ly. In proof that my love is unchanged, and
that I wish thee all good, I give thee leave to choose whatever
thou likest best in the house and carry it away with thee." The
wife with true womanly wit promptly replied, "Well and good, my
dear!" The evening thereafter glided pleasantly by, the wine-cup
went round freely and without stint, and all passed off well,
till first the guests one by one, and then the master of the
house himself, fell asleep, and lay buried in unconsciousness.
The lady, who had planned this result, and only waited its
_denouement_, immediately summoned her confidential handmaids
and had her lord and master gently borne away as he was to the
house of her father. On the following morning, as the stupor
wore off, he awoke, rubbing his eyes with astonishment. "Where
am I?" he cried. "Be easy, husband dear," responded the wife in
his presence. "I have only done as thou allowedst me. Dost thou
remember permitting me last night, in the hearing of our guests,
to take away from our house whatever best pleased me? There was
nothing there I cared for so much as thyself; thou art all in
all to me, so I brought thee with me here. Where I am there
shalt thou be; let nothing but death part us." The two thereupon
went back to Rabbi Shimon as appointed, and reported their
change of purpose, and that they had made up their minds to
remain united. So the Rabbi prayed for them to the Lord, who
couples and setteth the single in families. He then spoke his
blessing over the wife, who became thenceforth as a fruitful
vine, and honored her husband with children and children's
children.

A parallel to this, illustrative of wifely devotion, is recorded
in the early history of Germany. In the year 1141, during the
civil war in Germany between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, it
happened that the Emperor Conrad besieged the Guelph Count of
Bavaria in the Castle of Weinsberg. After a long and obstinate
defense the garrison was obliged at length to surrender, when
the Emperor, annoyed that they had held out so long and defied
him, vowed that he would destroy the place with fire and put all
to the sword except the women, whom he gallantly promised to let
go free and pass out unmolested. The Guelph Countess, when she
heard of this, begged as a further favor that the women might be