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Tale 10
of a
A
tale. Once there was a burgher (i.e. a big merchant) who was an extremely rich
man and had a vast amount of merchandise. His promissory notes [vekslen]
and letters of credit [briv] circulated over the world and he had
everything good. Below him lived a pauper who was an extremely poor man and had
the complete opposite of the burger (i.e. the complete reverse: just as the
burgher was a very rich man, so the pauper was diametrically a very poor man).
But both of them had no children: the burgher had no children, and likewise the
pauper also had no children.
Once,
the burgher dreamed that people came to his house and were making packages and
packages. He asked them, "What are you doing?" They replied: they
will carry it all the way to that very same pauper (i.e. the pauper who lived
under him, as mentioned). It annoyed him very much and he grew very angry that
they wanted to carry away all his wealth to the pauper. To be wroth at them was
impossible, for they were a good many people. So they continued making packages
and packages of all his belongings, all his wares and all his goods, and they
carried absolutely everything away to the aforementioned pauper, leaving him
nothing in the house but bare walls; and it upset him very, very much.
Meanwhile, he woke up and saw: it's a dream. And even though he saw it's only a
dream, and thank G-d all his belongings were with him - still, all the same,
his heart pounded mightily and the dream could not be got out of his mind, and
the dream upset him severely. The pauper and his wife used to be cared for by
the burgher and he would give to them often. But now after the dream he cared
for them more than before. However, whenever the poor man or his wife would
come into his house, his facial expression would change and he became
frightened of them because he would recall the dream. And they, that is the pauper
and his wife, would often go to his house and were with him often.
One
time the pauper's wife came to his house, and he gave her what he gave her, and
his expression changed, and he became stricken with fear. She asked him and
said, "I beg pardon of your honor, tell me why it is that whenever we come
to you, your face becomes drastically changed?" He told her the whole
story: that he had had such a dream (as above), and since then his heart has
been pounding him mightily (as above). She replied to him: "Did the dream
take place on such and such a night (which she said)?" He answered her,
"Yes. What about it?" she replied to him, "On that night I also
dreamed: that I'm a very wealthy person, and people had come to my house and
were making packages upon packages. I asked them, 'Where are you bringing
this?' They replied, 'To the pauper (i.e. to the burgher, whom they already
called a poor man now).' Therefore why do you pay attention to a dream? What
for? - I also had a dream." Now the burgher became all the more frightened
and confused, since he heard her dream as well, because it seems that his
wealth and property are to be brought to the pauper and that the pauper's
poverty are to be brought to him. He became extremely panicked.
And
the day came to pass - the burgher's wife took a trip by coach, taking other
wives along with her, and she took the pauper's wife too. And while traveling
along on their tour, meanwhile a general and his army passed through. They got
off the road and the army passed through. The general saw that women were
traveling, and he gave orders that one of them should be taken out, and they
went and took out the pauper's wife, snatched her into the general's coach and
drove away with her. Getting her back was certainly impossible now, for he had
driven off with her, and especially a general with his army... And she was a
Heaven-fearing person (i.e. she had fear of G-d), and she was not willing to
listen to him at all, and she wept very profusely. They implored her a great
deal and coaxed her, but she was, however, an exceedingly Heaven-fearing
person. And she (the burgher's wife, and the other wives) returned from their
tour but the pauper's wife was not there. The pauper wept very, very much,
beating his head against the wall and constantly mourning for his wife
bitterly.
One
day the burgher passed by the pauper's house and heard the poor man crying so
bitterly and beating his head against the wall. He went in and asked him,
"Why are you crying so intensely?" He answered him, "Why
shouldn't I weep? What do I have left? Some people are left with wealth or with
children. I have nothing at all, and my wife has also been taken from me. What
do I have left?" The burgher's heart was very caught up, and he had great
pity on the pauper on account of seeing his bitterness, his acute sorrow, and he
went and did a reckless thing; it was truly an insanity - and he went and asked
in which city the general lives, and he journeyed there. Then he did something
berserk: he went into the general's house. Now, before the general there are
sentries posted, but he [the burgher], on account of his severe hysteria,
suddenly with frenzied deliria went and paid no attention to the guards whatsoever;
and the guards became shocked and extremely confused due to suddenly seeing a
man beside them in great mania, so they became very shocked: "How did this
guy get here?" And due to their panic all the guards let him go, and he
passed through all the guards until he went in the general house, in the place
where she [the pauper's] wife was lying. And he came and woke her up, and said
to her, "Come!" When she caught sight of him she took fright. He said
to her, "Come with me right away!" She went with him, and now again
they passed by all the guards until they emerged outside. Only then did he
first come around and realize what he did there, such a wild thing, and he
realized that for certain there would be right away a big uproar at the
general's, and that's just what happened: there was a big commotion at the
general's.
The
burgher went and hid himself with her in a pit where there was rainwater until
the commotion died down, and he tarried there with her for two days. She saw
the great self sacrifice that he had for her sake and the troubles that he
suffered for her, and she swore by G-d that all the mazal that she has -
possibly she has some kind of mazal, that she will have fantastic
greatness and success - then all her success will not be withheld from him
(i.e. from the burgher), and that if he should want to take for himself all her
success and greatness, so that she would remain just as she was before, it
would not be withheld from him whatsoever. However, how does one get witnesses
there? She took the pit as a witness.
