said that he was unclean in the
Temple, and with a blow of his sword rent the veil, which flowed with
blood. To punish him a gnat was sent into his brain, which grew as large
as a dove. When his skull was opened, the gnat was found to have a mouth
of copper, and claws of iron.

The Talmud teaches that evil spirits, devils, and goblins are the
offspring of Adam. They are said to fly about in all directions. They know
from eavesdropping what is to come in the future. Like men, they eat,
drink, and multiply. They are represented as playing men awkward tricks.
One is stated to have broken a vessel of wine, and to have spilled it on
the ground. The Rabbis, however, afterward compelled him to pay for it.
People are forbidden to ride oxen fresh from the stall, as Satan dances
between their horns. Men are forbidden to salute their companions by
night, lest they may turn out to be devils. It is also commanded to shake
out, before drinking, some water from the vessel, to get rid of what is
sipped by the evil spirits. It is, however, permitted to consult Satan on
week-days. He is considered identical with the Angel of Death. But he is
described as having no power over those engaged in reading the law. Many
of his devices are related in the Talmud, whereby he made learned men
leave off reading, and then he snatched away their souls. A story is told
of the attempt of Rabbi Joshua, the son of Levi, and Satan to deceive each
other about the Rabbi's place in paradise. Finally, however, Satan managed
to take away his life, whereupon the voice of Elijah is heard shouting in
heaven, "Make room for the son of Levi,"--"Make room for the son of Levi."
The Angel of Death is represented as standing at the head of the dying
man. He has a drawn sword in his hand, on which is a drop of gall. When
the dying man sees it, he shudders and opens his mouth. The Angel of Death
then lets it fall into his mouth. The sick man dies, corrupts, and becomes
pale. Three days the soul flies about the body, thinking to return to it,
but after it sees the appearance of the face changed, it leaves it and
goes away.

Rabbi Isaac moreover asserts, that a worm in a dead body is as painful as
a needle in a living one. The Talmud still further states that there are
three voices continually heard--the voice of the sun as he rolls in his
orbit--the voice of the multitudes of Rome--and the voice of the soul as it
leaves the body. The Rabbis, however, prayed for mercy on th