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my master and teacher." But the lad replied," I cannotgive thee the greeting of peace, for I am come to kill theeand give my father to eat of thy flesh"." And is there noone else to be found but me since all creatures are fed fromthe tread of my foot? As it is said,' A multitude of producefrom the strength of an ox'," said the ox. Then the ladfelt ashamed and went to the sheep who also gave him thegreeting of peace. But the lad said," I cannot give theethe greeting of peace, for I am come to kill thee and givemy father to eat of thy flesh". And the sheep said," Haveyou found no one else but me, since Israel is likened untome, as it is said,' Scattered sheep is Israel'!" Then the ladfelt ashamed and went to the cock who gave him the greetingof peace. But the lad replied," I cannot give thee the greet-ing of peace, for I am come to kill thee to give my fatherto eat of thy flesh before he dies." Then the cock replied," Why should you kill me? I rule over many women andis your father to die because he has only one wife? Lethim divorce her, and if her dowry be 100 zuzim, then lethim give her 200 and get rid of her, as it is said,' Driveaway the mocker and strife shall cease'." Then the sontold his father what the cock had said, and the fatheracted upon the advice given, drove away his wife and livedin peace.

( Cf. 381.)

450[ Cod. G. 246 f. 109; 257 f. 4]. Akiba had a piouswife. She fed 500 pupils. Before death she asked her daughterto continue her work. Akiba married a bad woman. Jealousof her step- daughter, she paid the the washer- man to take thegirl away and kill her and told the daughter to follow himwith the clothes. At her request he saved her life but cutoff her hands and feet. She dragged herself along to a soli-tary spot. A merchant passed by. Being the eve of Sabbath,he settled down, erected his tent and said his prayers. Sheanswered" Amen" from behind the tent. Discovered byhim, he took her home and married her, not knowing whosedaughter she was. He made her hands of gold and feet of