Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/54

50 and are the best ornaments of the truly great.

The truth of these maxims we find fully exemplified in the conduct of two Hebrew sages, who flourished in the time of Herod (misnamed) the Great. Shammai, though a man of great learning, was of a morose temper. Hillel, in addition to his great knowledge, possessed the virtues of humility and meekness, in an eminent degree. It happened that a heathen came to the former, and thus addressed him:—"I wish to become a proselyte, on condition that thou dost teach me the whole law, while I stand upon one leg." The morose teacher, offended at so unreasonable a request, pushed the applicant away, with the staff he held in his hand. The heathen went to Hillel, and made the same application. The amiable instructor complied with his request, and told him—"Remember, whatever thou dislikest thyself, do not unto thy neighbors. This is the substance of the law; everything else is but its comment: now go and learn." The heathen thanked him, and became a good and pious man.

Shabbat, 31a; Abot de-Rabbi Natan, recension B, ch. XXVI (ed. Schechter, p. 53).