The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

STORIES OF MEN WHO FOLLOWED DESPISED HANDICRAFTS. I 2 5
"understanding, which causeth thee to be dissimilar and
"unlike the beast? For, behold, thou art occupied with
"the dung of beasts all the days of thy life." The man
said to him, "My honourable estate is that I eat of the
"labour of my hands, and that I ask no alms from such
"as
thou."
CCCCLXXXI. A certain shopkeeper lit a lamp in
the day time and set it before him, and when it was
said to him, "Why doest thou this?" he replied, "Behold
"all the shopkeepers around me are buying and selling,
"but no man cometh nigh unto me. And I thought that
"perhaps folk did not see me, and therefore I have
"made a blaze before me that they may do so."
CCCCLXXXII. Another man wishing to sell rue cried
out, saying, "Take ye of this honey; take ye of this
"sweetmeat." And a certain man drew nigh to him
and said, "I have a sick person at home, and I wish
"to buy some bitter rue, for this is what he longeth
"for; hast thou none.''" The seller said to him, "Take
"some of this which is before me, and do not believe
"my words, for every bit that I have is more bitter
"than the vinegar in my shop."
CCCCLXXXIII. A certain cook' cried out about the
roasted meat which he had before him, saying, "Perad-
"venture ye would wish me to prolong my praises of
"the meat which is before you? Whosoever eateth of
"my meat once will not [need] to buy oil for seven
"days by reason of the grease which will run from him."
CCCCLXXXIV. Another man went to a certain man
in the market and asked him to lend him some money,
and he said to him, "At thy command will I withhold
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