rage, saying, � "By the Prophet! my sword shall surely be restored to me, though it cost the lives of all that dwell in Jerusalem!" � But the Cadi, the judge of the Ishmaclites, said to him, � " Sir, why destroy in vain so many from among the tme believers? Hearken now to me! Send one of thy servants

42

to the chief Rabbi of the Jews, and he will provide thee a man from his congregation to bring thee up the sword. And if he at all refuse, then make a decree that every Jew be destroyed. But I know that by the hand of the Jews thy desire shall be satisfied, for they are acceptable in the sight of David their Prophet, and to them it will be no snare." ! The counsel seemed good in the Pasha's sight, and he sent to the chief Rabbi of the Jews in Jerusalem, saying, ! "Send me a Jew to get me back my sword from the Tomb of David, lest thou and all thy congregation perish! " ! And the chief Rabbi was greatly afraid, for never before had the like been heard, that a man break into the Tomb of the Kings and be guiltless. But the Pasha's command was heavy upon him and could not be gainsaid. ! He wept greatly and besought the Pasha to grant him three days' respite. And it was granted to him. ! Thereupon the Rabbi called together all the Jews that were in Jerusalem and ordained a fast for three days. Each day they went and bowed themselves down in prayer at the tomb of Rachel, and kindled lamps of olive oil, and offered petitions and supplications and poured fonh their tears like a winter torrent. And on the morning of the founh day when the congregation was wearied by fasting and lamentation, the Rabbi stood up and said to them, ! "My children, which of you will give honour to God and go at the Pasha's command to the Tomb of the Holy Kings? Who knoweth: it may be that God hath heard our prayer and that no evil will befall the agent of the holy people. But, if not, it will be for him an act of exceeding merit to give his life for the people of the Lord and sanc­ tify the name of God before the multitude." ! He made an end of speaking, and all the congregation stood silent: not one among them answered.

4-3

!J When the Rabbi saw that thus it was, he said, !J "Then let us cast lots." !J And they cast lots. And the lot fell upon the servant of

the synagogue. Now he was an upright man and simple in all his ways, and he answered and said, !J "Behold, here am I, a servant of the God of Israel!" ,- He made no delay, but went and immersed himself and cleansed himself, and sanctified himself, and put on Sab­ bath raiment. He kissed the members of his household and directed his steps toward the Tomb of the Kings, prepared for death. The Rabbi and all the congregation went after him to send him on his way, weeping and praying to God, and encouraging the servant of the synagogue with words of blessing and comfon and compassion. !J When they carne near to the place of the Tornb of the Kings, behold, the Pasha and a band of his companions stood there awaiting their corning and armed with weap­ ons. And the servant of the synagogue went fonh from among the congregation and carne near to the Pasha, and said, !J "Here am I: I will go down into the tomb! " !J And the servant o f the synagogue was let down by a rope through the hole in the ground and disappeared from their sight. !J A great and heavy silence fell about them. !J The Pasha bent down and put his ear to the dark hole and listened diligently. The Jews stood like marble pillars and none uttered a sound; but every hean was trembling and beating strongly. Not many moments passed, when lo, a weak voice carne up from the bottom of the tomb, saying, !J "Draw me out!" !J And they drew up the rope, and lo, tliere appearea the blade of the sword, and, after it, the hilt encrusted with gems and precious stones, and, after it, the head of the 44

servant of the synagogue with face as white as the dead, and, at last, his whole body came up from the ground. Then he came and held out the sword to the Pasha. ! And the Pasha was greatly amazed at what he saw, and all that stood there fell on their faces and said, ! "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! " ! And the congregation of Israel exulted and rejoiced and brought home the servant of the synagogue with cymbals and dances. And to him and to his household they gave many gifts, and there was joy and gladness throughout all the house of Israel. ! And the people came to the servant of the synagogue to inquire of him concerning the appearance of the Tomb of the Kings, and the mysteries of the cavern, and what had befallen him there. For they craved greatly to learn some­ what of these marvels. But he kept a watch over his tongue and was like one that is dumb. ! Only in the ears of the aged Rabbi did he reveal his secret - how that, in the darkness at the entrance of the tomb there suddenly stood before him, with face shining in hoary majesty, an old man who held out to him the sword, silently and without any word.

45

THE WASHERWOMAN

IX JERUSALE:\T THERE LIVED AN HOXEST AND PIOUS WASH­

ER\HJ:\L\X.

SHE \\"AS CHILDLESS AND A WIDOW. SHE LIVED

BY THE L\ BOL"R O F I l E R HANDS, BY \\"ASHIXG T H E CLOTHES

of the richer folk in the town. Also she washed the clothes of tl� c Ishmael ire soldier who guarded the Tomb of King Dan d. � On e day she brought back to this soldier his clothes, washed \\·hire as snow. They were alone in the courtyard of the tomb, and he cast his eyes upon her and imagined e,·il things against her. He spoke guilcfull�·, saying, � "Thou art a worthy woman and of good understanding

4E

and performest thy work faithfully. Therefore have I determined to requite thee well. Wouldest thou see the splendour of the inner chamber in the Tomb of David, which the eye of no Jew hath ever seen? " ! And in her simplicity she answered, ! "If thou wilt do me this kindness I will for ever bless thee." ! "Come, then," said the soldier, "and follow me." ! He went down the steps in the entrance of the tomb and the washerwoman followed. They reached the door of the tomb below the ground and the soldier opened the door and said to the woman, ! "Enter in!" ! Her feet had but touched the threshold when the soldier pushed her inside the tomb, followed her and shut the door. Standing in the darkness he burst into a rude laugh and cried out, ! "Well caught, silly pigeon ! Now I have thee ! " ! He stretched out his arms to seize her. She turned away and fled in terror, but he ran after her and caught her. And in the darkness of the tomb they struggled together: no sound was heard except their gasps and the writhing of their wrestling bodies. She had all but fainted beneath the villain when, suddenly, a distant sound was heard in the tomb, and for a moment a faint light shone, moving the soldier to amazement. While he was still astonished and alarmed, the woman slipped away from him and fled, and, seeking in the darkness for a place of safety, but not seeing where she went, she fell into a niche in the wall and dis­ appeared. The soldier, though he felt and groped about, could not find her, for the darkness had grown still blacker and God had hidden her from his eyes. He knew that he had been foiled in his villainy, and he gnashed with his teeth and reviled the woman and cursed her with a violent curse. He clenched a wicked fist and said in his fury, +7

! "Now, thou slut, thou shalt see what my vengeance will . be ., . ! He went out of the tomb and slammed the door in hot anger, shutting it tightly and locking it. And the washer­ woman was left in deep darkness and gloom. ! The soldier ran to the Cadi, the judge of the Ishmaelites, and told him a tale about the washerwoman, saying,

! "Behold, a Jewish woman entered by stealth into the

Tomb of the Prophet David, which it is not lawful to do; and when I knew of it I shut her in tightly and ran to tell thee." ! And the Cadi's anger was kindled and he said, ! "As the Prophet liveth, this Jewish woman hath sinned at the cost of her life. Fetch her out and let her be burnt ! " ! Now the washerwoman had heard the soldier's words of rage in the tomb and knew that she was in dire peril, and that but a step lay betwixt her and death. She was greatly afraid. She cast herself down on the ground and spread out her hands in the darkness and wept and prayed, saying, ! "Save me, 0 God, for thy servant David's sake! " ! And as she wept and prayed there suddenly stood before her an aged man in hoary majesty, and the brightness of his face was as the brightness of the sun, and his rare splen­ dour filled the tomb. He took her gently by the hand and led her by dark and winding ways through an under­ ground passage until he came out with her into a desolate field, a place of refuse heaps and desened ruins. And he said to her, ! "Get thee down to thine home quickly, my daughter! l\Iake no delay. Stand beside the washing-trough, washing clothes as is thy wont, and let none know aught of what hath befallen thee."

! Then, before she could thank her preserver, he dis­ appeared. ! In the meantime the Pasha, the judge, the soldiers of the city and many Ishrnaelites carne to the tomb and searched in every corner from one end to the other, looking for the evil doer to punish her fittingly for her wickedness. But they did not find her. And the Cadi was very wroth and in the heat of his anger he said to the accuser, ! "Hast thou brought me here to make mock of me?" ! And the soldier, with chattering teeth, answered, ! "I swear by God and His Prophet that I have told naught save the truth: with my own eyes I saw the Jewish woman within the tomb: was it not the washerwoman, whose name is Such-an-one ? " ! And he gave the very name of the washerwoman. So the Cadi sent cenain of his attendants in haste to the house where lived the woman whose name had been told him, to see her and to examine her. And they carne to her house and found her working diligently, as at any other time: there was nothing different. Pretending ignorance she said to the Cadi's servants, ! "What want ye here?" ! And they said to her, ! "Hast thou never been outside the door of thine house to-day?" ! And she, feigning simplicity, said, ! "Do I have the time to go in and out? Much and heavy work have I, and the day is shon: from break of day until now I have not stirred hence; yet even so who knoweth whether I can finish my work by nightfall." ! And the attendants went out and carne back to the Pasha and told how they had found the woman working beside the washing-trough, and how she had answered in her innocence. The Pasha and thev that stood by heard their words, and they said, 49

� "The soldier must have given a lying testimony against the woman." � The Cadi gave the word, and they seized the soldier and threw him into the fire of dried olive branches which they had made ready for the washerwoman. And the fire de­ voured him. � From that day forth God did well unto the washer­ woman and caused her to find favour in the eyes of all them that knew her. And all the people of the congrega­ tion brought her their clothes to be washed; and they added to her wages, for they were all minded to catch from her mouth a hint of her secret. But she kept a guard over her mo.uth and her tongue; and, if any man tried to learn aught from her, she showed displeasure, so that h e let her alone and said no more. � Yet her secret did not go down with her to the grave, for when her days were fulfilled that she should die, she told her neighbo � rs who stood about her bed all the mira­ cle and the marvel which God had wrought for her in the tomb and how He had saved her from a cruel death. � The little money that she had gathered together by her labour she left to the congregation of Israel in Jerusalem for some work of charity or mercy. And she made it a condition that a fitting person, pious and learned in the Holy Law, should be appointed; and that year by year, on the anniversary of the day of her death, he should visit her grave and pray for her soul. And so is it done for her, year by year, unto this day. Blessed be her memory!

50

KING DAVID IN HIS TOMB

IN A CERTAIN TOWN THERE LIVED TWO PIO"CS AXD DILI­ GENT YOUTHS, STUDENTS OF SCRIPTl:RE AXD THE WRIT­ INGS O F THE JEWISH SAGES.

THEY WERE FAITHFl:L AXD

devoted friends. Both were very poor. They had nothing in the world except their bodies, lean and wasted b�· fast­ ing, and clothes worn thin by years of usc. Their eyes were weak from much poring onr books which told of holy mysteries and the time when i\Icssiah should come. They lived always alone, shut up with God in a small upper chamber, six feet square, built into a wall, each in his own corner, each alone with his books, with mind intent on the time when Messiah should come and bring redemption. � One night, at the close of Sabbath, when the moon was

seven days old, and the two youths lay sleeping on the floor in their upper chamber as their habit was, each curled up in his corner, with his little wallet for a pillow, while the crescent moon peered at them through the window and shed its pale light among the shadows of the chamber - that night each dreamed the same dream. ! They were standing in the open field reciting the Bless­ ing of the Moon before it reached its fulness. 1\nd it came to pass that as they turned to greet one another as was their wont, behold, yet another man, exceedingly old, whose name or place they knew not, stood with them and prayed, his eyes steadfastly turned to the sky, and his beard flow­ ing over his breast like liquid silver; and from his waist there hung a key of gold. The two y ouths were greatly astonished, but they did not break o ff their prayer: on the contrary, at the sight of the aged man their hearts waxed suddenly warm and their prayer flamed in their mouths like a torch of fire. They danced before the moon and their very bones sang aloud, and, at the last, their prayer was caught up and became a bright flame, and, like lions in the field, all three thunderously shouted, ! "David, King of Israel, yet liveth and endureth! David, King of Israel, yet liveth and endureth ! David, King of Israel, yet liveth and endureth ! " ! As they went on shouting, again and again, behold, a miracle! As shout followed shout the crescent moon grew gradually fuller and gradually brighter, until it was wholly full and all of it bright, with no trace in it of shadow or flaw. The moon stood in the heart of heaven, perfect and pure, with its light as clear and strong as the splendour of the sun in its might, pouring down its light over all the region round about. Suddenly the aged one looked upon them and said, ! "May your Sabbath be peace, ye sons of the living God, and your month a blessing! Know ye, that I am the guardi-

52

an of the Tomb of King David. Every month, at the time of the Blessing of the Moon, when that great cry goeth up from the thousand myriads of Israel, 'David, King of Israel, yet liveth and endureth! ' King David in his tomb is awakened from sleep; and raising his head a little he silently holdeth out his hands toward the jar of water by his pillow; and it is as though he was thinking and hoping, 'Is there none to come and pour water over the hands of his King to loosen him from his bonds of sleep, so that he may come to bring redemption unto his people ? ' But always the hands of the King return empty: none from among the children in exile cometh to pour water over the hands of his King when he awaketh : those moments of acceptance and compassion pass vainly to their end, and the King's head falleth feebly back on his couch. But now, if in truth and sincerity your souls long for the redemp­ tion, do not, I pray you, delay for a moment: go forth, go through the land; and, at the end of thirty days, when next the moon is seven days old, ye shall find the tomb where King David lieth sleeping. Then go in unto him. Accord­ ing to all that God shall teach you by His messengers on your journey, so shall ye do. And in all your going out and your coming in keep yourselves diligently from all that is unclean, fall not back before any adversary, and let not your heart turn aside after any desirable thing. Behold, I have warned you. J\hy your going forth be in peace! " � And when h e had made an end of speaking, the moon suddenly dimmed and returned to its crescent form. And the aged man disappeared from their sight. � And the two youths arose early in the morning as was their wont to bewail the banishment of the Divine Pres­ ence from the Holy Place and to mourn over the destruc­ tion of the Temple of God. And they remembered the dream which they had dreamed that night, and they each recounted it to the other. And they were greatly amazed,

53

for their creams were alike in all things. And they laid the matter to heart and said, � "It can only be that God this night hath sent to us a true word by the hand of His messenger. We must arise and be doing ! " � They made no delay but arose and girded u p their loins, took each his staff and his wallet in his hand and left their place and city to journey through the earth to seek the Tomb of King David according to the word of the aged man in the dream. And they went by day and by night, by night and by day, and they wandered and strayed in every direction, turning into byways and inquiring everywhere; but they found it not. � And they asked them that passed by, � "Tell us, ye that pass by, know ye where is the Tomb of King David? " � But none could tell them or make answer, for no man knew the place thereof. And the two youths were in evil plight and their courage ebbed because of the toil of the JOUrney. � One day when night was near they came to a ruined place in the open country where they were minded to stay and rest. They loosened their girdles, let their staves fall from their hands, and sat on a stone in the shade of an over-hanging wall, panting for breath. Suddenly they heard the sound of low and sorrowful murmuring from the depth of the ruins. When they turned to see what it might be, they saw a dove, mourning, her feathers awry, sitting in a corner alone in secret, quietly moaning; and at the sound of her moaning their heart went out in pity, and they asked her, � "What ailcth thee, daughter of doves, that thou art downcast? And \\·hy moanest thou so? " � And the dove, beating with her wings, murmured bitterly,

54

Woe is me, woe is me ! Oh, my nestlings, where are ye ? The vulture seized you for its prey And left destruction and dismay. Woe is me, woe is me !

! The two youths wept and their eyes flowed with tears, for their compassion was stirred for the bereaved dove in her loneliness. When they had wiped away their tears they said, ! "Of a truth there is no sorrow like thy sorrow, 0 un­ comfoned dove! Yet know that the day of recompense and comfon is nigh. We are two companions that have seen how Messiah delayeth, and we are come fonh to seek the Tomb of King David. Perchance thou knowest the way whereby we may reach it? " ! And the dove became alen, clapped with her wings and answered, The secret's mine, the secret's mine! Yet seventy miles and seven more still There in a field ye'll find a hill; Alone on its crown stands a palm tree bare. Of it shall ye ask, and it shall declare Your right way. Go, delay not-nor forget ye the dove.

! So the two youths bestirred themselves, threw off slum­

ber from their eyelids, girded their loins and set out again on their journey. ! They had not gone far when a wild creature stood in their path, performing strange antics. It was not very big, but its appearance was odd and ridiculous. It would stand

55

on its hind legs, skip about backwards and drum upon its belly, waving its tail, distoning its face, stretching out its tongue, rolling itself over on the ground, and doing other such things. And they knew that here was a panther that had come to frustrate them. � Now it is the way of the panther to frisk and gambol in front of wayfarers until they are overcome with laughter, so that for the time prudence forsaketh them and they fool­ ishly run after it, holding their sides in laughter, and follow it to the mouth of its lair, when it will suddenly leap upon them, stick its teeth and claws into them and, while they are still overcome by laughter, suck out their brains and their blood. But the two youths knew a magic charm which would take away the panther's power: they stuck out three fingers at it, spat thrice and passed by safely. Nor did they laugh. The wild creature saw that this time its plot had failed; it lifted up its lithe little legs and ran off ashamed. � The two youths saw in this a sign that God was well pleased with them, and their hean was strengthened and they felt fresh courage. And they went by day and by night, by night and by day, and they wandered and strayed in every direction, turning into byways, until after many days they came to a hill standing alone in a field and, on the top of it, a solitary palm tree such as the dove had described. � They made haste to find shelter beneath it, to taste of its fruit and to refresh themselves. But when they came near they found its branches broken and its shade scanty; and at its foot lay a ruined nest: all was naked, bare and barren. The two youths were grieved to the hean and said to the palm tree, � "What aileth thee, 0 palm tree, that thou mournest so? And why an thou stript of thine adornment? " � And the palm tree beat together its broken branches and answered bitterly,

Woe is me, woe is me! My branches, where are ye? Oh, where are ye, my boughs! Gone is my strength and gone my towering pride, Gone my fair fruit, and gone my honey sweet. The stormy wind hath laid my beauty waste, Laid low my crown and stript my glory bare. All broken now, I bow me down to eanh. Woe is me, woe is me! � The two youths wept when they heard the plaint of the palm tree and they sat with bowed head, mourning on the ground. When they rose up out of the dust they said, � "Of a truth, thy wound is grievous, 0 poor, oppressed palm tree! Yet know that the day of healing and salvation is nigh. We are two companions that have seen how Mes­ siah delayeth and salvation lingereth. And we are come forth to seek the Tomb of King David. Perchance thou knowest the way whereby we may reach it?" � And the palm tree became alen, and a joyful rustling passed over its broken branches, and it clapped with its dry boughs and answered and said, The secret's mine, the secret's mine! Yet seventy miles and seven times more, I know a valley a river runs o'er With murmuring waves and waters deep Which moan from grief and softly weep. Ask this river: 'twill tell you your way. Forget not the palm tree. And make no delay. � So the two youths rose up and went on their way. They passed close by a forest and, before they had gone far, lo,

57

there came out from the depths of the forest two dogs, black and big, most terrible in appearance, with the stamp of leprosy on their heads. They barked, yet they gave out no sound. The two dogs stood, waiting, on either side of the way, with their tails between their legs, their tongues slav­ ering, their spittle dribbling, and savage determination in their red eyes. The two youths knew that these were the baleful demons, Samac! and Lilith, which were come fonh in the guise of dogs to frustrate them in their journey; and they were very sore afraid, and their hean failed them, for the dogs' soundless barking penetrated like ice into their bones. ! But they quickly recovered their courage. They whis­ pered a charm which they had learnt, and beat the ground three times with their staves. The dogs could not with­ stand the charm. In fear and panic they fled straight before them, barking as they fled, yet making no sound; while the two youths stuck out three fingers at them and spat after them thrice. � With strength renewed they continued on their way. Thev took no rest by day or by night, by night or by day, until they came to a rushing river at the bottom of a valley. Thev sat on its bank to rest and refresh themselves. Hardly had they sat down than their ears caught the murmur of the waters like silent and never-ending weeping. The two youths were sorely distressed and in their grief they asked the river, ! "What aileth thee, 0 river, that thou weepest so? And why do thv waters moan?" " ! And the river beat its waves together and answered, Woe is me, woe is me! Fain must I weep, fain must I moan: Tears are my source, bloodshed my spring; Trials of God sore beset me. 58

Where are my ripplings that dance and rejoice? Where is their echoing tumultuous voice? Gone from my heart are its glamorous dreams, Dead and decayed are the fish in my streams. Woe is me, woe is me! � When the two youths heard this their hearts moaned also, and their tears and the water in the river mingled to­ gether. At last they were too weary to weep more. They dried their tears, and said, � "Of a truth, 0 river, thy grief is deeper than the sea! Yct know that the day of comfort and respite is nigh. We are two companions, fellow townsmen, who have seen that the Redeemer delayeth, and we have vowed to God to bring nearer the day of his coming. And now we go to seek the Tomb of King David. Dost thou know or hast thou heard which is the way whereby we may reach it? " ! Then the face of the river lightened a little and a ripple of joy suddenly passed over it, and it clapped with its waves, and said, The secret's mine, the secret's mine! Some ten times seventy miles remain, Then after many days ye'Il reach A place of stones and desolate, Where once a holy city stood. Turn right, tum left, then wend ye straight Until ye find the hill of God And see therein a tight-closed gate. There shall ye meet an aged man With hoary face majestic. Go, Pursue your way, be tireless ever! And ne'er forget what saith the river.

59

� So the two youths again bestirred themselves and went on. They were still among the rocks near the river when a great and monstrous snake suddenly burst from its lair. Its eyes were green and flashed angrily. On its head was as it were a crest of fine gold, and a golden fringe along its back. Its mouth bubbled and foamed. Gliding swiftly it came and stretched itself like a beam across the path, point­ ing its head with opened jaws and venomous tongue towards the two youths. They knew that this was the pri­ meval serpent which was come forth to oppose them. Great trembling took hold on them. But they soon took courage and whispered a charm which they knew. From beneath their feet they took up handfuls of earth and threw it thrice towards the serpent. The serpent could not withstand the charm and fled in fear and trembling, gliding through the dust, bubbling and foaming, while they stuck out three fingers at it and spat after it thrice until it escaped out of their sight. � Then their strength returned to them and they journeyed onwards. They took no rest by day or by night, by night or by day, until their feet grew blistered and their clothes and shoes fell to pieces and they scarcely could walk any farther. They had almost lost hope when, raising their eyes, they saw in the distance the hill of God crowned with des­ olate ruins. � Their confidence revived, and, passing through pathless wastes among broken stones, thev turned to the right and they turned to the left and the ri they went strai h t for­ ward, according to the word of the river. \Vhen they drew near to the hill thev stood still. While they were yet ga�ing around them, behold, an aged man wii:h flowing harr came to meet them from the side of the hill; and he was clothed in a mantle and a leathern girdle about his loins, and from his waist there hung a key of gold. � The two youths recognized him: was it not that same

g

6o

aged man whom they had seen in the dream? And they re­ joiced in their heart exceedingly and ran to meet him. They bowed themselves before him and said, ! "Peace be to thee, honoured and aged one! " ! "Peace, peace to you, sons of the living God ! " he an­ swered, as his face brightened. And he made signs to them that they should follow him. ! They followed him in silence. He came to a hidden iron door in the side of the hill. He knocked upon it loudly and called out three times, ! "Open, ye gates! " ! The door opened. And h e said, ! "Go forward boldly. Fear not. When ye come to a squared stone in the wall, remove it and enter into the chamber beyond. There shall ye find King David, lying at rest on his bier, and a jar of water by his pillow. It is the very water of salvation, drawn by the First Adam from the rivers of the Garden of Eden, which will cause re­ demption to spring up in the latter days. And it shall be, when the King holdeth out his hands to you, that ye shall hasten and pour the water over them. Then will the King awaken from his sleep. Like a lion from its lair will he come forth and bring redemption to his people; and the scat­ tered members thereof from the four corners of the earth will he gather together unto Jerusalem." ! While the two youths still stood amazed at the words of the aged man, flames of fire separated him from them, and lo, a chariot of fire and horses of fire - and the aged one went up before their eyes into heaven in a whirlwind. ! Then they knew that with their own eyes they had seen Elijah the Prophet, the forerunner of redemption, and their heart grew numb and they fell with their faces to the ground. After a little while they arose in haste to go for­ ward into the tomb, as the old man had told them. They forced their way through the darkness and came to the far

6r

end in safety. And there they found a squared stone fixed into the wall. They tore out the stone, and lo, before them was a chamber, all of it overlaid with gold, and in the chamber a golden bier whereon lay King David in his hoary majesty. His appearance was like the appearance of a sleeping lion. Divine glory shone upon his face. By his pillow stood a sword and a jar of water. At his feet burned a wax candle. A golden harp was hung upon the wall, and, on a table of gold before it, were crown and sceptre all of precious stones; and there a scroll of the Psalms lay open. While they yet gazed in wonder at this sig-ht, the King stretched out his hands towards them. 41" But, at that selfsame moment, the two youths, distracted bv the profusion of gold and the many rare and precious things, had their eyes fastened on a great sparkling object in the King's crown. Its appearance was like the appear­ ance of the full moon which they had seen that night in their dream. Overcome by surprise they stood as though they were dreaming still: the soles of their feet clave to the ground. But lo, while they yet delayed, the King drew back his hands. He sighed quietly as with a breaking of loins, and his head fell feebly back upon the bier. ! Then the two youths shook themselves free of their amazement. They remembered the jar of water. But it was of no avail. They had missed the appointed time and naught could bring it back. ! Suddenly black horror came about them. The vision disappeared and was as though it had never been. A wind burst forth from secret places and hurled them into a country very far away from the tomb. When they came to themselves they looked, and lo, they were sitting be­ side the ruins where they had first rested early in their journey. And out of the ruins there reached their ears the voice of the dove, quietly moaning, Woe is me, woe is me!

62

SOME STORIES ABOUT KING SOLOMON

THE EGG ' O N E DAY KING DAVID S SHEPHERDS S A T DOWN I� /1. FIELD TO REFRESH THEMSELVES AND EAT OF THE FOOD WHICH THEY HAD

BROUGHT I N THEIR WALLETS - BREAD AND

boiled eggs. One of the shepherds found that he had not enough, and to satisfy his hunger he asked a companion to lend him a boiled egg. ' "I will lend it thee only on the condition that thou vow before witnesses that, at the appointed time, thou wilt give i me back an egg together with all the prof t and gain which in the meantime such an egg would have brought to its owner." � And it seemed but a small thing in the eyes of him that borrowed, and he took no account of it, for, said he, 4J "What profit or �ain can an egg bring to its owner'" � So he agreed, saymg, � "Be it as thou hast said."

! The other gave him an egg and called the others to bear witness. ! After many days the lender came to demand what was due to him, and the other said, ! "I owe thee only this single egg." ! But the lender said, ! "Thou errest, my brother! By my reckoning thou owest me so much and so much." ! And he gave him the total reckoning, a very great sum, far greater than the borrower could ever pay. ! The borrower grew angry and said, ! "Hast thou lost thy senses! Who ever saw or who ever heard that so great a sum as thou now askest was paid in re­ turn for a single egg? Thou dost but make a mock of me." ! But the lender was urgent and pressed him to pay ex­ actly what he demanded. He abated not one fanhing. They disputed strongly, the one arguing in this way and the other in that. And so the matter came before King David. ! ·when the King had heard the words of the suitors and the words of the witnesses, he gave judgment, saying, ! "Thou, who didst borrow the egg must surely pay to thy fellow suitor, the lender, according to all that thou d idst promise with thy lips." ! But the man cried out, ! "Alas! my lord the King, I do not know how much that 0 , , lS .

! His opponent held out to him his bill, and said, ! "One egg hatches out one chicken; one chicken

in its second year can produce eighteen chickens and a like number every year; these chickens also, every one, can every year produce eighteen chickens; since the day when the egg was borrowed until now four years have passed . . . " ! In the end the reckoning was found to be a right reck­ oning, and the sum of money to be paid for that egg was

66

very great, far greater than the borrower could ever pay. And he left the King's presence in despair. ' As he went out through the door of the King's house there met him Solomon, David's son, then but a small boy. And Solomon saw the face of the man, and lo, it was troub­ led; and he asked him why his face was troubled, and the man told him what had happened to him and how, for one boiled egg, the King had condemned him to pay his adversary a great sum of money, far greater than he could ever pay. ' Solomon saw his distress and took pity on him, and he said, ' "Hearken to my counsel. This do, and thou shalt be quit of the trouble which the egg hath brought upon thee. On such a day, at an appointed time, my father the King goeth out to visit the troops of his army in the field. Observe this appointed time and go thou also out to the field and draw near to the place where they assemble and where the King's troops will pass. And as they go and as they come, fill thy hand with boiled beans which thou shalt have in readiness; and in the sight of the King and his sol­ diers keep on sowing and scattering the boiled beans over the ploughed field; and when they that pass by ask thee, '\Vhy dost thou do this?', say, 'I am sowing boiled beans'; and if they marvel and say, 'Whoever saw anyone sowing boiled beans!', then shalt thou say, 'And whoever saw boiled eggs hatching out chickens! ' This do, and thus speak, when the King and his army pass before thee." � And the man did according to all that Solomon taught him: he left nothing undone. ' When the King and his army went out to the field and the troops passed by a certain piece of ground, they found there a man sowing boiled beans; and they marvelled greatly at the man and his doings. And some of them could not refrain from asking him and saying, 67

! "What is this strange thing that thou doest?'' ! And he answered according to the words which Solo­

mon had put into his mouth. And it was a mystery to them. ! And the matter came to the knowledge of the King, and the King straightway remembered his judgment con­ cerning the egg. He commanded that the man be brought before him, and the King asked him, saying, ! "Tell me, my good man, and hide nothing. In all this is there not the hand of my son, Solomon, and his counsel ? " ! And the man answered, ! "By my soul, 0 King, as thou sayest so it is." ! He told the King all the counsel that Solomon had given and what he had taught him to do and to speak. He hid nothing. ! Then the King sent his servants to bring Solomon unto him, and, fixing a reproving eye on him, he said in anger, ! "vVhat hast thou to say concerning this?" ! But the small boy Solomon did not dread his father's anger, but what was in his hean that did he speak plainly with his lips, and he said, ! "Oh, my father, was it not a boiled egg which the man took from his companion, an egg which could not be hatched out and from which no chicken could break through? Why, then, is he condemned to repay seven and se\-entv times over? " ! And the King's face lightened when he heard the words of Solomon, for thereby he perceived the boy's under­ standing, his uprightness, and his courage. He kissed him on the forehead, and said, ! "Of a truth, my son, thy judgment is more righteous than mine. God bless thee, for that thou hast saved me from wrong-doing' " ! And, turning to the man, he said, ! "Go, give thy companion a single egg in payment." 68

THE INHERITANCE THERE LIVED IN LYDDA A VERY RICH 1\IERCHANT. HE HAD SILVER

AND

GOLD

AND

POSSESSIONS

AND

VERY

1\!ANY

SLAVES. AND HIS GOODS INCREASED ABUNDANTLY AND HE

traded in far off lands. He had an only son who was yet but a youth. And it came to pass that when the man grew old and could no more go out and come in, his son helped him in his trafficking and in all whereto he put fonh his hand. ' And it came to pass one day that the old man gave into his son's charge a ship laden with merchandise to take it to the land of Africa. And the youth came to the land of Africa where he got for himself many goods and posses­ sions and enjoyed great blessing. He made no haste to re6g

to his father's house, and he trafficked yet more in the land and lived there many days. � While he yet delayed, the time drew near for the old man, his father, to die, for his days were fulfilled. And he called to him his servant, the steward of his house, and he gave him charge over all his possessions, and he said, � "Behold, I go the way of all the world, and my son is not here to set his hand upon my eyes, for he is gone to a far country and still delayeth his coming; and who knoweth when he will return. When, therefore, I am dead do thou take into thy charge my house and my possessions and all that I have, and care for them faithfully until my son shall return, and then shalt thou restore to him all his inheritance honestly and justly. Swear to me that thou wilt not act falsely to my only son ! " � And the steward sware to him. � When he had made an end of charging his steward the old man died and was gathered unto his people. � Now the steward was a villain and a rogue. After the death of his aged master he behaved dishonestly with what was entrusted to him and he took for himself all the goods and property; and as for the bondmen and bondwomen he seized them also and embittered their lives with hard service, beating them cruelly. And when they could no more endure his wickedness and his insolence they fled away one by one; and in their stead he brought others who had never known the old man or his son. � And this servant ruled with a high hand. He ate and drank like a glutton and grew fat, and every desire of his unclean appetite he satisfi ed with wealth that was not his. � And it came to pass that when the old man's son returned from his travels he heard that his father was dead, and he mourned for him. He went down to his father's house and to his inheritance to take possession of them. When he entered the courtyard a dog that belonged to his father's

turn

70

house saw him and recognised him and rejoiced to meet its master's son. It wagged its tail and yelped with affec­ tion; yet it seemed also to complain in dumb sorrow, � "Why hast thou so long delayed?" � That servant looked out through the window and saw his master's son and the dog's delight; and he was greatly afraid, for he said, � "Now will my wrongdoing become known." � Yet he carne out in haste and kicked the dog in the heat of his anger and drove it away, while to the son he said roughly, � "What seekest thou here, stranger? Get thee gone from my counyard at once, before I let loose my savage dogs against thee ! " � But the son answered, � "I am no stranger here, for this is the inheritance of my fathers. Dost thou not recognise me? Am not I the son of thy dead master? And this day I am come to enter into my inheritance." � The steward pretended not to know him. He set his forehead like brass and laughed insolently, saying, � "See and behold! A stranger is come to make a mock of me! By my soul, this fellow must be either a madman or a mocker." � And he called to his servants to drive him away, and he incited his dogs against him. The young man's blood boiled within him and his heart was exceedingly bitter, for who can see his inheritance taken from him wrongfully and contain himself? And he cried out in his anger, � "Base slave! Dost thou intend to be my father's heir? " � He took up his stick and struck him; and the steward returned him blow for blow. The young man cried out, and the dog which had been driven off came at his call, and it seemed to gather fresh strength in its striving to save its master's stricken son.

