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Years after, God sent Elijah to test them. Elijah tookfive orphans to the rich man, and asked assistance toransom his wife from the hands of robbers. He was refusedand beaten by the servants of the rich man. The nextday Elijah took back the dinar which he had given him,and the man became poor. He then brought the childrento the scholar, and asked him to keep them and teach them.He was refused and turned out. The next day he tookaway the Alpha Betarion; the man became ignorant anddied in misery. Elijah then went to the man with the goodwife, and was well received. She gave him the last remainingfood in the house and prepared her best bed and pillowsfor him. She then went to meet her husband and told himthat a worthy old man was in the house and not to beangry that there was no food left; then she persuaded himto kill their only calf for the weary old traveller. Elijahrewarded them, and gave them both the money and wisdomtaken from the two others.
D. CODEX GASTER. 130.
[ A Spanish Ms. of the 17th century containing 75 exemplaand tales. The following have been selected, for they containnew material.]
356( 8). R. Jehudah Halevi, urged by his wife to marrytheir daughter, swore he would give her to the first Jewwho would come and knock at the door. The next morninga young man in rags came. Though surprised, the Rabbiaccepted him and asked him to become his pupil and thusbecome more worthy of their daughter. The young managreed and made apparently great progress. One day theRabbi, deeply absorbed in the composition of a poem, camelate to the meal. He could not complete a strophe and theyoung man, hearing of it, quietly completed it. JehudahHalevi through it then recognised him to be the famous BenEzra, who had disguised himself so as not to be recognised.He then became the son- in- law.