The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

62 THE LAUGHABLE STORIES OF BAR-HEBR^US.
"answerest do not go on to repeat some other matter,
"and to instruct us in learned doctrines, but only such
"learning as is necessary for our kingdom. Further-
"more do not feign to be greatly struck with wonder
"at the things which are spoken by us, for if thou
"doest this thou wilt show contempt for us. If thou
"doest
these things thy position with us shall be exalted,
"and thou wilt be beloved by us."
CCXXXIV. There was a certain young prince who
was requested by his father to come to him one morning,
and when he went in to him the king thought that he
had just been eating something. And he said unto
him, "Dost thou eat so much as this early in the
"morning.''" and the son denied that he had eaten
anything. Now when the king asked those who were
rearing him [whether his son had eaten or not], they
confessed that he had, saying, "Every morning he asks
"for some food and eats it in this manner." And the
king ordered them to rub down his teeth with a file
in order to cause him pain [when he ate], and when
they had filed away those in the upper jaw, he wept
and said to the king, "Leave the teeth in the lower
"jaw until another time when thou art angry;" so the
king laughed and sent
him away.
CCXXXV. Another king when the table was removed
used to say, "How manifold are thy mercies, O
"Lord, Who hast prepared for us more than we need."
CCXXXVI. One of the sages used to say, "The
"men in the market are despicable, and the handicrafts-
"men are rude, and the merchants are avaricious, but
"it is the lawyers who are the kings of the people."
CCXXXVII. A young prince said to his servant,
"Go into the market and buy me of fine dates the