! The sen·anr's fury flamed up like fire: he killed the dog

with a single kick and raged about like a ravening beast. The young man defended himself with all his might, and in the courtyard arose outcry, uproar and confusion, and there was none to separate the two combatants. ! Now in those days the King of Israel was David, the father of Solomon. ! ·when the son of the dead man saw that his own hand could not help him, he went up to Jerusalem and cried out before the King, saying, ! "Help, 0 King! JVly father died while I was on a distant journey, and now, when I return to my inheritance, be­ hold, a servant of the house hath seized all that my father had. He hath driven me away, saying that he is the son and the heir, and that I am a stranger. May the King look upon my cause and judge, and save me from an oppressor and a rogue! " ! The King asked him, saying, ! "Hast thou any to testify to the truth of thy words? " ! And he answered, ! "I have no one." ! "Then what can I do, my son? " said the King. "May God give thee help! Knowest thou not that only at the mouth of two witnesses can a matter be established ? " ! The young man saw that there was n o help and h e cried out with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said, ! "Alas' Is there no judge and no judgment in Israel ! " ! And h e stood at the door of the house, crying out as he stood. ! The soldiers drew near to thrust him away, and while they were struggling with him the King's son, Solomon, came in at the door; and he was then but young and tender. When he saw the young man crying out in his distress he pitied him and he inquired concerning him and his comp laint ; and the matter was told to him. 72

! He said to the soldiers, ! "Let him alone! Do ye not see that he is in bitter dis­ tress? " ! And h e took him aside and said to him, ! "Cry out again before the King and, when he rebuketh thee, say to him, 'Put my cause into the hand of thy son Solomon, and let him be the judge! " ! The young man did so. The King granted him his peri­ cion and put his cause into the hand of Solomon; for the King said, ! "Come, now, let me see how the child will judge and what he will do! " ! Solomon sent and summoned him who had been the dead man's steward, and the two suitors stood before Solomon. ! Each told his story. ! The one said, ! "I am the son that should inherit, and he is but a servant, a rogue, that would rob his master! " ! And the other said, ! "Not so, but I am the son and mine is the right of posses­ sion, while he is but a stranger who is come to impose him­ self upon me, and I know not who he is or whence he cometh." ! Solomon asked the claimant, ! "Dost thou know where is the grave of thy father? " ! And the young man answered, ! "I do not know." ! Then he asked the other, ! "And thou, dost thou know?" ! And the servant answered, ! "I know. Behold, he lieth in such and such a olace." ! And Solomon said to him, ! "Go then, and bring me the arm of thy dead father." ! And that servant went in haste and brought an arm that

73

had been severed from the body of the old man. And he laid it before Solomon and said. ! "Here it is! " ! Now when the son saw the severed arm of his father, he hid his face and wept, because the servant had behaved so wantonly with his dead father's body. And Solomon saw, and his heart knew the truth. But he restrained himself and said, ! "God's is the judgment! Both of you let out blood, each into a separate vessel." ! And they both let out blood from the flesh of their arm, each into a separate vessel. ! And Solomon said to the servant, ! "Dip the bone of the arm into thy blood." ! And the servant took it and dipped it, and tne arm came out clean and white as it was before, for naught of the servant's blood clave to it. ! And Solomon said to the other, ! "And now, dip it into thy blood." ! And the son compelled himself and did as Solomon com­ manded and dipped, and it came to pass that when he drew out the bone, behold, it was soaked and reddened, for the arm had absorbed the blood from the vessel and was soaked ·with it. ! Then Solomon showed it to all that stood the.re and said, ! "See' The blood of the son hath found the flesh of the father and cleaveth thereto, and they are become one. He it is who is the son of the dead ! " ! And Solomon commanded that the servant be punished according to his wickedness, but as for the son of the dead man he set him over the inheritance of his father. ! And King David saw this son's judgment, and he kissed him and said, ! "When thou actcst wisely, 0 my son, then my heart, too, rejoiceth." ·

74

THE WHITE EAGLE AND GOD APPEARED TO SOLOMON I N A DREAM BY NIGHT

' "ASK, WHAT I SHALL GIVE THEE. " ' AND SOL­ SAID, ' "o LORD MY GOD, THOU HAST MADE THY

AND SAID, OMON

servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy people Israel are a numerous and a great people, and who is able to judge this people? And if now I have found favour in thy sight, give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil." ' And God said, ' "Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies . . . behold, I have 75

done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding hean; so that there hath been none like before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I will make thy name greater than all the kings of the earth. ! "Moreover thy kingdom shall extend over the wild beasts and the cattle and the birds, and thou shalt under­ stand their language and their words and know whatso­ ever they shall speak. And over the demons and over the spirits shalt thou have dominion, and even the quiver of thine eyelid shall they fear. And they shall minister to thee and shall obey thee and shall perform all thy service. ! "And thine ears shall ever be open and thou shalt under­ stand the speech of the trees, the whispering of the grass, and the rustling of the ears of corn in the field; and thou shalt perceive the heart of everv bud and blossom, and shalt know their nature to the uttermost. And in wisdom and understanding thou shalt excel evcrv man upon the face of the eanh." ! And Solomon awoke in the morning, and, behold, it was a dream. *

*

*

! And Solomon rose up and opened the window of his palace that looked out upon a shady garden. And he stood looking upon the garden until he could look no more, for his spirit was still restless by reason of his dream in the night. ! Now all the garden was filled with the chirpings of the morning birds, the noise of whirring wings, the flutterings of b�tterflies and the buzzing of blue and golden flies. A mynad mouths gave tongue from among trees and bushes, and a hail of noises mingling with the sun's golden beams beat upon the ground. From the hidden depths of every 76

bush and from the bosom of every tree peacocks and par­ rots, hoopoes and hawks acclaimed in chorus the might of the sun; and swifts and swallows darted to and fro like arrows through the morning breeze, all chirping and twit­ tering. A covering of dewdrops lay over the green grass carpets, and the garden beds were filled with blossoms and piled up with flowers. Eye never saw their like for coiour or fragrance or splendour. The ear could not weary from hearing nor the eye from seeing. ! While Solomon still gazed on this pleasing sight, behold, a little bird, blue winged and white breasted, came flutter­ ing out of a bush, and , perching itself on a bush close by, harangued the other birds, and chirruped, saying, ! "Listen all, to what I say! Have ye not heard, 0 my sisters, or do ye not know? A King is given to us, a new ruler to rule over us! This night the edict went forth on high, saying, 'King Solomon, son of David, he it is that shall reign over the whole earth, and over the birds of heaven also shall he rule: not a bird shall flutter its wing or open its mouth save by his will! ' And now, lo and be­ hold, here are we behaving as disorderlv and lightminded­ ly as though there were n'o law nor any kind �f restraint, hopping and capering, shrieking and brawling. And there standeth the King, gazing at us from his palace window! Will he ever acquit us! Will he ever forgive us? Accept my counsel: Up, let us fly hence before his wrath over­ whelm us." ! Then another bird, small as the first, but with wings flecked with silver and with a necklace of gold about her neck, made answer and said, ! "Utter twaddle thou twitterest' Who ever saw or who ever heard such a thing as a king sitting lower than his sub­ jects! Or how can mere man bear n1le over winged crea­ tures when they are in the skies and he is on the earth beneath? As I live, naught but lies is that edict, and the 77

rumour mere rubbish. The eagle alone is our king. He ever reigned and ever will reign! Him alone hath God set high aboYc all winged creatures: therefore he Rieth high­ est and dwclleth highest of all." � Now King Solomon was listening to the talk of the birds and he understood their every chirp, and he knew of a truth that his dream in the night had not spoken falsely. Of a sudden he felt his power. Then, by his royal com­ mand, he summoned to him every winged creature. In a moment they all assembled in the King's garden, hasting and hustling, and they stood before him in fear and terror, and tremblingly a\\·aited his words. � And King Solomon stood by his window and through lo\\·ered eyelids his eyes passed in scrutiny over all the companies and all the ranks of feathered creatures. Then he opened his mouth and said, � "Peace be to you, 0 feathered creatures! Peace and mercy! Know, all of you, that the most high God hath appointed me to be over all the kings of the eanh, and over you also, 0 feathered creatures, hath he given me rule. Hcncefonvard ye are my slaves and servants. At my command shall ye go fonh and at my command shall ye come in. Save by my will none of you shall lift up a wing. But fear not nor be afraid, for with me is peace and safety for all who take refuge in my shadow; nor shall a hair of your feathers fall to the ground. Hover over your nests, hop and sing as ye please throughout all my garden, and gladden the King's hcan with your songs. Let each faith­ fully pursue his purpose and the law of his hean and so fulfil God's will. Bur, bv God, and bv all the creatures and the wonders of His h �nds, that small bird spake wisely and "·ith understanding that answered and said, How can it be that a king dwell below and his servants sit higher than he!-Of a truth she answered wisely: such a thing cannot be.

! "Therefore this will I do: ! "Thou, 0 small bird, flecked with silver and with a

necklace of gold about thy neck, since thou art so wise, draw near to me quickly, and round thy neck I will bind a small letter and thou shalt bear it to the wilderness of Palmyra, to the tops of the high rocks where dwell the great eagles, the eagles of renown. Thou shalt alight on the summit of the highest peak. There shalt thou find the nest of the chief and greatest of eagles, an eagle that is wholly white, whose size is the size of the white horse whereon I always ride, an eagle whose years are a thousand and five hundred years, and whose strength and loftiness of flight have increased with the increase of its days. Unto this white eagle shalt thou come and before it shalt thou stand, and so soon as it shall see the letter about thy neck it will come down trembling from its high crags \Vithout delay to fly unto me swiftly; and it will also take thee be­ tween its pinions, and thou shalt return to me with this eagle. So arise, 0 bird, and make haste! " ! When the command proceeded from the King's mouth, the little bird, flecked with silver and adorned with a golden necklace, went up through the ·window into the chamber and stood trembling on the golden footstool which was before the King. And the King bound a small letter about its neck wherein ·was written, ! "I, Solomon, son of David, King of Israel, bid thee, 0 aged king, saying, Hasten forthwith and come unto me ' ! And the bird spread its wings, flew out through the win­ dow and like an arrow daned towards the wilderness of Palmyra. "

*

*

*

! And it came to pass after five days (for so long did the small bird take in the journey, going and returning) that 79

King Solomon was sitting in the courtyard of his palace where the throne of ivory had been made ready for him, and all the captains of his hosts stood by him on the right hand and on the left. � Suddenly there came a great blast of wind, then a second and a third and a fourth, blast after blast, blast after blast, each mightier and stronger than that which went before, beating heavily down upon the heads of the King and his captains. And they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a white eagle, a strong and exceedingly mighty eagle, cleaving through the air and coming down from the clouds, flapping majestic wings, and with its head pointing downwards to the place ·where sat the King. � And the Captains saw, and their hearts died within them, and they wavered and would have fled in fear had not the King emboldened them so that they took courage and stood firm. � 1\Ieanwhile the white eagle, with a last blast of wind, drew nigh and alighted on the ground and stood before Solomon, bowing and trembling, while between its wings stood the little bird. The King took off the letter from the bird's neck and sent it away. But the white eagle he kept before him. � That same day, taking food for the journey in a travel­ ler's satchel, the King mounted the white eagle and flew to the wilderness of Palmyra; and lo, next day, the King was seen returning from the journey, seated on the flying eagle and descending towards his palace. � Then Solomon commanded the eagle to come before him once in every month, and the King rode upon it, fly­ ing wheresoe\'er he would. And the eagle did as the King commanded. � So all the winged creatures knew of a truth that Solomon reigned over the.11, since he had subdued the mightiest of the most mighty eagles, the white eagle itself.

So

THE WHITE LION NOW AFTER THE WHITE EAGLE HAD BEEN SUBDUED BY SOLOMON, IT CAJ\IE TO PASS THAT THE KING AND CERTAIN OF HIS CAPTAI�S WEXT FORTH TO RIDE THROUGH THE

country, the King on his white horse, as was his custom, and, at his right hand, Denaiah, the son of Jehoiada, the captain of his host, and, following them, other captains of the host. And by chance they came to a certain marshy pasture where asses were grazing. \Vhile the King and his company were passing by, one of the asses unthinkingly emptied its bowels. Another ass ncar by beheld this and was indignant, and, stamping with the hoof of anger, it brayed a bray of fury and fiery wrath with a sound as of a trumpet, and it thundered, saying, ! "Hee-haw, thou basest of asses' Hee-haw, thou vile and corrupt one! \Vast thou not afraid to commit this abom­ ination in the sight of the King and his captains' Dost thou not yet know, thou filthy one, that the edict is gone fonh to make Solomon, son of David, King over all the earth and to give him dominion also over the cattle of the field

Z ;:

and the wild beasts of the forest? And now, when the King seeth how disgustingly thou hast conducted thyself in his presence, will he not destroy every ass because of thee ? Hee-haw, thou troubler of the race of asses ! Hee­ haw, thou silliest of beasts! How hast thou made us to stink! Whither can we take our shame?" � Nevenheless that ass, thus reviled, saw not fit to bury its nose in the ground, but, breaking off its grazing and lifting up its head, it licked its lips first to the one side and then to the other, and suddenly brayed a great and bitter bray, a crushing bray, a heavy and contemptuous bray, and, answering reviling with reviling, it said, � "Bunged be the muzzles of liars and fools! Thou art the silly one, and not I. An idiot will swallow anything! Who ever heard or who ever saw such a thing as a foreigner ruling a people to which he doth not belong, or a king who neither understandeth what his subjects say nor knoweth what are their needs! Never can such a thing be! Yet more: can the weak rule over him that is mightier than he? And who is there that doth not know that man is feebler than cattle and wild beasts? Come, let it be put to the proof! Let this King Solomon of whom thou speak­ est go and confront our king, the lion! At but the sight of it he will be overwhelmed, and at its roar he will flee to the uttermost parts of Mount Ararat! " � The King laughed when h e heard the argument and the braying of the asses, and he commanded them to be brought before him. And he said to them, � "I have heard your dispute and your argument. And now, know ye, and let all asses and all cattle and wild beasts know likewise, that God in very truth hath exalted me higher than all the kings of the earth, and he hath also given me dominion over all cattle and all wild beasts. Yet the words of the ass whose heart refuseth to believe this thing, are not altogether empty of truth. That king who 82

knoweth not the soul of his servants nor understandeth their need and their lack - his rule cannot prosper. And thus have I taught in the Book of Proverbs: The just man knoweth the soul of his beast. In one thing alone hath this ass erred, in that he thinketh that the lion's lofty mien will affright me and that I will tremble at its roar. ! "Yet a little while and ye shall know every one of you that this is not so. The truth is to the contrary: even the fiercest of majestic beasts trembleth at my name, and the mightiest among beasts of prey obeyeth me like a sucking lamb. If I but whistle to the lion he will come to me from his den, trembling like a bird, and sink down silently be­ fore me. And I will mount him as I mount this white horse. And as for thee, thou ass, because thou hast disbelieved in my kingship, by my command thou shalt surely go to the wilderness of Palmyra, to the dens of the mightiest lions, and the fiercest and most terrible of lions from the moun­ tain lairs shalt thou bring to me, even the king of the kings of lions, the white lion. Lo, I have sent thee! Arise, get thee gone immediately. It shall be thy punishment, and an instruction in prudence to every ass like thee." ! When the ass heard what had been decreed against him, trembling assailed his bones and set him all a-shivering from the ends of his ears to the tip of his tail; and he flut­ tered like a driven leaf and brayed a bray of terror and woe, the bray of an ass that is brought to the slaughter. ! But the King consoled him and said, ! "Go thy way boldly and be not afraid, since thou goest at the King's command. And here is thy pledge of safety: a letter directed to the lion, which I bind about thy neck. It shall be a shield and defence against any evil chance: no hand shall touch thee and no tooth or claw assail thee. 83

Thou shalt bring this letter to the white lion, and, so soon as he shall see it, he will straightway obey and will come and stand before me like a servant before his master. � "Go and return in peace! " � S o the ass turned himself about and went out, t o journey to the wilderness of Palmyra at the King's command. About his neck was the letter, and in his bones the fear of death. � One day, after the ass had been gone for about a space of one month, it came to pass that Solomon was seated upon his throne, the throne of ivory, in the courtyard of his palace, with the captains of his am1y standing by him according to their custom. Suddenly there came a great roaring, the roaring of a lion; and the palace and all the places round about it were mightily shaken. Before any man knew what or whence, lo, a second roar, as it had been seven thunderings of God together, and many of the captains fell to the ground. Before the company had re­ covered from their terror, not far away appeared a great and awful lion, rushing along like a whirlwind. This lion was all of it white as snow. Its mane was a forest, its tail a cedar tree, its eyes torches. Every moment it drew nearer and nearer. Then it roared yet a third time, as though it would proclaim its coming into the presence of the King; and even the mightiest and the most stout of heart among the captains of the host fell to the ground: scarce any breath remained in them. � When the lion drew near, and but a few steps lay be­ tween it and the throne, King Solomon, from his high throne, turned his eyes, the eyes of a leader and command­ er, towards the lion; and he broke into fragments the sceptre of gold that was in his hand. Straightway the stormy spirit of the lion was stilled. Moreover, little by 84-

little, it moved backward as though in dread. Then of a sudden it bowed down on its knees and fell to the ground before the King. ' The courage of the captains revived a little. And as they lifted themselves out of the dust, one after the other, they moved aside fearfully and trembling, some to one side and some to the other, to leave the way open for the lion. Then the lion crawled between them on its belly, crawling nearer to the King. ' Behind the lion there followed, dragging itself along and with its teeth chattering, that ass which had carried the letter. The King loosed the letter from about the ass's neck and let it go free to graze in the marsh according to its soul's desire. ' To them that stood by him he said, The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion; He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life. ' The King commanded that food be given to the lion, and its stonny spirit was wholly quelled. Then the King, taking a little food in a traveller's satchel, and having put a bridle in the lion's mouth, mounted the lion and rode upon it, driving it like the storm, to the wilderness of Palmyra. ' And on the third day the King carne back to his palace, still riding upon the lion. And Solomon commanded the lion to come before him once in every month. And the lion did so. Once every month at the appointed time the lion came before the King and he rode upon it whitherso­ ever his spirit moved him to ride. And the King appointed a set time for the white eagle and for the white lion, half a month for each; and they came in turn and stood before

8,5

the King each on its own day and at its own appointed time. And they were for the King to ride upon, and they bore him withersoever he commanded. � And when Solomon had built for himself a wonderful city in the wilderness of Palmyra, he visited it twice every month: once he would mount the eagle and fly thither in a single day, and once he would make the lion his chariot and reach the city at the end of three days. Thus used Solomon to do continually.

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THE BEE ONE DAY KING SOLO;\ION LAY DOWN BENEATH A FIG TREE IN HIS GARDEN TO SLEEP I-llS AFTERNOON SLEEP, AND TWO BODY-SERVANTS STOOD SILENTLY BY I-llS PILLOW, WAVING

their fans to ward off the flies. The King's eyelids had scarcely closed when a small roving bee passed by. It gave no heed to the fans but alighted and sat on the King's nose and stung it. Solomon awoke and leapt up. He knew what had been done to him. His anger was kindled, for the pain in his nose was as sharp as the point of a knife; moreover his nose swelled and turned as red as a pomegranate. Sol­ omon hunted for that rebellious daughter to punish her as her insolence deserved, and he sot�ght and he groped, but she was nowhere to be found, for the wanton creature had fled for her life and hidden herself. 87

� Every minute the King's nose grew more swollen and bloated. It soon grew as big as a cucumber. The King's heart raged within him and his countenance turned to vinegar. � Then in his fury he commanded that every bee should at once be brought before him, together with every hornet, and every wasp, and every fly, and every gnat, and every midge, even to the very tiniest creature in his garden and the regions round about both near and far. � Then came trembling out of the nests and hives every bee and every hornet and every gnat and every buzzing creature after its kind; and they came in clouds from far and near, alighting before the King by swarms and swarms and by companies and companies, like the stars of heaven for multitude, each queen bee with her swarm and each company with its leader. All were in a panic, all in con­ fusion, all of them buzzing, and all of them amazed and rushing about to find out what was the matter: � "What is this-s-s-s? And why is this-s-s-s? " � And the King, goaded by the heat of his fury and his inflamed nose, stamped his feet and cried out, � "Silence ! " � An awed silence fell upon all: none stirred a wing or buzzed. Then they perceived, every one of them, and knew that of a truth the King's anger was f!"reat and terrible, ex­ ceedingly great and terrible. � The King's nose had gone on growing and swelling until it was become like a waterskin, filled to its very spout with sharp points of glass and thin, white-hot needles, striving to pierce their way out. In his pain and burning anger the King cried out, ' "What son of Belial or what perverse and rebellious daughter arr.ong you hath thought fit to do to the King such a thing as this?"

! And as he said "this" he touched his waterskin of a nose with his thumb, as if he would say, ! "See what indignity ye have done to the King ! " ! For a moment the bees held their peace; they were great­ ly alarmed in their fear of the King, and by his rebuke. But they soon recovered courage and a soft murmur spread from company to company, a murmur of surprise and perplexity: ! "Ah! ah! Who ever could it be that would do this abomi­ nable thing? Who did this-s-s-s? Who did this-s-s-s� " ! \Vhile they were quietly buzzing, one little bee flew up out of the throng. It flew in a straight line until it reached the King. Then it stopped and said, ! "Here am I, my lord the King: I am the culprit!" ! "Thou?" roared Solomon like a lion, while his nose flamed like a torch; "and on the nose of the King' Didst thou neither reverence my nose nor dread my anger? " ! "Oh, my lord the King, let there be no anger! Be it far from the daughter of thy handmaid ever to alight pre­ sumptuously on the nose of the Lord's Anointed, except it had been in foolishness or error! I am but a young and tender bee: my days are few in number; and foolish, most foolish, am I. Not yet have I learned how to tell the differ­ ence between a flower and a nose, or between one nose and another-particularly the nose of my lord the King, that nose with its lily-like fragrance and its apple-like grace. Should it be accounted a crime in a bee, a little ignorant bee, if, straying after her eyes' desire, she sud­ denly longed after so beauteous and lovely a nose, and fell headlong upon it to suck out a sip of honey?" ! Here and there in the King's sour visage two or three honey-like gleams appeared, and in one of the faint creases at the corners of his mouth it almost seemed, for half a moment, as though the vaguest shadow of a smile would break through. It could only mean that the King approved 8g

the shrewd little bee's defence. But he straightway remem­ bered his fierce anger, and, with thundery visage, he said, � "And what else, 0 thou wanton one? I perceive thy lip's cunning! Thou gottest that tongue from none other than thy grandmother, Deborah* the Prophetess, wife of Lap­ idoth-may she rest in glory ' " � And the bee took t o herself still more courage, and said, � "And even though I have sinned, is it not the glory of kings to forgive transgression? So let the sin of thy hand­ maid's poor daughter be this day as small and petty in the King's sight as the smallness of her understanding and the shonness of her days; and, this once, be thou slow to anger against her. Who knoweth : the day may yet come when my lord the King will find pleasure anl.l profit even in the like of me, the least in the land. Then will I make recom­ pense to my lord the King." � These words so delighted the King's heart that his ill­ temper all but turned away from him, and with a laugh he answered and said, � "Oh, thou brazen-faced one! Should the King find pleasure and profit in such as thou! Canst thou ever requite bim? Off with thee, quickly, or if not . . ! " � The word was yet i n the King's mouth and the little bee spread her wings and was gone. � But the King, beginning to laugh, went on laughing un­ til no strength remained in him, and by reason of his laugh­ ter he shook like a palm-branch in the hand of the shaker; and holding his sides he called out, � "Oh! Stay me with raisins, comfort me with apples! Did ye hear? That little object would make recompense to the King !" � And while the King was still light-heaned from laugh­ ter he forgave all the bees forthe brave little bee's sake, and he dismissed them all in peace. .

. . .

•

Deborah in Hebrew means

"a

bee."

! And by the advice of the physicians the King anointed his nose with ointment and it healed, so that his nose be­ came as it was aforetime. And as the days went by the King no more remembered the little bee but forgot her. *

*

*

! And it came to pass after many days that the Queen of Sheba came from a far country with a very great train, and bearing many presents, to behold Solomon in his palace and to prove him with hard questions (as it is writ­ ten in the Scroll of the Kings) . And after she had tried him seven and seventy times with all her knowledge and her riddles and her many cunning wiles yet could not pre­ vail over him, she tested him at the last also in this wise. Into the hands of the youths and maidens which she had brought with her from her own country, she put bunches of flowers, all of them the work of men's hands, save only one, which was the work of nature, and she arranged them in rows before the King-, and she said, ! "Before thee, 0 Ki �g Solomon, in the hands of the youths and maidens, are bunches of flowers; some of them arc living- flowers and some of them flowers made by men's hands. Do thou, 0 King, distinguish between them by their appearance." ! Now the man-made flowers were marvellously perfec1 and complete, of cunning workmanship: in no wise did they seem different from flowers of the field and of the garden. !For a long space of time Solomon looked, and regarded them. But he could not tell how to distinguish between them. And it distressed him greatly and he felt himself in very evil plight. ! Then, while he was hesitating, his ear, and his ear alone, caught the sound of a faint humming outside the window.

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The King turned his eyes thither, and, suddenly, his face lit up. He whispered to the man on his right hand, � "Be quick ! Open the window ! " � The window was opened, and into the room there sped a swift bee which none saw save the King alone. The bee. straightway alighted on one of the bunches of flowers. � A little smile appeared on the King's lips, and, to the amazement of the Queen of Sheba and all that stood there, he pointed to that bunch on which the bee had alighted; and he called out gaily, � "That is the bunch of live flowers! " � Thus did the bee requite the King.

� That night Solomon added yet one more proverb to the proverbs of his wisdom which he wrote on a scroll: Whoso despiseth a thing shall suffer thereby.

THE BRAGGART DOVE ONE DAY KING SOLOJ\ION WAS SITTING IN HIS PALACE RE­ SIDE A WINDOW A N D LOOKING INTO TilE GARDE".

A1l0\'E

THE WINDOW WAS A SMALL DOVECOT NEAR TilE ROOF, A

safe nesting-place for the dove and its mate. And the King heard the voice of the dove as it murmured to its mate: � "Oh, my dove, hast thou observe d this palace of the King' In thy sigh t is it not great and lofty, a building that will endure for ever? Is that not so' But in my sight it is no more than the tip of an ear of corn: I need but smite it with the point of my beak and at once it will become a heap of ruins. One peck . . . and it would be as though it had never been."

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� The King put his heaa out of the window and seeing who it was that boasted after this fashion he summoned the dove and said angrily, � "Oh, thou of stunted wing and swaggering tongue! So thou wouldest destroy my palace! An thou not ashamed to be so vainly boastful ! " � So terrified was the dove at the King's rebuke that it nearly fainted. But it soon grew bold again and said, � "Oh, my lord the King! Thy wisdom will suppon me. Thou hast understanding, and with thee is mercy. Before whom did I boast? It was only before my wife! And is it sin in a husband if he vaunt himself a little before his wife?" � The King laughed at the dove's answer and let it go in peace. But he straitly charged it not to repeat such foolish­ ness but to be heedful in what it said. � Hardly had the dove returned to its dovecot than Sol­ omon heard a second time, "Oh, my perfect one, dost thou know why it was that King Solomon summoned me? Stretch hither thine ear and I will tell thee in a whisper. Most pitifully did he be­ seech me to spare his palace and not to destroy it, since it was the King's palace and much labour had the builders bestowed upon it. And as for me, when I listened to the voice of his supplication, my hean softened and I granted him his petition. Lo, thus and thus did the King ask of me, and thus and thus did I make answer to him. What thinkest thou of it, mv fair one ? " · � When the King heard the words o f the dove h e was no more angry but neither did he laugh, for he said sorrow­ fully, � "Easier is it to overcome seven mighty creatures than to overcome one little one!"

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WHOSE WAS THE BLAME ? AN OTTER CAME ONE DAY AND C01\IPLAINED BEFORE KING " ALAS, lilY LORD AND 1\IY KING ! WAS

SOLOMON, SAYING,

!

IT NOT THOU THAT DIDST SPREAD GOOD TIDINGS OF PEACE

and truth to all dwellers upon the earth in thy time' Didst thou not likewise ordain oeace between one wild creature and another?" ! "And who hath broken this peace � " asked Solomon. ! "I went down into the water," answered the otter, "to hunt for food, and my whelps I had entrusted into the hand of the weasel. But it rose up against them and destroyed them. And now the blood of my innocent children crieth out to me, Death to the slayer !" ! And the King commanded that the weasel be brought before him, and he inquired of it, ! "Was it thou that slew the otter's children? " ' And the weasel said, ! "It was I, my lord the King, but, as the King liveth, it was not with intent or evil purpose. I heard the wood­ pecker as he thundered with his beak, giving forth the

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sound of th:: drum, procbi..'11ing the summons tll war. And so it was that, as I sped to the battle, I trampled on the children, but it was not with evil purpose." ! And the King called the woodpecker and asked, ! "Didst thou sound an alarm to summon people to the fight with a thundering of the drum?" ! And the woodpecker answered, ! "I did so, my lord the King. But I did so because I saw the scorpion whetting its dagger." ! And the King called the scorpion and asked, ! "Why wast thou whetting thy dagger?" ! And the scorpion answered, ! "Because I saw the tortoise furbishing its armour." ! And when the tortoise was inquired of, it said in its defence, ! "Because I saw the crab sharpening its sword." ! And the crab answered, ! "Because I saw the lobster swinging its javelin." ! And the King commanded the lobster to be brought, and he reproved it, saying, ! "Why didst thou swing thy javelin ? " ! And the lobster answered and said, ! "Because I saw the otter going down into the water to devour my children." ! Then the King looked towards the otter, and said, ! "The weasel is not guilty. The blood of thy children is on thine own head. He that soweth death shall reap it."

HOW THE HOOPOE GOT ITS CREST ' FAR AWAY IN THE WILDERNESS, A THIRTY-DAYS JOUR­ NEY, KING SOLOI\lON BUILT HII\1 A CITY FOR PLEASURE AND DELIGHT. IT WAS ALL 1\IADE O F WONDERFUL G.\RDENS

hanging between eanh and sky. That w2s the city of Pal­ myra. Thither used the King to go from time to time to escape from the tunnoil of his palace. Now Solomon had a white eagle, a great and mighty eagle, ,,·ith long and wide-spreading wings. The King used to mount upon it and it flew with him in the sky withcrsoevcr he would. And whenever his heart moved him to fly to Palmyra, he mounted the eagle and sped through the sky over the 97

wilderness and carne safely by himself to the city of de­ light. There he continued to his hean's desire and returned without any man knowing of his going or of his corning. Thus used he to do continually. ! One day King Solomon rode on the eagle as his custom was, and his face was set towards Palmyra. When he was but half way on his journey, the sun smote his head, so that he grew faint and weary and had almost fallen to the eanh. And in his evil plight he looked here and there to see whence help might come, and lo, a flight of hoopoes, a great and numerous company, flying to and fro in the firmament with their king leading them. ! The king of the hoopoes saw the face of Solomon and lo, he was in evil plight. Straightway the king of the hoopoes hastened unto him with his whole company and they all rose up and hovered above Solomon's head, wing to wing, the wing of every hoopoe touching its neigh­ bour's wing, so that they were like a canopy or a cloud over the King's head to shelter him from harm. So King Solomon's spirit returned and he revived. ! He saw the good deed which the hoopoes had done for him, and he spake unto them saying, ! "This day have ye shown loving kindness unto your lord. Therefore, as I live, I will surely not send you empty away. Corne, then, and ask of me whatsoever is in your heart, and I will grant your request." ! And the King appointed them a time. For a whole day the hoopoes took counsel together. Then the king of the hoopoes carne to bring before Solomon the wish of his subjects. ! And Solomon said unto the hoopoe, ! "Hast thou first thought diligently concerning thy request ? " ! And the hoopoe answered, ! "I and my people have thought diligently and this is our gB

request: May we all be given golden crests, crowns upon our heads' " ' And the King said, ' "Your request shall be granted. Golden crests shall ye have, crowns upon your heads. Yet know thou and under­ stand that thou hast asked a foolish thing. But when evil shall come upon thee and thou repentest of thy foolish­ ness and comest again before me, I will not withhold deliv­ erance." ' So the king of the hoopoes left Solomon's presence with a golden crest on his head. So, too, the rest of the hoopoes were all given golden crests. And the hoopoes' heans were exalted by their golden adornment, and they put on pride and high looks. ' Every day they went to the sea shore or to the banks of streams or to any pool of water, for the water served as a mirror wherein they gazed on their beautiful image. And they grew proud and haughty and preened themselves. ' The queen of the hoopoes was the most vain of them all. She would go up and sit on the bough of a tree and look no more upon her relations or recognise her friends from among other winged creatures, for she said, ' "Who are these birds that I should associate myse!f with them!-1, who have a crown of gold upon my head! " ' Now a cenain huntsman i n those pans noticed the ways of the hoopoes. He set a trap for them, and in the trap he put a piece of mirror. A hoopoe came down to see her reflection in the mirror, and, as usual, take pride in herself; but as she turned herself about, this way and that, she was gripped by the trap and caught. ' When the huntsman saw the crown glittering on the bird's head, he straightway wrung her neck, tore off the crown, and took it to a brass-smelter to find out from him what it was made of. But the cunning smelter said, ' "It is only a crown of brass."

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� He gave him sixty fanhings for it and said, � "If thou find more like it bring them to me; but tell nobody." � So the huntsman went out and caught many hoopoes and sold their crowns to the brass-smelter. � By chance one day a goldsmith met the huntsman and saw the crowns in his hand, and he told him that they were pure gold. Moreover he offered a great price for them. For every four crowns he gave him a talent of gold. � So soon as this became known among the people the whole country and all the regions round about were filled with the twanging of bows and the rushing of arrows; all hands busily mixed birdlime; and the price of traps and snares increased greatly for many were they that urgently demanded them. Every man forsook his own business, and every day they would go out with bow and arrows and roam about the country. No sooner did a hoopoe appear than an arrow struck it or it was caught in a snare. There was no refuge or hiding place for the hoopoe. � It was a time of trouble for the hoopoes. Never had winged creatures suffered the like. Day by day they grew fewer and fewer. Yet a little while and they would all dis­ appear from the skies. Heavy was the mourning in the camp of the hoopoes. � In their distress the king of the hoopoes remembered the words which Solomon had spoken in the day when he gave him the golden crest. So he arose and flew swiftly by way of the wilderness and the desen where was no danger from huntsmen. And he came and stood before the King and told him of all the great evil which was come upon him and his people because of the golden crest. And he wept and besought Solomon to take away from them this evil. � Solomon heard the plaint of the hoopoe and took pity on him and said,

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� "Of a truth you were foolish in asking for yourselves a golden crest. Did I not warn you from the beginning ? Your own pride and your own wantonness - it is they which have brought trouble upon you. But, being mindful of the loving kindness which ye showed unto me, I will yet again extend my mercy toward you and instead of the crown of gold I will give you a crown of feathers: no longer shall your crowns be your snare and stumbling block." � So the king of the hoopoes left Solomon's presence with a crest of feathers on his head. From that day forth the huntsmen no more pursued the hoopoes, and the hoopocs enjoyed peace in their nests and they increased in the land and roamed everywhere in safety, and none made them afraid.

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THE FLYING CLOAK a.

Tbe Wind's Reproof

KING SOLO.'IION RULED OVER THE WHOLE EARTH - OVER THE DRY LAND AND OVER THE SEA AND OVER THE WINGS O F THE WIND. AND GOD GAVE TO SOLO:\ION A MAGIC CLOAK.

