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443[ Cod. G. 942 f. 15 b]. An emperor once called theJews together and ordered them to tell him his thoughtsin three days on pain of death. The people decreed a fast.On the third day a deaf man was seen walking in the streeteating cheese. Rebuked by the people, he asked the causeof the fast and when told, asked them to allow him toanswer for them. They came before the emperor. Theemperor lifted up two fingers whereupon the deaf manlifted one finger; the emperor then showed an egg where-upon the deaf one pulled out a cheese from his bosom;the emperor then took some corn and scattered it aboutand the deaf one picked them up and put them in hiskerchief. The emperor declared himself satisfied. The Jewsafterwards asked the deaf one what it had all meant andhe answered," The emperor pointed with two fingers,meaning to put out my two eyes. I replied that I woulddo it with one finger. Then the emperor showed me thathe had food, whereupon I replied by showing that I hadwhat I wanted. When the emperor scattered the corn, Iconsidered it a sin, so I picked it up and took it away."When asked by the courtiers the meaning of his signs, theemperor replied," The two fingers meant the duality ofGod, God and Jesus. He replied the Jews recognise onlyone God. I showed him an egg to signify that Jesus wasborn not from a man; he replied by showing the cheese,which could not curdle without the sperm, and so Jesuscould not be born otherwise than other human beings.I showed him that God had scattered the Jews as thecorn is scattered, and he replied that God would gatherthem up again."
444[ Cod. G. 274( Ladino)].
A poor pious man bought flour for 3 silver pieces for hishousehold. As he was carrying it home, the wind blew itout into the sea. The man, therefore, went to David andasked for justice. King David gave him a gold piece andsent him away. At the door he met Solomon who advisedhim to return the money and insist on a trial. King David
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