The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF THE HEBREW SAGES.
CXXVI. A certain Hebrew sage said, "Chastity and
"wantonness exist not only in act, but also in word."
CXXVII. Unto another rich Hebrew sage it was said,
"Why dost thou suffer hunger seeing that thou lackest
"nothing?" And he replied, "Because I do not forget
"those who hunger and are in want."
CXXVIII.
Another Hebrew sage wrote over the door
of a prison, "This is the house of tribulation, wherein
"life is buried, and wherein the love of friends and the
"hatred of enemies are tried."
CXXIX. Another Hebrew sage said, "Let thine
"enemy who is feeble be considered a mighty man
"by thee in order that thou mayest not neglect to be-
"ware of him, and let thy strong friend be accounted
"a feeble man by thee, thus that thou mayest rely upon
"his support, and thou shalt [not] be harmed by thy
"companions."
CXXX. Another sage said, "It is not meet for a
"king to hasten to [take] vengeance, because he is able
"to avenge himself whensoever he pleaseth."
CXXXI. A certain ascetic saw a man eating flesh
and he said, "Behold flesh eating flesh."
CXXXII. It is said that a certain ascetic entreated
God to shew him flesh wherein was no blood in order