On this he could rise up on the wings of the wind and roam to and fro like a bird whithersoever he would. And the cloak was very large. It was fony miles long and fony miles wide. It was made of green silk interwoven with gold, and pictures of everything in the world were em­ broidered upon it-the plants of the field and the beasts of the eanh, the fowls of the air and the fishes of the sea. Four captains were appointed to keep watch over the cloak at its four corners: Asaph son of Berechiah was captain over the sons of men, Remirat was captain over the demons, the lion was captain over the beasts of the field, and the eagle was captain over all winged creatures. � And Solomon went up into the cloak and sat upon his throne, and all his captains and his servants and his mighty men went up with him, a very great multitude, and they

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stood in their places before the King, according to their custom. ! Then would Solomon command the wind, saying, Corne, 0 wind, and bear us away! ! And the cloak, together with all its burden was lifted up by the wind, and it floated in the firmament whithersoever the King desired. It flew over countries and seas, soaring over forests and deserts, and the King could rum it in whatsoever direction he pleased. His morning meal he could eat in Damascus, at one end of the earth, and his evening meal in Media, at the other end of the earth. ! One day it happened that the King with all his captains and his servants was journeying on the cloak which. like an eagle, was lifted up into the high places of the firma­ ment. And the sun shone upon it in all its splendour and its glory. And Solomon bent down to see, and Ia, the earth beneath was growing smaller and smaller, until it seemed to him no bigger than a pumpkin. ! And his pride grew very great, and he said, ! "Can there be in all the world a king as wise and clever as I .I " ! Scarce had the word left his mouth when the wind veered, and many of the King's servants were shaken off the cloak. And the King was very wroth, and he called out in his anger, Return, 0 wind ! ! But the wind answered, ! "Nay! Do thou, rather, return unto thy God, and let not thy heart grow so proud ! " ! And Solomon was put to shame by the words of the wind, and he bowed his head and was dumb. 103

b. Tbe Queeu of tbe Frogs ' A whole day more did the cloak j ourney onwards and it passed over a brook. Beside the brook were frogs leaping to and fro. And Solomon listened and lo, one frog was crying out to the others in terror, ' "Hasten, my sisters' Hide yourselves among the reeds and rushes in the brook, lest Solomon's hosts come down upon you and destroy great multitudes of you." ' And the King's anger was kindled and he called to the wind, Descend, 0 wind ! ' The wind brought the cloak down to the ground, and at Solomon's command the frogs came out of their hiding places in the reeds and swamps and stood before him. And the King said to them in anger, ' "Who and what manner of frog was it that dared to speak so of my hosts?" ' And a frog came forth and answered, ' "It was I ! " � And the King was very wroth a t the frog's impudence and he would have punished it. With difficulty he re­ strained himself, and he asked, ' "Why didst thou speak thus of the warriors of my army? " ' "Because," answered the frog, "I feared lest thy hosts would come and make an end of our singing to God, and so provoke God's anger against us." ' The King scoffed and said, ' "Are frogs, forsooth, to be numbered among them that sing to God ? " ' But the frog, lifting up its head, answered,

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� "Our ponion, my lord the King, is greater than thine ! How many are thy songs?-A thousand and five! * But as for us, song never ceaseth from our mouth by day or by night ! " � Then the King, lowering his voice, asked gently, � "And why is it that thou, rather than any of thy sisters, speak est in this fashion?" � "Because I am the queen of the frogs, my lord the King! " � "And what is thy name?" � "My name is Mahshma! " � "One ot�er thing w�uld I ask of thee, 0 Mahshma: wilt thou not g1ve me . . . � But straightway the frog mterrupted him, saying, � "It is not fitting that the suppliant should sit on a throne while that other to whom supplication is made lieth on the ground! Lift me up and put me on the palm of thy hand; then will I answer all that thou shalt ask." � The King laughed, and did as the frog desired, lifting her up and putting her on the palm of his hand, opposite his face. � Then he asked and said, "Tell me, I pray, 0 Mahshma, queen of the frogs, is there in all the earth a greater one than I ? " � "Assuredly there is! " � "Then who is it ? " � "It i s I ! " � "In what an thou greater than I ? " � "Were I not greater than thou," the frog answered, "God had not now sent thee hither to raise me up in thy hands." � And King ;,olomon's anger was kindled, and he cast her to the ground and said, � "Oh, thou offspring of mud, and spawn of the swamp! • , Kings H'·

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Knowest thou not yet who I am? Am not I Solomon, son of David, King in Jerusalem! " � "Not so! " answered the frog, "But thou a rt dust, and unto dust shalt thou return. Man, who is but a worm, wherein can he pride himself ! " � And Solomon was put to shame by the words of the frog, and he fell upon his face to the ground.

c. The Mysterious Palace � Then the cloak was lifted high above the earth, bearing away King Solomon and his men, while the frog below croaked after him, � "Go in peace! But remember thy Creator and be not high minded ! " � The cloak sped onwards and passed over lands and seas and for ten days and ten nights it soared between earth and sky. One day King Solomon looked down upon the earth and, behold, a high palace loomed up from the earth. Now the palace was very magnificent: it was built all of gold and its pillars and its walls and its roof were all of pure gold. � Solomon gazed on the glory of the palace and longed to look within it. And he said to the wind, Descend, 0 wind ! � And the cloak came down to the ground. Then King Solomon turned aside to see the palace; and the captain, Asaph, son of Berechiah, went with him. They looked at the place from round about, and lo, it was desolate, over­ grown with grass and bushes and tall weeds, without any road or pathway. Yet the scent of the grass was in their nostrils like the sweet-smelling savour of the Garden of 106

Eden, exceedingly pleasant. They continued to walk round about the palace seeking some door or entrance, but none could anywhere be found. And they were amazed and mystified. ! While they were gazing at the palace, the captain of the demons went up to the roof. There he found a large and very old eagle, crouching over its nestlings. He came back to declare the matter to the King. And the King com­ manded the chief captain that was over the birds to bring down the old eagle and to set it before him. The eagle opened its mouth and sang a song of praise to God, and then it bowed down before the King, and greeted him and wished him well. � The King sought to know its name and the number of its years. ! ' 'My name is Alanad," the eagle answered, "and my years are seven hundred years." ! And the King said, ! "Perchance thou knowest or hast heard: if there is a way into this palace tell me where it is." � "As my soul liveth and as the soul of my lord the King liveth, I surely do not know," the eagle answered. "But I have an elder brother who is two hundred years older than I, and his name is Alof. Ask him: it may be that he knoweth. Lo, he sitteth on the roof, on the second pin­ nacle." ! So the eagle returned to its own place and its elder brother was brought in its stead. ! And the King asked, ! "Perchance thou knowest or hast heard: where is the entrance to the palace ? " ! The second eagle also answered according to the words of the first, and said, ! "As my soul liveth and as thy soul liveth, my lord the King, I surely do not know. But I have an elder brother 1 07

who is four hundred years older than I, and his name is Altaamar. Ask him, and he will tell thee; for he is wise and knoweth all things. Lo, he sitteth on the roof, on the third pinnacle." � And this eagle likewise returned to its own place, and the captain that was over all winged creatures went to fetch the third eagle. It was the most ancient of them all and exceedingly heavy, and by reason of its age it could not fly. And the captain of the birds bore it on his wings and brought it before Solomon. � And the King asked, � "Dost thou know, or hast thou heard, where is the en­ trance to this palace? " � And i n a quavering voice the aged eagle answered and said, � "As my soul liveth and as the soul of my lord the King liveth, never in my life have I known or seen any entrance. But my grandfather told me that there assuredly was a way into the palace, and that it was il). a cave below the ground on the western side. But in the course of many years eanh had covered it and blocked it up. Let the King dig there: it may be that he will find it." � And the King commanded the spirits and the demons and they dug near to the palace in the place whereof the aged eagle had spoken. There they found an iron door, eaten away by the rust of years. On the door was a heavy lock and on it these words were inscribed: Know, ye sons of men, that for many years we dwelt in this palace, and it was well with us and we sated ourselves with pleasure. But famine came upon us and though we ground up pre­ cious stones like wheat it availed us naught. So we abandoned our wealth to the eagles and com­ manded them saying, If any man ask you con-

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cerning this palace ye shall say, We found it built. Then lay we down on the ground and died. ! And Solomon and his men lifted up their eyes above the door and there they found written: Let none enter hither save a Prophet or a King. ! To the right of the door in a hole in the wall Solomon found a crystal casket and in it was a bundle of keys, four in number: one was of iron, another of brass, another of silver, and another of gold. ! Then Solomon opened the gate of iron and he found a gate of brass. He opened this also and he found another gate of silver; and, after that, a gate of gold. ! And it was so that when he had opened the gate of gold, he came into a lofty and spacious hall whose walls were of crystal, its pillars of gold, and its pavements mosaic work in alabaster and marble. Its vaulted ceiling was made from plates of sapphire, pure as the very sky, and set there­ in were precious stones, rubies and onyx and jasper, shining like stars. ! Hanging on the wall he saw a cluster of jewels, carnelian and chrysolite and emerald, as large as eggs, whose like could not be found in the crown of any king. Moreover in the middle of the hall he beheld a small dome encrusted with jewels and overlaid with all kinds of precious pearls, most delicate and graceful in appearance, like the edges of small clouds when they grow pale at sunset. ! He entered a second chamber wherein was no window or outlet, and no lamp or light; fiery stones alone light­ ened the darkness, suffusing it with numerous and vari­ egated glints-shades of reel. and green and white and blue and amber. In the corners of the chamber hy precious 1 09

stones like heaps of coals, glowing and flaming in the deep darkness. � Solomon entered yet a third chamber, and there he saw a pool, wholly paved with pure crystal, sparkling as though it were ripples of pure water, with small golden fishes darting to and fro. The rim of the pool was en­ crusted with precious stones and pearls. ' Then he came to chambers of silver, chambers of gold, and chambers of most fine gold. And as he went from one chamber to another his eyes could not grow weary from the sight. ' And it came to pass that when he entered into a cenain chamber he saw a silver scorpion crouching on the pave­ ment. He kicked it to thrust it aside. Straightway the pavement heaved-and Solomon found himself in a region below the palace. ' Here were secret chambers of quite other shape and form, perfect in beauty and majestic in appearance. ' Finally in the fanhest parts he reached a great chamber, the most magnificent and beautiful of them all. And Sol­ omon stood at the entrance and felt that he was in a dream. Lifting up his eyes he looked, and, behold, before him, sitting on an ivory throne, was a lifelike human statue. Over its breast, hanging from its neck by a golden chain, was a tablet made of silver. Solomon was about to draw near to it when, of a sudden, the image shook and from its nostrils came out smoke and fire. ' Solomon called out the Sacred Name of God . . . and the statue fell to the ground, broken and motionless. � Then Solomon came near and took off the tablet from the statue. On it he found writing in some strange lan­ guage. He could not read it. He was much distressed for he saw that for all his great wisdom there was still some­ thing too wonderful for him. And he could have died by reason of his vexation.

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! But while he was yet vexed and grieving, behold, a hid­ den door in the wall suddenly opened and a comely youth appeared. He drew near quietly. His steps gave out no sound. In silence he took the tablet in his hand. Then with an exceedingly mournful voice he read these words: I am Shedad, the son of Adar. Supreme was I among kings of the eanh. Lions and bears were in dread of me. The world was filled with my ma;esty and my glory. I ruled over millions of princes; On millions of horses I rode; Millions of warriors I slew, But over the Angel of Death I could not prevail. ! When the youth had made an end of reading he gave a quiet sigh and tears glistened in his eyes. He turned away and, going silently to the door by which he had entered, he disappeared. ! To Solomon it was all like a waking dream. He remained standing there, dumbfounded, for his hean was sorely penurbed and words failed him.

! So Solomon returned to his own home. His head was bowed down and his hean subdued and broken. And ever after that day the spirit of pain and desolation brooded over him, and in bitterness of soul he cried, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity !

III

THE THRONE OF SOLOMON

NOW AFTER KING SOLOI\ION HAD MADE AN END O F BUILD­ ING THE TEI\IPLE O F GOD AND A PALACE FOR HE\ISELF, HE SUI\L\10:'\ED THE !lEST AMONG THE CRAFTS�IEN AND THEY

made for him a great and wonderful throne, fashioned with great skill and cunningly devised. The same is the throne on which the King used to sit in the hall of judg­ ment when he came in to judge the people. � The throne was of ivory throughout, overlaid with fine gold from Ophir and encrusted with jewels and precious stones of every kind, ruby and onyx, jasper and chrysolite and emeralds: never had its like been made for any king. � And this is the manner of the throne and the form thereof:

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' Six steps led up to the throne. Behind it, where the King's head rested, the upper part was rounded, uphol­ stered with gilt lamb's-wool. Beside the seat were arms on either side, and over against them stood two lions of gold. On each of the six steps of the throne were six lions of gold and six eagles of gold, on this side and on that, lion facing eagle, and eagle facing lion, the right paw of every golden lion facing the left wing of every golden eagle. ' Lying on the steps immediately before the throne to either side were figures of all kinds of living creatures, the clean facing the unclean, and the unclean facing the clean. On the lowest step lay a lion of gold with a bullock of gold opposite to it; on the next step was a wolf of gold with a lamb of gold opposite to it; on the third, a leopard of gold and a kid of gold; on the fourth, a bear of gold and a gazelle of gold; on the fifth, an eagle of gold and a dove of gold; and on the sixth, a hawk of gold and a sparrow of gold; while perched on the top of the throne was a great golden dove having a golden hawk caught within its claws. ! Rising above the throne was a golden candlestick having seven branches on the one side, whereon were portrayed the seven patriarchs: Adam, Noah and Shem, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with Job among them; and seven branches on the other side, whereon were the figures of the seven Saints: Levi, Kohath and Amram, Moses and Aaron, with Eldad and 1\Iedad among them. ! Over the candlestick was a golden jar full of pure olive oil and beneath it a great golden bowl likewise full of pure oil wherewith to kindle the lamps. Out of the bowl issued two golden channels having in them two golden pipes wherewith to pour out the oil; on these were portrayed the figures of the priests, Aaron and his sons, and Eli and his sons. ! At the two sides of the throne were two seats of gold for the High Priest and for the priest second to him in rank; 1 13

and surrounding the throne like the half of a round thresh­ ing floor were seventy seats whereon the seventy elders of Israel sat in judgment. Behind the throne was a seat for the King's scribe who wrote in a book a record of every judgment. ! Vines and palms of gold surmounted the throne, casting their shade over the King; and upon them ivory peacocks spread out their wings, side by side with golden eagles. And curtains of white linen, spread out like translucent clouds, stretched over the trees, with pendants of crystal and glass hanging from them; and with the fluttering of the curtains the pendants shook and quietly tinkled. They flashed forth the colours of the rainbow and their tinkling was delicate and sweet like the vibrating of David's harp when the morning breeze blew upon it. ! The two arms of the throne were fashioned like two mermaids leaning on either side towards the ears of the King, and, as he sat, his head rested motionless. The two lions beside the arms of the throne were hollow and filled with the choicest spices, and when the King sat down on his throne their scent flowed forth, bestowing a refreshing and sweet smelling savour round about. ! And thus used the King to ascend his throne: ! When his foot trod upon the lowest step a hidden wheel within the throne turned so that the lion put forth a paw on the right side and the bullock on the left, and raised the King on to the next step, setting him upon the paws of the wolf and the lamb; and these raised him on to the next step, setting him upon the paws of the leopard and the kid; and likewise with the other steps, until the King sat in his place on the throne between the two mermaids. ! Then the great eagle came down and set the royal crown on Solomon's head, a silver dragon which was fastened to the throne sprang out and moved round and round the 1 14

King, the lions and the eagles rose up together and sur­ rounded the King, and the hall was filled with majesty and awe, and all men held their breath. � The golden dove came down bringing out from an ark the scroll of a book wherein were written the laws of God and His judgments, and this the golden dove put into the hand of the King. � Then the two priests and the seventy elders drew near and greeted the King and sat each in his own place. After­ ward all the people came in to listen to the judgments of Solomon. � When lying witnesses came in the King perceived their guile at once, and hidden wheels moved within the throne so that the lions were made to roar, the bullock to low, the wolf to howl, the lamb to bleat, the leopard to snarl, the kid to weep, the bear to moan, the gazelle to pant, the hawk to shriek, and the sparrow to chirrup, while the eagles flew about and the peacocks coursed to and fro. Then the fear of God fell upon the witnesses and they said in their heart, � "Let us testify naught save the truth, lest the world be destroyed through our fault." � And the King used to sit on the throne and judge the people with righteousness and equity, for in him was divine wisdom to distinguish between true and false and to bring justice to the light. � And when a decision went forth from the King's mouth, the lions and the wild beasts crouched before him and licked the soles of his feet, saying, � "Blessed be King Solomon ! " � And the eagles spread their wings over him, saying, � "Blessed, blessed ' " � And the people that stood there all answered with one voice, � "Blessed be God, and blessed be His anointed one ' And

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may the kingdom of the house of David stand fast for ever ! " *

*

*

� Now in the time of King Josiah, Pharaoh Necho, King of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem, and this throne he took as spoil, and he brought it to Egypt. And he purposed to go up and sit upon it. But the lion put forth its right paw and smote him on the thigh. And Pharaoh was lame until the day of his death. Therefore was he called Pharaoh Necho, which is, being interpreted, Pharaoh the smitten one. � Then Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, he that laid waste the Holy Land, went up against Egypt and de­ stroyed it. There he found the throne and brought it down to Babylon. He, too, purposed to sit upon it, but the lion struck him and felled him to the ground. � Then arose Darius the Mede and destroyed Babylon. He brought the throne to Media, and many days it stood there and no man durst sit upon it. � After many years came Alexander of Macedon. He took the throne to Egypt. When Antiochus Epiphanes destroyed Egypt he took the throne and brought it in a ship unto his own land. But a foot of the throne with its golden chain suffered injury, and though he brought all the smiths and all the craftsmen of his kingdom to mend the throne, they were not able. Behold, it is bereft of a leg unto this day.

I I6

THE MILK OF THE LIONESS

ONE DAY THE KING O F 1\!0AB FELL GRIEVOUSLY SICK.

A

WASTING DISEASE ASSAILED HIS IlODY AND HIS FLESH CON­ SUMED AWAY FROM DAY TO DAY, SO THAT THE KING WAS

at the point of death. And the physicians said, ' "There is no healing for the King except he drink fresh milk that hath been got from the dugs of an unblemished lioness in her lair." ' So the King summoned the pride of his army and the glory of �is hosts, the "Ariel of Moab," the Moabite Lion­ men, saymg, ' "Who will go and bring the King milk that hath been got from the dugs of an unblemished lioness in her lair ? " 117

� But not one was found brave enough or daring enough to do this thing, for could any man draw near to a lioness in her lair to squeeze her dugs, and escape unharmed ? � And the King saw that his warriors held their peace, and he was exceeding wroth and cried out in his anger, � "Ye tongue-tied hounds' Where is your valour? Dare not a man of you venture his life for the King?" � Then two J\Ioabite Lion-men came forward (now these were the "Lions" which were over the "Young Lions" in the King's army) , and they fell down before the King with their faces to the ground, and they said, � "Bruise us with thy heel, 0 lord our King! Let all our lives be given for the thinnest hair on thy head ! Let all our heads be ransom for thy little finger nail ! Do thou but speak the word and we will ensnare every lion and lioness in the wilderness and bring them to thee. But this other thing which the King commandeth is beyond man's power: none could achieve it. Ask thy wise men: it may be that they can give thee counsel." � So the King inquired of his wise men and his magicians, but neither found he any answer from their mouth, for never before had they chanced upon the like nor had their fathers declared it unto them. Then the King in his sore plight bethought him of his neighbour, Solomon, King of Israel, and of his wisdom. � He sent him a letter in haste by the hands of his mes­ sengers, telling him of all the evil that was come upon him and of what the physicians had said. � And in his letter he besought him, saying, � "And now having told thee concerning all this, 0 King, vouchsafe to act toward me in kindliness and faithfulness, according to the kindliness which my fathers bestowed on thy fathers when they came to sojourn in the field of J\Ioab in the days of famine, when my fathers received them with compassion and good will and succoured them

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many days. Remember that we are brethren, since thou art seed of the third generation from Ruth the Moabitess, who was of the family of my father's house and who clave to thy people and thy tribe, as thou knowest. When, therefore, thou hast heard my request may it be that thou wilt have compassion on me and not withhold thy counsel and thy help according to the good hand of God upon thee and according to his wisdom that is within thee; for I know that none is so wise as thou and that naught is too wonderful for thee." ! Thus did the King of Moab send to Solomon by the hand of his messengers. Moreover he sent with them choice products of his country as a present to the King of Judea. After the messengers had left his presence he arose in his wrath and to his counsellors and to the captains of his army he said, ! "Oh, ye most despicable slaves ! This day have ye shamed your King and his throne so that men will say, There is no counsel and no might in Moab' If, therefore, the King of Judea shall fulfil my request, I will cast your carcases to the dogs. Get ye gone out of my sight! Let me not see your faces! " ! And it came to pass that when the letter reached the hand of Solomon, the words of the King of Moab touched his heart, and he summoned the captain of his host, Ben­ aiah, the son of Jehoiada, and he showed him the letter and said, ! "Son of Jehoiada, wilt thou go to bring milk from the dugs of the lioness? " ! And the son of Jehoiada answered, ! "For thy glory, 0 King, and for the glory of the God of Israel ! " ! "And what wilt thou take with thee?" ! "Let ten kids be given to thy servant."

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' A smile passed over the King's lips, for he understood his warrior's purpose. And he said, ' "I know that thou art a mighty man and a wily warrior, and that naught will turn thee back. Go, and God be with thee. And wheresoever thou goest let thine eye be alen and thine ear attentive, and thou shalt be saved alive." ' Then Solomon blessed the captain of his host and sent him away. ' And Benaiah delayed not, but taking with him ten goats and his shepherd boy he arose to go and seek out where a den of lions could be found. ' Now Benaiah was light and swift on his feet as any han; his eye was like an eagle's eye, piercing gloom and dark­ ness; and his ear was like a net in the deep sea-the lightest rustle in the farthest distance could not escape it. ' And Benaiah went a long journey and came to the borders of Senir and Hermon: they are the mountains where from of old have lurked wild beasts and lions. Now the time was the time of wintry cold and there was snow in those mountains and in the places round about. And Benaiah sought until he found the tracks of a lion in the snow. He shut up his flock of goats within a crevice of a rock and forbade the boy to stir from thence until he called to him. ' Then Benaiah followed the tracks of the lion, supposing that he would find the den near by. As he went up the mountain he saw to his confusion that the tracks of the lion had suddenly changed : and it was marvellous in his sight. While he yet wondered, lo, a mighty roar reached his ears: it was like to the roar of a lion, yet it was not the roar of a lion, for it differed from it as by a hair's breadth. And it all seemed to him a great riddle. ' Suddenly he found out the riddle: ' "Are not these the tracks of the 1\loabite Lion-men ? And was not that their roar ? It can only be that they are

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come out to seek my life. That it is which the King made known to me when he said, Let thine eye be alert and thine ear attentive ! " � And the spirit of counsel and might took possession of Benaiah, and he knew what he should do. � And, truly, as Benaiah had thought, so it was. When tidings reached the Moabite Lion-men that Benaiah was gone forth to get the milk of a lioness, they were greatly afraid, for they remembered what their King in the hour of his wrath had sworn concerning them. And the two Moabite Lion-men took counsel together (now these were the "Lions" which were over the "Young Lions" in the King's army) to go out to oppose Benaiah and to lay snares in his path. � These Moabite Lion-men were an evil-tempered and impetuous company, more savage than ravening beasts, and they had long vexed the people of Judea. All of them were huge and fearsome men, heavily accoutred in iron and brass; the hair of their heads and their beards were like lions' manes, lions' skins were about their loins, and iron shoes shaped like lions' paws were on their feet; and in their throats was the roar of a lion. � Yet for all this they put no confidence in their strength, for they well knew that there was none so prudent in device and swift in counsel as Benaiah. But this time they thought to match Benaiah in cunning. So they two set out to ovenake Benaiah on the journey and to join themselves with him as skilled huntsmen and companions who were come to his help. But Benaiah had gone his way in secret and had sped like an eagle by hidden and devious paths wherein no foot had ever trod. So the two Moabite Lion­ men gave up their plan and came to the mountains where the wild beasts lurked, well knowing that Benaiah must come thither. And there they lay in wait for him behind a cleft in a rock.

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� Supposing that they could draw Benaiah to their hiding­ place, they uttered from time to time a roar as of a lion to deceive him into following after the roaring, so that he might fall into their hands. � But the eyes of Benaiah were opened wide, and he knew that he must act warily. And so soon as he perceived whose were the footprints and the roar, he covered himself quickly with a white sheet which he had made ready for himself from the beginning that he should not be visible in the snow. � He turned back and quickly returned in his tracks to the crevice of the rock where he had left his flock and the boy. Then he sent the boy in front of him to follow in the track of the footprints in the snow until they came to an end; and he taught the lad what he should do and what he should say. � So the lad went up the slope of the mountain, weeping as he went, according to the instruction of Benaiah. And Ben­ aiah stole along wrapt in the white sheet not far behind him. � When the lad turned to go behind the cleft of a rock, there sprang out upon him suddenly the two Moabite Lion-men who had been lying in wait: � "Who art thou, boy ? And why comest thou hither ? " � Still weeping, and with teeth chattering, the lad an­ swered, � "Alas, my lord, I am one of the lads which mind our master's flock, and I have lost a lamb and am come to seek for it in the mountains, if perchance I may find it. But I fear greatly by reason of the lions, for there are many of them in this place." � But one of them that lay in wait suddenly seized him, for his suspicion was awakened, and he shook him to and fro and roared furiously, � "And who is thy master, thou son of a dog? And where is he now ?"

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� "Behind thee! " answered a voice from behind him. � And through the neck of the Lion-man who held the lad was thrust a heavy spear, and it stopped his mouth. � Before the other Lion-man could turn round to see whence came the evil, behold, a shining sword, and his head was split like a pumpkin. � The voice was the voice of Benaiah; his was the spear, and his was the sword. � He had followed closely after the lad, ready to avenge himself on those who had sought his life and who had vexed his people. And there fell on that day two of the Moabite Lion-men, wallowing in their blood in the snow. And Benaiah cast their two carcases into a pit. � As he turned to go away he looked, and, behold, a lion leaping along, coming down towards the pit, drawn by the smell of blood. � Benaiah went down after it into the pit and slew it, and added its carcase to the carcases of the two Moabite Lion­ men, for he said, � "Let it not be a hindrance to me when I go to the lioness in her lair." � Then Benaiah set forth and followed the tracks of the lion so that he should find its den. And the sun went down, and he spent that night in a crevice of the rock. � And it came to pass the next day that Benaiah found the den of lions which he had been seeking, and therein was a lioness suckling her whelps. It was none other than the lioness which yesterday he had made a widow and whose whelps he had made orphans. � Benaiah took one of his goats and threw it in front of the lioness. But he stood afar off. � The next day he came a little closer and threw before her yet another goat. So did he to the lioness every day, until she was accustomed to him. 123

� At the end of ten days she suffered him to come close to her and to play with her and to handle her dugs. � Thus Benaiah was able to take of her milk. � And he took the milk and brought it away; and he bore it to King Solomon. � Then Solomon summoned the messengers of Moab and said, � "Lo, here is the milk of the lioness for which ye asked. Take it and bring it to your master that he may drink thereof and be healed. And let him remember in thank­ fulness my warrior Benaiah, the man of might, for at peril of his life got he the milk of the lioness. Go, now, in peace, and may God be with your mouth and with your tongue! " � And the messengers of the King o f Moab took the milk and went their way. And as they journeyed the sun went down, and they came unto a place where they spent the night. � That night while they lay asleep the chief among the messengers (the same was also the King's physician and had counselled him to drink the milk of a lioness) dreamed a dream; and, behold, the members of his body contended the one with the other. � The legs said, � "We surpass all the other members, for without us, who could have gone to get the milk for the King ? " � And the hands said, � "Wc rank highest, for without us how could the dugs of the lioness have been pressed or the milk taken? " � And the eyes said, � "We come before all, for without us none could see his way or find his hands and feet." ! And the hean answered, � "Without me ye arc all as nothing, for I am the coun-

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sellor, and without my counsel what profit is there in any of you ? " ! And the tongue said, ! "1, even I, am to be preferred above you all, for without the power of speech which is in me, ye had accomplished nothing ! " ! When the tongue had thus spoken, all the other mem­ bers rose up against it and reviled it and spoke despitefully of it, saying, ! "Pshaw! thou skulker in darkness and gloom! Pish, thou flabby, boneless creature! Wouldest thou boast thyself against us? Art thou not afraid to take thy stand among the mighty ? " ! But the tongue answered, ! "Verily, this day shall ye acknowledge every one of you that I, even I, am your master." ! And the King's physician awoke, and lo, it was a dream. But he kept these sayings in his heart. Then he arose and hastened on his j ourney, both he and they that were with him. ! So the messengers returned. They carne and stood before the King, and the chief among the messengers brought the jar of milk and offered it to the King. ! But his mind was still confused by reason of his dream in the night, and he said, ! "My lord the King, behold, we have now returned, and we bring thee the milk of a bitch . . . " ! When the messenger uttered that word the King's face became distorted with passion, and he stamped with the foot of fury and cried out, ! "Away with him! Let him be hanged! " ! Forthwith he was carried off by the chief executioner. And all the members in his body shuddered and writhed in their terror of death. ! But the tongue said, 125

� "So now ye see that I hold you all in my power! Will ye not admit, now, that I am indeed master of you all ? " � And the members o f the body answered, every one of them, and said, � "We do indeed admit it! We grant thee all greatness and all pre-eminence . . . . Only, pray, turn away from us quickly this bitterness of death ! " � So the tongue said to the chief executioner, � "Take me back to the King, for I have somewhat to say unto him touching his welfare and his health." � The physician was taken back to the King. � He cast himself down at the King's feet and made sup­ plication to him, saying, � "Alas, my lord the King, why was I taken out to be hanged ? For lo, I had brought thee the very drink that should give healing to thy flesh ! " � And the King said, ' "Did not thine own mouth testify against thee that thou hadst brought me the milk of a bitch ?" ' The physician answered, ' "Let my lord the King but make trial and drink of the milk, whether or not it will bring him healing; for the milk is in truth the milk of "a lioness: though sometimes in the speech of huntsmen they call a lioness a bitch. May the King forgive this once the error of his servant's mouth in that he kept no guard over his tongue when he stood be­ fore the King." ' And the words entered the King's heart so that he hearkened to them and drank of the milk. And he was healed. � That selfsame day the King dismissed the company of the Moabite Lion-men and disbanded them so that they oppressed Israel no more. And the peace of truth prevailed between the King of Moab and between Israel all the days of Solomon.

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' And this is the matter whereof Solomon wrote in his Proverbs: Death and life are in the power of the tongue.

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WHICH WAS THE THIEF ? OXE DAY THREE 1\IERCHANTSWENT FORTH FROM SHECHEM TO G O TO JERUSALI:M, EACH WITH HIS BAG O F MONEY IN I liS llANO. WHILE THEY WERE ON THE WAY, THE NIGHT O F

Sabbath overtook them when they must break their jour­ ney. So they took counsel together and hid their bags of money in a secret place, all of them in the one place. And there they kept the Sabbath. ' In the middle of the night one of them rose up secretly and stole all the money and hid it in another place. And the others knew it not. ' When the Sabbath was ended and they came to get their money they saw that it had gone, and they cried out with a great cry and each in anger accused the other, the one saying, "Thou art the thief ! ", while the other said, "Nay, but thou an the thief ! "

! So they seized every man his companion and came up to Jerusalem and brought their suit before King Solomon. ! When the King had heard their words he said, ! "Come again. Judgment shall be given in the morning." ! So the three men lodged in Jerusalem that night. ! In the morning they returned to the King. And it was so that when the King beheld them, and after he had regarded them for a while, he answered and said, ! "Not only have I heard, but the sight of you assureth me, that ye are shrewd merchants and wise in the ways of justice. Come, therefore, let me ask you concerning a matter which befell in the land of Edom, and which the king of that country hath sent unto me to put me to the proof. Hearken, now, and tell me how ye would decide. ! "Thus the matter befell:

! Two men lived in a certain town in the land of Edom, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a daughter who was very beautiful, sincere and intelligent; and the poor man had a son who was prudent and upright. This boy, the son of the poor man, loved the girl, and also she loved him; and she swore an oath that except by his consent she would be betrothed to no other man. This be­ came known to the girl's father; but it seemed to him an evil thing to give his daughter to the poor man's son. He made naught of her oath and went and affianced her to a rich young man, a well born youth who lived in another town. When the rich young man saw the girl's beauty his soul clave to her, and he gave her many gifts, bracelets and necklaces and golden rings, and his soul failed with longing for the time appointed for the mar­ riage. When the time drew near he hastened to the 129

house of the girl's rather to take her to himself. Hut when he came in unto her chamber to speak with her, she refused to listen, for she said to the bride­ groom, ! "As God liveth, never will I follow thee until I have first been to a certain youth and asked his consent, for thus did I swear to him on oath." ! The bridegroom subdued his longi1;g and let her alone. g And she rose up and tied in a bundle all her orna­ ments and her valuable possessions and took them to the house of the poor youth and said to him, ! "I know that thou lovest me, but my father's will is strong upon me: he hath given me to another man and I cannot rebel against his command. Take from me, I pray, all my ornaments and my valu­ able possessions, and release me from my oath." ! The girl wept, and the boy also wept with her. And he said, ! "If it is God's will to keep us apart, let Him do what is good in His sight. And thou, because thou hast remained steadfast to thine oath, be thou blessed of God and blessed all thy days. And I lift up my hand to God that I will take naught of thine Go, return to thy house in peace, and rejoice in thy bridegroom, and may he also rejoice in thee ! " ! So the girl went back to the bridegroom and be­ came his wife. And for seven days the bridegroom made a great feast. And when the days of the feast were accomplished he took his wife and all that he had and set forth to return to his own town and and to his own home. ! \Vhile they were on the way a company of robbers suddenly fell upon them, and they would have_killed them and taken their goods, but the> -

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chief of the robbers, an old man, saw that the girl was good to look upon, and he coveted her and did not suffer his young men to lay hands on her. � He came near to seize her, but she threw herself down before him and said, � "Oh, sir, let me, I pray, speak a word in thine ear, and then do with me as may seem good to thee." � And she told the eldest of the robbers all that had befallen her, and she said, � "Let my lord, therefore, lay it to heart and judge. Behold, my bridegroom to whom my father affi­ anced me is a youth in the fulness of his strength; nevertheless he subdued his longing and left me alone until I should be released from my oath. Then how canst thou, an old man and withered, standing daily on the edge of the grave, do this great evil, to take a woman that is not thine and sin against God continually ? And now, if it is riches that thou desirest, take all the silver and gold, take the jewels and precious stones; only let me and my husband go in safety." � And the words entered into the old robber's heart and he let her alone. Moreover he gave back to her and to her husband all their goods: the silver and gold and ornaments, he gave them all back. � And he let them go to their own home in safety. � "All this story," said King Solomon, "did the King of Edom declare unto me, and he hath required me to tell him soon my decision concerning them that had taken part, and to say which among them all was most to be praised, which among them all had shown himself to be the best and the most upright. And now, since God by chance hath brought before me men of knowledge such as ye are, I

IJI

said, Come, let me hear what ye will say. Did not David my father say, 'From all that teach me I get me under­ standing'? Examine the matter closely, therefore, and answer me according to your understanding." � The first merchant answered and said, � "I give highest praise to the girl, who remained steadfast to her oath." � The second answered, � "In my sight the bridegroom is most to be praised, be­ cause he subdued his longing." � And the third answered, � "I give highest praise to the chief of the robbers, for he let the girl alone, and as though this was but a light thing in his eyes he even gave back all the goods which he had stolen, though this she had not asked of him. Of a truth, the latter deed was greater than the former: praise is in­ deed his due ! " � Hardly had these words left the lips of the third mer­ chant than Solomon turned upon him the eye of wrath and cried out, � "He is the thief ! " � The King spake the word and straightway the man fell on his face to the ground and confessed and said, � "Of a truth I have sinned, my lord the King. I, even I, took the money. Behold, it is hidden in such and such a place." ! And when they searched for the money it was found in the place of which the thief had spoken. The money was restored to its owners and the thief was punished in ac­ cordance with his wickedness. ! And all Israel knew of a truth that the wisdom of God was in their King, for he judged not by the sight of his eyes, but he looked to the heart. And they loved him and feared him exceedingly. ! On that day King Solomon added yet another to his

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proverbs of wisdom which he wrote down on a scroll, _ saymg: The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, But the Lord trieth the hearts.

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UZZIEL AND HANNAH

. SUCH GREAT WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING AND BREADTH O F MIND DID GOD GIVE TO SOLOMON THAT HE WAS THE WISEST AMONG ALL MEN.

SOLOMON KNEW ALL THE WAYS

of mankind, their innermost motives, the crooked work­ ing of their minds and their artifices. And in the wisdom and understanding wherewith God had endowed him he uttered many proverbs concerning them. � One day the spirit rested on him and he uttered this saying: One man among a thousand have I found, But a woman among all those have I not found.

� And the people and the elders when they heard this were amazed, for they said, � "Herein hath the King issued a most harsh judgment against women ! Can it indeed be that there is not even one among women that is upright and God-fearing, hold­ ing fast her integrity at all times ? " � And they declared this to the King. � And the King said to them, � "Would ye see with your own eyes that what I have said concerning women is no idle talk ? " � They answered, � "\Ve would, indeed ! " � And Solomon said, � "This, then, shall ye do: From among them that dwell in Jerusalem choose out a man and a woman whom ye know to be righteous and honest, and I will prove my words." � And the elders answered, � "Behold, the excellent Uzziel and his pious wife Han­ nah ! In all the borders of Israel there is none more right-' eous and honest than they." � So the King sent and summoned Uzziel and spake with him in secret, saying, � "Lo, I have heard of thee that thou art a man of might and probity, and it seemed good in my sight to set thee high above all the captains of my army but only if thou obey me in all that I command thee.'� � And Uzziel answered, � "I am thy servant ! Whatsoever thou biddest me I will do. But let me, I pray, be as one of the least of the King's servants." � And the King said to him,' � "Nay, but I will greatly exalt thee and set thee higher than all my faithful captains; and thou shalt be second to me in rank and my counsellor. 1\1uch silver and gold will . • .

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I give to thee and I will bestow great riches upon thee. And all this is but a light thing in my sight: I will also give thee the fairest of my daughters to be thy wife . . . but only if thou obey me in all that I command thee. Art thou willing ? " !!And Uzziel made answer i n all simplicity, ! "Who am I that I should disobey the King's command?" ! And the King said, ! "If so, thus shalt thou do. Take from me this sharp sword and gird it on beneath thy garments that none may see it; and in the night arise and slay thy wife in her bed, and bring her head to me in the morning." ! And Uzziel writhed in his distress and said, ! "Alas, my lord the King' How can I do this most horn­ hie thing-to slay by stealth an innocent soul, the wife of my covenant, who never in all her days hath sinned against me! " ! The King answered as though in anger, !"Uzziel, the King's favour is as dew upon the grass, and his anger is as messengers of death. If the King hath or­ dained a thing, who is he that dareth to disobey him:> Be­ gone' Do as I have bidden thee, for thy life is in jeopardy' " ! And putting the sword into his hand, the King sent him away. ! Then Uzziel returned home and sat down grieving and sighing, and with the sword beneath his garments. ! "What hath vexed thee, 0 my husband? " asked his wife. "And why is thy face troubled?" ! He lifted up his eyes to her in compassion, and he tho�ght that his heart would break; and he deceived her, saymg, ! "It is naught, my wife: it is but an evil spirit: it will pass." ! So his wife spake with him cheeringly and pressed him to eat and to drink. She strove to make him speak; but in

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his sorrow he kept silence and would touch nothing of what she brought before him on the table. And that whole evening he sat gloomy and desolate. ! And it came to pass in the middle of the night, while his wife was sleeping in her bed with her children in the bed beside her, that her husband entered stealthily and in his hand was a drawn sword. ! He drew near to the bed. He looked upon the face of his wife, and lo, she was lying with her eyes closed and her hands relaxed on the pillow. She was sleeping peace­ fully with her hair spread out over her children: the one child lay with his head on her bosom and the other with his head on her shoulder. ! Uzziel looked at them and his heart went out to them, and he said, ! "Let what will befall, never will I put fonh my hand against the wife of my youth and the mother of my chil­ dren, even though the King slay me! " ! He thrust back the sword into its scabbard and bent down and gently kissed his wife's hand. And all that night he kept watch over her. ! When it was morning the King's guard came and took Uzziel in haste to the palace. ! The King asked, ! "Where is thy wife's head?" ! And Uzziel fell down before the feet of the King and said, ! "My lord the King, if evil is determined by thee against me, then I beseech thee, cut off my head! Only put not forth a hand against my wife, for wherein hath she sinned against any man? Or why should the mother be taken from her children' " ! And the King made his face to shine upon him, and he said, ! "Peace be to thee, my son! Fear not! It was but to test 13 7

thee that I said to thee that which I did say. Return to thy home and rejoice in thy wife, for no hand shall touch her. And as for thee, tell no man of this until the day when J bid thee. Take heed: I have warned thee ! " � And Uzziel returned t o his home joyful and happy; and, as the King had commanded him, he said nothing to any man. � And it came to pass after thirty days that the King sent in secret and summoned Hannah, the wife of Uzziel, and he spake privately with her, saying, � "Behold, now, I know that thou art a beautiful woman, and my soul longeth after thee. I am minded to take thee to be my wife. I would clothe thee in scarlet and broidery, with gold, even most fine gold, and adorn thee with the choicest adornments, and set a royal crown on thy head. And I would set thy throne higher than all the queens and put thee on my right hand." � A fire kindled in the woman's eyes; but the King went on enticing her without ceasing: � "And when thou dwellest with me in my palace all thy days shall be joy and delight, and thy nights feasting and dancing and pleasure; the flowers in my garden shall offer thee their fragrant incense and the sweetest of songs shall belaud thy loveliness; kings' daughters shall hear thy praise and call thee blessed, and princesses shall envy thy magnificence." � The woman's heart melted and turned into a rill of wa­ ter, and she answered, � "My lord and my King! Here am I - in thy hand!" � But the King continued his words: � "Yct one there is that standeth between me and thee: it is thy husband. Nevertheless it is in thy power to thrust him aside . . . " ' "But how can I prevail against him?" she asked. 138

· ! "With the sword! With this sword which I put into thy hand thou shalt surely slay him in the night when none seeth. And when the days of mourning are accomplished I will send for thee and bring thee to my palace, and thou shalt be my wife." ! The woman straightway consented, took the sword and went out. ! Now the King had seen from the beginning what the end would be, and he had made a sword of shining lead which could do no hurt or injury. But the woman had not observed it, and she went back quickly to her home and none knew of her going or of her returning. ! When evening was come and Uzziel returned home from his work, Hannah greeted him with shining face and not as her custom was at other times, for she embraced him and kissed him and coaxed him most tenderly, while she said, ! "Sit and refresh thyself, my husband and my lord! Surely thou art weary, 0 crown of my head ! " ! And she prepared him a table full o f dainty dishes, and she brought him wine in abundance, saying, ! "Oh, delight of my eyes! Eat and drink, and make thy heart merry!" ! And Uzziel in his simplicity asked, ! "How cometh it, my wife, that this night differeth from other nights ? " ! And she answered deceitfully, ' "Oh, my soul's desire! It is only that a spirit of happi­ ness hath taken hold on me this night and I am determined to rejoice over thee' Drink, my husband, and be merry! And let us rejoice and be glad together! " ! So she poured him out cup after cup, and he feared no evil. He drank until he was drunken and sleep overpow­ ered him. Sunk in deep sleep he lay down on the couch whereon he had sat. 139

' The woman saw that he was deep in sleep. She girded herself with strength, drew out the sword and smote his neck with all her might. He awoke and came to himself. He saw his wife standing over him and in her hand a drawn sword. He writhed in his anguish. He seized her arm and shouted out at her, ! "What hast thou done? And what doest thou with a drawn sword in thy hand?" ! She fell down at his feet and confessed to him her wick­ ed purpose. Moreover she told him all, and how the King had enticed her. ! Uzziel listened and let her alone. ! All through the night she wept and sobbed and smote herself and tore her hair, for she was greatly ashamed and said, ! "Woe is me! How dare I ever again look my husband in the face! " ' And it came to pass i n the morning that the King's guard came in haste to the house and brought Uzziel and his wife before the King. ! At that hour the King was sitting on his throne in the hall of judgment and the seventy elders of Israel sat on his right hand and on his left. When the King saw Uzziel and his wife he laughed and turned to the husband and said, ! "Declare, I pray, in my ears and in the ears of the elders, all that befell in thy house during the night. Hide nothing." ! And Uzziel told everything: how the King had first tempted him and how his wife had dealt with him dur­ ing the night. ! And he said, ! "I had compassion on her, but she had no compassion on me' If it had not been a leaden sword she would have cut off my head."

