Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-04-09
..MISCEILANE0U
sALADiN AND MELcnIsEDEC11.
FRoM THE ITALIAN OF BoccAcIo.


Saadin, whose great talents were such as en-
abled him not only to raise himself from hum
Die station TO the dignity of Sultan of Babyl
but also to be victorious in many battles with
aaracen and Christian kings, having exhausted
all his treasure by his various wars, and the prod
lgallty OF his magnificence, and being also from
other causes in want of money, and finding it
impossible to obtain, with necessary speed, so
large sum as he required, bethouoht himself of
applying to a certain Jew, named Melehisedech.
money-lender of Alexandria, who possessed
ample means OF supplying his necessities, were
ne so inclined. Bit this Jew was so avaricious
that Saladin felt sure that he would never of his
own tree viii, trust him with so much money
ana not wishing to resort to violence he consid-
cred how he might so reason with him as to
render it impossible for him to refuse
Having ordered the Jew to be brought before
him, he received him graciously, caused him to
be seated and thus addressed him:
'Honest man, having heard from many per-
sons that you are wise in the things appertain-
ing to God, would willingly know of You which
you esteem the true one Ct the tluee laws OF faith
the Jewish, the Saracen, or the Christian?"
lhe Jew, Who was really a wise man, readi-
~ perceived the aim of the Sultan and seeing
that to whichever OF the three forms of faith he
might give the preference, his opinion would be
used an argument against himself, considered
earnestly now he should frame a suitable reply,
Ind after short space answered thus :
My lord, the question YOU have put to me is
one OF great moment, and in order to titly an
swer it, will relate story which have many
times heard told:
"Nlany years ago there lived man, who, a.
mong many other precious Jewels, owned very
beautiful and valuable ring which he esteemed
so highly as to desire that it might always re-
main among his descendants; and therefore he
commanded that one of the children in whose
possession the ring should be found at the time
OF his death, should not only retain that but be
considered heir to all his fathers other wealth.
and be esteemed and honored as the eldest and
greatest by his brothers and sisters. The one to
whom the ring descended, in compliance with
this rule, directed that the same should be OBJ
served at his death; and thus the ring descended
from hand to hand, through many generations,
when it came into the possession Of man who
t'ad three children, all beautiful and fair youths,
all equally obedient to their father, and all e.
qually beloved by him. Those young men knew
me custom OF the ring, and We're each DESTROYS
OF holding the first rank in the family SO they
severally entreated their father in his old age to
leave them after his death, the ring The old
man, to whom they We're all dear alike, proni-
sed It to each one privately, and then thought
now ne might content them all He caused a,
certain cunning jeweler to make two other rings
exactly similar to the first, and when they were
finished, hardly might he who made them know
me difference And shortly afterwards, when
ne was Oh his death-bed, he called each of his