THE LOAN.

[Midrash Falkut, iii. p. 165.]

THE Rabbi Meir,

A black cap on his white hair,

And him before

Unfurled the great book of the Law,

Sat in the school and taught.

Many a winged thought

Flew from his lips, and brought

Fire and enlightenment

Unto the scholars bent

Diligently at their writing.

And all the while he was inditing,

His soul was near to God

Above the dull earth that he trod.

And as the lark doth sing

High up and quivering

In the blue, on heavenward wing,

But ever its breast

Keepeth above its nest,

And singing it doth not roam
Beyond hearing of its home,

So the Rabbi, however high he soared
In his teaching, or praying, sung

Close to the ear of his LORD,

Yet ever above his home, his wife and young.

Slowly there stole the gloom

Of evening into the room,

Then he rose and shut the book,

And casting about a look,

Said, with a wave

Of the hand: 'God gave

The light, and hath taken away.

With the Lord begun,

With the Lord run,

With the Lord done,

Is the day.'

Then his way

Homeward cheerfully he took.

In the little house, sedate,

For her husband did await

Beruiah. And for her lord

She had laid the supper on the board.
And a lamp was lighted up,

By the which he might sup.

He kissed her upon the brow,

And spake to her gently: 'How

Are the lads to-day?

Tell me, Beruiah, pray.'

There glittered on her cheek

Two jewels, ere she could speak

And answer, "They are well.

Sit

you and eat your supper, whilst I tell

What to me befell ;

And assure me in what way

You think it had been best

:

That I had acted.' Thus addressed,

He sat him at his meal,

And began to eat: 'Reveal

Thy case,' he said. 'Yet tell me, I pray, First-where are my boys to-day?'

Then suddenly she said,

With an averted head :

'Many years are flown

Since one a very precious loan

Entrusted to my care, until he came

That treasure to reclaim.'

The Rabbi spoke: 'Of old

Tobit confided his gold

To Raguel

At Ecbatane. Well,

What further?—But say,

Where are my lads, I pray?'

'For many years that store

I jealously watched o'er.

Do you think, my lord, that loan

In fourteen years would become my own?'
Then, with a glance of blame,

He answered, as he shook his head :

Wife of my bosom ! It were not thine

Should forty years upon thee shine,

And the owner not return

To demand it.

Not to covet.'

Beruiah, learn

'For shame,

Then he paused, and said,

Moving the lamp: 'Thine eyes are red,

Beruiah: wherefore?'

But she broke

In on his question, and thus spoke:

'To-day there came

To the door the same

One who had lent the treasure,

And he said, "It is my pleasure
To have the loan restor❜d."
What do you think, my lord?
Should I have withheld it, Meir?'
At his wife with astonished stare
Looked the Rabbi. 'O my wife!
Light of my eyes, and glory of my life!
Why ask this question?'

Then he said,

As his eyes wandered towards the bed :

'Why is the sheet,

Usually smooth and neat,

Lifted into many a fold and pleat?'

But she asked: 'Should I repine

At surrendering what was not mine

To him who claimed it?'

'It was a trust,

Wife of my bosom ! What do you ask? Repine