! Again the King laughed and, turning to the elders, he said, ! "Do ye not see ? It is the selfsame thing of which my mouth hath spoken: One man among a thousand have I found, But a woman among all those have I not found."

THE THREE BROTHERS THREE

BROTHERS ONCE

CAME

TO

KIXG

SOLO:\ION,

FOR

THEY HAD BEARD O F HIS WISDOM AND WERE MINDED TO LEARN FROl\I Hl:\1 KXOWLEDGF: AND UXDERSTANDING.

! And Solomon said to them, ! "I will grant you your wish, but on this condition that ye stand before me three years to minister unto me." ! And the three brothers hearkened to him, and they stood before Solomon in his palace and ministered to him. ! But when the three years were fulfilled and the brothers had still not learnt one word of wisdom from him, their anger was kindled greatly and they said one to another,

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� "How long shall we sit in the King's house to no pur­ pose? Come, let us return to our homes and our wives: let us no more suffer this indignity." � So they came and bowed themselves down before the King with their faces to the ground, and they said, � "0 lord our King ! Thy servants have fully accom­ plished the prescribed three years in thy palace. Now, therefore, give us leave to depart that we may return to our homes and our wives, for the appointed time is at hand." � The King commanded that three hundred pieces of gold be brought, and he set them before them and said, � "Choose each of you one of two things: to take from my hand a hundred pieces of gold, or to receive from my mouth three pieces of counsel and guidance. Whichever it be, it shall be the reward for your service. Make your choice ! " ' The brothers pondered in their hearts, and then they chose the gold. According to their desire so the King granted them; and he sent them away in peace. � As they went out through the door of the palace, the youngest among the brothers bethought himself, and he said, ! "My brethren, what is this that we have done ? Was it for gold that we devoted ourselves when we came to stand before Solomon? Was it for that that we endured all this toil ? Come, let us give back these bags of gold to the King and take instead his words of wisdom." ! But when his two brothers heard him they mocked at him and despised him, and went on their way, each bear­ ing his bag of gold. ! But the youngest brother straightway went back to carry out his purpose. ! And when the King saw him and heard his request, he made his face to shine upon him and said,

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' "Behold, I have hearkened to thee, and I will take back from thee the gold and will give thee instead three pieces of counsel and wisdom according to thy wish. And these are they: Find thee a lodging for the night before the sun goeth down. Cross not a river when the waters thereof are in flood. Withhold thy secret from a woman, even though she be the wife of thy bosom." ' The youngest brother gave thanks to the King and departed. ' He mounted his horse and rode on until he overtook his brothers and they three journeyed onwards together. ' When the sun was about to set, the three brothers drew near to a quiet habitation, safe from any fear of evil, than which could be no better resting-place for the night. ' And the youngest brother said, ' "Lo, here is a place of trees and grass and water, both a refuge for us and a pasturage for our beasts. Let us, I pray, pass the night here, and in the morning at dawn we will rise early and go on our way." ' But his brothers refused, saying, ' "We will not make our camp here: we can still journey three hours more before nightfall. As for thee, do as thou art guided by the wisdom of Solomon, and pass the night here; but we will get us on our way and not waste our time in vain." ' So the two brothers went on their way together and left their youngest brother by himself in the field. He alighted from his horse, kindled a fire from the dry sticks which he gathered, and built himself a hut under a thirk oak tree. He gave his horse food and water, and then refreshed hirn1 44

self. He ate and drank and lay down in that place; and his sleep was altogether peaceful. ! When the day dawned he awoke from his sleep and rode upon his horse and followed in his brothers' tracks. After some hours he came to a very high mountain covered with snow. While he was going up the mountain he discovered, rolled up in the snow, the lifeless bodies of his brothers. For in the night they had found themselves among snow­ covered rocks and there consumed by cold, they froze to death. ! The youngest brother wept and, in fitting fashion, he buried them. Weeping and down-hearted he took their bags of gold and went on his way. ! As he went down from the mountain on the other side towards the river below, the noonday sun was blazing with all its might, and it melted the snow, bringing down floods of water which rushed down to the foot of the mountain so that when he was come down thither, be­ hold, the stream which had flowed there was become a flooded river, for the melted snow had swollen it to over­ flowing, and every minute its waters waxed higher and more rapid, blocking the way before horse and rider. ! While he stood waiting and holding back his horse on this side of the river, there drew near on the other side two men, servants of King Solomon, riding on two mules and carrying sacks of gold. They and their mules came down to pass through the water. But when the youngest brother saw what they would do, he called out to them in a loud voice, warning them and saying, ! "God forbid ! Come not down ! It will be at peril of your lives ! Wait, as I do, until the waters abate, and then cross over. For thus did the King advise and instruct me." ! But they paid no heed to him or to his warning. When they had reached the middle of the flooded river, they and their beasts were dragged off their feet and swept away. 1 45

� Three days the youngest brother waited until the water had fallen. Then, tied to the carcases of the mules, he found the bags of gold, and he pulled them out of the river and loaded them upon his own horse. And so after a few days he returned to his own home in safety, very heavily laden with gold. � \Vhen he was come back, the wives of his two brothers came to him and asked, � "Our husbands, where are they ?" � And he answered, � "Because of their love of wisdom they cannot make an end of their pleasure therein, and so they have lingered longer than 1." � With his gold he bought fields and vineyards and pros­ pered greatly. � And it came to pass about this time that his wife asked him, saying, � "Wilt thou not tell me whence came to thee all this wealth ? " � But he treasured i n his heart that third piece o f guidance which Solomon had given to him, and he held his peace: not even a hint of all that had befallen him did he reveal. Nevertheless his wife would not leave him in peace but pressed him closely day after day, sometimes speaking with him tenderly and sometimes bitterly, urging him to tell her what was hidden in his heart. � Then, at last, when he had become wearied by her, he told her and kept back nothing. � And evil did not long delay. � After a few days a quarrel broke out between him and his wife, and she cried out with a loud voice, � "\Vas it but a light thing that thou slewest thy two brothers! And thinkest thou to slay me also!" � And her words were heard in the house of hJs brothers'

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widows, and they straightway brought their suit before King Solomon. ! But when the man came before the King and told his story, the King at once recognised him. He knew what was the truth of the whole matter. ! And he said, ! "Go in peace. Thou art innocent of wrong-doing. I feel great grief for them that perished; nevertheless I doubly rejoice that the words of my counsel were a help even but to one and saved him from death. Return now to thy home, and remember that wisdom is more precious than gold and no desirable thing can be compared with it."

THE WOMAN WHO SUED THE WIND O�CE A WEARY, FRAIL AND TOTTERING WOMAN, BATHED I� TEARS, CAl\IE AKD CAST HERSELF DOWN BEFORE SOL0:\10N A�D CRIED OUT TO HIM,

� "Oh, my father and my King ! Espouse my cause and avenge me of mine adversary the wind ! " � The King's heart went out in pity when he saw the woman and heard her lamentation. But he marvelled greatly at her words and he said to her in pity, � "The wind ? Wherein is thy soul afflicted, my daugh­ ter? Speak, and I ,,·ill hearken." � And with tears falling down her cheeks she answered, � "Oh ! my lord the King! I am a widow and alone in the world. All that thy handmaid possessed was a broken­ down wooden hut by the sea which sheltered my head, :C d �

and these ten lean fingers with which I kept myself alive by weaving nets for fishermen. But then came endless days of mighty storms at sea, so that my frail staff of bread was broken, for fishing ceased, no more did men spread their nets in the sea, and none sought my handiwork. � "And one morning I looked, and, lo, my jar of flour was empty. But still the sea raged and stormed, and from terror of starvation my heart failed me, so that I went out with the poorest of the people and gleaned behind the reapers in the fields of the charitable. All that day I spent in the fields with back bowed down and face buried in the ground, for the shame of it had broken my heart. The grain that I gleaned I washed with my tears. � "Alas ! my King and my father! Verily thy handmaid hath been wretched and poor from her youth up; her food hath been ever the bread of affliction, and the bread of kindness hath she never known. But that day God beheld my poverty and blessed my labour, so that I filled my bosom with ears of corn. Moreover God moved the master of the field and his young men so that they had compassion on me and, though I asked it not, they added to my glean­ ing with a generous hand. � "On the evening of the second day I winnowed my gleanings and ground them, and they gave me about half an ephah of flour; and I bound it up in my kerchief and would have carried it to my hut. But while I was on the way, with the wind thrusting and buffeting me violently from behind, lo, a man met me, a man overpowered by the dread and the terrors of death. I would have turned away from him, but he seized me and cried, � " 'Oh, woman, help me ! Fire fell from heaven and burnt up all the village where I dwelt and altogether de­ voured it with every li,·ing thing and every possession, so that none escaped and nothing remained. I alone am escaped from the fire, and these three days no food hath

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entered my mouth. Wilt thou not save me from dying of hunger ? ' � "His face testified that h e lied not, and I made haste and gave him about a third pan of the flour from my bundle. He went his way, and in my hean I thanked God who had given me occasion to perform an act of kindness and mercy, to save aiive a starving man, like as others had dealt mercifully with me that day and the former day. � "I had not gone far, and there was yet a space of country between me and the hut where I dwelt, when there came another man; and he was terror-stricken and sorely pressed like one that had been hotly pursued and had scarce escaped alive; and in his eyes a strange fire burned, the fire of hunger. And before I could understand, he suddenly stood in my way and cried, � 'Bread! Bread! Give me bread! A band of Arabs raided my camp and all my herds. All my goods have they plun­ dered and they have put every soul to death. I alone am escaped from the slaughter, and these three days I have tasted no food. I beseech thee, save my life ! ' ' "His eyes bore witness to the truth of his words. To him, also, I divided about a third pan of my flour. And I praised God that He had chosen me and twice made me His messenger to save a man's life. � "The wind grew still more violent; and barely had I reached the door of my hut or my hand touched the knob of the bolt, than there blew a sudden and most mighty gust, smiting me with such force that it stunned me; and before I could find my hands or my feet, lo, my bundle, the bundle of flour, all that was left me of my gleaning, was wrenched out of my hand and disappeared. Some hidden hand had snatched it and borne it far away into the sea. For a while I saw it tossed like a feather on the wings of the wind. I ran after it, panting and wailing, stretching out my hands towards it as a mother stretcheth out her "

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hands towards her babe that has been snatched away in the claws of an eagle. But the howling wind drowned my outcry and my arms fell back empty, while the bundle flew about like a bird in the night and was lost to sight. ! "Crushed and broken in spirit I hurried back to the hut, there to hide myself in my grief. But lo, my hut, my sole shelter and refuge, lay before me shattered and broken into fragments. Even against my hut had the wind turned its hand and ovenhrown it and wrecked it. I sank down among the ruins; no strength was left in me. All the night I lay like a stone in pitch darkness. ! "And now, my father and my King, while life is still in me, I am come to bring my plaint before thy footstool. Espouse my cause and right my wrongs ! " ! After she had poured out t o the end her tale o f mis­ fonunes, her face became a torrent of tears. Many also of them that stood in the hall of judgment wept with her; for her anless words had touched their heans. � The King's pity was stirred, and he said to her, � "Arise, my daughter ! Turn now aside, while I com­ mand what shall be done for thee. Sit awhile and rest, and when thou art refreshed I will bring fonh thy judgment to the light." ! And King Solomon commanded his servants to bring for her bread and wine, to restore her soul. ! i\1eanwhile there had come into the counyard of the judgment hall three strangers, and with them were three mules laden with three full sacks. And they desired to see the face of the King of Israel. ! They were brought into the hall, and the King asked them their desire. And the three strangers bowed them­ selves down before the King with their faces to the ground, and they said, ! "We are merchants, and we met together by chance. We made a compact between ourselves and sailed together 151

in the one ship, and we bore with us our merchandise bound up in sacks, wares of silver and gold, the work of skilled craftsmen, choice stones and precious ornaments and all the finest spices. While we were crossing the sea there arose a great storm and it set the sea in a ferment so that the ship was tossed about between the waves and driven off its course. For a great space we wandered through stormy seas and suffered with fortitude the waves and billows of the tempest. ! "But one evening after we had been storm-tossed many days, a breach was made in the ship's bottom, a hole some two handbreadths wide, and the water burst violently into the ship. Our calamity was the greater in that we could find naught wherewith to block up the hole, whether clay or mortar or wool or rags or aught else to staunch the in­ flow. Though we tried to block it up with clothes stript off our bodies, it availed nothing, for the flood was so strong that it straightway pulled them away and dragged them into the sea. ! "Meanwhile the ship was filling with water. Yet a little while, and the flood would have overwhelmed us and the depths swallowed us up. The terrors of death fell upon us, and in our sore dread we lifted up our voices and cried fo� help. But the tempest swamped the sound of our voices. ! "Then were we in evil plight. We saw death face to face, and our affliction was most grievous. We stood up in the ship with the water up to our navels. With all our might we called on the gods. \Ve vowed vows, every man calling on his god and on the gods of every people and land which we knew or whose name only we had heard - the gods of Canaan, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Ammon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of Edom; there was not a god on which we called not nor to which we did not offer many vows. I

52

! "But all our prayers and all our vows were in vain: the storm abated not nor did the sea withhold its fury. But when the water had reached even to our necks we re­ membered of a sudden the God of Israel: and we called on Him with all our might and made our vows, saying, ! '0 God of Israel, if now thou wilt but save us, all these our goods will we give as a ransom for our lives! ' ! "The vow was scarce gone fonh from our lips than the tempest hurled a most mighty blow with one of its wings, all but overwhelming the ship. Something dropped down from the skies; it was like to a bundle, and of its own self it fell like a plug into the hole, and it blocked it up. ! "And suddenly the storm slackened and ceased. The sea became tranquil and smooth. We were saved ! ! "Thus with our own eyes we have seen that for help in trouble there is none like the God of Israel. We hastened and made no delay: we rowed and brought our ship to land and with all speed we are come to Jerusalem, the city of your God, so that we may pay Him our vows, the ran­ som of our souls, in their due time and in His Holy City and in His Temple. ! "Let now the King command and all whatsoever we have brought will we weigh out into the hand of him whom the King shall appoint. ! "And may this offering be pleasing to your God. For we are strangers from afar and know not how we may find favour with Him or how we may worship Him. Yet blessed be the name of your God even in this, that He hath suffered us to come near and see His king and His anointed one, face to face." ! King Solomon listened to their words from the first even to the last. And when they made an end of speaking, he asked, f' Did ye see what was the bundle which blocked up the hole ? " 153 "

! And they answered, ! "We did indeed see the bundle and we also examine'd it. It was naught save a small and meagre bag of flour. It amazeth us to know whence it can have come! It can only be that God, in his great pity for us and to save our souls from death, caused it to fall from on high. Lo! here is the bundle. Look upon it, 0 King. We shall preserve it as a memorial for ever." ! And they set down the bundle before the King. ! The King called the widow unto him and said, ! "Look now upon this: is it thy bundle ? " ! She recognised her bundle and her spirit revived, and she said, ! "Of a truth it is the very bundle which the tempest snatched from my hand. It is my bundle, and all that was left of my flour ! " ! The King's face lightened and his eyes grew bright. He turned to the three merchants and said, ! "Give your sacks to this woman: they are hers. She has proved her right to them. In truth it was God who wrought for you this great salvation, but this woman was His messenger." ! And to the woman he said, ! "Take the sacks of silver and gold: they are thine, a recompense from God in exchange for thy bundle. May God's name be blessed for ever and throughout all ages! For with one hand He taketh from the widow her only bundle of flour to hurl it into the depth of the raging seas and save three souls from death; and with the other hand he requiteth her with three sacks of silver and gold, saved from the depths of the sea, to comfort her heart and wipe away her tears. May His great name be blessed for ever and throughout all ages ! " ! But i n her piety the widow waved away the silver and gold, saying,

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! "Be it far from thy handmaid to take aught of the holy things of God. For I am neither the wife of a priest nor the daughter of priests: I am but a daughter of the common people. I have no part in great matters and I have ever lived by the labour of my hands. If it please God to grant me labour such as I desire and sufficient for my sustenance, I need no more. Spindle, needle and hook are the tools of my craft: they have ever been my staff of bread, and with them I shall lack nothing." ! The widow's words pleased the King and he com­ manded that the sacks of silver and gold be brought by number and weight to the treasury of the Temple. And they were accounted a gift and a freewill offering from the widow. And their price was expended on curtains for the Temple. ! And the King commanded that the woman be given a place in the Chamber of Hewn Stone among the pious and godly women who weave the curtains of the Temple. And she toiled with them in this holy labour and they cherished her honourably all the days of her life. ! So the widow dwelt in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, weaving curtains and working diligently day and night. And the curtains woven by her hand and embroidered by her fi ngers excelled in splendour and grace all that eye had ever seen. Moreover they sent forth as it were a gleaming light, for into their stitches the widow imparted all the skill of her hands, the wisdom of her heart, the purity of her spirit, and all her piety. And their name was known in all Israel, according to the name of the widow; and they were called, ! "The curtains of Zipporah the net-weaver."

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THE QUEEN OF SHEBA KING SOLO:\ION OXCE 1\lADE A GREAT FEAST IN HIS PALACE, AND H E INVITED ALL THE KINGS O F THE EAST AND OF THE ' WEST. AND WHEN THE KING S HEART WAS MERRY WITH

wine he commanded that music be piayed before him on viols and cymbals and drums and harps; and great was the joy and the pleasure in the King's palace. ! Then Solomon commanded that the birds of the air, the wild beasts of the field, the creeping things of the earth, and the demons and spirits should come and stand before him in his palace in the sight of all the kings. And the King's scribes summoned them all by their names accord­ ing to their kind, and they assembled together from the four corners of the earth and, with no man leading them,

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they came by themselves to the palace of King Solomon. ! But when the hoopoe was sought for she could nowhere be found. The King was very wroth. He gave the word and the unruly bird was brought by force. He spake with her harshly and would have punished her, but the hoopoe begged for mercy, saying, ! "Oh, my lord the King, let not iniquity be laid to my charge, for not in disobedience did I delay: I had wandered in far regions to find whether in all the earth there was still a nation or a kingdom which had not heard thy fame. And in the regions of the east I came to a city in the land of Sheba whose name is Kitor. The very dust of that city is gold, and silver is plentiful as stones in the streets; the trees thereof have been planted since the days of creation and are wa­ tered by the streams of the Garden of Eden; and the people thereof dwell in peace and security; in appearance they are like sons of kings, with crowns on their heads. ! "Over them ruleth a woman, a woman exceedingly wise. But the people of that land know not the God of truth, for they worship the sun, and to the sun do they offer their prayers. ! "And now, if it please the King, let him say the word and I will bring before him this queen and her captains, that they may see his glory and his majesty and become his servants." ! And it seemed good in the sight of the King, and he com­ manded his scribes and they wrote a letter to the queen and tied it to the hoopoe's wings. So the hoopoe spread out her wings and mounted up to heaven and sped to the land of Sheba to the city of Kitor; and behind her flew a multi­ tude of the birds of the air, a very great company. ! And it came to pass in the morning that the Queen of Sheba arose from her sleep and came out to worship the sun as her custom was day by day. And lo, flocks of birds

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darkened the face of the sun, so that the queen marvelled greatly, for never had the like of this happened before. � While she still stood gazing, behold, a hoopoe carne down and lifted up its wing before the queen. And the queen saw a letter, and she untied it and read therein ac­ cording to these words: From me, Solomon the King. Peace be to thee and to everyone of thy captains ! Dost thou not know that God hath appointed me king over the beasts of the field and over the fowls of the air and over the fishes of the sea and over the green things of the earth? Gazelles and harts run before my chariot, and lions and tigers bear my weapons; pine trees and cedars bend their heads before me, and the standing corn in the field boweth down before me; likewise over demons and spirits hath God given me authority, and at all times do they obey my command; and from the four corners of the earth come all the kings to salute me and kiss the dust of my feet. � If, now, thou and thy captains will come before me and salute me, then will I honour thee more than all the kings which sit before me; but if ye come not, I will command all my many and mighty hosts to go forth against you, and they will destroy you from off the face of the earth. � And if ye ask, "What are my hosts ?", know, then, that the warriors of my army are spirits and demons which will choke you in your beds and in your bed-chambers, and that my steeds are the wild beasts which will destroy you in your cities, and that my horsemen are the fowls of the air which will devour the flesh from your bones !

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! When the queen heard the words of this letter great trembling seized her and she laid her hands on her raiment and rent it. ! She gathered together all her wise men and her elders and repeated to them the words of the letter. � And the elders said, ! "We know not this King Solomon, and we will not do him honour." !But the queen gave no heed to their counsel. She sum­ moned all her shipmasters and bade them load their ships with much gold and silver and ivory and apes and peacocks and sandal wood, and to send them to King Solomon. ! And from among the well born among her people she chose out three thousand boys and three thousand girls, all of them beautiful and goodly to look upon, all of like stature and age, and all clothed in purple. And she put them in ships to be taken to King Solomon. ! And in the care of the hoopoe she sent a letter to King Solomon, saying: From Kitor to Jerusalem is a journey of seven years; but my strong desire to see thy face will give me wings. Therefore at the end of three years thou shalt see me standing before thee. ! And at the end of three years the queen came to Jerusa­ lem; and with her was a very great army and camels bearing spices and precious stones and jewels in abun­ dance. And it was told to the King, and he sent to meet her the captain of his host, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. ! Now Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was a mighty man and goodly to look upon, and when he went forth at the head of the warriors his appearance was like the fair rays of dawn among the stars of the morning, or like a lily be­ side rills of water.

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� And when the Queen of Sheba saw him she supposed it had been Solomon, and she made haste to alight from her chariot to come to him. But Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saw her error, and he saluted her and said, � "Why hasteth my lady the queen to alight from her chariot to come to me? I am but one of the least of the King's servants." � And the queen marvelled greatly at his comeliness and splendour, and turning to her captains that followed after her she spake in parable, saying, Saw ye never the lion ? Then gaze on his lair! Saw ye never King Solomon ? Then gaze on his servant! � And Solomon heard that the queen was come, and he went and sat in the palace of crystal which he had built. And it came to pass that when the queen came in thither she supposed that the floor of crystal had been water, and she laid bare her legs and lifted the skirt of her garment. And Solomon laughed. � He stood up to meet her and he blessed her and wished her well. He brought her into his palace and spake mer­ rily with her. Seeing her beauty, he said, � "If thou art wise as thou art fair, then there is none so fair and wise as thou among all the women on the earth." � And the Queen of Sheba said unto the King, � "I have heard that thou art the wisest of all men. But now, behold, I will put forth riddles before thee, and it shall be that if thou canst find out my riddles I shall know that none is so wise and clever as thou." � And the King said, � "Put forth thy riddles." � And she said:

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Its source is in dust: It is liquid as water: It gives light to the house. What is it ? ' "Naphtha," answered the King. ' And she put forth another riddle: A tempest passed over its head and its hair: It waved and it bowed and it bitterly cried; It gives joy to the bird, It spells pain to the fish; To the living 'tis mourning, But 'tis glory to the dead. What is it ? ' "Flax," answered the King. ' Again she tested him. She set before him the six thousand boys and girls and divided them into two companies, and she said, ' "Which of them are the boys and which the girls ? " ' And the King looked upon them until he felt ashamed, for he knew not how to distinguish between them: in nothing did they differ, whether in form or stature or voice or raiment. ' So the King acted craftily. He commanded that sweet­ meats, nuts and dates be distributed among them. Some of them gathered up the sweetmeats into the skin of their garments, but others were too modest to do the like and tied them up in their kerchiefs.

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� And the King said, � "They that put the sweetmeats in the skirts of their garments are boys, and they that were too modest to do so are girls." � And as the King said, so it was. � The Queen of Sheba continued to test him with yet harder and darker riddles and parables, and Solomon an­ swered all her questions with wisdom and with great un­ derstanding: nothing was hidden from him. � Then said the Queen of Sheba, � "I believed not the fame of thy wisdom until I should come and see with mine eyes: and, behold, the half was not told me. Happy are thy servants and happy are thy people, for that God hath given to them so wise and great a king as thou ! " � And Solomon brought her to his palace and made for her a great feast and rejoiced with her many days. Then he bestowed gifts upon her and upon her servants and sent her away in peace and with honour.

SOLOMON AND BALKIS AND

THESE

ARE

THE

THINGS

WHICH

THE

PEOPLE

OF

ARABIA TELL CONCERNING SOLOMON:

� I T CAME TO PASS AFTER THE PROPHET SOLOMON SON OF David had made an end of building the Temple, that he longed to wander to and fro in the eanh and to travel all around it. So he rose up and sat on his flying cloak. And he took with him men and demons and spirits and every kind of wild beast and bird, a very great company whose ranks were a hundred leagues in length. He commanded a light wind and it bore them on high, while the birds flew beside them to minister to them on the journey. � Among the birds the hoopoc went also, to seck out water in the wilderness in the place where they should encamp, for the hoopoe's eyes could perceive water within the bowels of the earth as a man can see through glass. 1 63

� Now whenever the company encamped in any place a company of winged creatures used to stay hovering above the heads of Solomon and his people to give them shelter from the burning heat of the sun, while the hoopoe went out to seek for water; and when she found it she would return and tell Solomon. Thus was her custom on the journey continually. � And it came to pass after many days that in his journey­ ing Solomon came to the land of Ternan, and there he saw a land fair and fertile, a land laden with all manner of green things. And the place was pleasing in his sight and he came down at noontime, he and all his company, and they made their camp there on the fresh grass. � Now there was no water in that place, and the hoopoe said in her heart, � "While the King and his company are spreading their tents I can fly away to find water and return." � So she spread her wings and rose up in the sky, and, looking hither and thither, she beheld a green garden on the ground below. She swooped down into the garden among the herbage, and came upon another hoopoe which lived in that country. � For a moment the two birds held their peace and looked upon one another in surprise. Then the Temanite hoopoe opened her mouth and said to the stranger, � "What is thy name, my friend ? Whence comest thou and whither goest thou ? " � The hoopoe o f Solomon answered, � "Yaapurah is my name. I am come from the camp of Solomon son of David." � "This Solomon son of David, who is he? " said the Temanite. � "Surely," Yaapurah answered, "it is that same Solomon who ruleth over all the earth and over the demons and �pirits and over the wild beasts and birds, who ruleth also

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over the dry land and over the sea and over the four winds of heaven. And thou, my sister, who art thou and what is thy name? " � "Afairah is my name. I live in this country." � "And who is the king thereof? " � "A woman ruleth over us." � "And what is her name? " � "Her name is Balkis," answered Afairah, "and though thy master's kingdom is great and mighty, it surpasseth not her kingdom. To her belongeth all the land of Teman. Her army is great and exceedingly mighty, with twelve thousand captains and a hundred thousand men of war to every captain. Wilt thou go with me to look upon her kingdom ? " � But Yaapurah answered, � "I fear that if I delay the King will be ·wroth with me when he asketh for water and findeth it not." � "Fear not! " said the Temanite hoopoe. "Rather will thy master rejoice when thou bringest him tidings of this queen and her country." � So Yaapurah was cajoled and flew after the Temanite hoopoe and came to the country of Balkis. � Now when Solomon and his men had made an end of spreading their tents, and the time drew near for the eve­ ning prayer, Solomon sought for water to wash his hands and he could find none. Moreover the people and the cattle thirsted for water, and there was a great outcry in the camp. And Solomon lifted up his eyes to the birds which hovered above his head and lo, there was a gap in their ranks, for the hoopoe was missing from her place. � Solomon summoned the eagle, the captain of the birds, and inquired of him concerning the hoopoe, and the eagle answered,

! "God give the King an answer of peace! I neither know

where she went nor where she is, nor did I send her any­ where." ! And the King was very wroth and said, ! "As God liveth! I will surely punish her or slay her, if she cannot justify herself before me." ! So he summoned the cormorant and said to him, ! "Fetch me the hoopoe at once! " ' The cormorant rose up to the sky and looked all over the earth as a man looketh at a dish in front of him. While he yet looked hither and thither, lo, from the direction of Ternan came the hoopoe. ! And he swooped down upon her and would have seized her in his claws, but the hoopoe appealed to him saying, ' "By God, who strengthened thee and made thee mightier than I, I adjure thee that thou attack me not nor do me hurt." ! And the cormorant let her alone, but he said, ' "Woe betide thee! Thy mother hath borne thee for naught! The King is enraged against thee and hath even sworn to punish thee or slay thee." ! And they flew both together and their faces were turned towards Solomon. ! When they reached the companies of the birds, the eagle and the other winged creatures met them and said to the hoopoe, ! "Where hast thou been ? " ' And they told her how the King had sworn in his rage to punish her with the direst punishment. ! And the hoopoe trembled greatly and said, ! "Is the evil indeed determined against me by the Prophet of God ? " ! And they said, ! "Thus spake the Prophet of God: 'If she cannot j ustify herself before me.' "

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� "Then," said the hoopoe, "I am saved ! " � S o they two, the cormorant and the hoopoe, came down before Solomon who was sitting on his throne. � The cormorant said, � "Behold, 0 Prophet of God, I have brought her before thee." � And the hoopoe drew near in fear and trembling, with bowed head and drooping wings and tail. She stood still, humbled and ashamed. � And King Solomon seized her by the crest on her head and pulled her towards him, saying, � "Where hast thou been? Tell me, lest I straightway slay thee." � And the hoopoe said unto him, � "Remember, 0 Prophet of God, that thou standest be­ fore the mighty and most high God ! " � When the King heard these words his anger abated, and he said, � "Then tell me where thou hast been and why thou hast delayed thy return? " � And the hoopoe said, � "0 Prophet of God! I indeed went out to seek for water. But as I flew high in the heavens a new country was re­ vealed to me, a country which thou knowest not. It is the country of Sheba. So I thought, I will go thither and pass through it and search it out and examine it, so that I may tell my master such things as shall be made known to me. And this is what I found. � "It is a great and wide country, blessed by God. It lack­ eth nothing. The ruler thereof is a woman, and she hath a great and most wonderful throne. But the queen of that country and her people know not God. They worship the sun when it riseth and when it setteth. Thus have I heard or seen, and this do I declare unto my lord the King." � And Solomon said,

� "Come, I will see whether the words of thy mouth are truth or whether thou hast spoken lies." � And the King commanded a letter to be prepared for the Queen of Sheba. � Meanwhile the hoopoe went out and showed the people of Solomon a spring of water which she had espied at the bottom of a valley. And the demons and spirits digged in the valley and discovered water. So the men and the cattle drank thereof and satisfied their thirst. � And one of the King's scribes wrote out the letter in these words: From the servant of God, Solomon son of David. Unto llalkis, Queen of Sheba. In the name of God the Compassionate. Peace to them that walk uprightly. � My mouth ordaineth that ye come everyone of you before me and that ye ascribe honour to God. � And Solomon scented the letter with musk and sealed it wit� his seal. And he gave it into the mouth of the hoopoe, saymg, � "Fly with this letter to the Queen of Sheba. And, when thou hast given it into her hand, go aside and stand where thou mayest hear what she and her people shall say, and bring me word of their answers." � And the hoopoe said, � "What the King hath commanded that will I do." � The hoopoe took the letter and after a flight of three days reached the land of Sheba early one morning and alighted on the roof of the queen's palace. The palace was 1 68

still tightly shut up, for the queen had not yet awakened from sleep. Now in the queen's bed-chamber was an open window in the roof above her couch, and when the sun arose and its light entered through the window and fell upon the queen's face, she awoke and worshipped the sun. Such was the way of the queen every morning. � And the hoopoe carne and spread its wings over the window, shutting out the light. Below lay the queen in an ivory bed covered with silk. Her eyelids were closed in morning slumber and her face turned upwards. And the sun arose but the queen knew it not. The hoopoe dropp�d the letter from its beak and it fell upon the queen's neck. Balkis awoke, trembling. � She opened the letter and smelt the sweet savour; but when she had seen what was written therein and the seal of Solomon, she shuddered and lowered her head to the ground, saying, ' "Truly, a king whose messengers are the birds of the air must be a most great and powerful king, and his king­ dom mightier than my kingdom." � And the hoopoe went aside and stood by itself apan to see what would befall. � Then the queen arose. She went and sat on her royal throne and hastily assembled the wisest among her cap­ tains to take counsel with them. Now it was the queen's custom to speak with her captains through her veil; but when any matter greatly distressed her she would reveal her face to them. � And it came to pass that when the captains entered, she uncovered her face, and she told them all the words of the letter; and she said, � "Ah! my captains and my chosen servants! Advise me, I pray, and instruct me what I shall do, for naught have I determined until ye should come together unto me." � And the captains answered her, saying, 169

� "With us is strength and might for battle! Thy pan it is to command! Command, we pray, and none will with­ stand thee." � And Balkis said, � "This is the counsel which I offer. I will send Solomon a gift by the hand of my messenger. And it shall be that if he is but a king, he will take the gift and beset us no more; whereas if he be indeed a Prophet he will spurn our gift and will not desist from us until we come before him and call upon the name of his God." � And the queen's advice seemed good in the sight of the captains, and they said, � "Do as thou hast said, and may the queen live for ever! " � So Balkis chose five hundred boys and five hundred girls, and the girls she clothed in men's apparel-surcoats and girdle; and the boys she clothed in women's dress, putting bracelets of gold about their hands, and chains of gold about their necks, and, in their ears, rings and circlets set with precious stones. The girls she made to ride on horses and the boys on camels, with a golden saddle to every horse and to every camel a golden cushion, all encrusted with precious stones and covered with embroidered work. � And in the hands of the boys and the girls she put five hundred bricks of pure silver and five hundred bricks of pure gold, and a great diadem of gold encrusted with corals and amber to be offered unto Solomon, together with musk and ambergris and aloes and ebony wood. ' Moreover she took a casket and set therein a perfect pearl, exceedingly rare, wherein was no flaw; and she put in also a pierced and twisted oyster-shell. She closed it up and gave it into the hands of great and honourable cap­ tains, men of knowledge and understanding, to bring it unto Solomon. � � nd by the hand of her messengers she sent him a letter, saymg: 1 70

� If thou an indeed a Prophet of God, distinguish, I pray, between the boys and the girls! And say, moreover, what is in this casket before thou open­ est it. � Afterwards, through the pearl bore a hole all straight and even and pass a thread through the hole of the oyster shell, but without the help of man or demon. � And Balkis commanded the boys and the girls, saying, � "When ye speak unto King Solomon change ye your voices: let the boys speak in a voice thin and soft like the voice of a woman, and let the girls speak with a voice harsh and thick like the voice of a man." � And the chief of the boys she commanded, saying, � "When thou comest before Solomon, look upon him closely: if he cast on thee an eye of displeasure, fear him not nor be afraid, for it is a sign that he is but a king and no mightier than I. But if he be merry and pleasing to look upon, know then, that he is a Prophet of God, and pay him the honour due to him." � So the men took the gifts and all the wealth and went their way. � Now the hoopoe knew everything that had been done and went back and told it to the King. � Before the messengers of Balkis could reach him Sol­ omon gave the word and his smiths prepared for him bricks of silver and bricks of gold in exceeding abundance, and with the bricks they paved a road nine leagues long from the place of the King's dwelling and outwards, the road by which the messengers of Balkis would come to appear before Solomon. Moreover the King commanded that they build rwo high walls of gold on either side of the road. And an end was made of the work.

