Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/115

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HEBREW TALES
111

then, in the undisturbed possession of our own country, and turn thy mighty arms against more worthy enemies." Alexander, struck by her intrepidity, and still more by the justness of her observations, held out his hand to her in token of peace, and only requested permission to place the following inscription on the gates of the chief city:—I, Alexander, the madman, after having conquered so many nations, have at last come to this country, and learned wisdom from women.[1]

Tamid, 32a; Pesikta de-R. K., IX (ed. Buber, pp. 74a-b); Leviticus Rabba, § XXVII; Midrash Tanhuma, § Emor, § VI.


Ambition Humbled and Reproved or Alexander and the Human Skull

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.—Prov. xxvii. 20.

Pursuing his journey through dreary deserts and uncultivated ground, Alexander came at last to a small rivulet, whose waters glided peaceably along their shelving banks. Its smooth unruffled surface was the image of contentment, and seemed in its silence to say—this is the abode of tranquillity and peace. All was still: not a sound was heard save those


  1. Whether the Talmudists have taken this from the well-known story of the Amazonian Queen, I cannot tell: but they have, at all events, given us a very instructive lesson.