The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

LAUGHABLE STORIES OF ACTORS AND COMEDIANS. I
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"provoke him to wrath, for I know that if thou wert
"converted to him for long thou wouldst anger him."
DIX. When the neighbour of another actor wanted
from him a spoon, he said, "I only wish that we had
"something which we could eat in our fingers."
DX. Whilst another actor was eating fish and milk
it was said to him, "Art thou not afraid to put milk
"and fish into thy stomach together?" And he replied,
"How can the fish be sensitive to the milk seeing that
"he is dead already.?"
DXI. Another actor was quarrelling with his wife whom
he wished to put away from him, and she said to him,
"Remember the very long time wherein we have livfed
together." And he said to her, "Believe me, thou hast
"never committed any [greater] folly than this,
for thou
"hast tarried too long with me, and behold I am sated
"with thee, and I hate thee."
DXII. Once when it was winter another actor said
to his wife, "Make me a key, for I greatly desire it."
His wife said to him, "Whatever stores have we
"which need [locking up withj a key.-*" And he replied,
"The coldness of the air which will freeze them, and
"behold the place will be ready for the time when we
"prepare flesh and vinegar", and salt, and wood."
DXIII. As another actor was going into a place
where there
were some drunken men they struck him,
and when it was said to him, "Why dost thou not
"curse them.''" he said, "They are drunken men and
"would not understand curses, and therefore I am not
"going to waste my abuse upon them in vain."
DXIV. Another actor went into his house and found
For Klii** read r^ll,M.