I]I

! Then said the King unto his wise men, ! "Which is the goodliest horse which ye have ever seen on land or sea? " ! And they answered, ! "Oh, Prophet of God, in a certain sea we found a horse of many colours, having wings, and a crest, and a diadem of hair on its head." ! And Solomon said, ! "Fetch it to me at once ! " ! So they brought him the horse. And he said, ! "Tether it at the entrance of the paved road, on the right hand side, and set fodder before it." ! And the servants of Solomon did so. ! Then Solomon sat on his throne, and he commanded that they put four thousand seats on his right hand and the like number on his left hand. And he commanded the demons and the spirits and they stood in rows a league in length, on either side of the paved way. Behind them stood Solomon's soldiers, and, behind them, the wild beasts and the creeping things and the birds, two rows of every kind on the right of the paved way and on the left; each one league in length. ! So an end was made of this great preparation, and they all stood, every one in his own company, awaiting the coming of the messengers from Sheba. ! Now when the messengers drew near to the entrance of the paved way they beheld the riches of Solomon and his great might, and they fell greatly in their own sight and no courage remained in them. ! They lifted up their eyes and beheld, standing in the entrance of the paved way, a wonderful horse, whose like they had never before seen, tethered to a pillar of silver by a halter of gold and blue thread; and its droppings fell 1 72

upon the bricks of gold and silver wherewith the road was paved; so that the gifts which they brought from the Queen of Sheba seemed to them of no value; and they cast on the ground all the gifts which had been prepared for the King and took with them nothing. � They entered in between two walls and passed between the rows on either side and, when they saw the companies of the demons and spirits, great shuddering fell upon them and their eyes bulged in their sockets. � But a voice came to their ears, saying, � "Go on, fear not! " � So they went on between the rows of demons and spirits and soldiers and wild beasts and creeping things and birds, until they came and stood still before Solomon. � And die King made his face to shine upon them, and he said, � "What is it that followeth after you?" � And the chief of the messengers bowed down to the ground before the King and answered, � "It is a gift sent to our lord the King from our lady the Queen of Sheba: would that it were acceptable in thy sight! " � And he gave to Solomon the letter of the queen. � And it came to pass that after Solomon had read the letter, he asked, � "And where is the casket ? " � They brought to him the casket. Solomon took i t and shook it to and fro and put his ear to it, and an angel from God came and revealed to the ear of Solomon what was in the casket. � And Solomon said, � "In the casket is a perfect and unpierced pearl, and an oyster shell pie-':ced crookedly." � And the chief of the messengers said, � "Thy word is truth. Yct canst thou also, without the

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aid of any hand, pierce the pearl and pass a thread through the hole of the oyster shell ? " ! And Solomon lifted up the pearl in the sight of them that stood by and asked, ! "Who can pierce it without hand's aid?" ' He asked the soldiers and the demons, but they did not know. ! He asked the spirits. They said to him, ! "The moth-grub will pierce it! " ! So they brought the moth-grub. It took a thin hair in its mouth and entered the pearl from the one side and passed through and came out on the other side. ! And Solomon saw the beauty of its work and praised it, and said, ' "Name whatsoever hire thou desirest, 0 thou moth­ grub, and I will give it to thee." � The moth-grub answered, ! "Command, I pray, that the wood of the tree be ever my sustenance." ! And the King said, ! "Thy request is granted." ! The King then took the oyster-shell and said, ! "Who can pass a thread through this hole without hand's aid ? " ! The white worm answered a n d said, � "0 Prophet of God, I will pass it through." ! The worm took the thread in its mouth and crawled and passed through the crooked hole in the shell and came out at the other side. ! And Solomon said to it, ! "Ask what I shall give thee as thy hire? " � The worm answered, ! "Command, I pray, that the fruit of the tree be ever my sustenance." 1 74

� And the King said, � "It shall be done as thou desirest." � Then King Solomon set apart the boys from the girls. By his wisdom he did this. He commanded that water be brought before them to wash. And so it was that every girl poured the water from the vessel into one hand and from thence over the other hand, and then she washed her face, as is the habit among girls; whereas every boy took water from the vessel into his two hands and so rinsed his face. � And thus did Solomon distinguish between them. � And Solomon gave back all the gifts which the mes­ sengers had brought to him, and he said to them, � "Did ye think to buy my hean with gifts of man's mak­ ing? Enough for me is that which God hath graciously bestowed. What can ye add more? Riches and honour and kingship hath God given to me and made me ruler over all the eanh. And this was but a light thing in His sight: in His mercy He hath conferred on me also the spirit of wisdom and prophecy. � "Return, therefore, unto your own land and unto your brethren, and say to them, Thus said Solomon: Hasten every one of you and come and take refuge under the wings of the God of truth. But if ye will not come I will send against you all my soldiery, and they will destroy you from off the face of the earth, for none can withstand them." � So the messengers went out from the presence of Sol­ omon and returned to their own land. � They came to Balkis and told her all the words of Sol­ omon and all his glorious splendour. � And the queen hearkened, and she said, � "I swear by God that this man is not a king only, but he is also a Prophet of God; and it is not in us to prevail against him."

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! And she sent word to Solomon, saying, ! I have hearkened to thy words. Moreover I and my captains will come unto thee that we may see how great is thy power, and who that God is which hath given thee such power. ! Now before she set fonh on her journey she bade her servants hide her great and wondrous throne in an inner­ most chamber behind seven gates. And every gate she shut up tightly, setting guards over them to keep diligent watch over the throne; and the keys of the gates she concealed with her. And the second to her in rank who should fill her place while she was gone, him did she com­ mand, saying, ! "Keep thine eyes alen to watch over the region round about the palace and my royal throne; and at peril of thy life suffer none to approach the throne or look upon it." ! A herald went forth in the queen's name proclaiming in the gates the news of her journey; and many people came to bless her and to bid her farewell. And she took the twelve thousand captains of her army, with a hundred thousand men of war to every captain, and set forth on her j ourney. ! Now the dread of Solomon lay heavy upon all the regions round about, and none of his captains raised hand or foot except at the King's command. ! One day when King Solomon sat on his royal throne he lifted up his eyes and saw a cloud of dust drawing near, and he said, ! "What is this? " ! And his servants answered, ! "0 Prophet of God, it is Balkis and her company."

176

! He said, ! "Is a camp made ready for them near to us here?" ! And they answered, ! "It is according to thy words, 0 King ! " � Then Solomon drew near to his troops and said, ! "0 chosen of God and sons of might, which of you will go to Sheba and fetch me the throne of Balkis before she and her people can reach us to worship our God?" ! And one of the demons answered, ! "I will go! And before thou shalt rise from thy throne whereon thou sittest to judge the people, I will fetch the throne of Balkis and set it before thee. Let the King be assured that I have strength enough to bear it." ! But Solomon said, ! "Nay! One lighter and swifter than thou must fetch it." ! Then one that was learned in God's ways, whose name was Asaf, answered and said, ! "I will fetch it before the King can turn his eyes! Do but lift up thine eyes, 0 King, and look well about thee." ! The King lifted up his eyes and looked before him over the land of Ternan, and Asaf fell with his face to the earth and cried, ! "In the name of the most mighty God! " � And God sent his angels who bore the throne beneath the earth through runnels which they digged; and sud­ denly the earth opened and the throne came out and stood before Solomon. ! When Solomon saw it he said, ! "Who can recount God's mighty works! It can only be that God thought to prove me, whether or not I would perceive the kindness which he sheweth towards me! " ! And to his servants he said, ! "Alter quickly the throne's appearance: add to it and take away from it; change the se\·eral parts thereof, put­ ting the upper parts below and the lower parts above. 1 77

When Balkis is come hither we will try her, whether she can recognise her own throne or not." ! This did Solomon ordain to make trial of her wisdom and her good understanding. And the craftsmen did as Solomon commanded them. ! Then Solomon commanded the spirits and they built him a palace paved throughout with glass, and beneath the glass they made a stream of water, and in the midst of the water were fishes swimming. And Solomon came and sat on his throne in the midst of the palace of glass. ! And it came to pass that when Balkis came and the servants of Solomon showed her the throne and asked her, "Is thy throne the like of this?", she answered, "It is such a one as this." For the queen answered warily, not alto­ gether assenting and not altogether denying. And all per­ ceived her wisdom and her good understanding, for she recognized her throne although she had shut it up in her palace within seven gates and had brought the keys with her. ! And the servants of Solomon brought Balkis into the palace of glass. And she saw the flowing water and fishes swimming beneath the pavement. And she supposed that it was a river and she lifted high the skins of her garment to pass through the water. ! And Solomon beheld the beauty of her body, and he turned away his eyes from her. ! And he said, � "It is but a pavement of glass: there is no water. Enter, 0 queen! " ! And the queen entered the palace. ! After she had sat down she said, ! "Come, I would ask thee something, 0 Solomon ! " ! And he said, ! "Ask ! " ! And she said,

What frotheth and floweth like water Yet from eanh or from sky doth not corr;e? ! Now when anything came before Solomon which he did not know, his custom was to ask first his servants whether, perchance, they knew; and if they knew it not he asked the demons; and if the demons knew it not he asked the spirits. This time, that his answer be not delayed, he first asked the spirits. ! And they said to him secretly, ! "Nothing is easier! Make thy horses run until they weary; then fi ll thy vessels with their sweat." ! And the King did so. He ordered that his strongest horses be made to run until their skin gave out sweat, white like the froth of soap. ! And he squeezed out a bowlful of the sweat and brought it to the queen, saying, ! "Behold the liquid whereof thou didst speak! " ! And Balkis said, ! "Truly thou hast found out my riddle." ! And she tried him with still other riddles, and he an­ swered her all her questions with wisdom and understand­ ing: nothing was hidden from him. ! Then Balkis knew that he was indeed a Prophet of God, and from that day forth she clave to the God of truth and worshipped Him with all her soul and with all her bean. ! And Solomon made a covenant with her and sent her away again with great honour unto her own land.

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ASi\IODEUS, Kll\'G OF THE DEMONS WHEN KING SOLO:\lON WAS l\!INDED TO BUILD THE HOUSE O F GOD,

liE GATHERED TOGETHER THE ELDERS O F THE

PEOPLE AND T i l E WISE 1\!EN, AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,

� "Behold, I have brought hither great and costly stones \\·herc\\·ith to build foundations for the Temple of our God. 1\' ow, therefore, teach me how can I fashion the stones that they shall be smooth and straight; for God hath decreed by the mouth of Moses, saying, Thou shalt lift up no iron tool upon them." � And the elders answered, � "\Vc ha \·e heard that there is in the \\·orld a wondrous creature named the Shamir. God created it at twilight on the e\·c of the first Sabbath with other \\·onders �f His handi\\·ork. The Shamir is small as a grain of barley, yet so great is its po\\·er that with a touch of its claw it can

1 8o

cleave rocks and cut through stones. Command, therefore, that the Shamir be brought, and if thou but pass it over the stones they will forthwith split and be shaped and made smooth after whatsoever fashion thou desirest. Did not Bezaleel use it in like manner for the stones of the breastplate ? " � "But where can the Shamir be found? " asked the King. � "We, too, do not know," answered the elders. "Per­ chance the demons will know." � The King summoned the demons without delay and asked them, � "Where is the Shamir?" � "We, too, do not know," they answered. ! "Perchance Asmodeus our king will know." ! "And where can Asmodeus be found? " ! And the demons answered, � "Behold, he dwelleth in one of the mountains of dark­ ness. There in the mountain he hath a well of water which he made with his own hands and covered with a great stone which he sealed with his own seal. And every day, when he returneth from going to and fro in the eanh or from standing among the divine creatures in heaven, he cometh to drink of the well, first examining the seal to know whether any hand hath touched it. Then he taketh away the stone and satisfierh his thirst. Then he covereth the well once more and sealeth it and goeth on his way and to his labour. Such is his custom continually." ! Solomon summoned the faithful captain of his host, Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and gave into his hand iron fetters whereon the Secret Name of God was inscribed, and the Sacred Seal whereon also the Secret Name was inscribed. Moreover he gave to him fleeces of wool and bottles of wine, and he taught him what he should do. ! And he sent him away to fetch Asmodcus. � And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, went his way and

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came to the mountain. There he found the sealed well of which the demons had spoken. � He saw that Asmodeus was not yet there, so he acted cunningly. He dug a pit on the mountain slope below the well of Asmodeus and bored a hole between them so that all the water flowed into the lower pit. Then he blocked up the hole between them with fleeces of wool. He dug yet another pit higher than the well of Asmodeus and bored a hole between them, and from this pit he filled the well with wine. Then he filled up again the two pits with the eanh which he had taken from them, so that their place could no more be seen. � And when he had accomplished his purpose he climbed into a tree near by and hid himself among the branches. � While he sat looking out from the tree, behold, Asmo­ deus came, climbing up the mountain from the way that leadeth into the wilderness. His appearance was very ter­ rible: his feet were like the feet of a cock, and his beard was like the beard of a he-goat, and a devouring fire came forth from his nostrils. � Bcnaiah trembled and was greatly afraid, but he put his trust in the Secret Name of God which was in his hand and took courage. He sat in hiding in the coven and waited for what might befall. � Asmodeus came to the well. He saw that the seal was untouched in every pan and he took it off and rolled away the stone and bent down to drink - and lo, instead of \�ater red wine was in the well. � Asmodeus was angry, and he said, Win� is a mocker, strong drink is rag­ mg, Whoso drinketh twice thereof lacketh understanding. 182

! So he restrained himself and did not drink, but sat upon the stone, vexed and ill-tempered, gnashing his teeth and groaning, unable to rest and goading himself into fury. ! But when he grew still more thirsty and could no more restrain himself, he drank of the wine until none was left. He became drunken and fell to the ground in a stupor. The mountain shook from the noise of his snoring, and the tree wherein Benaiah was sitting shook like a reed. � Then Benaiah climbed down from the tree and cast the fetters over Asmodeus and bound him. � When Asmodeus awoke and aroused himself, behold, fetters bound his hands. He rocked himself about in his rage and tried to break off the fetters. � And Benaiah cried out against him, � "I adjure thee by the Name of the Lord ! " � Then Asmodeus turned submissive and, bound in fetters, quietly followed after Benaiah. � And it came to pass that as they went on their way they passed a palm tree. Asmodeus scraped against it and knocked it down. ! They came to a great and fine house. Asmodeus pushed his foot against it and overthrew it. � Asmodeus passed a little tent belonging to a poor widow, and he would have kicked this also, but the widow came out and she wept and begged him to have pity; so he turned aside from the tent and did not touch it; but as he turned aside he wrenched a bone in his foot, and he limped and said, � "Verily the words of the proverb are true: A soft tongue brcaketh a bone." ! When Asmodeus had gone a little farther he saw a blind man who had strayed off the road, and he turned him into his right way.

� Again he saw a drunken man going astray, and him. too, he turned into his right way. � He saw the rejoicing at a wedding feast; and he wept. � He heard a man speaking to a cobbler and saying, "Make me stout shoes, such as shall serve me seven years"; and he laughed. � He saw a magician standing in a crowd, telling fortunes; and he laughed. � And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, saw the ways of As­ modeus and they were more than he could un.derstand. But he held his eace and kept all these things in his heart. � They came up to Jerusalem and Asmodeus was brought before the King. And Asmodeus took a reed, measured off four cubits, and cast it at the feet of the King. � And the King said, � "What is this?" !f And Asmodeus answered, � "A plot of land four cubits long, such is the lot of every man at his latter end; and as for thee, was it so small a thing to subdue the whole earth that thou must subdue me also? " � And Solomon said, � "I seck naught of thee save the Shamir. Tell me where it is and I will set thee free." � And Asmodeus answered, � "The Shamir is not with me but with Rahab, prince of the sea, who hath entrusted it to the hoopoe, for the hoopoe is a true and faithful guardian." � "And what doth the hoopoe do with the Shamir? " asked Solomon. � "With the Shamir's help the hoopoe transformeth the bare rocks of the wilderness into the fairest gardens. And thus doth she do: � "She taketh the Shamir and leaveth it on the top of a rock; and the rock splittcth beneath the Shamir. Then the hoopoe bringeth in her beak seeds of every kind of tree, 1 84

p

dropping them into the new clefts of the rocks, and the seed striketh root and becometh a tree after its kind. Little by little the bare rocks are made fruitful and after many days parched land is transformed into a flourishing forest. ,Therefore also is the hoopoe called Naggar-tur, or the Rock Anificer." ! So Solomon chose him mighty warriors and skilful huntsmen and sent them into the wilderness to fetch the Shamir. ! And they went and, on the sharp crest of a crag, they found a hoopoe's nest. In it were nestlings, but the mother­ bird was not there. ! The huntsmen took counsel together and they covered the top of the nest with a plate of glass. ! When the mother-bird came back and saw her nestlings through the glass yet could not enter into the nest, she pecked at the glass from without and her nestlings pecked from within, but they could not break through. The glass had shut them in. ! Then the hoopoe rose up and flew away out of sight. ! When she came back she bore the Shamir in her beak. She laid the Shamir on the glass to split it, but one of the huntsmen rose up from his hiding place and hurled a peb­ ble at her. The Shamir fell from her mouth, and they came and took it and went their way. ! And when the hoopoe saw that she had failed in her trust she went and hanged herself.

! Now Asmodeus was yet kept in bonds in the King's house. ! And Benaiah remembered the doings of Asmodeus and his strange acts on the journey, so he inquired concerning them, and said, 185

! "Why didst thou tum the blind man into his right way?" ! "Because," Asmodeus answered, "I knew that it was said in heaven of that blind man that he was altogether righteous and that whosoever had pity on him, even but a little, would be accounted wonhy of eternal life." ! And Benaiah asked again, ! "And that drunken man that went astray - why didst thou turn him into his right way?" ! "Because I knew that he had committed monal sin, and, I thought, Let me do him a little kindness, so that he may at least have some pleasure in tbis life." ! "And why didst thou weep atthe sight of the wedding? " ! "I knew that before thirty days the bridegroom would surely die, and that the tender and delicate bride must long remain widowed and desolate in her father's house." ! "And why didst thou laugh when the man talked with the cobbler? " ! "Because though that man could not live seven years more, he yet demanded shoes that should serve him seven years." ! "And why didst thou laugh at the magician who was telling fonunes? " ! "Because beneath the ground where that magician sat was a hidden store of gold; and though he foretold far off things he could not even guess what lay beneath him! "

! Now Solomon kept Asmodeus i n his power until an end was made of building the House of God. And it came to pass on a day when they two were alone in the house that Solomon said to the king of the demons, ! "Tell me, I pray, wherein the might of demons excelleth the might of men." 1 86

! Asmodeus answered, ! "If thou wilt but unlock these fetters and give me thy seal, I will tell thee." ! And King Solomon did what Asmodeus asked of him. ! No sooner had the Sacred Ring come into the hand of Asmodeus than he swallowed it. Then he rose up against Solomon and lifted him off his feet, and, planting one wing on the ground and the other wing against the solid sky, he twisted himself so vigorously that he hurled Sol­ omon to a distance of four hundred leagues, throwing him far, far away from Jerusalem into another country. ! Then Asmodeus went up into the inner chambers of the King, put on the royal garments, and changed his face into the face of Solomon. And he sat on the throne in place of the King and judged the people. ! And no man knew it. ! Asmodeus vomited up the ring whereon was inscribed the Sacred Name and threw it way into the sea, for he said, ! "Let it never again come into the hands of men, lest my secret be found out." ! Now Solomon fell down into a field in a foreign coun­ try, and when he stood up again he was like a man stupe­ fied with wine, for he could not tell where he was, or where he was going, or what he was doing. Moreover he was very thirsty, and he searched until he found a pool of water, and it came to pass that when he bent down to drink he saw his reflection in the water and, behold, the light of his countenance was gone from him, royal majesty was his no more, and even his stature had grown less. He looked more closely, and lo, even the furrow around his head had disappeared, the furrow which testified of his kingship, the mark made by the crown where it had rested, a mark which appeared on the heads of all who bore the crown of the house of David. 1 87

! Then Solomon knew what it was that God had done to him, and he smote his hands together and cried, ! "Woe is me! For God hath turned away his mercy from me and hath driven me from his inheritance." ! He fell to the ground and wallowed in the dust; and all that day he cried unto God with a loud voice. ! And when the sun went down he set a stone for his pillow and lay down in sorrow and slept. ! And he dreamed a dream, and, behold, he was journey­ ing between mountains of silver and mountains of gold, and in the mountains were many vents, and he heard and lo, croaking voices burst out from the bowels of the mountains; and he turned aside to look through the vents, but suddenly out of the vents there leapt upon him foun­ tains of blood, and it was as though red tongues were sent out against him to lick him up. ! And Solomon awoke, trembling. And, behold, it was a dream. ! And he slept and dreamed yet again, and, behold, chariots of horses, without number and past finding out, came from among the mountains of silver and gold, and he himself and his captains were within the chariots. And the horses were the very glory of Arabia and the desire of Egypt, fleet and agile, thin-legged, with arched necks and flowing manes; their breath was a stream of fire and their coursing a whirlwind in the wilderness. And the horses daned swiftly and swallowed the eanh; they bore up the chariots in a whirlwind and were like flashes of lightning. While they yet pursued their course, behold, a deep abyss suddenly yawned before them; and the horses leapt up from off the ground, and the chariots and all they that sat therein went down into the abyss. ! And Solomon awoke. ! Again he slept, and he dreamed yet a third time, and lo, he sat on a couch in the royal garden and the multitude 188

of his wives and concubines danced round about him. The women were a mixed company, the daughters of many peoples, various in appearance and colour: Hittites, Sidon­ ians, Moabites, Edomites and Ethiopians, all of them the choicest among the daughters of kings, perfect in beauty and a delight to the eye. And the dance grew ever more vigorous, encircling the King like a whirling wheel of which the King was the hub; the very trees in the garden and the fragrant flower-beds and the pools and fountains and pavilions were all drawn into the encircling dance, whirling round the King like wheels within wheels. The dance was still at its height when, of a sudden, the King's heart strayed, his head turned dizzy and he slipped off his couch: the hub of the wheel was displaced and the wheel shattered, and its fragments were scattered afar. The ring of dancers was as though it had never been. ! Solomon awoke, trembling, and he slept no more. ! He pondered over the threefold dream and considered his ways from the day when he first sat on his father's throne. ! And he said, ! "Now know I why the Lord hath dealt thus witl1 me: for he hath visited my three sins upon me - in that I have multiplied to myself silver and gold, I have multiplied to myself horses, and wives have I multiplied to myself. Of a truth the Lord is righteous, for against his word have I rebelled." ! And it came to pass in the morning that he arose and cut himself an oaken staff, and he said, I am Solomon ! King was I in Jerusalem ! Yet now this staff within my hand Is all I have from all my toil. What can man gain by all his toil ?

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� So Solomon wandered from one town to another, beg­ ging his bread from door to door. His clothes wore out and his shoes fell away in pieces; his feet became blisters and in naught did he differ from the poorest beggar. � Whenever any man looked on him and asked him who he was and whence he came, he would answer and say, I am Solomon ! King was I in Jerusalem ! � And everyone looked upon him as a madman. The com­ passionate shook their heads at him and silly children mocked him and ran after him with sticks and stones. Sol­ omon was in very sore distress and in his misery he wished he might die. � After three years, when the years of wandering had been fulfilled which the Lord had decreed against Sol­ omon because of his three sins, a year for every sin, he came by chance to the royal city in the land of the Am­ monites. � He went down to the market-place and there he stood among the merchants and shops, thinking that, perchance, God would find him work to do so that he might get as hire his daily bread. � While he stood there, lo, the king's cook came down to the market-place to buy food to make ready for the king's table. He saw the beggar and hired him to follow after him and carry the food to the king's house. So Solomon went with him, and when he took his burden into the king's kitchen and the king's cook would have given him his hire and sent him away, Solomon would not take i t but he drew near and said, � "If it please thee, sir, I am a sojourner and a stranger in this city; so now, if it seem right in thy sight, let me stay ,

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with thee and serve thee, and for my hire I ask naught save my daily bread." ! The king's cook did as Solomon asked and took I1im into his service, and Solomon stood before him in the kitchen and helped him in all his tasks. And Solomon watched diligently the tasks of the king's cook and all that he did and learned to do the like-to boil and roast and hash and make all manner of savoury dishes; and in his skill he surpassed the king's cook, for God was with him and blessed his handiwork. ! And there came a day when Solomon asked the king's cook to allow him to prepare the king's food by himself. And the king's cook consented also in this and suffered him to do so. And Solomon laboured and prepared the savoury dishes with skill and understanding according to the good hand of God upon him. ! And it came to pass that when the king ate of the savoury dishes they were most pleasing to him, and he said to his cook, ! "Who prepared these savoury dishes, whose like thou didst never set before me until this day ? " ! And the king's cook answered, ! "I will not keep it hidden from my lord the king that it was not my hands which prepared them but one of my servants, a stranger." ! So that day the king appointed Solomon to be his cook instead of Solomon's master. And Solomon stood before the king and served him and day by day brought the dishes unto the king's table. And none knew his country or his nation. ! Now the king of the Ammonites had an only daughter, beautiful and comely to look upon and of good under­ standing. And her name was Naamah. ! And the king's daughter saw the new cook that he was a man to be desired and pleasing in all his ways, and her 1 91

heart turned to him and she loved him. And she declared her feelings to her mother. � But her mother rebuked her and said, � "Is there no lack of kings' sons in neighbouring lands that thou must turn thine eyes unto this foreign slave? Shame on thee! " � But the king's daughter was steadfast iu her love and said, � "Nay, but I love him and him have I chosen: keep him from me and I would rather die than live! " � The queen told the king, and the king's anger was kindled against his daughter, and he spake to her harshly and reviled her. � When he saw that he prevailed not, he was minded to put her to death, but his compassion was moved for his only daughter. So he cast her out from his presence, both her and her beloved, and sent them into the wilderness by the hand of one of his eunuchs. And the eunuch left them there in the wilderness, for he said, � "Let me not behold their love or their death." � And it came to pass after the two lovers had been for­ saken in the wilderness that Solomon said to Naamah, � "Go back, my daughter, to thy father's house and join thyself to some king's son that i� worthy of thee. Why for my sake shouldest thou perish in the wilderness, thou that art delicately nurtured and tender and that hast never known want? Go back, my daughter. And I, if I perish, I perish! " � But Naamah answered, � "Nay! I will go with thee and suffer with thee, for with­ out thee wherefore should I live ! " � And she lifted u p her voice and wept. � Solomon saw how strong was her love for him, and his 1 92

heart was stirred for her and he took her with him into the wilderness. And he spent himself for her to keep her from any misfortune by the way. When the hot east wind wearied her he sheltered her with the skirts of his raiment; and when they came to rough places he carried her in his arms. Every moment did he watch over her. He trembled in his care for her and was like one that beareth in his bosom a rare and precious thing. ' Yet with all this he told her not who he was, for, said he, ' "Why should I seem to her as one that speaketh fool­ ishness? " ' And it came to pass when hunger oppressed them, that Solomon sought out a safe hiding place for Naamah and took her thither while he went to find food. ' He turned here and there and in the sand he found men's tracks, and, following them, he came to a place by the sea shore where he saw fishermen drawing in their nets. He bought a fish from them and ran and brought it to Naamah. ' He went out to gather wood wherewith to kindle a fire while Naamah made ready the fish. And it came to pass that when she split it, she found a ring in its belly; and on the ring was a certain writing, but what it was she knew not. ' She called to Solomon and said, ' "Sec what I have found! " ' He looked upon the ring and h e recognized it at once. And he said, ' "Is not this the ring on which is inscribed the Secret Name of God ? " ' And hardly was the ring restored into his hand than the spirit of God came mightily upon him. The furrow made by the crown appeared again round his head and his face shone. Of a sudden his stature increased and royal majesty rested on him. And he stood before Naamah like a flour­ ishing cedar tree. 1 93

' While Naamah yet marvelled at this sight, Solomon bowed down on his knees and spread out his hands to heaven, and said, ' "I thank thee, 0 God, that thou hast taken pity on me." ' As he bowed himself down, Naamah saw his head and, behold, a thin furrow, like a thread of scarlet, encircled it like a diadem, and from the furrow went fonh rays, shining like a wreath of glory. ' And she was strongly moved and cried, ' "What is this? " ' And Solomon rose up and stood upright to his full height, and he said, ' "This is a testimony from God, borne by the sons of David which wear the crown." ' Then Solomon told her who he was. ' J\1oreover he told her all that had befallen him, how that he had been brought low these three years. He told her also concerning the ring and its power. ' And when he had made an end, he said, ' "And now, since God hath restored the ring into my hand, it can only be that He will surely watch over me and give me back my former glory. Therefore let us make no more delay. Let us arise and go to Jerusalem, and if God be with me I will drive out my enemy, Asmodeus. ' "And thou, Naamah, because thou hast followed me into the wilderness in my affliction and my low estate, as God liveth (the rocks of the wilderness be my wit­ nesses ! ) , thou shalt sit on a throne at my right hand and I will set thee highest in my kingdom; and thy firstborn son, which thou shalt bear to me, shall inherit my throne, for to him will I leave my kingdom as an inheritance." ' That same day they arose and went their way. And they came to Jerusalem. ' Solomon left Naamah in a shepherd's tent outside the city, and he went up to the gate.

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! Now Asmodeus still sat on the throne of the kingdom which he had seized. In outward seeming he was King Solomon, but in secret he wrought great and horrible abominations. ! The faithful captains and servants of Solomon he had sent away and put others in their stead. And in the eyes of the men of his household his stench was evil, and they hated him. He, too, kept himself aloof, dwelling alone, solitary and gloomy. ! And Bathsheba, the mother of King Solomon, and also his wives, knew of these abominations and they wept in secret, saying each to the other in their amazement, ! "What is this that hath happened to the King? For he is changed and become as some other man ! " ! And the people of Jerusalem heard that an evil spirit was in the King's house, and they went mourning, and it was as though the sun was wrapt in gloom at noontide. ! One day a beggar in tattered raiment came up to the gate, crying loudly, I am Solomon ! King was I in Jerusalem. ! And children gathered together with sticks and stones, hemming him in on every side and shouting against him as one that was mad. And the whole city was in an uproar. And there came some who told it to the elders, and the elders said, ! "Come, let us hear what is in his mouth, whether it be of moment. Let the soldiers fetch him and keep watch over him." ! So the soldiers went out by the order of the elders. And the elders summoned Benaiah and examined him, saying, ! "Art thou ever summoned into the King's presence? " ! And Benaiah answered.

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! "No. Never these three years have I been summoned into his presence, and I know not what has befallen him." ! Moreover the elders inquired of the King's mother and of his wives, saying, ! "What is the King's manner of life in his home? " ! But they hid their faces and wept, nor would they give any answer, for they were ashamed to make his abomina­ tions known. ! The elders summoned the King's eunuchs and asked them, saying, ! "When your lord the King getteth him into his bed, have ye observed his feet, of what son they are?" ! But the eunuchs answered, ! "We have never seen them, for the King never draweth off his shoes in our presence." ! And the elders instructed the King's servants and, working in secret, they sprinkled dust about the King's bed. ! Now in the night Asmodeus was not heedful of h is ways, because it was dark. And he left his bed with feet uncovered and set the soles of his feet in the dust. ! And the next morning it came to pass that the servants looked, and lo, there were marks in the midst of the dust like the tracks of the feet of a cock. They ran and told it to the elders. ! Then the elders knew that it was no vain word in the mouth of the beggar. They brought him before them and examined him. ! And Solomon told them all that Asmodeus had done to him and all that had befallen him in the days of his wan­ dering. And he brought sure proofs. He sh�wed them the Sacred Ring; he showed them also the furrow of the crown on his head. And the elders saw with their own eyes and believed. � And they whistled and wagged their heads, saying, 1 96

! "Truly God's ways are wonderful! What can man understand of them ! " ! And Solomon made haste and went u p to the King's house, bearing the Sacred Ring. ! All gates opened before him of themselves, and bolts and bars were snapped without hand's aid. The keepers of the gates saw him and fell backwards, and the guardians of the threshold became speechless as stones. ! So Solomon burst his way through into the hall of the throne and stood before Asmodeus. ! No sooner did Asmodeus see the Sacred Ring in the hand of Solomon, than a great trembling seized him, and he clapped his wings together and disappeared from sight. ! So Solomon returned to his throne and to his former majesty, and there was great rejoicing in Jerusalem, and in the King's house all gloom and amiety fled away. ! And Solomon remembered the love of Naamah and her devotion, and he did with her as he had promised: he took her from the shepherd's tent and brought her to the city, and she was lawfully betrothed to him. ! And on the day of the marriage the King made a great feast, and all the kings from near and far came to rejoice with him and bless him. And among them was the king of the Ammonites. And the daughters of Jerusalem went out to meet the bridegroom and bride with timbrels and dances, singing,

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved . ? . .

! And King Solomon and his queen went up and sat on the royal couch with their crowns on their heads. And the IQ7

kings came to bless them, each king with his captains that bare him company. ' And there drew near also the king of the Ammonites; and it was so that when he saw the bridegroom and the bride, he recognised them and his heart grew numb. But he held his peace for he could not believe the sight of his eyes. ' And Solomon saw his confusion and laughed, saying, ' "Oh, king of the Ammonites, why standest thou there? Draw near and kiss thy wanton daughter and the cook, thy son in law ! " ' And he uttered a parable, saying, Seest thou a man diligent in his business ? Before kings shall he stand. ! And, laughing, he added, And sometimes kings shall stand before him !

! And it came to pass that when the time was come about,

the queen bore a son. And the name of the child was Rehoboam. The same was that Rehoboam, son of Naamah the Ammonitcss, who reigned in the place of his father Solomon. And in his days the kingdom of Israel was split

in twain.

A FATIED OX AND A DINNER OF HERBS * IN

THOSE

DAYS

WHEN

SOLOi\lON

WAS

DROUGHT

LOW,

WHEN HE WAS HURLED INTO A FAR DISTANT LAND B Y ASMODEUS, KING O F T H E D E :\ I ONS, A N D W H E N A S � IODEUS

sat upon the throne of Israel, Solomon wandered about the earth for many days, having nowhere to lay his head and none to give him help; and he passed from one anguish to another. The dry crust of bread, grudgingly given, he ate in shame; and water he mingled with his tears. Bitterness was heavy upon him. The longer he wandered the more decrepit and disreputable he grew. His clothes wore out and dropped off in rags and his shoes rotted away; his visage blackened and he bore the look of a beggar who had spent his life poking in middens. • Sec Proverbs, r;. 1 7 : Better is a dinner of herbs where love is th:m ox and hatred therewith.

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a

stalled

! Yet in his deepest anguish he still hoped for help and at heart he never doubted that some day he would be re­ stored to his former majesty; for h e said, ! "Great is God's pity and His mercies are sure! " ! And whenever h e came with his stick and tattered rags to a village or town he used to tell everybody, I am Solomon !

King was I in Jerusalem !

and they thought him crazy and a speaker of foolish things. Churls shouted out against him, the better sort looked away from him, cruel folk insulted him, the coarse and ribald made merry over him, the compassionate shook their heads at him, sighing charitably; they that held them­ selves in esteem turned aside, while the timorous kept out of his sight. ! News of this wayfarer spread abroad. One day he came to a small town in the land of Ephraim. Now the people of Ephraim had for long cherished ill will against the house of David, because David had laid a heavy hand upon them, and, since the day when he became king, the tribe of Judah had grown great and the honour of Ephraim had fallen. ! No sooner was Solomon seen in the streets of this town, clad in his rags, carrying his oaken staff, and chanting his set refrain, I am Solomon !

King was I in Jerusalem ! than all the rabble of the neighbourhood came together and surrounded him, mocking at him and jeering at him, every one making merry according to his measure of wit: ! "Oh, ye daughters of Sion, come forth and gaze on King Solomon !"

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! "Even a king maketh himself known by his craziness and his idiocies! " ! "He must have mislaid one of his thousand wives and is come out to find her ! " ! "Just to make the thousand quite complete!" ! "Hide your wives, ye men of Israel! " ! "And fetch out your daughters! Who can tell: perhaps they will have luck and reach the royal bed ! " ! "Amen! God grant it-Then could I b e quit i n a day of seven unmarried daughters ! " ! "Hark to that wretch' Isn't he ambitious! " ! "He would be father in law to this fine king ! " ! "The wild thistle sent t o the cedar that was in Leb­ ,, anon •

.

.

.

