Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/112

108 rare and delicious fruit. He staid for some time and glutted his appetite, when a thought struck him, that it was possible he might be observed, and, in that case, he should pay dearly for the enjoyed pleasure. He therefore retired to the place where he had entered, and attempted to get out; but to his great consternation he found his endeavors vain. He had, by indulgence, grown so fat and plump, that the same space would no more admit him. 'I am in a fine predicament,' said he to himself. 'Suppose the master of the garden were now to come, and call me to account, what would become of me! I see my only chance of escape is to fast and half-starve myself.' He did so with great reluctance, and, after suffering hunger for three days, he, with difficulty, made his escape. As soon as he was out of danger, he took a farewell view of the garden, the scene of his delight and trouble, and thus addressed it:—'Garden! garden! thou art indeed charming and delightful, thy fruits are delicious and exquisite—but of what benefit art thou to me? What have I now for all my labor and cunning?—Am I not as lean as I was before?'"

It is even so with man. Naked comes he into the world—naked must he go out of it; and, of all his toils and labor, he can carry nothing with him, save the fruits of his righteousness.

Ecclesiastes Rabba to Eccles. V, 15.