Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/122

118 attempts to circumvent another has no right to complain of being himself circumvented. Ekah Rabbati, I, 1.

The Enigma that Cost the Athenian His Mantle

Athenian went once into a Hebrew school, where there were a number of boys. The master being absent, the stranger entered into a conversation with the pupils, and proposed many questions, to which they returned suitable answers. As he was on the point of departing, some of the boys said to him: "Come, let us make an agreement that whoever is unable to make a reply to a question proposed, shall forfeit his cloak." "Agreed," said the Athenian. "Since thou art the oldest," said the pupils, "it is but fair that thou shouldest have the priority." "No, "said the Athenian, "make you the proposition, as I am only a stranger." They then proposed the following enigma:—"Nine go out, eight come in; two pour out, one drinks; and four and twenty wait upon him." After several fruitless endeavors, the Athenian acknowledged he could not tell the meaning; and was under the necessity of giving up his cloak. Departing from thence, he met the master of the school. "Rabbi," said the Athenian, "what a shocking custom is this of yours, when a stranger comes among you, you strip him