! Now among this rabble was a brawny and burly outcher. He looked like a goring bullock, weighted down with fat, thick in the neck, with a forehead of brass. He was cast in a single block, one solid slab of fat. ! Moreover this butcher was a man who knew no care and felt no yoke. His heart was in his belly and his gullet, and his trust was in his fists and in his money-bags. In his own little goose-like eyes he was a great wit, and there was no end to his japings and buffooneries. His practical jokes were famous: many were they that had felt their weight -each weighing two talents of lead. He would stalk forth to the market place with his chopper in his belt, head thrust far forward as though he would butt his way through, and both hands outstretched and clenched all ready for fisticuffs. ! His whole appearance said, ! "If any come too close, he'll be battered and broken anJ shattered! " ! So most people went in dread of him. He was the terror

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of the neighbourhood. Even the King's tax-gatherers dared not come near him unless they were armed, and so great toil and trouble did he cause them that they felt a sickening dread of him. ! This butcher saw that now was a chance to show off his wit. His spirits rose. Cutting a way through the rabble as easily as his chopper would cut through a slaughtered kid, he turned on them in pretended rage: � "Oh, ye fleas' eggs' Ye fly-droppings! Ye spawn of lice! How dare ye hustle this poor wayfarer? Do as I bid you and let him alone! Keep your leprous paws to yourselves and shut your filthy mouths! This is my meat and I will cook it. Hand the mighty fellow over to me and I will give him all he can want. I will surely roast him to a turn. Only let me get at him, and I will manhandle him! " � And as he came to the wayfarer he gave him a pat on the back, a friendly pat, a pat sufficient to shatter him to bits. � Again he gave tongue, saying, ' "Oh, my brother! Thou art indeed a beast after my own heart, my fine-stepping stallion: the very stuff that kings are made of! Yet methinks thou'rt shrunken somewhat from thy journey: a little fattening will do thee no harm. Rely on me: this very day shalt thou fare at my feeding trough and get thy belly full. Kings were ever my weak­ ness, even the rags and tatters of kings. So now, when one is come my way, shall I let him go off fodderless! Did that wench, my wife, get wind of it she'd chaw me up alive and gnaw my bones! � "So there's only one thing for it: I must carry thee off to my table, trussed like a calf. Thou shalt surely not regret it. \Ve'll stuff thee like a fat bull of Bashan-and from the greasiest and most luscious morsels: right royally shalt thou he treated. Three whole tongues with mustard! Think not I'm but a butcher: I lord it over my household, 202

and my good wife-God keep her fat! -she's the one to stuff thee tight! I tell thee, there is none alive to match her. She is fit to stand before any king-the daughter of butchers for ten generations. ! "But, after all, why bother about reasons? Up shanks and shift! What! Dost still hesitate? 1\lay my chopper break my neck if thou ever slip away! I will drag thee by thy weazand ! " ! And the butcher seized the miserable wayfarer b y the scruff of the neck and trundled him along. ! At this sight the rabble's delight knew no bounds. As one man they let out a shout of joy, and, leaving plenty of room for the butcher and his fluttering prey, they bid them both farewell with every sort of noise-hand-clap­ ping, cat-calls, stamping of feet, howling, neighing like horses and braying like asses. Never since that town began had it known or seen such mirth. ! As for Solomon, he and God alone knew what he felt. ! Then the butcher, striding proudly along, his low­ browed head thrust forward like a goring ox, held on tight to his quarry, pushing and kicking aside all who stood in their way, and saying, ! "Out of the way, ye slimy vipers!" ! As soon as he reached his home he shoved his guest in­ side, sending him hurtling violently into the room as though he were shoving an unruly ox into its fold, and he said, ! "Make thyself at home, my fine guest! " ! He stood with legs apart, blocking up the entire door­ space with his solid slab of a body; and like one who was both victor and bearer of glad tidings, he shouted to his wife, ! "What ho1 my treasure! Come along here and behold, and let thy navel rejoice' I have brought thee the leviathan himself, the noblest guest that ever was, the lordliest beast 203

in all the herd, destined to be a king from the day he was begotten ! Thy drunken forcbears-i\Iay their stink waft high for ever and ever!-never did they dream that such a hippopotamus as this would ever cross their son in law's threshold! ! "Oh, my good wife, pay due respect: think of it-a king from the very day he was begotten! I came across him in the market place, and at peril of my life have I fetched him in hither. Know, then, thy pan and do it. Don't stand there like a dummy! Off with thee to the kitchen and cook! And do things in style befitting butchers. Naught less than a whole fat ox shalt thou bring us: to-day the table shall crack under its burden, and both our bellies shall burst from guzzling and gorging. The king must learn what a butcher in Israel can do when the spirit moYeth him. On with thy work! " ! The woman hurried off to urge on her handmaids, and the lord of the house hemmed in his guest close up to the table, imprisoning him between himself and a corner of the room. Then he mustered all his apprentices with a stream of cursing and reviling, and from the cellar they quickly fetched jars and bottles and wineskins and flasks and flagons and jugs, a mixed multitude of all sons of vessels of earthenware, stone and leather, some plain and some spotted, some swollen-bellied and short in the neck, and some thin-bellied and long in the neck, some wide­ waisted and double-handled, and some narrow-waisted with no handles at all; all of them plugged tight and all filled with something drinkable, be it strong or sour or bitter or foaming, every manner of liquor having its special colour and taste and virtue. ! While the guest was wondering for whom all this liquor was intended, the butcher hauled up to the scaffold a bottle holding liquor made from grapeskins soaked in wormwood, and while he poured out this bottle's blood

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into the cups set out for himself and Solomon, his mouth belched forth wisdom: Who such a skunk As fears to get drunk! Where no wine's swilled, There appetite's killed ! "Is not that so, my royal tramp? Now do thou say thy piece: art not thou a proverb-monger? But come along, let us prove the point with this young son of a bottle. Look at it well. Did ever anything seem so modest and demure, so altogether tender and simple: purest olive oil! But he's a most crafty rogue: I know him, yea, I know him! Seven adders are not more destructive and corrupt than he! But we'll punish him a little, and send him living down to hell. Down with thee ! " ' So the rogue went living down t o hell. � The butcher saw that his guest's face grew contorted as he drank, for in his mouth and stomach the rogue was scorching him like fire. � The butcher waggled a finger at him, saying, � "Hee-hee-hee! Kings mustn't pull faces when they drink! Certainly not! Lest their visage be spoiled and their glory turn aside! Straightway straighten, therefore, what thou hast perverted-and join me in emptying yet one other little cup. � " 'Fire drives out fire'-as the proverb-mongers say; so let us sniff that ruddy, misbegotten bottle yonder: it hath the devil's own eye, winking at me in the distance, saying, 'Drink me!' Then let's fulfil his will and do the deed on him. See, 0! See! How his wicked eye is leering at us in the cup, how it is reddening! Fie, thou perverted son of rebellion! Come, let him dangle down our gullets at a single gulp! " � So the ruddy, misbegotten one went down after the 2 05

'rogue'; and the butcher, wiping his mouth with the full length of his forearm, let out a grunt of satisfaction. ' But as for his guest, the moment the liquor entered into him he sprang off his seat as if a scorpion had bitten him: holding his stomach he panted and gasped like bellows, as though he would blow out the fire in his interior. ' When the butcher saw this his belly shook with glee: ' "There! Did I not tell thee! Is he not a thrice ill-gotten wight? Now I vow that former cup will taste as sweet as droppings from a honey-comb: is it not so? � "But now, we'll sweeten that wight's bitterness with a taste of its next-door neighbour. Suppose we see what's inside this scrub of a crock: its looks aren't much to brag about: they're gloomy as a rainy day! And it surely can't boast of its smell or of its taste: pure bug-juice! But, ah! it's strong, I'd have thee know! Its might, its potency, is be­ yond words! It could fell a lion. The strongest brine is milk compared with it. It could shock a corpse to life! But its greatest gift is this: it can tickle up the drinker's appetite and make it rampant as hell. Taste it, and thou'lt never feel repletion. As a drink to herald dinner it know­ eth no match. Take my advice: before we eat we'll swal­ low a drop of this diluted puppy's slop. So here's to our good appetite! Try it, do' You'll burst with gratitude! " � The butcher's praises did not overstep the truth neither did they fall short. The mere smell of it, still more its taste and its pungency, was enough to knock down dead an elephant. � The guest's lips barely touched the liquor; but it was as though he had been hit by three battle-axes all at once. His eyes almost jumped out of his head. He snorted and he gasped and he coughed and he nearly brought up the whole of his insides. � The butcher revelled in the sight of his guest's distress: his little eyes glittered with delight and his blob of a nose 206

grew crimson, and every time an attack of snorting and gasping and coughing overcame his guest, the butcher hailed it with applause: ! "God bless thee, guest! Healing to thy navel, and ease­ ment to thy gizzard! " ! "That is sure proof of its worth! Sure proof how great is its work and its triumph! " ! "Did I not tell thee s o from the first! Balm and balsam to thy bowels! " ! "Said I not so? 'Tis most prodigious tipple! There's naught subtle or sly about its business." ! "Sure am I that very soon we'll see thee sneeze! Thou'lt surely sneeze thy head off! Aha! My prophecy's come to pass ! " ! The prophecy was still in his mouth, when, lo, it came. A bout of sneezing suddenly attacked the guest and set him quivering: it shook up every denizen in his belly. It was as though, from somewhere inside him, a violent storm burst forth and, as it pressed forward with irresisti­ ble rush to pass through the narrow gorges of the nose, it exploded and erupted like some sourly sweet volcano. Atishoo! And again, Atishoo! And yet again, Atishoo! ! The butcher's very bones blossomed like green pastures: his reddened blob of a nose shone like the Day-star, son of the morning. Each sneeze came like oil into his bones. The more violent the sneeze so the heartier was the ap­ plause with which the butcher hailed it:. ! "Your health! " ! "0! Your very good health! " ! "Health, wealth and prosperity! " ! But when h e looked a t his guest's face and saw it all sombre and soured as though he were suffering from toothache, his eyes and his blob of a nose grew suddenly black and scowling, and he bellowed in drunken rage, ! "There's that nose of thine again, fellow! writhing and

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twisting like any snake! I know the reason well enough: thy pampered palate and thy fastidious nose find the spiced wine of Solomon more sweet than butchers' honest brew! Deny it not! Yet it ill becometh a guest, even if the guest were once a king, to turn up his nose in front of his host, even if the host is but a butcher! Answer me this, fellow! Wasn't it through me and the like of me that thou could­ est sit every day in·thy palace at tables filled with fatness, glutting thyself with our flesh and swilling our blood ? We'll have less swagger here from thee: in this place I'm the king! Dost understand ! " � And he gave the table a mighty bang with his fist, a blow of drunken energy, which set all the pots and bottles dancing. So startled was one flagon that it jumped off and spilled itself over Solomon's knees. � For a moment there was an uneasy silence: the eyes of Solomon, like the eyes of a hunted hart, looked out in fear and agony. But the butcher's temper soon changed, and as his indignation cooled, he said, � "Did I scare thee, friend? Don't be frightened: I only meant it for a joke: I was ever fond of jokes. Be it far from me to fall foul of a guest at my own table. Quite the reverse: to have a guest like thee is cause for boundless joy. But I cannot bear to see thee sitting before me as though thou hadst a skewer rammed through thy guts. The sour-visaged and the melancholic, my soul abhorreth1 i\hke thy face shine, good friend, and let thy heart be merry! I swear by this cleaver" (and here the butcher pulled out his chopper from his belt and slammed it on the table so that it stuck upright) "I swear by this cleaver, that thou shalt not stir hence or taste a mouthful of food till thou hast made amends and joined me in yet another drink: this time from this fat-bellied wench. Let it be thv ' cup of reconciliation ' " � And, picking out a bloated, stoppered wine-skin from 208 -

among the crowd of jars and bottles, he went on talking: � "And didst thou think that we should sit down to eat and yet ignore this big-paunched nymph! Great wrath had surely fallen on us had we shamed her so. Now is her mouth stopped up, tight scaled, a sealed fountain! But we need only unstop her mouth, and out she'll come all froth and bubble. She's a most tempestuous, bois­ terous lady. Let's squeeze her once or twice and sec what's hidden in her bosom. Have no fear: her anger is but for a moment, while her kindness is like a tightly wedged tent­ peg. So. . let's kiss her with the kisses of our mouth. Be bold! " � And the wineskin, too, let forth her blood and breathed out her life with a kiss. � In this fashion relays of bottles came up on the table. one after another, like victims to the scaffold; and, having done his deed on them, the butcher swallowed them down, cup after cup; and his guest, despite his starving stomach, kept him company: his host compelled him: no entreat­ ies or persuasions availed him: � "What thy host biddeth thee, that must thou do - even if thy belly split! Drink on, until thou whirl! " � So the wretched, helpless wayfarer obediently delivered up his throat and stomach into the butcher's power to do with them as seemed good to him. � Already many bottles, slaughtered victims of their lips, rolled like dead men beneath the table. Yet still the butch­ er showed no mercy. The blood of his decapitated bottles he poured out into the cups before himself and his guest, and, tossing the wine down his own gullet, he spurred on his guest, urging him and pressing him: � "Stretch wide thy gullet and guzzle! Bestir thyself! Drain it to the very dregs' Elbows up! Be pitiless! Be bold and stout of heart! " � Now while host and guest were thus making merry over

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their wine and awaiting dinner, the butcher's apprentice,; brought before them between cups dish after dish filled with strong-smelling radishes, leeks, celery, pungent green and red pepper-pods, tear-provoking onions and garlic, soaked in strong vinegar and colocynth oil, black and stinking like tar; and with them came dishes laden with tiny fish, full-flavoured and putrescent, like horse-leeches or carrion maggots, drowned from head to tail in their stinking brine; and dishes of cabbage, beet and cucumber preserved in salt-water and spiced with cummin; likewise mushrooms and truffles mixed with vinegar and pow­ dered mustard, with yet other choice savoury condiments of one kind and another, bitter and sour and salty, meet to incite the stomach and to enlarge the appetite. ' All these did the butcher devour ravenously, with champing and grinding of jaws and dog-teeth, with smacking of lips, noisily swallowing and licking, making such a noise of scrunching and sucking as could be heard from afar. Yet never did his eye desen his guest nor did he suffer him to abstain from any dish that was brought: he spared him nothing. ! And whenever the guest wavered somewhat, the master of the house loudly urged him on, saying, ! "Eat and drink, good friend! Let not thine eye have pity. Avenge thyself! As scratching to an itchy boil, so is salted savoury to gross appetite! The more thou indulg­ est the more thou cravest, and ever doth the craving grow! It hath a twofold merit: it provoketh a thirst in the throat and it allayeth drunkenness. Arise, therefore, and get on with thy chewing, good friend. Eat of this, and of this, and of this, neither withhold thy hand from rhis: then shalt thou be changed at once into another man. All the liquor in thy bowels will be soaked up, and its presence there will be forgotten." ! And to set an example the butcher tossed into his jaws

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a great mouthful, an entire load of radishes and celery rolled up together in colocynth oil. His cheeks bulged and swelled like blown up bladders, and turning the mouthful over with his tongue he smacked with his lips and said, ! "Behold ' And do thou likewise! " ! Solomon sighed a s though his loins were breaking; and he ate. He tasted of this and of that, nor from the other did he withhold his hand, according to the commands of his host which were strong upon him. But in his heart he began to devise schemes how he might free himself from the power of his persecutor or find some breach through which to escape. ! Instinctively his eyes wandered to the door and the win­ dow; but he was shut in tightly and could not stir: walls were to the right of him and behind him; the butcher was to the left of him and the table in front of him. Had he been given wings he would have escaped like a bird through the vent above his head in the ceiling. ! The butcher seemed to have followed his guest's thoughts, for he suddenly fixed on him two bleary and drink-sodden eyes, and with jaws still crammed and busy with the mouthful of radishes and celery, he smacked his lips, befouled with colocynth oil, saying, ! "Why such a sigh, old Friend! - mp, - mp, I loathe the half-hearted. If any man, -mp, -mp, have a sorry heart, -mp, -mp, then let him spew it out ! The butcher knoweth -mp, -mp, the soul -mp, -mp, the soul of his beast. Dost thou recall thy feeding-trough in time past? Thy guts! Never were such endless gutters! There's no denying it: Solomon's victuals were most luscious and fat -mp, mp. Victuals! Victuals in dollops! Canst thou-mp, -mp, canst thou still recall the reckoning?" * ! And having at last gulped down the mouthful of rad•

1 Kings 4o n-:z3.

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ishes and celery into his gullet, leaving his tongue some leisure, he began turning down one by one fat dumpy fingers into his greasy palm, like one in the act of counting: � "Thirty measures of fine flour . one; and three score measures of meal . . two; ten fat oxen . three; and twemy oxen out of the pastures . . . four; and an hundred sheep . five. Isn't the reckoning correct and true? And all these, remember, were but for a single day! Didst ever hear the like? - just for one single day! Beside (Keep silence, and hearken still! ) beside barts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fatted fowl! � "Tell me: Was there ever the like since the world be­ gan? Hell and damnation' That can rightly be called eat­ ing! And still there must be added to the reckoning the savourv which came before dinner' Likewise that which came after! And thou still must add beside the wine and the other drinks! Oh, Solomon! Solomon! May the dogs devour me, but thou art in sooth a mighty fellow! " � Stirred to rapture the butcher again patted his guest on the shoulder, a pat of approval, a pat with force enough behind it to crush the back bone from top to bottom. � But suddenly he bethought himself of the sort of man his guest was; and changing his tone, he said, � "What a pity! All this was so long ago. It is now no more. The wheel is turned full circle; and that Solomon who once was king in Jerusalem now eateth like a pauper at the table of a butcher in Israel. Therefore, my impov­ erished king, eat, eat, and may it be sweet to thee! Better still, drink and forget thy poverty. Didst not thou thyself say the like in thy proverbs: .

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Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul.

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� "My bowels gush with pity for kings like thee. Lo, even the iate of cattle is better than thy fate. Their food is given unto them and their water never faileth . . . . But what hast thou? So eat and drink so long as there is food and drink in front of thee. And if so be that thou eat and drink to excess, what harm is there? 'Tis but to lay up store in thy belly for a time of need. Who can know what may befall thee tomorrow ! Not every day will God send thee a butcher like me. � "Therefore eat and drink, say I to thee. Falter not in thy purpose. Good days will not soon return: who knoweth if they will ever return? " � And so the butcher's lips went babbling on, lips filthy with colocynth oil. He felt himself comfortable and merry from the effects of the wine and the radishes. ' But Solomon bit his lips and was silent. Only by force could he refrain from seizing the knife on the table to do something with it, though he did not yet know what whether to stick it into his own throat or into the butcher's foul entrails. And the more he restrained himself the more did his blood boil within him, and the more he wept in­ wardly in helpless anger. � Of a truth, 0 God, sore is thy chastisement; and thy reproof, who can abide it! Were they so small a thing, those afflictions which beset the wretched wayfarer in the evil days of his wanderings? Yet rather would he have met a bereaved bear in the forest, a viper on the path, a leopard in desert places in the wilderness, than fall victim to a char­ itable and compassionate butcher such as this! � Meanwhile the time for the meal had arrived. Through the door came the mistress of the house followed by her handmaids. In their hands, protected by filthy dish-rags, they bore all manner of cauldrons, stewpots and pans, blackened and scorched by fire and lifted that moment off 213

the coals of the stove, all of them filled to the brim with every sort of fare, product of cooking-pot, frying-pan and stew-pot, raw or roast, boiled or stewed; there lacked not a thing. Their shon journey from the kitchen hobs to the table had not quite subdued the fury of their boiling and their bubbling, and columns of steam belched out of the cauldrons and rose up to the ceiling. The house was soon filled like a bath-house with thick clouds of steam, and a hotchpot of foul and fearful smells forced their way through the nose and burst in upon the skull's very mar­ row. Unwittingly Solomon's hand sped hastily to his nose; and again his eyes went roaming in search of refuge. � But there was no hope of escape whatsoever. � J\lcanwhile the women had safely brought in the laden pots and cauldrons and heaped all their fire-blackened burdens on the table, arranging them side by side like a wall round three of the table's four sides. Then, having carefully covered up the steaming dishes, they silently went back to the kitchen. � And they two, the butcher and his guest, remained as it were besieged. � The sight of such a profusion of victuals and the odorous incense of their fumes stirred the butcher to rapture. He smote his guest's shoulder with threefold force - a blow of glee and a summons to the fray: � "Bless thy luck, old friend, that thou hast fallen into the hands of such a one as I! It must surely be that the merits of thy father David and thy pious mother Bathsheba have prevailed on thy behalf to bring thee this day beneath the shadow of my roof-tree. Say I not so? " (And here the butcher winked a very cunning eye.) "So stretch wide thy gullet, good friend, and unsheathe thy teeth! Rend, chew, and spare nor ' " � One o f the pots-greasy, boiling giblet soup-he emptied out into a great eanhenware dish, a dish as big as a camel2 14

pannier and deep as the abyss. He sprinkled a handful of pepper over it and, thrusting on his guest a thick, heavy leaden spoon like a ladle, he said, � "Launch fonh thy spoon, now, and cleave through the deep; swim and paddle throughout its length and depth; dive to the bottom; leap in and fear not. Life is in the spoon! I am thy fellow in distress! " � So the butcher, and after him the guest, each with leaden spoon in hand, risked their lives and went quivering down into the boiling gulf, exploring the depths thereof. From the hidden deeps of the gulf, below the yellow glistening fatness which floated, round and wide, like rafts on the face of a river, there was disclosed a mingled mass of grain, dumplings and beans, boiled and seethed together with crumbs of dough, slabs of fat, and morsels of meat-offal and scraps of tripes and chitterlings and fowls' gizzards and craws. And, from the innermost depth, there emerged, like a little island, a maw stuffed tight with choicest savouries, a glutton's dream of bliss. � Towards this little island the butcher's ladle paddled, and the more the magnifi cent maw became uncovered as the soup round about it was drained away, the more were the butcher's greedy eyes beguiled by it. Diligently and laboriously did he ply ladle and gullet in his anxiety to dry up the deep sea and make himself master of that stuffed maw. � The guest, however, was slack in pursuit: he was writh­ ing and wrestling with his leaden spoon, a lacle wider than his mouth could stretch, striving to pass it through his lips without scorching them or tearing them. It was no light task thus to cut off his head yet save his life! He grew ever more weary and sick: sweat dripped from his forehead and nose, and his temples pounded like a gong. By reason of his great effons and his great weariness the ladle almost slipped from his hand.

� 1 he butcher felt only contempt at the sight ot his guest's labours and difficulties: he never slackened for a moment in his 0\m task and from above his own piled-up ladle which plied its unceasing course to his lips, he shot a shaft of mockery out of his little fat-encased eyes, a glance of utter contempt which said as plain as words, � "Thou paltry mollycoddle! Doth a Solomon eat in such a fashion! " � But lo, the giblet soup was at last drained dry, and the stuffed maw in its resplendent, sublime and appetising beauty and grace was wholly laid bare. At the bottom of the dish it lay crouched like a lion, alone but undaunted, beguiling and enticing. The butcher could curb his lust no longer: seizing the maw with ravening claws, gripping it so tightly that he squeezed out half its fattiness, in hot desire he tore it into two, and one piece, still greasily drib­ bling, he held out to his guest: � "Take this and grow fat! It is a prince of maws, I'd have thee kno,,-: its like there hath never been before: all gush­ ing with fatness. And look within - a treasury of delica­ cies, perfection of all delights! The very sight of it moveth me to gambol like any calf! " ' But the maw did not beguile the heart of Solomon: his stomach rose and hea,·ed at the sight of it, and he faltered in his doubt whether he could defile himself with it or not. The butcher saw his hesitation and waved his hand in despair: � "Verily, thou art a poor-spirited nincompoop! Thou hast this day disgraced King Solomon: thou hast held him up to shame and dishonour. Yet thou it was concerning ,,-hom I heard those mighty feats of vigour - that thou hadst married one thousand wives, and many other like things. Surely, thought I, he is a virile fellow, and if such be his manly power, how great must be the lust of his belly 216

and the might of his jaws! But now I see that all I heard was empty talk and lies; thine own mouth betrayeth thee: no sooner hast thou begun than thou art wearied. And what wilt thou do with the rest of these dishes? Those women of Sidon and Ammon must have sapped thy powers and robbed thee of thy manhood. Is that not so? 0! ye kings! I know you well ! " ! And again the butcher winked a very cunning eye. ! But Solomon sat with drooping head and groaned in silence. What could he say? The butcher had indeed found out his shame. Moreover had he not raised a great question: ! "What can I do with the rest of these dishes? How can I eat of them all?" ! And Solomon's eyes turned furtively towards the pots to see how many they were: one, two, three, four . ! ! "0! my God, the God of my father David! Even had I the stomach of a wild ox never could I endure the like of these! And who knoweth what lieth in wait for me in the depths of this great cauldron, this black horror of darkness which standeth, high and lifted up, awaiting its moment! This accursed cauldron beareth naught save evil tidings!" ! But before Solomon could devise any means of escaping from the trap which had caught him, the butcher took up that dreaded cauldron and turned it out into a dish, vaster and deeper than the former, a veritable barrel; and into this barrel-like dish there fell an entire ox-belly, yet an­ other sample of the stuffer's art, rising mountain-high above the dish's rim. ! Like craggy rocks round about this mountain lay frag­ ments of spleen and suet, lights and liver, and many such­ like choice morsels, and from the mountain there was forthwith belched a strong and heavy stench, like a pestil­ ential wind, and it violently smote the nose of Solomon, so that his senses all but forsook him. It must needs be, 2. 1 7 . .

thought Solomon, that these entrails have never been cleared of their offal. ! But in proponion as the ox-belly horrified the guest, so did it delight the butcher's hean. Rubbing his hands to­ gether in ecstasy he cried out in his joy: ! "Verily this day hath my good wife surpassed herself! Hell and damnation! Did ever eye see the like? Do it j ustice, my old friend! Gird up thy loins! Here cometh the ox-belly: all hail to it, a royal mother of entrails! Bet­ ter still: loosen thy girdle and give thy belly scope. ! "Yet, if thou would have still more space between thine entrails, I will give thee sound counsel. Let us act with prudence and drink one more small cup, that it may hold apart the one dish from the next: let it lead the way to the cups which we drink midway in our repast; then shall we rise up against this ox-belly and dash it in pieces. So shall we see the measure of thy might." ! But Solomon's ear had ceased to take in the butcher's prating. All the abominations which had entered into him were giving forth their warnings, warnings in stomach and mouth: unless he got out quickly, naught could stay the evil! ! So while the butcher still busied himself among the pots and bottles, a spirit came upon Solomon. He purposely knocked his spoon off the table, and, as he stopped to pick it up, he seized the table's legs and upset the table and everything on it. ! The siege was raised! The way lay clear to the window. In an instant, Solomon, leaping over the wreckage, jumped through the window and disappeared. ! In the house arose a great tumult. At the noise of the overturned table and the crashing of broken pots and bot­ tles, the thresholds shook and the doorposts tottered: the whole household, the butcher's wife, her handmaids, and the butcher's apprentices and servants, rushed in haste to

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the place whence the crash was heard, and they reached it all together. ! Over the wreckage stood the butcher, wonderstruck and horrified, with outstretched hands and bulging eyes and gaping mouth, and tongue dangling out between greasy lips. There he stood, a silent slab of congealed fat. ! And the guest was gone. ! Solomon ran as long as breath remained in his body and strength in his legs, until he had escaped into the country. There, into the depth of a pit, he vomited everything which he had swallowed in the butcher's house. ! Yet for two days more the flavour of those abominations still remained in his mouth, and he felt himself like one who abhorred his own flesh and whose inside was be­ fouled. Could a man change his flesh as he changeth his raiment, then would Solomon have stript off his polluted body and cast it like carrion to the dogs and clothed him­ self anew with another body. ! Throughout those two days he brought no food to his mouth, for it was loathesome to him. Moreover he kept aloof from any town or habitation lest some butcher fall upon him and persecute him a second time. ! On the third day a peasant found him fainting by the wayside. He took pity on him. He brought him into his hut and dealt with him compassionately. He spake with him in kindliness and restored his spirit. ! J\1 oreover when the wayfarer told him about himself, saymg, I am Solomon, King was I in Jerusalem ! the peasant did not mock him or pour scorn on him, but he behaved discreetly to the wandering and persecuted 2 19

wayfarer. And he sought diligently how he might bring him peace and comfon, for, he said, � "The judgments of God are a great deep, and what can man know of them? " � And he brought his guest water and washed his face and hands and feet, and ministered to him. And when the time for food drew near, he said to the wayfarer, � "If I have found favour in thy sight, my master, refuse me not, but share with me my daily bread. I am no rich man and my dinner is meagre-only a few green herbs. Yet no guest may go hungry from my house." � And Solomon consented and shared the bread of the peasant. � And that day the dinner of the green herbs tasted sweeter than any royal dainty which he had eaten in his days of wealth. � And when he left the poor man's house, consoled and comfoned, and set out again on his wanderings, he took with him another and a newborn spirit the like of which he had never known before.

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"THE WAY OF A l\1AN WITH A MAID" KING SOLOMON HAD A VERY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER. IN ALL THE EARTH THERE WAS NONE TO CO:\! PARE WITH HER. THE KING LOVED HER LIKE H I S OWN SOUL AND H E KEPT

her as the apple of his eye. � Now this damsel had always been strange in her ways and different from damsels of her own age: she could not endure the noise and glamour of palaces and preferred to wander quietly and alone in the King's garden or saunter in the vineyards in the early morning, while she pondered in her heart and her eyes gazed out afar. She passed her days in a waking dream, and none knew the thoughts of her heart. � The time carne when she was of an age to marry, and 221

the sons of kings from near and far came to her father to seek her hand in marriage. But the princess hid her face and paid no heed to their words, so that they all returned unto their own country discomfited and ashamed. � Very many days passed by, yet the damsel remained ob­ durate and the sons of kings abandoned hope and no more sought to see her face. � The King felt anxious for her and he was troubled in his hean. In the night he went up to the roof and studied the stars to learn which prince it might be whom God had destined for his daughter, and when this bridegroom would come. He studied the signs in the heavens and he saw, and lo! - no King '>vas it nor any prince whom God had des­ tined for the princess, but only a poor and simple youth from the lowest of the people: at the appointed time he would come and take her to be his wife. � The King was greatly displeased and sought how he might make the counsel of the heavens of none effect. He thought in his hean, � "I need but hide the girl for cenain days until the ap­ pointed time which I saw in the stars is past and gone; then the fate decreed shall likewise be annulled." � So he searched until he found a lonely island, far away, where no ship ever passed; and there he built a high tower having many halls and chambers within it; and round about it on every side he raised a strong wall. � Inside this tower he shut up his daughter, and with her he left seventy eunuchs from the elders of Israel to guard her and attend her; and he prepared provision in abun­ dance, every kind of food and drink and choicest victuals: nothing was lacking. And he closed up tightly all the doors and gates of the tower with locks and bolts of iron so that none might go out or come in; and he said, � "Now shall I see God's act and deed, and whether the counsel of the stars will be fulfilled." 222

� So the princess abode in that tower; and seventy eunuchs watched over her, keeping guard day and night, and dil­ igently fulfilling her every desire from the least to the greatest. No pleasure was withheld from her, for thus had the King ordained, that every joy or pastime that her soul desired be granted her that she suffer no tedium in her loneliness. � One thing alone could they not grant her - to go out­ side the door of the tower; for the tower was shut up from every side: none might go out and none come in. There­ fore whenever she felt herself oppressed by long confine­ ment within the tower, she would go up to the roof and there walk to and fro in the cool of the day; or she would lean on the parapet and look out over the far-stretching sea on every side and watch the tumultuous waves. And so she found comfort and relief. � By day and by night a sentinel stood on the wall with watchful eyes turned to the sea round about, to guard the island lest any ship approach or any strange person tread within its borders. � Twice during the day, in the morning and in the eve­ ning, a swift boat appeared about a bow's shot from the island, and in the boat was a messenger sent by the King to inquire concerning the damsel's welfare. � He used to hold out a white flag, signifying, � "Is all well with the King's daughter?" � And the sentinel would also wave a white flag towards him as a signal saying, � "All is well ! " � Then the boat would straightway turn round and dis­ appear over the horizon. � The nearer drew the time, the appointed time which the King feared, the more diligent grew the eunuchs in their task. They kept diligent watch at their posts by the gates and doors, with open eyes and stretched-out ears and 223

sniffing noses, trembling even at the sound of a fly beating against a window or a weasel burrowing inside a wall; for they were trusty servants and carried out their duty to the King in all faithfulness. *

*

*

� Now in the city of Acre was a poor boy, the son of worthy folk from a family of scriveners. Suddenly one day he left his native town because the home of his humble parents was become too narrow for him, and his soul craved to see far off places. � He left his home and he took with him naught save him­ self and his staff. Yet his courage never failed and he knew no care. For the sap of youth filled his bones and faith and hope filled his hcan. Blithe spirits urged him on and he went singing on his way. As he passed through the coun­ try side his heart went out to the jumping grasshopper and the sprightly birds and the wild conies and the daning lizards. He was drawn to every green tree and to every shady booth in forsaken vineyards. Like any bird he kept his soul alive from the gleanings left in the fields of kindly folk. The earth was his bed and a stone his pillow. � As he wandered through the country visiting towns and villages, his cars hearkened diligently to all whom he met by the way and from the lips of the people and their elders he learned knowledge and wise sayings, and he hid them in his hean; they were his consolation in distress and re­ freshment in his wanderings. � One cold and rainy day when the sun went down, he found himself hungry and thirsty, naked and barefoot, in a barren and desolate region; and the frost devoured him and his strength failed him. � He found the skeleton of an ox, and he rejoiced and said, � "Blessed be God who hath provided me with a bed in 2 24

this place! Let me lie inside it: it may give me warmth, even if it be but a little." ' So he entered inside its ribs and lay down and slept. ! While he was asleep in the night a great and mighty eagle came down and took hold of the skeleton and carried it away in its beak, together with him that slept therein. It flew away and came to the tower which the King had built for the princess; and there it set down its burden on the roof. It began to pick off scraps of decayed flesh from the skeleton, but the youth came out and drove it away. ! All that night he sat on the roof, very weary, and shiv­ ering from cold and rain. ! When morning broke and the sky grew bright, the princess, as her custom was day by day, came out to the roof. She saw the young stranger. ! Keeping herself far from him, she asked, ! "Who art thou? And who brought thee hither? " ! In all innocence the youth answered, ! "Fear not, 0 damsel, nor be angry against me. I am a Hebrew, the son of poor folk which dwell in Acre. Last night rain overtook me in the open country, and I was hungry and thirsty and had naught to cover up my body. So I lay inside a skeleton. And an eagle took me up and left me here. And now, I know not how to get away, for the sea is all around us and there is no boat anywhere to be found." ! The princess took pity on him and brought him secretly into her chamber. She washed him and clothed him and gave him to cat and to drink; and he quickly recovered his comeliness and his cheerfulness. She looked on him, and, lo, he was well-favoured and pleasing. She rejoiced over him greatly and his company was sweet unto her. She hid him in her chamber, and the eunuchs knew not of it, for she told them not of his coming nor did they enter her chamber unless they were summoned.

