he ox of a Jew gores the ox of a Gentile, the Jew is free; but if the ox
of a Gentile gores the ox of a Jew, the Gentile must pay the full cost. A
story is told of a Rabbi who sold a number of palm-trees to a Gentile, and
afterward ordered his servant to cut off some pieces from them. "For," he
said, "the Gentile knows their number, but he does not know whether they
be thick or thin."

The precepts binding on the sons of Noah are stated to be seven: to do
justice; to bless the name of God; to avoid idolatry; to flee from
fornication and adultery; to abstain from blood-shedding; not to rob; and
not to eat a member of a living animal. An account is given of the river
Sambation, which flows with stones all the six days of the week, but rests
on the Sabbath day. Examples are also furnished of gluttony and
drunkenness. The paunches of some Rabbis grew so big, that, when put
together, a pair of oxen might go between them. A story is also related of
one Rabbi killing another in a drunken fit, and then working a miracle
which restored him to life. In the following year he again invited the
Rabbi to drink with him, but he declined, on the ground that "miracles are
not wrought every day." Instances are also given of the anguish of Rabbis
in the prospect of death. They express themselves as being without hope of
salvation, and as having the fear of hell before them.

Proverbs everywhere abound in the Talmud, and they are generally replete
with shrewd observation. "The world subsists through the breath of school
children. Whosoever transgresses the words of the Scribes is guilty of
death. Whosoever teaches a statute before his teachers ought to be bitten
by a serpent. There is no likeness between him who has bread in his basket
and him who has none. Rather be the head of foxes than the tail of lions."
This, however, again appears as "Rather be the tail of lions than the head
of foxes." "The righteous in the city is its splendor, its profit, its
glory: when he is departed, there is also departed the splendor, the
profit, and the glory." "Licentiousness in a house is as a worm in a
pumpkin." This reappears as "Violence in a house is as a worm in a
pumpkin." "Thy friend has an acquaintance, and the acquaintance of thy
friend has also an acquaintance; be discreet." The unworthy child of a
good father is called "vinegar, the son of wine." "If the opportunity
fails the thief, he deems himself honest. The cock and owl await together
the m