The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-03-13
Seletteo Storp.
The Faust OF the Talmud.
PART l.

tive nursery tales, could be read BE-
tween the lines of that repository of
wit and wisdom, mirth and marvel, the
Talmud? Let the reader judge whether
Faust, Margaret, and Mephistophe
are not in some degree suggested by the
Solomon, Mama, and Ashmodai of the
following Talmudic legend.
Solomon, the king, to whom God had
given power over the whole creation,
and who knowledge encompassed all
things. was in despair. The divine
word had been pronounced that no iron
was to be employed in building the
Temple, and how was he to erect a
suitable edifice without the aid of iron?
How could he crush huge masses of
marble? how split adamantine rock?
how cleave hard powders of wood?
The work had to be done. 1t was his
duty and privilege as David's son. The
resources of mighty realm were at his
service. But without the employment
of iron he could not advance step.
Was he, the sovereign of Israel, to
abandon the undertaking? Were his
wisdom and his wealth in vain?
" Let my counselors be summoned"
the monarch said. And he laid his per-
plexities before them. All were silent
when Solomon concluded his recital.
They, too, shared his chagrin and real
lied their helplessness. Can none of
you aid me?" the king exclaimed.
go king!" said at length one of the
sages, "there is something mightier
far than iron. In the early days of
creation, when light and darkness
struggled for the mastery, the Almighty
called into life a tiny worm, Shanlir,
which possesses the property of splitting
the hardest rock"
"And where turks this worm?" Solo
mon impatiently asked.
"Ah, your Majesty" the sage ex-
claimed, "there is the difficulty. No
mortal spirit has yet discovered its
hiding-place.
THAT shall not battle me-" Solomon
rejoined 81 am more than mortal"
He dismissed the assembly. The
courtiers and sages departed. But no
sooner had their footsteps died away
than Solomon, arising from his throne
and gazing at his solemn signet-ring,
upon which was written the Ineffabe
Name, summoned to his presence two
genii. With a rushing as of mighty
wind and a rumbling as of an earth
quake they bowed before him.
"What is thy will, O master?' they
exclaimed.
"Tell me where can l find the
shamir"
The genii trembled. "Ask us not,
o master. 1t is our king alone, Ash
modal, who knows its secret abode"
"And where does Ashmodai lve?n
Solomon inquired.
6 Far, far from here" they replied.
Our monarch dwells upon the crest of
lofty mountain. He has dug out
deep pit, which he has filled with water
and covered with huge stone and Sc
curely sealed to the ground. Daily he
ascends to heaven and returns to earth.
Then he closely examines the seal to
see whether any one has touched it and
uncovered the well. Afterward he
opens it himself, quenches his thirst,
covers it again and reatfiXes the seal"
Enough" cried Solomon. " Ye
can 60" And with a rushing as of
fierce hurricane and a rumbling as of a
mighty earthquake the genii departed
In moment Solomon called his trusty
captain Benaiah, the hero of hun
dred battles. He told him what he
wanted, gave him certain directions,
chain, and a seal upon which was
stamped the Ineffable Name, and in
addition some wool, and various skins
filled with wine. He then babe him
farewell, with many a secret prayer for
his success.
The warriors journey was long and
toilsome. When Solomon travelled he
rode upon the wind. Seated on his
mantle of green silk, sixty miles in
breadth and sixty in length, the king
would journey with the rapidity of
lightning. He could breakfast in Da-
mascus and enjoy his evening meal in
Media, so swift was his flight from east
to west. Not so Benaiah Many days
passed before he reached the designated
path. And how desolate the mountain,
how profound the stiffness, how steep
the ascent!
Nothing daunted, Benaiah set to
work. He dug out second pit little
to the right of Ashmodai's, drained off
the water, and plugged the opening
with wool. Then he dug out another
pit higher up, whose channel led to the
emptied pit of Ashmodai, and therein
he poured the wine
His work completed, Bena' ah looked
around with satisfaction, and hid him
self behind stump of wood while he
awaited, full of Impotence, Ashmodai's
arrival.
The sun sank, the shadows of even
ing began to fall, and the stars shone
out in their inches in the armament.
Ashmodai flew down from heaven, ex-
amined the seal, and finding it un-
touched, raised the stone and descended
into the well, What fragrance assailed
his senses! 1t was wine, ioy-dispen-
sing winel Shall he taste il, or spurn
the temptation?
Wine is a mocker," he exclaimed,
and was about to fly from the spot
But wine rejoiceth the heart" was
his next thought, and he could not flee.
A great burning thirst overpowered
him. He quaffed whole mouthfuls of
the Intoxicating drink. Again and
again he strove to break from the spell,
but the fumes of the liquor were too
enticing His brain became confused;
he Staooerpd and fell Daan slaan