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' And it was so that from that day forth she herself went out to them twice in the day to show that it was well with her. And the elders laid it not to heart, for they said, ,- "It hath but chanced so." � And they remained at their posts watching diligently, each at his own station and his appointed place, with peer­ ing eyes and outstretched cars and sniffing noses; for they were very trusty servants and carried out their duty to the King faithfully and devotedly. � Now the princess perceived that the poor boy was wise and intelligent and pure in heart, and she loved him with all her heart and soul. � One day she said to him, ! "Do I find such favour in thy sight that thou wilt have me to be thy wife?" ' "Why dost thou need to ask? " he answered, "Am not I thy servant to wash thy feet? " ! And she told him how strong was her love and how that he \\'as better and more precious to her than any prince in the world, and how that it was God's doing which had brought him here on the wings of the eagle. And she told him that her soul clave unto him from the moment when she first saw him, and that without him her life would be no life at all. � And many other such things did she say unto him in the heat of her affection. � Moreover he responded with words even seventy and seven times more loving, and they made a covenant of everlasting love. The boy stood up and let out blood from his arm and with his blood he wrote the words of the covenant on a scroll, both writing them down and sealing them. And he betrothed her to him lawfully and said, � "The Lord is witness, and his angels Michael and Gabriel are witnesses ! " 226

'! Of all these things the eunuchs knew nothing, whether little or much. Howbeit none could have been more hon­ est and faithful than they, for they turned their nights into days and watched most diligently in the performance of their duty. ! After these things, when the time had passed by which had been revealed to Solomon by the stars, he remem­ bered his daughter who was shut up in the tower, and he was minded to bring her back to his house. ! He set sail in a ship and came to the island and to the tower. He carefully examined the bolts and the locks out­ side the gates and the doors, and he saw that they were whole and that no hand had touched them. He com­ manded that they be broken off. ! Then were the gates and the doors opened and the King entered inside the tower, and the elders came in haste to meet him and to greet him. ! "Is it well with my daughter?" asked the King. "Where is she?" ! "All is well with her, 0 lord the King, and lo, she is within her chamber." ! The King went to the chamber of the princess, and the elders followed after. ! And it came to pass that when they opened the door, behold! in the chamber, beside the damsel, was a comely youth1 ! Uttermost panic seized the elders, and their hearts ceased to beat. The King turned upon them the eye of wrath: ! "\Vho," he asked, "is this?" ! The elders could give no answer. They were altogether terror-stricken and turned to stone. They stood dumb, their faces white, and their heads bowed down to the ground. ! The King stamped his feet in fury: ! "Can ye not answer? Answer, or be torn to pieces ! " 2 27

' The elders fell upon their faces to the ground. In fear and trembling they said, ' "Alas, 0 lord the King, what can we say or what can we speak? As God liveth, with all our might have we watched over the King's daughter, yet even so we know not by what means the youth entered hither." ' The King turned to the damsel in burning rage: ! "Wanton one, what doth this youth here? Who brought him hither? Speak! " ! And the damsel fell down a t the feet o f the King and said, ! "Be not angry, 0 my father! By God's hand alone hath this come to pass: God sent His messenger the eagle and brought me a desirable youth; and I have become his wife. Accept him and bless him, 0 my father ! " ! "Who an thou ? " the King asked the youth, "And how earnest thou hither? " ! The youth stood before the King and answered him without fear. He told him everything. ! The King saw that he was a seemly youth and felt kind­ ly towards him. He spake with him and found that in knowledge and wise sayings he surpassed tenfold all the scribes and sages in his dominion. ! Moreover he asked of his name and his city and the fam­ ily of his father and his mother. And the youth answered him straightforwardly and simply, telling of his poveny and his wanderings, and how the eagle bore him by won­ drous ways to the top of the tower and how the damsel took pity on him and gave him shelter and dealt kindly with him. ' And he showed the King the scroll of writing which he had written and scaled with his blood in proof of the cov­ enant of everlasting love between him and the King's daughter. ' Solomon heard these words of truth and wonder and

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perceived that this was none other than that poor and sim­ ple youth which the stars had revealed to him. And he said, � "Now know I that no wisdom or knowledge or counsel can prevail against the purpose of the Lord! " ' The elders saw that the King's anger was turned from them. Their spirit revived and they rose up from the ground, lifting their hands to heaven, saying, � "Blessed be God that giveth man a wife! " ' Then Solomon took his daughter and her husband and brought them to Jerusalem. And for seven days he made a feast for them and rejoiced with them. ' And when the days of the feast were ended he sum­ moned the bridegroom and said to him, � "Behold, thou art now the King's son in law, and my do­ minion is great and far reaching. Ask, therefore, for thy­ self some honourable office such as thy hean desireth, and I will give it to thee." � But the bridegroom answered, � "Oh, my lord the King' I am but a man of scrolls and volumes: from my youth up have I known only poverty. My forefathers likewise have all been scribes and learned in sacred studies; never have they pursued high matters or known palaces or luxury. If, now, I have found favour in thy sight, let thy servant be given some peaceful and solitary homestead by the sea shore where I may abide with my wife; and, like all my fathers, I will ponder the words of (;ocl and the knowledge of His ways." � The King granted him his desire; and he appoinr�cl h im to be over the King's scribes. So the King's son in law dwelt in his homestead; and he gathered together all the proverbs of wisdom which Solomon uttered from time to time and wrote them down in a volume. � Moreover he brought together cenain words of wisdom

.2 2 9

of his own, which he had learnt or which he had meditated in his own heart; and he set them down at the end of the Proverbs of Solomon. Are not they the words of Agur son of Jakeh which are found there unto this day? ! And thus saith he in his proverbs: There be three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The \\·ay of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maid.

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THE PRINCESS OF ARAM

(i) KING SOLOMON MADE A GREAT FEAST I :-< IllS PALACE AND THERE CAME TO T H E FEAST ALL THE KIXGS O F Til f. EAST AND THE WEST:

THE KIXG OF ARA \ 1 , AXD TilE KING O F

Tyre, and the kings of Ammon and i\ loab, and the rest of the kings, both great and small and smaller still. Chief of them all was the mighty Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They all came with their most honourable captains, and the greatest of their wise men, and their chief magicians. ,- Each brought with him his own secret thoughts: some there were that came with an honest heart and in good faith to see the wisest of kings in all his glory and to honour themselves by honouring him; others came as flatterers and privy mockers; while yet others came in a mood of stifled jealousy with manifold evil motives. ,- Solomon's table was laden with all the choicest victuals of the earth : naught was lacking which man's heart could covet or his eyes desire. The guests ate and drank and grew merry. Yet their eyes were watchful and expectant. ' And it came to pass that after they had gladdened their 231

heans, the King, as his custom was, took them into the garden of the palace to converse in shady corners or to seek diversion in discourses of wisdom, in proverbs, para­ bles, and riddles of the east, according to the good hand of God upon Solomon. ! The King's garden was large and spacious: its delights were without number and its splendour had no end. Every tree which God had planted in the beginning of the world was assembled there, while banks of glorious flowers and scented herbs crowned the garden's loveliness. Brightly coloured birds filled it with joyous tumult from morning till night, and fountains of clear running water never ceased to cast up their cool rills, bursting like crystals into marble-paved pools; and their sweet tumult seemed to bring renewed life in all the hidden places of the garden. ! Pendants of glass and crystal, bells of amethyst and gold with tongues of pearls, adorned the foliage of the trees, and so often as the breeze touched them they gave fonh the tiniest of tinklings, most sweet to the ear; and the tin!dings mingled with rustling leaves and humming foun­ tains and chirruping birds, uniting in a single divine chorus. The listening ear never grew weary. � All this splendour did the guests behold and they felt themselves in a dream. But when Solomon opened his mouth in wisdom, the eyes of every one turned and gazed fixedly at the lips of Solomon, and they put away every one his petty thoughts and perversities of hean; they no longer knew themselves: such was the magic of Solomon's lips in winning all heans and penetrating all ears. ! Solomon drew his guests together beneath a dense and leafy fig tree interwoven with creeping vines, and he bade them be seated on carpets of many colours beside a pool of clear water, while his servants and attendants, comely youths from Ethiopia and Saba and Kedar, well favoured and bright-eyed, swift of hand and fleet of foot, marked

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well the needs of the guests, responding at once to a flick of their eyelids and bringing them golden cups and crystal goblets of grape juice and every kind of drink which re­ fresheth the soul, and silver baskets laden with every choice fruit which maketh glad the hean. � There lacked naught which could increase the comfon of the guests and give them leasure. � Solomon sat at the head o his guests. His face glowed with divine wisdom and his mouth was a fount of under­ standing. He spake that day in parables about birds and beasts and flowers, and he spake wisely of God's ways and of God's providence and wonderful works. And, moved by the spirit, he spake also about the stars and constella­ tions and all the hosts of heaven which moved at God's command, and he described their rotations and their motions. � And at the last he spake on the subject of woman: that a wife was God's gift to man and a recompense for his deeds, be they good or be they evil. � But when the king of Tyre (he that had been Solomon's companion from his youth up) heard these words of Sol­ omon, his eyes gave fonh a crafty smile, a smile of subtle mockery, the faintest of smiles, tiny as the eye of a needle, a smile hardly to be perceived. � Yet naught could be hidden from the eyes of Solomon, and at once he said, � "Will not the king of Tyre tell us what is in his hean?" � And the king of Tyre, with a tiny satyr dancing in his eye, answered, � "Doth a wife indeed come from the hand of God? I know a certain king who hath in his palace a thousand wives. Did God bring them every one into his bosom?" � The eyes of all the guests turned to the speaker: some in angry reproof, some in fear, and some in silent glee, as though they would say,

f

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� "Well done, thou king of Tyre! Sharp is thy needle and sore the sting thereof ! " � And the king of the Ammonites, he that despite himself \\·as a father in law to Solomon, called to mind how Sol­ omon had dealt with him and how he had entered by stealth into his house as a cook and taken away his daughter Naamah. � And he said, � "As my god Milcom liveth! I, too, can never believe that the mighty gods concern themselves with affairs of love and dalliance! Is there lack of petty godlings to do this task that we need to lay it to God's charge? I know of cunning fellows, skilful at this business, who were shame­ less enough to steal the hean of simple girls ( as a cook might steal some choice morsel from his master's pot) and clever enough to entice them out of their father's house. Was it with God's help alone that they carried Ol.lt their crafty schemes? " � At these outspoken words the guests' ears grew seven times more alert and their eyes gleamed seven times brighter: � "Of a truth," thought they, "the Ammonite hath smote a wondrous blow! A truly wondrous blow' This time it is no thin needle, but a red hot spear which hath pierced the skin of Solomon! " � And, taut like bow-strings, they sat awaiting the out­ come of this combat. ' Then the king of Aram, a man of meagre flesh and stunted stature, shrivelled by his ill-nature and devoured by jealousy, one who had long borne a grudge against the son of David - this king of Aram saw that now was his moment for revenge. � From his eyes peered out two tiny evil scorpions; and he said, � "As for me, I know of still more wonderful things. I

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know a certain king who stole a wife out of the bosom of his faithful servant; and his son, the fruit of his sin, sitteth on the throne after him. And now I fain would know for whom did God first destine that woman? - for the robbed or for the robber? Or was it for them both together?" ! This was, of a truth, a well-sharpened arrow, an arrow besmeared with poison, cleaving the very heart and reins. ! The king of Moab, a fleshy man and fat, overburdened by his tongue, saw how all restraints of courtesy had now been broken down. His face glistened more greasily than oil; he resolved within himself to delay no longer; he, too, would unmuzzle his pent up feelings. But first he thrust forth his tongue, a fat tongue like the tongue of an ox; and, licking his thick lips once to the right and once to the left, he disgorged ponderous rolling words, one by one, as though he were rolling stones: ! "Look now at thy great-grandmother, Ruth the Moab­ itess, an offshoot from my family stock, a daughter of the chiefs of Moab and of the nobles of the ancient people of Chemosh: was it not she that built up the house of the King of Judah when she became the wife to Boaz the Bethlehemite after that 1\bhlon son of Elimelech, also a man of Judah, the husband of her youth had died on her? And now I fain would know which god was it that gave the Moabitess twice over into the bosom of a son of Judah? Was it Chemosh, the god of Moab, or was it the god of Judah? Or was it both of them together?" ! Truly a ponderous fellow was this king of Moab: a fat­ tened ox! Yet his goring horns knew how to reach their mark and penetrate the inmost depth. The question was in keeping with the speaker: thick and heavy like a wine­ press beam whose like seven Lion.men of Moab could not shift. ! All the royal guests, kings great and small and smaller 235

still, smelt a coming storm, and their bellies rejoiced great­ ly. Their inward pans all danced for joy: now would their gladness be complete! At the prospect their eyes lit up with little lighted torches, torches of glee; but, coward like, thev hid them hurriedly beneath their eyelids and looked down to the carpets whereon they were sitting. � Alone among them all the king of Egypt, the noblest of the kings, a lion old and haughty, decked with majesty and pride, with gloomy eyes, who was come to the feast to take part in the pomp of his son in law - he alone, as he heard the words of ridicule, boiled like a cauldron with indignation. His flesh shook with rage, his eyes flashed and his nostrils sent forth smoke; each moment his right hand sped to his sword-hilt, and only by force could he restrain himself and withdraw his hand. � These heads of dogs! - could he, Pharaoh, suffer them to assail the honour of his son in law, the honour of the covenanted ally of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and husband of his daughter, and let them escape unpunished? � A great silence fell upon the assembly, an expectant silence, too heavy to be borne. Each guest held his breath and looked away wheresoever he could. Each heart felt an obscure terror, as though a hidden blade of a sword hovered over them and was about to fulfil its purpose. � The king of Egypt's eye gave forth a glance seven times more stormy than before. He turned a wrathful fiery eye on Solomon as though he were bidding him � "Trample them under foot ! " � Many others, too, of the more honourable guests, kings great and small and smaller still, who had not behaved im­ pudently to Solomon, tried to arouse themselves and break the silence. One by one they raised their eyes to Solomon: eyes of every son: dogs' eyes and rabbits' eyes, foxes' eyes and jackals' eyes, serpents' eyes and monkeys' eyes, owls' eyes and sparrows' eyes. Snarling, flattering, 2 36

goading, and craving after scandal, they all at the same time seemed to be saying to Solomon, ! "Smite them, 0 King, smite them! Crush their skulls ! " ! But King Solomon ignored them. He waited quietly and unmoved until his guests were silent. He lifted up his head, fearless as a young lion, and spake with royal dignity and courtesy: !J "When it shall be proved that my words are true, that it is indeed God who bestoweth on every man his wife, then shall ye come every one of you from his own place and country and enter the Temple which I have built to God on Mount Sion, and ye shall bow yourselves down with your faces to the ground and lick the dust." ' "But," they asked, "how can we know whether thy words are proved true? " ! "This will we do," answered Solomon. "Every one of us will write down the name of one of his daughters, a vir­ gin whose time is come that she is of an age to marry. And we will cast lots. Whichever damsel shall be drawn by lot, I will put her on a lonely island where no man can see her and none visit her. And I will command my great white eagle and it shall provide her with food from my palace so long as she dwelleth alone on the island. Then shall we see whether or not her fate shall befall her at God's hand as I have spoken." ! And with one mouth the kings replied, ! "According to thy counsel so let it be done! " ' The lot was cast; and it fell upon the daughter of the king of Aram. ! The king of Aram was sorely displeased when he saw how the lot had fallen, for this was his only daughter, a desirable damsel, the joy of his house and his eyes' delight. His anger was kindled greatly and he gnashed his narrow, pointed, mouse-like teeth. In his heart he cursed Solomon and his God. But his word had been pledged in the pres237

ence of all the kings, and he could not draw it back. ' The king of Aram fulfilled his pledged word, and, re­ turning to his home he sent Keziah, his only daughter whom he loved, to the king of Judah that, through her, Solomon's words might be put to the proof. He grieved for her greatly, and his heart smote him. He longed after her in pity and anxiety: for who knew what it was that God had decreed concerning her?

( ii ) ' Far removed from the track of ships was a small and desolate island. It was rocky and mountainous and covered with virgin forest. No man had ever dwelt there, and no ship had ever drawn near to it. The sea round about it for four hundred leagues was filled with deadly snares and perils which no mariner had ever overcome, for none who went there had come back alive. ' Solomon alone knew the island. He found it one day when he was flying on the great white eagle. He came down to examine it, and he kept his knowledge to himself until some fitting time. ' On this island he determined to build a tower wherein the daughter of the king of Aram should abide until re­ demption came to her. ' King Solomon made no delay. He chose out wise and faithful craftsmen from the most skilful masons and builders and workers in wood and stone and iron, and sent them to the island with all the tools of their craft and food in abundance. And there they built a tower on the top of a lofty peak according to the King's desire and ac­ cording to the fashion which he showed to them. He did not send them to the island in ships lest accident befall 2 38

them in their voyage through the sea, and lest the way to the hidden island become known. But he took them thither on the wings of the wind, on his magic cloak, and set them down upon the island in safety, they and all their burden. � When they reached the ground they found themselves encamped in a wooded field on the peak of a steep and high mountain, and on all sides were thick and lofty trees covered with dense foliage. Here had Solomon determined to build the tower. ' After some days the work was finished according to all that had been prescribed, and the tower stood up 0n its foundations ready to fulfil all the desire of the King. � It was exceedingly high, raising its head above the trees of the forest, and from a distance it seemed to be a proud neck stretching heavenward from among the trees. With­ in the tower, in the topmost part thereof, was a bed­ chamber and a spacious upper room, wherein the princess could dwell and move about in comfort. For thus had King Solomon commanded, that the damsel suffer no straitness in confinement, that her spirit be not quenched. � In the upper part of the tower were windows and lat­ tices opening to the breezes and sunshine, and through them the princess, like a dove in a dovecot, could look out and rejoice. ' Below the windows the tower was solid and unbroken on all sides, without any door. From the outer side the walls were very steep and smooth: in them was no pro­ jection nor any hole or flaw in the stone or aught whereon a finger could lay hold. � The damsel had but a single outlet, a small stairway lead­ ing from her upper room to the roof where she could walk about in the cool of the day as often as she would. ' The tower had but a single gateway whose locks and bolts were all of solid iron.

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� And on the appointed day when the damsel was to be brought to the tower, Solomon and all the kings assembled together and took Keziah, daughter of the king of Aram, and flew to the island on the magic cloak; and they came down on the top of the mountain on which the tower was built. � They explored the tower within and without and they examined it from every point, testing it carefully from top to bottom. And when they saw that it was built according to all that had been prescribed, without any flaw or crook­ edness, they led the princess up a ladder into the upper room. � There they left her and drew away the ladder. � The damsel wept bitterly and stretched out her hands to her father, for she was like to melt away in terror. More­ over the heart of the king, her father: went out to his daughter and he was nigh torn in pieces in the greatness of his compassion. But he restrained himself and said noth­ ing: he was a king and he had given his pledged word: therefore he must harden his heart. � Solomon beheld the damsel's deep distress and he sought to comfort her, saying, � "Weep not, my daughter, and have no fear. In this tower no evil shall befall thee and thou shalt lack nothing. 1\1 y white eagle shall visit thee every day and bring thee abundant and dainty food from the choicest viands that arc prepared for my table. The birds of heaven shall keep watch by thy window and make the out-goings of the morning and evening to praise thee. Moreover I have ordained that a magic bird, a bird which can speak, shall come to thee at fixed times and talk with thee and delight thee. � "Ever;._r night the stars on high, the eyelids of God. will _ to thee, and everv morning the wincrs of flash the1r s1gns the wind will brin!! thee gladdening news from fa� off

2 40

places, and every day the rusliing waves shall bear away thy longings in their bosom. ' "And though thy young blood seethe within thee like new wine in a wineskin, yet it shall be that when thou art fully ripe, and ready to bow down beneath the burden of thy longings, thy lover and thy redeemer will come at his appointed time: without warning will he come to thee, and ere thou understandest the way thereof he will loosen thy boJ?-ds a � thy deliverance from this tower shall be pro­ claimed. ' Thus did the King in his wisdom continue to comfort the damsel, so that her spirit became more tranquil and at ease. ' She wiped away her tears and said, ' "If it is my fate I must bear it. Do with me as thou wilt, O King." ' Then all the kings left the tower. ' The gate was shut behind them and locked and bolted seven times over with seven strong iron bolts and seven heavy iron locks to every bolt, every lock being sealed with the seals of the kings and every seal testifi ed to by witnesses according to law and ordinance, that there be given no scope for deceit or evil device. ' At the last moment before they went up on the magic cloak the king of Tyre looked up by chance and beheld a stout oak tree, some fifty cubits high or more, which stood close to the tower. Its trunk shot up straight and smooth from its root upwards and its boughs and foliage were very high; its topmost branches stretched out near to the upper windows of the tower. ' The king of Tyre whispered into Solomon's ear and said, ' "Would it not be well, 0 King, to command that this oak tree be cut down� Why should it be left as a snare to the damsel, or an excuse to any that seck to cavil? " 241

?

� King Solomon looked for a moment on the tree, and he said, ' "\Vhat dost thou see amiss? Let it stand where it is and let its foliage gladden the damsel's hean. Why need we deny her this little pleasure? Moreover the tree top will serve as a resting place for my eagle when it cometh to bring food to the damsel, and from the tree top it can pass her food through the window." � Then Solomon and the kings and all their following went up on the magic cloak and were lifted high above the island; and the damsel, the daughter of the king of Aram, was left in God's keeping alone in the tower in the depth of the forest encompassed by the wide places of the stormy ocean.

( iii ) � Many, many days she remained shut up in the upper room of the tower. Day followed day without change or variety, except that, by the King's command, the white eagle used to visit her and bring to her window or to the roof of the tower her daily portion from the King's viands. ! Each day about the time of the eagle's· coming, she would go up to the roof and look out over the sea until in the sunshine a small fluttering speck could be seen on the horizon. It grew larger and larger until it was seen to have wings and a beak and the appearance of a hawk. It was the white eagle. It used to come down to•the damsel on the roof or alight on the upper branches of the oak tree, and gi,·e her her food. Then it would return by the way it came. Thus used the eagle to do every day. � Sometimes at Solomon's bidding a magic bird would come to the oak tree, a tame parrot with speckled feathers and bald head and crooked beak. It used to perch on a branch near the window in the tower, proclaiming its

2 42

arrival in a raucous voice, like a saw cutting through dry wood, and calling out, ! "Here am I, 0 princess! Here am I ! " ! Then the princess would open the window and welcome him cheerfully and, as if to a human being, she would talk to him according to her mood, sometimes jokingly and sometimes seriously. ! The damsel would ask and the parrot reply; and if the parrot answered plainly the damsel would dance for joy and clap her hands; but if he talked foolishly, or perverse­ ly, she would show her anger and frown at him and shake a little fist at him, a fist no bigger than a fig; or she would put out her sweet tongue at him in mockery. At the sight of this insult the parrot would rouse himself and burst into shrieks of rage and fury; and when his temper had ex­ hausted itself he would spread his wings and disappear. ! The princess, seeing that signs and wonders were com­ ing to pass as King Solomon had foretold, put her trust in the King and in his words of comfort, and she was no more distressed. She dwelt alone, hidden away in her silent domain like a pearl in its shell. She sated her soul with the near and distant sights and sounds, the airy clouds and the rolling waves and the rustling leaves. They pene­ trated into her being as brightness entereth into the heart of a pomegranate. In the silence of the tower she grew into womanhood and her sweetness dailv increased. And when the sun shone upon her she seemed to herself like a ripe cluster of grapes on the vine, and of a sudden she found herself asking, ! "When cometh the grape gatherer? Why tarry the steps of him that treadeth out the grapes? "

( iv ) � In those days in the great and busy city of Sidon, there 2 43

dwelt a Hebrew whose name was Malkishua. He was a rich and diligent merchant and a leader among the people. He belonged to the tribe of Zebulun, but, many years� before, when he was still young and when David was King of Israel, he had come to the gates of Sidon as a fugitive and an exile. By his industry he won prosperity in his city of refuge. He took to himself a wife such as his heart de­ sired, a simple dove, the tenderly nurtured daughter of a man from the tribe of Naphthali, who also dwelt in Sidon. He built himself a house and made Sidon his home; and he became a citizen of that country. � He prospered greatly and his wealth became abundant: he heaped up riches and possessions and bought very many slaves. Blessing crowned all his labours and his merchan­ dise spread far abroad; his caravans of camels he sent to the ends of the earth and his ships to distant coasts, to the islands of Greece and Tarshish and Crete; and his fame spread abroad as one of the greatest merchants in the land. � Kings and nobles paid him honour, for they perceived how wide was his knowledge, how constant his spirit, and how great his probity. They committed their affairs into his hands and behaved towards him in friendliness. There­ fore many and great people desired to know him, and from far and near they came early to await him at his gate. His generous spirit suffered him to turn no man away, and he stretched out a hand to help all that stumbled. And in his courtyard he built a dwelling place as a lodging and refuge to any that fled to him from Judea, or that was in exile, or persecuted, or oppressed and in misery, even though they were fugitives from the wrath of kings and princes. For of his own knowledge he well knew the soul of the persecuted, their afflictions and their home­ lessness. � Fcw knew the story of his adventures before he came to Sidon, for Malkishua had cast a veil over them. Howbeit

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they were wonderful in their manifold variety and chang­ ing fortune. � In the pride of his youth he forsook his father's house and boldly set out, athirst for adventure in new and distant places. When he heard that Joab had summoned his soldiers to battle against Aram he made haste to join the army; and he fought with all his might and performed many acts of valour. He had the heart of a tiger and he knew no fear. Wherever the battle waxed hottest thither Malkishua sped with his sword and his bow. � In one of these battles he shot a well-aimed arrow through the heart of a son of the king of Aram, and he gained glory as a warrior. And as was his courage so was his sagacity. His heart was an unfailing fount of wiliness. Seven times a day sore peril beset him, yet he escaped un­ hurt. Many times was he captured in battle, yet he escaped through his shrewdness. Once he was seized and brought before the king of Aram, and but a step separated him from death; but again his cunning availed him so that he made mock of his captors and escaped. � In the end his spirit led him to join with such as con­ spired against King David. He no more gave obedience to the King of Judah, and he summoned the people to rebel. !�ere was no conspiracy against David which he did not )0111 .

� Henceforth his dwelling place was in the wilderness, in clefts of the rocks, in caves and in holes beneath the earth, whence he used to steal forth to stir up the people, with his face disguised for fear of his pursuers. � When Sheba the son of Bichri lifted up his hand against David, among the first to join him was Malkishua; and when this last conspiracy failed he fled and wandered in the wilderness and in strange cities for many days. � And to keep himself alive he scorned no manner of labour, and he served harsh and cruel masters and had his

2 45

fill of gall and wormwood. f:Ie end� re � every kind. of weariness and shame. But no toil or affi1ct10n crushed h1m: rather was he purified in the crucible of suffering and dis­ tress. Though his stormy and fiery spirit abated, his will grew hard as the Shamir and his understanding became sharp as a whetted razor. � One day Malkishua entered the gates of Sidon - a man who had known bitterness to the full and who was hard­ ened by adventure and sorely tried by experience, yet a man of wide knowledge and of shrewdness and resource seven times greater than of old. His back was like an iron band, his hand was a trusty weapon, his eyes shot fonh bolts touched with the acid of derision, and his hean was a storehouse of wisdom and a well of deep understanding. � He beheld the city of Sidon, the trafficker of the nations, with its busy, noisy throng and its merchandise and trade; and it seemed good in his sight to establish himself therein and to unleash his strength and his shrewdness in traffick­ ing and merchandise. And thus did he do. Prosperity met him, and he waxed great and powerful. � The fame of Malkishua reached even to King David in Jerusalem. Cenain evil-minded counsellors, to prove their zeal for David and his throne, incited the King against him saying, ' "Behold, Malkishua, he that troubled thy throne from his youth up, hath made himself strong in Sidon; and his house is become a nest for every rebel and conspirator, and a refuge for all that would disturb the country's peace. Now, therefore, speak to the king of Sidon (Is not he thine ally, thy neighbour and thy well wisher? ) that he deli\·cr him into thy hand." � But David was old. He, too, had known a life filled with care, and he now desired peace for all his people. There­ fore he gave no heed to the voice of them that whispered in his ear, but rather rebuked them, saying, 246

! "Let us not take account of the sins of youth. I call to remembrance the faithfulness of Malkishua in his youth, how he devoted himself in battle for the honour of his people, and won himself glory as a warrior. He was a man of valour, and his right hand was a right hand of righteous­ ness. If like other men he went astray in the time of youth, hath he not already atoned for his misdeeds by years of wandering and exile? Moreover I hear that he is a source of strength and security to the Israelites which dwell in Sidon, for the honour that falleth to him falleth to them also. Trouble him not. Let him rest in peace and let him prosper in a strange city and bring honour to God's name beyond the coasts of Israel." ! Nevertheless while King David lived Malkishua re­ frained from making pilgrimage to Jerusalem or to the land of Judah, nor did he journey thither for the sake of business or in pursuit of trade, lest he give occasion to his adversaries, or lest the aged King hear thereof and it dis­ please him. Yet such was his longing after God and the festivals of Israel that he used to pay his vows and send his freewill offerings to the great high place in Gibeon by the hands of his messengers and stewards in Judea. Thus upon the altar of God and upon His priests and upon the poor of His people they bestowed rich gifts from the hand of Malkishua, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Likewise in time of need, when there was drought in Israel or any plague or trouble, 1\hlkishua was first to send succour to the distressed, and the name of Malkishua be­ came a blessing in the mouth of many people. ! After Solomon had built the Temple of God and pro­ claimed peace and safety to all throughout the land, Mal­ kishua submitted in loyalty to the house of David, and every year he went up to Jerusalem and offered many vows and freewill offerings. Howbeit he came not near to the King's palace nor did he look upon the face of King 2 47

Solomon, lest the King recall the things of the past and show displeasure. � Moreover he abstained from any business in the land of Aram and he took heed lest he set foot within its borders, for he feared the vengeance of the king of Aram who had not yet forgotten the arrow ·which slew his son in battle. !\1alkishua well knew that he would find no pity if he fell into the hand of those who sought his life. � So J\lalkishua abode in Sidon in peace and tranquillity. He looked well to the ways of his business and enjoyed riches and honour and power, and there was none to make him afraid. � But with all his tranquillity and all his power he could not escape the hand of misfortune. � Of a sudden the clear light of his untroubled life was overcast. The delicately nurtured wife of his youth, the glory of his house and the mother of his only son, was snatched from him. One day while she was in a boat on the sea her foot slipped, and she fell into the water and found a grave in the depths of the sea. � Ever after that day sorrow rested heavily on the hean of Malkishua. He abjured all pleasures, the joys of Sabbath and feasting ceased. He even made an end of his visits to Jerusalem, the Holy City, and came no more within its gates, as had been his custom year by year. � What alone assuaged his heavy sorrow was the strong love which he bore to his son, the young and motherless child, Nathaniah. On him he poured out the fulness of his affection. He nurtured him most tenderly and guarded him as the apple of his eye. � The child grew to manhood, stalwart in limb, intel­ ligent, ready with his hands, and goodly to look upon: t�ere was none like him among all the young men of the city. And Nathaniah stood before his father in all his youthful strength and became his right hand in all that he

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did. The father saw that his son was a seemly youth and a blessing to him, and he gave him a share in the charge over his household and his possessions. ! And in all his ways Nathaniah acted wisely and circum­ spectly, with wisdom and resource, so that his father re­ joiced in him and loved him the more. Naught did he with­ hold from him, save that he suffered him not to travel in his ships, lest he suffer mishap as did his mother in the treacherous seas. In his love for him and in his anxiety for his safety he watched over him and held him closely. ! Though every daughter of Sidon longed after him in her heart and thought of him both waking and dreaming, the heart of Nathaniah went not after them; for none of them did he find to his mind nor did his father urge him to marry. So that Nathaniah grew to manhood with heart untouched. ! One day a ship made ready to sail from Sidon to Tarshish laden with wheat and oil and wine, the merchandise of Malkishua; and it was sent by the hand of a faithful servant. Malkishua and his son went down to the shore, as their custom was, to examine the ship and to give their last instructions. ! Now the days were the latter days of harvest, and when they came to the shore they beheld a company of Israel­ irish youths, from Sidon and from the cities round about, going down to the shore in joy and gladness, to the sound of drums and flutes and cymbals. Their faces were turned to a ship which was bound for the city of Acre. And from Acre their purpose was to go up to Jerusalem, there to keep the Feast of Tabernacles and rejoice before God. ! Nathaniah saw their rejoicing. He was seized with a like spirit. A longing burned within him to see the City of God with his own eyes, come what may. He vehemently urged

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his father to let him go up to Jerusalem and fulfil his hean's desire. ' The hean of Malkishua trembled: with pleading in his voice he answered, ' "Thy wish, my son, shall be fulfilled. Only, my son, go not by sea, tempting God. By dry land shalt thou go. In yet a few days a caravan of camels will set out, and do thou join thyself with them." ' But in his impatience Nathaniah answered, ' "Nay! Nay' my father. I must go by sea, and now, at once! Is God the God of the dry land alone, and not the God of the sea ! " ' J\Ialkishua could n o more withstand the pleading o f his only son: he saw how he was burning with the fire of long­ ing. His compassion was stirred, and he suffered him to go according to his wish. ' Yet in his abounding care for his son's welfare he en­ trusted him to the care of the faithful servant of his house who was travelling in the ship, and he straitly charged him never to lose sight of Nathaniah until he came to the city of Acre where the ship was to anchor awhile and where Nathaniah was to be set ashore and given into the care of a certain friend of Malkishua, his agent in Acre. And Mal­ kishua sent a letter to his friend in Acre beseeching him to be eyes and hands to his son during his sojourn in the Holy Land and to watch over him and convey him in his care to the City of God and there to take account of his going out and his coming in, and, when the days of the feast should be accomplished, to restore him speedily to his father's house by the first of Malkishua's ships which should leave Acre for Sidon. ' And that alone did not suffice Malkishua. He ran to his house and fetched thence a heavy bag of silver weighing seven talents, and a great and precious ruby weighing twenty drachmas the most carefully guarded jewel in his 250

treasury and his most cherished possession. These he put into Nathaniah's hands, saying, ! "Shall the son of Malkishua go up a first time to see the face of God with empty hands! This surely shall not be. Therefore, my son, take these as an offering from my hand to the Temple of God: the silver shalt thou give for a whole burnt offering during the days of the Feast and the jewel as an adornment for the veil of the Holy of Holies." ! Yet before parting with the jewel he hesitated. He re­ vealed the storm that was raging within him. With tears in his eyes he gazed on the ruby quivering in his hand, and with a trembling voice and in broken sentences he said, ! "My son, seest thou this jewel? To me it is the most pre­ cious thing in the world, a sacred relic. Like the morning star it first shone forth on thy mother's head at her betroth­ al, and it gleamed bright on her bosom on every feast and holy day. It is a unique and precious stone, and mys­ terious power lieth hidden within it. It hath not its like in kings' treasuries. For long it lay concealed in the vaults of an Indian ruler, guarded by a great serpent; but in the end, by wondrous and diverse paths, it reached my treasury. Henceforth let it shine on the veil of the Holy Place with­ in the Temple of God: let it be both an ever burning light in memory of the soul of thy mother, purest among wo­ men, and an everlasting and never drying tear shed for a bright, pure life untimely dimmed." ! The ruby passed from father to son. And as it gleamed and quivered on Nathaniah's palm it seemed to be a divine tear, a symbol of universal sorrow. ! Nathaniah silently took the dedicated silver and the pre­ cious stone and hid them in the leathern girdle about his loins. Malkishua's anxiety for his son quieted : now sure­ ly must God command his good angels to protect his son in his going out and his corning in, since he was his father's messenger and bent on a sacred errand to the Temple of

25 1

God: was not Nathaniah occupied in God's business and obeying his father's command? � Malkishua embraced and kissed his son again and again and sent him away in peace. � Quickly the ship parted from the shore, bearing away Nathaniah the son of Malkishua to the far spreading sea. Nathaniah, in youthful singlemindedness, little knew that while he felt naught but bounding pleasure and happiness at the sight of the open sea, his aged father stood rooted to the shore, looking after the disappearing ship in fear and deep sorrow with eyes filled with tears, while his lips trem­ bled in silent prayer.

(v) � A father's feelings never err. The ship had not long left the shore before God hurled a stormy wind upon the sea and set it in a ferment. The heavily laden ship was tossed about from wave to wave like a basket of straw. Steers­ men and sailors soon grew too weary to guide and control it; every heart melted and every hand grew feeble. Every man in the ship called loudly upon his god; yet the storm abated not but grew seven times stronger. ' One after another sails were torn to shreds, ropes were snapped and masts thrown down and broken, killing many as they fell. The sailors saw and despaired. They sought to lighten the ship, and they threw the half of their lad­ ing into the sea: sacks of corn, barrels of wine, and jars of oil wrestled together among the foaming waves or danced round the ship like satyrs, rising and falling and crashing against one another. ' The sailors saw that no hope was left: the waves piled themselves seven times higher against the lightened ship and made it dance as though in cruel play. Still worse, the freight which was thrown into the sea was ofttimes hurled 2 52

against the sides of the ship, breaking holes therein, holes which could not be blocked up. Into these water rushed tumultuously. � All in the ship felt the terror of death. They ran to and fro, stricken with panic, their eyes wild with fear, none knowing what to do, so that in the tumult and confusion the hand of every man was raised against his fellow. � The captain of the ship, seeing that nothing could save it, bethought himself of his master's son who had been giv­ en into his care, and he devised means of helping him. He bound him with a thick rope to two inflated waterskins, and round his neck he tied a bottle of wine. Should the ship sink, he thought, the skins will sustain him awhile on the face of the sea and he may, by chance, be saved. � Others in the ship likewise sought how they might save every man his own soul. Some stripped off their clothes and bound inflated waterskins about their loins, and others tied themselves to wooden beams and rafters, or to empty, tightly sealed jars and barrels, or to anything that would float. � The high waves continued to break in upon the ship un­ til they filled it to the brim. � At last the tempest burst into a great and bitter cry, a cry of devastation and doom, and the ship with everything in it was swallowed by the deep. Nathaniah alone, and some few others from the ship, remained afloat on the raging waters; but the storm soon dragged them apan in every direction out of each other's sight. � So perished the ship in this day of wrath, leaving 1�0 trace behind it.

( vi ) � What befell the other folk from the ship we know not.

As for Nathaniah the son of Malkishua, he was b,)ruc for

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two whole days on the shoulders of the waves, resting be­ tween the two waterskins like a baby between its mother's breasts. No food or drink passed his lips, for the waves had buffeted him into senselessness. By the morning of the third day the storm ceased and the healing sun arose over the sea like an overwhelming spirit of joy. � 1\'"athaniah's eyes opened, and he found himself resting between the waterskins in the midst of wide and endless reaches of golden water which rippled in gladness round about him. He recalled the tempest and all that had befal­ len the ship and them that were in it, and his soul fainted in him. His heart wept and moaned for the faithful ser­ vant of his father's house who even in face of death's ter­ rors had steadfastly served his master and made it his first care to find for Nathaniah the means of escape. � And Nathaniah vowed a vow, saying, � "If God will save me from the sea and bring me back in peace to my father's house, I will gather together the wid­ ows and orphans of them that perished with the ship and, with God's help, I will tend them in kindness and com­ passion all my days." � The sun warmed Nathaniah and his distress of mind be­ gan to pass. His strength revi\·ed and he opened the bottle which was about his neck and drank of the wine; and his eyes were lightened and strength returned into his hands. His fingers groped about his body, and he found that his girdle was still about his loins: naught in it was missing. He saw in this a good omen that he would still go up to the Temple of God and pay his father's vows. � Xathaniah lay between the waterskins, rising and falling on the surface of the golden sea like a child in a cradle. His face was tumed to the shining heavens and his heart was full of prayer and hope. � Suddenly, high above him, appeared a winged creature, like a mighty hawk, all of it white. It flew swiftly and hov2 54

ered above him in the blue firmament, its feathers shining like white silk in the dazzling sunshine. For a moment it stayed still as though it were suspended by a hidden thread between sky and sea. Then, as though the thread had snapped, the hawk fell straight towards him like an arrow shot from on high. ! Before Nathaniah knew it, this great and mighty hawk with its widespreading pinions was fluttering over him, and near to his face he saw claws as sharp as the Shamir and a savage beak of burnished flint. Deadly terror seized him. He tried to raise his arm to protect himself against the great creature. Bur that instant the hawk's beak struck thrice at the rope which was about Nathaniah's loins. The rope snapped, he was freed from his bonds, and in a mo­ ment the white hawk rose on high, powerful and mighty, and within its twisted claws it tightly gripped its prey, the fainting youth. ! This hawk was none other than Solomon's gr.:at white eagle. Flying to the island to bring food to the imprisoned damsel, the daughter of the king of Aram, it saw Nathan­ iah floating on the sea, and it swooped down and carried him away.

