LITERARY HISTORY OF PARNELL^S ^ HERMIt/ 155 



Jewish source. The Talmud may, in its present form, be 

 later tlian the Koran ; but it embodies the traditions of a 

 race who have always clung to the sacred memories of 

 their literature and their religion. The form in which we 

 find it in this vast encyclopedia of Hebrew learning is very 

 difiFerent from those already given : — 



'' Rabbi Jochanan, the son of Levi, fasted and prayed to 

 the Lord that he might be permitted to gaze on the angel 

 Elijah, he who had ascended alive to heaven. God granted 

 his prayer ; and in the semblance of a man Elijah appeared 

 before him. 



" ' Let me journey with thee in thy travels through the 

 world,^ prayed the Rabbi to Elijah ; ' Let me observe thy 

 doings, and gain in wisdom and understanding.-' 



" ' Nay,^ answered Elijah j ' my actions thou couldst not 

 understand ; my doings would trouble thee, being beyond 

 thy comprehension.'' 



" But still the Rabbi entreated. ' I will neither trouble 

 nor question thee/ he said ; ' only let me accompany thee 

 on thy way.^ 



" ' Come then,-* said Elijah ; ' but let thy tongue be 

 mute. With thy first question, thy first expression of 

 astonishment, we must part company.'' 



"^So the two journeyed through the world together. 

 They approached the house of a poor man whose only 

 treasure and means of support was a cow. As they came 

 near, the man and his wife hastened to meet them, begged 

 them to enter their cot and eat and drink of the best they 

 could afford, and to pass the night under their roof. This 

 they did, receiving every attention from their poor but 

 hospitable host and hostess. In the morning Elijah rose 

 up early and prayed to God, and when he had finished his 

 prayer, behold the cow belonging to the poor people 

 dropped dead. 



