The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

154 THE LAUGHABLK STORIES OF BAR-HEBR^US.
DCXIII. Another nobleman was a silly man, and
once when he was travelling along the road in company
with some other folk, he said to them, "Leave
"me for a short time, for I want to say a few words
"to
myself."
DCXIV. Whilst another simpleton was saying his
prayers in the church he heard the priests saying in
their prayers, "Adam sinned, but Christ was crucified
"to redeem him;" and he said, "This is not justice, for
"he that committed the sin should be the one to be
"crucified."
DCXV. When another silly man was cracking an
almond the kernel slipped away out of his hands, and
he said, "Glory be to Thee, O God, for even the
"kernel of the almond trieth to escape death."
DCXVI. Another fool stood on the sea-shore and
said, "Glory be to Him that created the sea out of
"dry wood."
DCXVII. The son
of another simpleton shewed him
a young dove, and said, "Look, father, which doth it
"resemble, its father or its mother?" His father said
to him, "Which is its father or mother? This male
"or this female?"
DCXVIII. Another simpleton said, "I love the dis-
"courses of Mar Jacob' very much indeed, so much so
"that I am blessed by him every day." His companion
said to him, "But why art thou not blessed by the
"Holy Gospel?" and he replied, "The Gospel is good,
"but I have found by experience that Mar Jacob help-
"eth
me."
DCXIX. Another fool went into a new house and
' I.e., Jacob of Edessa; he was born about A.D. 640 and died
Sth of June A.D. 708.