the

buld

said

evil

ook

ates

the

ght

ing

rife

the

the

- to

in-

hat

on,

the

on.

for

ing

ion

the

-ily

r's

ied

the

ray

ra-

to

m-

an

re.

er

ns

a

S-

- 137

sengers laughed at him, but it so happened that theylanded in a place where the king was lying ill and couldonly be cured by the smell of the citrons. The poor manwas the only man who possessed them and he was broughtbefore the king, was able to cure him and was richlyrewarded. He returned home and told his brother whathad happened. The miserly brother, envious of his success,also took a sackful of Ethrogim and started on the samejourney. But the ship foundered and he was drowned andall his property went to the poor brother, thus rewardedfor his confidence in God.

369( 58). A king of Poland, induced by a monk who wasa wizard, issued a decree that the Jews should either bebaptized, killed, or driven away in their clothes. A respiteof a year was granted. By lot the beadle was chosen tocarry a message to the Children of Moses living beyond theriver Sambatyon. He reached the place and was about tobe condemned to death for having broken the Sabbath bycrossing the river on that day. All the six days of the weekthe river had been casting up stones so that no one hadbeen able to pass except on Sabbath when it had beencalm and quiet. He, however, told his message and thebeadle of the Children of Moses was sent, all being deeplyversed in the practical Kabbalah and able to fight themonk wizard. Arrived at the town, the monk asked himwhether he knew what he had in his mind and the othertold him and added," Unless the decree is revoked, I willfight and kill you." The monk, relying on his sorcery, re-fused and they had a contest before the king. At last thebeadle struck the ground; the monk sank into it down tohis ankles. He was then asked by the beadle to advise theking to revoke the decree but he refused. The beadle thenstruck the ground seven times successively and he sankdeeper each time until he was swallowed up. The king,frightened at the sight, revoked the decree.

370( 65). A man forsook his wife because she had onlyborne him daughters. Before leaving her finally he sent her