The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

72 THE LAUGHABLE STORIES OF BAR-HEBRiEUS.
"so that they may possess the world which will not
"come to an end?" And the ascetic replied, "They
"are all in heaven. Thou mayest find a few upon
"earth, but it is most probable that thou wilt not find
"any at
all."
CCLXXXIV. Unto another it was said, "In what
"condition will men be on the day of Resurrection?"
He replied, "The penitent will be like the lamb which
"having gone forth to graze hath returned to the fold,
"and the wicked will be like the lamb which [having
"gone forth to graze] hath been worried by a mad dog,
"that is to say by Satan: therefore he must be bound
"in
chains."
CCLXXXV. Another ascetic
seeing a king strongly
guarded by his bodyguard said, "If he had done no
"injury to men he would not be afraid of them."
CCLXXXVI. Unto another ascetic it was said, "How
"canst thou endure being in this comer?" He said,
"I am not alone, for I am continually holding converse
"with the Lord of created things, and when I wish
"Him to talk to me I read the Divine Scriptures, and
"when I wish to speak unto Him I pray."
CCLXXXVII. Another ascetic used to say, "It is
"meet that ye should fear the Lord, for He hath power
"over your strength, and that ye should be shamefaced
"before Him, because He observeth you continually in
"order to look closely into your doings."
CCLXXXVIII. Another ascetic used to say, "Take
"good heed lest there should happen unto thee that
"which happened unto him that oppressed thee."
CCLXXXIX. Unto another ascetic it was said by a
certain governor, "How strict is thy life of abstinence!"
And he replied, "Thou art more strict in thine as-