" and he laughed louder than before.

So the Rabbi sat another day in his chamber by the garden, weeping and
praying. And when the sun had gone behind the hills, the Prince of the
Mazikin again stood before him, and said:--

"Eat now, for thou must be an hungered. It was a sore vow of thine;" and
he offered him daintier meats.

And Jochonan felt a strong desire to eat, but he prayed inwardly to the
Lord, and the temptation passed, and he answered:--

"Excuse thy servant yet a third time, my lord, that I eat not. I have
renewed my vow."

"Be it so, then," said the other; "arise, and follow me."

The Demon took a torch in his hand, and led the Rabbi through winding
passages of his palace, to the door of a lofty chamber, which he
opened with a key that he took from a niche in the wall. On entering
the room, Jochonan saw that it was of solid silver--floor, ceiling,
walls, even to the threshold and the door-posts. And the curiously
carved roof, and borders of the ceiling, shone, in the torch-light,
as if they were the fanciful work of frost. In the midst were heaps
of silver money, piled up in immense urns of the same metal, even over
the brim.

"Thou hast done me a serviceable act, Rabbi," said the Demon--"take of
these what thou pleasest; ay, were it the whole."

"I cannot, my lord," said Jochonan. "I was adjured by thee to come hither
in the name of God; and in that name I came, not for fee or for reward."

"Follow me," said the prince of the Mazikin; and Jochonan did so, into an
inner chamber.

It was of gold, as the other was of silver. Its golden roof was supported
by pillars and pilasters of gold, resting upon a golden floor. The
treasures of the kings of the earth would not purchase one of the
four-and-twenty vessels of golden coins, which were disposed in six
rows along the room. No wonder! for they were filled by the constant
labours of the Demons of the mine. The heart of Jochonan was moved
by avarice, when he saw them shining in yellow light, like the autumnal
sun, as they reflected the beams of the torch. But God enabled him to
persevere.

"These are thine," said the Demon; "one of the vessels which thou
beholdest would make thee richest of the sons of men--and I give thee
them all."

But Jochonan refused again; and the Prince of the Mazikin opened the
door of a third chamber, which was called the Hall of Diamonds. When
the Rabbi entered, he screamed aloud, and put his hands over his eyes;
for th