The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

STORIES OF CLOWNS AND SIMPLETONS. 1 47
DLXXV. A certain simple judge was asked,
"What
"ought to be done unto the man who committeth an
"offence with a she-ass?" and he replied, "They should
"both be put to death." And the people said, "Wherein
"hath the she-ass offended, for it is an irrational animal,
"and hath no understanding?" He replied, "If my
"mother or my sister happened to be the she-ass I
"would put her to death without mercy."
DLXXVI. The son of a certain silly old woman
died—now his name was Lazarus— and the priest was
burying him.
of the] Gospel which begins,
And when he began to read the [section
"Now Lazarus was dead',"
he said, "Lazarus is dead, and I rejoice." And the
old woman said to him, "And why shouldst thou not
"rejoice? For behold, his clothing, and his bed, and
"everything which he possessed have been carried to
"thy house."
DLXXVII. A certain poet made some verses in
praise of a certain weak-minded man who said to him,
"I cannot reward thee with anything which I possess,
"but if thou hast committed any offence I will forgive
"It
thee."
DLXXVIII. When another foolish man was praying
in a church, he said, "O my Lord, have pity upon me,
"and pardon me the offences which I have committed
"by Thy will and against Thy will, with Thy know-
"ledge and without
Thy knowledge.''
DLXXIX. And another said, "Forgive me all my
"sins which are known unto Thee, and those which
"are
not."
DLXXX. Another simpleton said when the rain fell
' See St. John xi. 14.