The Laughable Stories Collected by Mar Gregory John

144
THE LAUGHABLE STORIES OF BAR-HEBR^US.
his disciple, "Give the ass a sack of barley, but do not let
''him know that I told thee to do so, otherwise he will
*'not be afraid of me in the future."
DLVIII. Another simpleton said, "I was present this
"day at the burial of such and such a man." And when
he was asked, "Which of his sons is dead," he said,
"There were two of them, and the middle one is dead."
DLIX. Another fool said to his neighbour, "Last
"night I saw a dream, and I thought that the governor
"of our city was talking with thee, and that he was
"looking at me: what did he say about me?"
DLX. Another silly man whilst praying in Jerusalem
said, "O My Lord, forgive me, that it may be forgiven
"to Thee, give unto me, that it may be given unto
"Thee thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold, even as
"Thou hast promised \"
DLXI. Another simpleton visited a certain man, and
he went to kiss his head; but the man said to him,
"Do not kiss my head because I have put some grease
"on it." The foolish man said to him, "I would kiss it
"even if there were pounds and pounds of dung upon it."
DLXII. Another fool said, "When my brother died, my
"father was very penitent," and his companion said, "Did
"he kill him, or did thy brother fall sick and die?" The
fool said, "I do not know, only thus did such and such
"a servant of ours relate."
DLXIII. Stultus alius quidam interrogatus, "Cur non-
"dum uxorem duxisti?" respondit, "Frater mens uxorem
"duxit quae, en! ambobus et illi et mihi sufficit." Conclamabant
omnes, '*Vae misero tibi! quo modo una duum
"uxor fieri potest?" Respondit autem, "Abram respice
* Compare St. Matthew xiii. 8.