( vii ) ! The eagle flew away with him and brought him to the secret island. It left him there beneath a tree and flew away. ! When Nathaniah recovered and opened his eyes he saw that he had been dropped beneath a sycamore tree. Scat­ tered about him were dry, unsavoury figs which had fal­ len from the tree. Stretching out a shaking arm he plucked off some figs and ate them. He quenched his thirst with the wine in his bottle, and his spirit revived and he recov­ ered his strength. ! He recalled the shipwreck and how he had floated on the 255

sea and how the terrible white hawk had come down upon him; and it all seemed like a horrible dream. He scarce knew whether it had happened or not. � When his garments were dry he wandered through the forest in ·which he found himself in the hope of finding a cave or a hole or some other hiding place wherein to spend the night. He went hither and thither in the pathless wood gazing at everything around him. � Towards nightfall he came to a high hill, smothered with rugged rocks and thick bushes, with an abundance of wild mulberries, grapes and all manner of green herbs growing wild; while on the crest of the hill was a dense forest. The sound of trickling water reached his ears, and he found a stream of pure water flowing out of the hill in a hidden place amid mossy stones. He ate of the mulberries and stored many in his garment; and he quenched his thirst with water from the spring and filled his bottle. � Thus refreshed he climbed the hill, leaping over rocks and forcing a way through the bushes, intent on reaching the forest at the top of the hill. � The sun sank behind the trees. Nathaniah found himself standing on the crest of the hill in an open space within the thick forest, a very ancient forest, cool and shady, ex­ ceedingly pleasant; a n d he was moved to lie down on the grass to rest in the shade of a luxuriant fir tree, for he was greatly wearied by climbing the hill and by the heat. � But while he was making ready to lie down, hi� ear caught the sound of a slight crackling, like the sound of dry branches trodden on by foot. He looked up and saw a dainty han leaping through the forest in the distance, disappearing and reappearing among the trees. He pur­ sued after it, following in its tracks as it turned about hith­ er and thither. � Suddenly as he ran after it he came out into a wide open space flooded with the glow of the setting sun; and to his 2 56

amazement he beheld a high tower looming high above him, with its long shadow spreading across the grass like a black carpet and its top stretched heavenward like a haughty neck. � For a moment Nathaniah rejoiced in the thought that he was come to some inhabited place; but as he looked closer he saw that the tower stood solitary, that its walls were blind and windowless, and that its single gate was heavily bolted and barred. � The tower stood there, a mystery and a marvel: it was even terrifying. Must not some evil be bound up with such a tower as this? He pondered the mystery and determined to act warily and to do nothing before he had examined the tower well and spied out the region round about. Who could tell whether it might not be a hidden snare? Perhaps it was a secret haunt of murderers or brigands, or a resort of wizards and magicians. � Meanwhile the sun had set. Thick darkness covered the island and sevenfold darkness filled the forest. Solid black­ ness crouched beneath every bush and tree, filling every hollow, lmd lurking behind every mound and hillock. From the depth of the forest burst forth all manner of sounds, each more strange than the other, whisperings and rustlings making answer the one to the other, moanings and roarings, wailings of wild beam, the sighing of night birds and the howling of jackals. The whole forest was alive. � Nathaniah's skin tingled from fright: putting out of mind all thought of the hart or the tower, he crept into a rock-cleft which he had seen while it was still light, to hide himself from the cold and terrors of night. He blocked up the entrance to his retreat with stones, lay on the ground and fell into a deep sleep. � Heavy night clouds descended low, groping in the dark­ ness like blind men and spreading tawny sheets over the 2 57

forest wherein two lonely souls lay sleeping: the damsel in the upper room of the tower, and Nathaniah in the cleft of the rock.

( viii ) � Morning came, and myriads of fluttering wings and twittering birds filled the forest with a j oyous chorus; their sound came forth from every tree and bush, and their mighty song rose up to heaven. A hail of golden rain and pearls lay on the dewy sward, and the forest trees rose sleek and verdant, their heads basking in the sunshine and their feet dipped in the sprinkled grass. The whole forest gave out shuddering breaths of joy. ! The shrill notes of the birds awakened Nathaniah. He rose up and went out into the forest, feeling full of strength and youthful might. Sleep had invigorated his bones and the gladsome morning inspired him with new energy. He remembered the mysterious tower which he had seen in the forest clearing. He returned thither and chose out a place where he could remain hidden in a thicket behind an outcrop of rock. � As he sat there watching, he vowed that cost what it might he would not stir from thence or rest content until he had discovered the tower's uttermost secret. � While he was peering through a hole in the bush with eyes fixed on the tower, a sound reached him from the direction of the tower, a raucous sound, a rasping voice like nothing human; and it was saying, � "Here am I! Here am I! Is it well with thee, 0 princess?" � Nathaniah marvelled, for he could see nothing. � Suddenly his eyes were opened wide in sevenfold aston­ ishment and fastened themselves like nails to a lattice win­ dow high up in the side of the tower, opposite the oak 258

tree; for there, in simple beauty and youthful charm, stood a fair damsel, graceful and bright-eyed as any goddess. ! Through the lattice her face shone with the innocence and purity of the moon. For a moment she stood silent and still, looking towards the top of the oak tree. ! Then she put out her head and, looking at the topmost branches, answered with a sweet voice, ! "It is well with me, beloved parrot! And thou, 0 wan­ ton one, how is it with thee? " ! Again the raucous voice issued from among the leaves, screeching, ! "Peace, peace, 0 princess! " ! A little laugh came from the damsel's lips, yet her eyes were filled with sorrow. As she went on speaking her voice grew tender and languishing: ! "Is this all that thou hast to say to-day, my parrot? Hadst thou no news to bring me? Perchance thou canst tell me whether I have many more days of confinement in this desolate island? Or whether my redeemer will ever come to me? 0! my parrot, answer me, I pray: will he in­ deed come? " ! And the strange voice screeched, ! "He will surely come, 0 princess! He will surely come, he will surely come! " ! The damsel sighed bitterly: ! "Alack, dear comforter: why doth he delay so long? Why are his steps so slow? Lo, day after day, my eyes grow dim from waiting for him, and in the night my heart crieth to him out of the deep, Why doth my redeemer not come? Why doth he not come?" ! And the voice answered, ! "He cometh, 0 princess, he cometh! Blessed is he that cometh! " ! She pressed the parrot closely and persistently: ! "If, as thou sayest, he is really coming, what signs hath 259

he shown? Why doth he hide his face from me? Why doth he not let me see his eyes or hear his voice? Why have I not seen him nor heard him ? " ! And from the tree top the voice screeched, ! "0 princess, I have seen him! I have heard him ! " ! The face o f the princess flushed a s she cried out, ! "Hast thou really seen him face to face? Hast thou even heard his voice? Where is he? Far off or near? " ! "He is far off, 0 princess, and he is near! Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near! " ! "But even if he is near, darling bird," said the damsel, almost fainting in her anxiety, "how dare I expect him? Will God give him wings to fly up hither? Or hath he such mighty arms as will cut through locks and bolts of iron? How can he enter my chamber, how can he reach me if I am tightly shut up at the top of this high tower? Canst thou tell me that, wonderful bird?" ! In answer carne a rustling from the top of the tree, and from his hiding place Nathaniah beheld a strange bird fluttering here and there above the tree. Then, of a sud­ den, it carne flying straight towards him and alighted a­ bove the thicket behind which he lay hidden, and it ut­ tered floods of screeches and seemed to pour out all its words over Nathaniah's head: ! "Here am I! Here am I! He cometh! He cometh! Blessed is he that cometh! Peace! Peace! " ! And, having exhausted itself, it spread out its wings and disappeared in the depths of the forest. ! In his amazement Nathaniah crouched more closely be­ hind the bush, trembling like a leaf. It all seemed an incom­ prehensible dream: he could not trust the sight of his eyes or the hearing of his ears. Who had built the tower in this awe-inspiring place? Who was this damsel, this princess, who was hidden there? Still more mysterious: what was this bird which spoke after such a fashion? Nathaniah had 2 60

heard of birds which talked, but never before had he seen or heard so wonderful a bird with his own eyes and ears. He was no coward nor fearer of magic things, yet when the bird came screeching above him, how his bones had fluttered ! He had held in his breath and all but died of terror. � Little did Nathaniah know that still greater marvels were awaiting him.

( ix ) � When he had a little recovered from his amazement he looked again from his hiding place in the hope of seeing the damsel's face at the lattice window; but she had dis­ appeared, and it was as though the sun were overcast at noonday, and gloom oppressed Nathaniah's heart. He re­ called the words which passed between the damsel and the bird, and he wondered who the pale bright-eyed beauty could be whom he had seen at the window, and who could have been so cruel and hard-heaned as to shut her up in the tower. � While his thoughts were still wrapt up in the damsel, his eye beheld her again. This time she did not appear at the window but on the roof of the tower. There, high up on the tower, she walked in the bright light of the sun, re­ flecting the sun's light like a white cloud floating through the blue firmament. � Soon she stood still and, shading her eyes with her right hand, she gazed toward the western horizon; and in the far distance between sea and sky a small speck could be seen. As it came nearer it grew in size until wings and beak could be distinguished. It was a great hawk, terrible in appear­ ance and wholly white. It alighted on the roof of the tower and stood beside the damsel. � Nathaniah saw it and his hean grew numb. He scarce

.2 6 1

restrained himself from crying out in fear and amazement. Was not this the same mighty winged creature which had taken him up out of the sea and brought him here? Nath­ aniah crouched mute in his hiding place with eyes fixed intently on the damsel to see what the end might be. ! The great white eagle, after it had given to the damsel her daily portion of food according to the command of King Solomon, spread out its wings and flew away in the direc­ tion by which it had come. Likewise the damsel, after walking to and fro, again disappeared from sight, and again it seemed to Nathaniah as though the sun was clouded over. ! Though he waited for a very long space of time she did not return: Great grief assailed him; gloomy and desolate he sat in his hiding place, while his feelings stirred within him like a storm-tossed sea. From the moment when he first saw her high up in the tower and heard her sweet voice, his heart and his spirit had known no rest. ! When Nathaniah could no more remain patiently watching, he cautiously left his hiding place and ventured to examine the tower more closely. ! Keeping out of sight and making no sound, he went round the tower and examined it from every side. Seven times did he creep round it stealthily, like any thief, on the chance of finding some door or hole or any means of en­ trance. But his hopes were disappointed. From the high windows down to the ground, the walls were solid ma­ sonry. The windows were far out of reach, for none could climb the smooth and flawless walls. The single entrance to the tower was so tightly shut and locked and barred and sealed seven times over that not even a Samson or a Go­ liath could prevail over them. ! Yet Nathaniah did not give up hope. Seven and seventy schemes did he devise whereby to find out the secret of tht' tower.

' He thought that the tree, perchance, would be a help: it was very close to the tower and its boughs reached to the window at which the damsel had stood. But when he saw how high was the tree and how smooth its trunk, he put aside the thought: for who would dare to climb a tree the like of this and not fear to fall and break his back? The stat­ ure of the mighty oak tree, its boughs stretching out so far above him, and the dense blackness of its foliage, filled him with dread. � It stood there, stalwart and dour, a lone and trusty guard­ ian, as though proclaiming, � "No foot shall venture hither: whosoever draweth near shall not go unpunished." ' Howbeit, Nathaniah forgot not the tree, but kept it for a fitting time.

(x) � Meanwhile weariness and hunger and the happenings of the morning had overcome him. He went down to the wood where the mulberry trees were and refreshed himself and drank from the water of the spring; and he lay down beneath a bush to rest and to consider what he could do next. � All his thoughts and his feelings were in the tower with the damsel concealed therein: not for a moment did her loveliness leave him: it penetrated beneath his closed eye­ lids, and her appeal still rang in his ears: ' "Why doth my redeemer not come? Why doth he de­ lay so long?" ' Nathaniah's heart suddenly surged within him and a daz­ zling vision smote him: ' "Can it be that it is I who am her redeemer, and that God hath destined me to rescue her? Was it not for this very purpose that God brought to pass His wonders and storms 2 63

and wrecked the ship and brought me hither on the wings of an eagle? " � He held tightly to these imaginations of his heart; and he asked himself further: � "Bur if it is the finger of God, why hath He begun the task and left it unfinished? What gain is it to bring me thus far if the tower is tightly shut up and I know not how to force my way into it or reach the imprisoned damsel? How can I save her when she is shut up inside an inner chamber in the top of the tower, confined behind seven bolts and seven locks and seven seals? " � Again gloom and bitterness overcame him and his heart uttered his unspoken plaint: � "Why, 0 God, didst thou not command the eagle to set me down on the tower's roof and not on the ground below? Or why didst thou not make me equal to the par­ rot, so that I might speak with the damsel face to face ac­ cording to my soul's desire? Would that I were even as one of the little birds which make their nests beside her window and come and chirp to her in her chamber and on the roof above whenever they will! " � But never did his mind rela·x from weaving devices how to make his way into the tower and lay bare its secret. Sometimes he thought of breaking in by night, and some­ times of boldlv standing below her window and calling to her and talking with her, in the hope that she would solve the riddle or even let down a rope to draw him up to her. � Yet no device sufficed him: not from cowardice did he withhold his hand but from fear lest in his ignorance he bring peril upon the damsel. � At last, wearied in mind and body, he sought rest in sleep. � He found himself once more floating on the wide sea, rocked like a child in a cradle, gazing into the golden sun­ shine. Before his eyes appeared the form of a woman rising 2 64

out of the depths of the sea. In the crown that gleamed on her head blazed a great ruby. The woman was his mother, and the ruby was the precious stone which was in his girdle. ! He tried to call out to her, but he could make no sound. He tried to stretch out his arms to her, but he could not, for they were bound by ropes to the waterskins. More­ over he was being drawn farther and farther away from the vision: a little while and it disappeared altogether. ! In his distress his soul cried out, ! "Mother, mother, do not desert me!" ! In desperation he tried with his remaining strength to free his hands from the ropes, and, lo, before he had even made the attempt his bonds melted away. ! But it was too late: the longed for vision was gone, and Nathaniah's arms fell back powerless. ! He suddenly bethought himself and put his hand to the ruby which was in his girdle, thinking, ! "Is it still there? " ! He felt for it and, finding it, his heart rejoiced. He took it out and �,as minded to bring it close to his eyes and sat­ isfy them with its splendour. But his hand would not obey him: it seemed to be bound to his loins. ! He wondered what could have bound him a second time, and, bending his head, he saw that it was no rope-it was a serpent: a writhing speckled serpent had him tight in its coils. Its head was stretched towards his face, its eyes gazed into his eyes, and, alack! between its teeth in its foul gaping mouth - was the sacred ruby! ! Yet, wonderful to relate, the more he gazed into the ser­ pent's eyes the more his fears abated. The manner in which it looked upon him proved that it was no enemy: had Nathaniah's hands been free he would not have feared to hold it by the neck. The serpent's coils slackened little by little until it seemed but to embrace him in friendliness. 2 65

This could only mean that the serpent sought his welfare. Yet how had the ruby come into the serpent's mouth ? � Before he could find any answer the serpent turned its head aside, and Nathaniah, with eyes helplessly following the ruby like a needle drawn by the loadstone, and dread­ ing lest the precious stone should fall into the water, turned in the same direction; and, lo, the vision of his mother ap­ peared a second time rising out of the golden seas, pure and glowing as before. � But she was not now alone. Coming to meet her was another woman, younger, wrapped in splendour, and crowned with a wreath of white lilies; and the ruby was no more on his mother's brow nor in the serpent's mouth, but on the brow of this younger woman. And she was none other than the damsel of the tower. Like two god­ desses come down to earth the two women approached each other, and on their lips was the same smile of peace and on their faces the same look of joy. � His mother turned her face towards him and, taking the hand of her younger companion, she beckoned to him as though inviting him from afar. Her face was agleam with delight and his eyes could almost see her moving lips and his ears hear as she whispered, � "My son! " � With a heart almost bursting with love and in a voice strangled with emotion, Nathaniah c:ied out, � "Mother ' " ! Snapping his bonds asunder and shaking them off with all his might, he awoke. And, lo, it was a dream.

( xi ) � Alarmed and bemused, Nathaniah sat motionless, his mind straying along strange paths in some other world, 266

with broken cobwebs of dreams and visions struggling to­ gether in remote corners of his memory and floating be­ hind his closed eyelids. ! Slowly they melted away and he realized where he was. He knew that a day of new wonders awaited him, but what would be their nature he could not guess. Of one thing his heart assured him: it was the ruby which should both lead him into adventure and be his protection. ! Was not the truth of his father's words about this jewel and its secret power already established? Was it not the ruby which had watched over him and saved him from drowning in the sea and brought to pass the wonders which had borne him hither? Must not that be the interpretation of the twofold dream which he had dreamed about the ruby? ! Unthinkingly his hand strayed to his girdle: he felt for it tremblingly. Was all well with the ruby? His fingers found it, and it was as though a heavy burden were rolled away. ! He drew out the ruby and gazed on it, holding it most carefully with the tips of his fingers, amazed at its size and its shimmering splendours. It was surely a magic stone. Never had he seen the like in his father's treasury. In shape it was like a large tear at the point of falling. The more the eye gazed into its depths the more numerous were the vi­ sions of brightness and light which sparkled forth: God seemed to have bound up within it the sum of all his lu­ minous splendours. Was it a tear of divine joy, or the su­ preme jewel in the crown of his redemption? ! As Nathaniah feasted his eyes upon the ruby, turning it over and over, his fingers suddenly trembled, and the ruby slipped out of his hand and fell into the dense grass. But as he stooped to recover it, there darted out from a pile of dead leaves behind him the rounded head of a speckled serpent. It seized the ruby and fled.

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� Nathaniah cried out in bitter distress. He leapt to his feet and ran in pursuit.

( xii ) � Gliding and twisting, the serpent slipped swiftly over the carpet of fallen leaves between bushes and trees, with Nathaniah in hot pursuit. If there had been a stone or any other weapon in his hand he would have crushed the ser­ pent's head and so rescued the ruby. But his hands were empty, and he durst not delay in search of a stone. He trusted in his swift legs. Never for a moment did he let his eyes leave the living, writhing rope which sped rustling and twisting before him. He was consumed with fear lest it disappear for a moment and the precious stone be lost for ever. � Whenever the serpent changed its direction or dipped into a hollow, and whenever its head disappeared for a moment in a heap of leaves or in the tall grass, Nathaniah almost died of fear; yet hope ever revived that, in but a little while, he would overtake the fugitive. � But the faster he ran the faster sped the serpent. Never did the space between them lessen, nor did it grow great­ er. It even seemed to Nathaniah that with all their speeding they never stirred, but that the ground, like a sieve, was shifted hither and thither beneath them. � There were times when, to his straining eyes, the wav­ ering, speeding serpent seemed to be a writhing column of smoke, and other times a meandering trickle of water; then it seemed to be a streak of black lightning, or a flying seraph hatched out of the cold black fires of the nether world; then it quickly changed from a fiery dragon into an earthborn serpent. � At times it would raise its body upright and turn its head towards the pursuer, showing the flashing ruby in its

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opened mouth. But, most marvellous of all, the oftener it turned its face towards Nathaniah, so much the more did fear depart from him - like as in the dream. The serpent seemed no more to be intent on flight, but, rather, to be hastening like a swift and trusty messenger whose business was urgent. � Nathaniah's terror and anxiety gradually abated. No longer was he hotly pursuing but running quietly forward, led by the serpent, tranquil in mind and light of foot. � At last they came out of the forest into the open country. Turning neither to the right nor to the left, the serpent glided swiftly towards the oak tree which grew beside the tower, and, helpless as in a dream, Nathaniah was drawn in its train. � Then, before Nathaniah could collect his thoughts, the serpent had stretched itself taut and, with a mighty leap, coiled itself round the trunk of the tree and climbed in great spirals until its head reached the lowest boughs at the top of the tree trunk. What but a moment ago had been a smooth and naked column was now, for the third part of its length, serried with coils like a monstrous screw. � Petrified with surprise, Nathaniah stood gazing at this awe-inspiring pillar enwrapped by the serpent's coils, won­ dering whether he could climb as high as the serpent and rescue the ruby; and the serpent looked down towards him, the ruby blazing between its teeth. In its eyes was a glance both beseeching and expectant. � Nathaniah stood rooted to the ground, his gaze fastened upon the ruby which shimmered with life in the serpent's jaws. He could see it; but dare he try to reach it? Would not his courage and his strength fail him? � Suddenly, in the midst of his doubts and fears, the dam­ sel looked out from her window. She did not linger. Her loveliness shone but for a moment and she quickly with­ drew. Had she looked out at him:> Could he now turn back? 2 69

� Some hidden source of strength hurled him forward. His hands like bands of iron gripped the trunk of the tree, and he clung to it tightly like a girdle round a man's loins.

( xiii ) ! At first Nathaniah's rise was rapid and easy. Cubit by

cubit his strong legs and arms bore him upwards, helped by two invisible cords - the ruby and the damsel. And the higher he mounted the more the serpent showed its pleasure, its flesh quivering and its tail trembling with ea­ gerness as though it would urge him onward and share his struggles. ! But scarce had he climbed half the way than weariness overcame him. His arms tired and his knees grew feeble, and the burden of his body grew heavier and heavier. His utmost strength sufficed but to hold fast to the tree and creep onward inch by inch; though a great space still re­ mained between him and the serpent. Had he still strength enough to reach it? ! Determined to rise yet higher, come what may, he dug his finger-nails into the bark, scratching and tearing, until thev bled; and, above, the ruby beckoned to him from the serpent's jaws, encouraging aitd commanding: � "Climb on! Falter not! Yet a little more and thou wilt prevail' " ! And thus strengthened and encouraged h e persevered. ! Two cubits still remained . . . Still one cubit. . . Still two handbreadths. . . ! But when the end of the serpent's tail was still a hand­ breadth off, his strength came to an end. His hands and feet were rigid and dead like wood. I-Te could not stir even a single finger's breadth. The burden of his body had mul­ tiplied sevenfold. He gasped for breath. His temples 2 70

clanged like a bell. Sweat poured off him. In a moment his hands must slip. ! He looked downwards. Panic seized him. The ground was very far away. Had his struggle been all in vain? Had he climbed thus far only to be defeated by the last hand­ breadth? ! Then, before his senses left him, he put forth the last atom of his strength. He tightened his grip. He tried to shift his numbed hands even though it be only by a hair's breadth. But, as in his dream, his hands would no more obey him. Every bone in his body knew that if his hand faltered for a moment he would plunge to the ground. ! His heart was dead with fear. He shut his eyes. And a cry burst from him: ! "Mother! Come! Help me!" ! All his strength was gone and all his hope. His hands were losing their hold. Then came the miracle. The ser­ pent, which for long had stayed motionless and rigid, now, as though it had perceived Nathaniah's peril, suddenly shook itself into life, and its lowest coil dangled round his hands, like a rope thrust into the hands of a drowning man. Unawares, Nathaniah's hands clung to the lifeline; and while he still supposed himself to be holding on with grip­ ping legs, the whole weight of his body was impelled up­ wards along the serpent's coils. ! At last his body found relief from strain. Easily, as though he were climbing the rungs of a ladder, he mounted from coil to coil, while the serpent remained rigid as iron until Nathaniah reached the lowest bough and set himself upon it. ! Fear left him. He felt himself secure. All that he now needed to do was to seize the serpent by the neck and take the ruby out of its mouth. At all costs he must save the ruby. ! Lying full length along the bough he stretched out his

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hand to the serpent. Again and again he tried to take hold of it, but always the serpent escaped him, each time mov­ ing its head fanher away and nearer to the window in the wall of the tower, while more and more of its length was left hanging between earth and sky and still fewer of its coils remained clinging round the tree. � Nathaniah, closely following the serpent's head, was drawn gradually and unawares nearer to the end of the bough over against the window; and the bough, which ended about a cubit's length short of the window, grew thinner and thinner and bent beneath his weight until it was on the verge of snapping. � Terror reviving in his heart, Nathaniah still groped after the serpent's head, taking heed not to put too much weight on the end of the bough. Again and again he reached out towards the swaying head . . . but always too late. � At last his hand all but touched the serpent's neck, but the serpent quickly thrust its head through the window into the room within; and, with but a single coil of its tail clinging to the tree, its thick body stretched out between tree and window like a sloping beam. � In terror at what might befall the ruby Nathaniah al­ most fell off the narrow bough: the ruby was indeed lost if the serpent dropped it inside the tower. And, impelled by a hidden hand, hardly conscious of what he was doing, he slid off his slender branch, hanging by his hands for a moment between earth and sky; then, quick as thought, he set one foot on the beamlike body of the serpent and sprang like a leopard through the window into the cham­ ber beyond. � On the floor lay the flashing ruby, and, before him, glowed two stanled eyes. � There she stood, the damsel of his visions and dreams. Her face was as white as the whiteness of her garments and her fear rendered her seven times more beautiful. 2 72

! He looked back for an instant at the serpent. It was gone.

It had fulfilled its purpose, and now it was as though it had never been.

( xiv ) ! Their eyes greedily devouring one another, their first fears and amazement forgotten, Nathaniah and Keziah sat together on the carpeted floor of the upper chamber, and like long paned lovers they poured into each other's ears the story of all that had befallen them and of how they had been drawn together. ' When night came Keziah took Nathaniah to the roof and fed him with the dainty food which she had kept for her evening meal. Then, having prepared him a bed on the roof, she returned happy and light of heart to her own chamber, leaving behind the sweet aroma of her presence. ' Deep sleep fell upon Nathaniah; and his dreams beneath the firmament were sweeter than he had known these many nights. ' Early next morning they came together again on the roof. Linked together, with their arms round each other's neck, they leaned against the parapet, gazing on the newly _ nsen sun. ' Soon in the far distance they saw the great white eagle flying towards them. They waved their arms and shouted greetings and did not cease until it had alighted on the roof. ' They welcomed it with childish delight, and with quick and practised hands the damsel unloosened the eagle's bur­ den. But when she saw that it had brought no more than her single daily onion, she scolded it in pretended anger, and, heedless o the majesty of the most majestic of all eagles, she shook at it the finger of reproach and derision, complaining, ' "Why, great eagle, hast thou brought so little to-day?

f

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Most niggardly an thou, thou steed of Judah's King! Knowest thou not that we are now two in the tower? To­ day we are two, and two shall we be hencefonh and for ever! Was it not through thee that this guest came to my house? Thine, then, it is to provide all his wants. Here he standeth before thee: is he not a stalwart youth? Go, tell thy master that I am alone no more; for we are two! Hast thou heard? Wc are two! Ask all the birds of the dawn and they will tell thee: We are two. The waves of the sea will roar from afar: We are two! And all the mountains round about will echo again and again: We are two! We are two ! " ! Intoxicated b y love and delight, Keziah suddenly broke into dancing, encircling Nathaniah with light tripping steps. Faster and ever faster she danced and swayed before him, until Nathaniah caught her in his arms and bore her away to her chamber. ! All this the eagle beheld, yet seemed unseeing. But no sooner had they disappeared below than it darted upwards as though it had been scalded. It fluttered for a while above the roof like a bird caught in a net; then screeching madly it flew swiftly away. ! That morning when the parrot came to visit the damsel and to ask after her welfare in its customary fashion, no answering greeting met its shrieks, no window opened, and no golden tresses appeared.

( xv ) ! Next morning when Nathaniah and Keziah went up to the roof the eagle came and brought a double ponion of food, and in their eyes this was a sign and a proof that God was well pleased and that God had blessed their love; and they rejoiced with great joy. Keziah could have embraced the eagle in her joy, but its gloomy frown and flinty beak 2 74

restrained her, and her eyes gave thanks to the eagle from a distance. � That day the eagle remained aloof and gave no glance of greeting to the damsel but stood apart with a dignity greater than aforetime. But every morning from that day forth, the eagle brought a double portion from all the dain­ ty viands of the King's table. � So Nathaniah and Keziah abode like doves in a dovecot, eating and drinking and rejoicing in their love. � One thing alone troubled Nathaniah's peace: not yet had he fulfilled his father's will and paid his vows in the pres­ ence of God; and now, shut up in this tower on a solitary island, the fulfi lment of his task seemed seven times more difficult. � But Keziah comforted him in his distress and encouraged him with the words which King Solomon had spoken to her: � "Have not the words of Solomon thus far been fulfilled? So shall it be with what he promised more. Our redemp­ tion must be very near. The King of Judah will surely not act treacherously! " � And the damsel's prophecy was soon fulfilled.

( xvi ) � One day King Solomon's cooks took note that a portion was lacking of the food which they had made ready for the King's table - beside the damsel's portion which, by the King's command, the eagle took away daily to a cer­ tain place. ! They wondered at the loss of this second portion, yet they did not pay great heed, for they said, ! "It is but chance: it may even be that we had erred in our reckoning or perhaps a weasel hath run off with it." 2 75

� When it happened a second and a third time their sur­ prise grew great. They lay in wait, and lo, the thief was caught: it was none other than the great white eagle, the King's flying chariot and his cherished pride. � And the matter was made known unto the King. � Solomon heard, and his heart rejoiced; but feigning ig­ norance, he said, ! "The great eagle is surely behaving like a thievish mag­ pie! I am greatly ashamed for my eagle. I must instruct it in the way of honesty! " � Then, like one that bethinketh himself, h e said, � "Nevertheless, let it steal to its heart's content until I de­ termine what I shall do. Whoso judgeth hastily perveneth justice. Who knoweth the soul of a bird? The smallest fly may surpass Og the king of Bashan in wisdom and right­ eousness. Moreover what in birds seemeth evil may be wisdom higher than we can understand. What to us seem­ eth vain and foolish with them may be reckoned wise and most just." � That very day Solomon sent messengers in haste to all the kings which had been present with him at the feast; and he appointed a day when they and their followers should go with him to the island to examine the tower and find out what had befallen the daughter of the king of Aram. � Then Solomon, and all the kings, and the damsel's father the king of Aram, together with their most honourable captains and wise men and magicians, assembled together a second time at the court of King Solomon. � They were arrayed in all their glory: kings with their crowns and royal mantles of purple and scarlet; captains of the host with their brazen helmets and coats of crimson brocade; wise men with long-sleeved gowns and white staves, large turbans and wide be-tasseled girdles, and bear­ ing on their loins the inkpot of the scribes; and magicians 2 76

with their towering hats and their linen ephods, embroid­ ered work in white and violet. ' And they all took their place on the magic cloak and flew to the island. ' They alighted near to the tower and gathered together in front of the gate. Seven times did they encircle the tow­ er, examining its walls round about, testing with care and smelling and feeling every stone in the wall and every piece of wood to see whether there were any breach or hole or whether any hand had touched them. Then they returned to the gate and examined its bolts and locks and seals to see whether anything at all was lacking. ' When they found that everything was in proper order, they commanded that the seals be removed, the locks opened, the bolts drawn. With a noise of squeaking and creaking the doors were opened wide and the whole com­ pany entered into the tower. ' The ladder which had been pulled away was set up again and they mounted it one by one, every man in order of his dignity and precedence: first the greatest and the least last, save only that the king of Aram, in his anxious care to know his daughter's fate, was given a place before them all. All of them reached the upper chamber and there they ranged themselves in ranks according to their dignity and honour. Foremost were Pharaoh king of Egypt, the king of Aram, with King Solomon between them. ' There they all stood, their eyes peering into every cor­ ner, consumed with curiosity to know what had happened to the damsel. Had King Solomon's words been upheld or not? ' Suddenly the door of the inner room opened and all turned their eyes towards it. Amazement turned them to stone. Their eyes saw what their minds could not believe. Instead of the single soul which had been shut up in the tower, the tenderly nurtured daughter of the king of

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Aram, two came out to meet them and stood bet ore them, proud and unabashed: a woman - and a man!

( xvii ) ' That same day Solomon and all the kings and they which accompanied them returned to Jerusalem with Nathaniah and Keziah. And they sat down to a great feast which Solomon, before he had set out, had ordered in readiness, well knowing what would befall. A swift messenger had sped to Sidon to summon Malkishua to his son's marriage in Jerusalem, saying, ' "Make haste, delay not! The King calleth thee." ' And when the aged Malkishua was brought into the pal­ ace and when he saw his son, he fell on his neck and em­ braced him and kissed him. ' And the guests sat down to a great and mighty banquet, the like of which was never seen before in any king's palace. ' Every one sat in his proper place. At the head sat King Solomon and his queen, Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh; and on either side sat Nathaniah, crowned with a wreath of mynle leaves, and Keziah, crowned with white lilies; and next to them sat the two fathers, the king of Aram and Malkishua. Then came the kings of Egypt and Tyre with their queens; after them the friends of the bridegroom and the bride, and then the rest of the guests - the kings and their attendants, men of honour and renown, nobles and captains of the host, the wisest of the King's council­ lors, and the elders of the people. ' And at King Solomon's bidding Nathaniah rose up and recounted all that had befallen him from the time when he embarked in the ship to go to Acre on his way to Jerusa2 78

Iem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, until he entered into

the tower. And he told also the story of the ruby and the serpent and all his dreams. He kept back nothing. � And when he had made an end of speaking, he brought forth the ruby and set it on the table in the sight of all them that sat there, as a faithful witness to the truth of his words. � When the amazement of his guests was abated, Solomon lifted up his voice and said, ! "With your own ears have ye heard this day the won­ drous ways whereby God brought Nathaniah, a Hebrew youth from the Canaanitish city of Sidon, into a strong and tightly sealed tower on a hidden, unknown and deso­ late island, and there he found his bride. Sav, now, all of you: Was this thing done save by God's hand?" ! And with one voice the guests exclaimed: � "Of a truth, it was the hand of God ! " � And the King answered and said, � "Ye have spoken: it was from the Lord." ! And, lifting high a cup filled with wine, he stood up and said, ! "Let this cup be the cup of blessing and thanksgiving' I lift it up in the name of the Lord. And ye, every one of you, shall answer after me: Blessed be God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who giveth to man a wife ! " � And all the guests stood u p and repeated after Solomon the words of the blessing, word for word, and they an­ swered after it, � "Amen! Yea, Amen! " � Then the King looked upon the bride, and said, ! "Now is come the day of thy espousal and the day of thy heart's rejoicing. Let me seek thy favour with a gift which I have prepared for thee, a requital for thy past affliction and for thy strong faith in me and in the words of my mouth." ! The King gave the word, and one of his servants, a great 2 79

and honourable captain, brought before him a silver bowl covered with a silken veil. � Before the eyes of all the guests the King took away the veil and, behold, a small golden casket, overlaid with pearls and precious stones. He opened the casket and in the midst thereof, resting on a soft cushion of green silk, was a great and wonderful ruby, blazing with a thousand lights and shimmering with life - the very sister of the ruby which lay on the table before Nathaniah. � The King took out the ruby from its casket, and, in the sight of all the company, he bound it like a pendant to the diadem of white lilies which adorned the head of the bride, saying to her, � "The ruby which Nathaniah hath brought to the House of God at the command of his father Malkishua is doubly holy, for in it is enshrined his father's deep sorrow. This ruby, too, wherewith I now bedeck thee, is holy: for like the dawn of a new life it shineth on thy pure forehead on the day of thy espousal. Take, now, this jewel as a gift and a blessing from the King's hand! " � That same day King Solomon made peace between Mal­ kishua and the king of Aram, for the king of Aram had borne a deadly hatred in his heart from the day when his son was slain in battle by the hand of Malkishua.

( xviii ) � Now the seven days of the wedding feast were also the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles; and every day Sol­ omon and all his guests went up to the Temple to worship the Lord, to pay their vows, and to offer freewill offerings. On every day of the Feast Solomon offered on the altar seventy oxen, according to the number of the nations of the world. 2 8o

! And on the eighth day Malkishua, with Nathaniah his son and Keziah his daughter in law, went up to the Temple of the Lord to pay the vows which he had delivered into his son's hands on the day when he parted from him. ! When Nathaniah gave his father's ruby to the officer who was over the treasury of the Temple, Keziah took al­ so the ruby which King Solomon had given to her, and she laid it beside the other ruby, and said, ! "Let this, too, be holy to the Lord! " ! Therefore the two rubies glow side by side on the veil of the Temple, yoked in union in the presence of God. ! That same day all the kings, the guests of King Solomon, kings great and small and smaller still, hastened every man to return to his own country. And to this day none know­ eth what was in their hearts - whether they bore good will or evil will to Solomon, or whether they felt gladness or displeasure at what Solomon had brought to pass, Like dumb dogs they parted in silence, with tight closed mouths.