Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/135



N the thirteenth century there lived a Prince in Beaudun in France. He was very narrow-minded, because he wished all his subjects to think alike. No two human beings are exactly like. The Prince had a great friend who was a Jew, learned in statecraft and diplomacy. The fact that he was a Jew and a Rabbi as well greatly vexed the Prince. "I am a Christian," said the latter one day, "and I want every one in my domains to follow my example."

"Noble Prince!" replied the Rabbi, "you cannot possibly mean what you say."

"What do you mean?" asked the Prince.

"I mean," said the Rabbi, "that you would not care to see all your subjects princes, your equals. Be glad that you have diverse subjects, Christians and Jews, nobles and peasants, bakers and tailors, and so on."

"What I really mean," said the Prince, "is that in the matter of religion I intend to have uniformity—all my subjects must be Christians. I shall order that all Jews in Beaudun be baptized on Ash