After
two days he went out of there with her and went further. And he went with her
further and further. And he understood that there in that place, she [Heb. he]
is also being sought. He went and hid himself with her in a mikveh
[ritual bath]. There once again she recalled the great sacrifice and the
suffering which he endured for her sake, and she once again swore as before:
that all her mazal etc. as mentioned, taking the ritual bath as her
witness. They were there as well for approximately two days, and they went out
and went further. Again he understood that they are searching here too, and
again he hid himself along with her. And so it happened several times, hiding
himself with her each time in another place, namely in seven different waters,
that is, in a pit with water and in a mikveh as mentioned, and ponds (mucky
waters), a spring, rivulets (creeks), rivers, and seas. And in every place
where they hid, she kept remembering his self sacrifice and the troubles which
he endured for her sake, and she kept swearing: that her mazal etc. as
mentioned, each time taking the place as witness, as mentioned. And they kept
going in this manner, always hiding themselves in those places (mentioned
above), until they came to the sea. When they came to the sea - and the burgher
was a great merchant and knew the sea lanes- he cut (- negotiated a course) to
get to his country, until he traveled the way, and came home with the pauper's
wife, and brought her back to the pauper. There was great rejoicing.
The
burgher, because he had done such a thing, and in addition had withstood trial
(i.e. he had fear of God and did not touch her), therefore he was
"remembered" (i.e. "thought about" by Hashem Yisburach) and
that year he had a son.
And
she too, that is, the pauper's wife, because she withstood such a trial, both
with the general and with the burgher, she therefore merited to have a
daughter. And she was a supreme beauty, an extraordinarily great beauty which
was unlike any human beauty whatsoever, for among mankind one never sees such
beauty. Everyone [- the world] would say, "She should only grow to
maturity!" (for it is hard for such an extraordinary novelty to reach
maturity) because her beauty was absolutely extraordinary, the likes of which
one doesn't see on earth. Everyone in the world would travel in and come to see
her, and they would be very astonished at her beauty, which was very, very
extraordinary, and would give her gifts all the time out of affection, and they
so kept pressing gifts until the pauper became rich.
As
for the burgher, it entered his mind that he should arrange a match with the
pauper due to her great beauty which was such a marvel, and he thought to
himself: maybe this is what the dream indicates; that what's his is brought to
the pauper, and what's the pauper's to him; maybe the dream signifies this,
that they will have a match; they will blend into one through the match.
One
time, the pauper's wife came to the burgher and he told her that he desires to
make a match with her; and maybe through this the dreams will be realized, as
above. She replied to him, "I've had this in mind as well, but I didn't
have the boldness to talk of this, that I should make a match with you. But if
you want, I am certainly ready and will certainly not withhold from you, for I
have already sworn that all my good and my success will not be withheld from
you. And the son (of the burgher) and the daughter both learned in one
schoolroom languages and other things as was customary by them. And people
would come to see the daughter on account of the exceptional novelty and kept
presenting gifts until the pauper became rich.
And
nobility would come see her and liked her very much, and her beauty was an
extreme marvel, for it was no kind of human beauty; and because of her
extraordinary beauty the nobility got the idea of contracting a marriage with
the pauper, and a minister who had a son wanted very much to contract a
marriage with her. However, it would not befit the nobility to have a match
with him (i.e. with the pauper); they therefore needed to endeavor to make this
man (i.e. the pauper) great, and they saw to it that he should perform a
service for the emperor [kaiser].
And
he was first an ensign [Rus. praporshchik, the lowest military officer rank]
and afterwards continually higher and higher, for they saw to it, to quickly
promote him each time, until he rapidly became each time higher and higher,
until he became a general. By now the nobility already wanted to have a match
with him, however, there were many nobility who wanted this, for many nobility
had aimed at this [lit. fallen on it] and busied themselves with it, to
continuously promote him. (Therefore he could not have a match with any of
them.) And furthermore he could not have to match with any of them on account
of the burgher, for it was already discussed that there would be a match with
him.
And
the pauper, who had already become a general - he became more and more
successful. And the emperor would send him into battles and he was successful
each time, and the emperor promoted him still higher each time, and he was
continuously very successful, until the emperor died. The entire country came
to the decision to make him emperor, and all the nobility assembled together,
and all agreed that he should be emperor. He became emperor (i.e. the
aforementioned pauper has now become emperor) and he waged wars and was very
successful, conquering countries, and waged more wars and was continuously
successful, continually taking over countries until the other lands themselves
submitted themselves under him with good will, for they saw that his success is
extremely great, for all the beauty of the world and all the mazal of
the world was with him. So all the kings met together and agreed that he should
be emperor over the entire world, and they gave him a document written with
golden letters.
And
the emperor (i.e. the pauper who had become emperor over the entire world) no
longer wanted to have a match with the burgher, for it is not fitting that an
emperor should have a match with a burgher. But his wife, the empress - she did
not desert the burgher. (That is, she stood by the burgher because he risked
his life for her sake, as mentioned.) The Emperor therefore saw that he cannot
make any match, on account of the burgher, particularly since his wife supports
him very, very much. Therefore he began to think thoughts about the burgher;
and in the beginning he saw to it, to place him in poverty, and he made schemes
just as if it were not from him at all, and he continually saw to it to cause
him damages; and an emperor can certainly do this. He was continually caused
losses and continuously beaten out of money, until he became impoverished and
became an absolute pauper. But she, the empress, kept adhering to the burgher.
Then
the emperor realized that as long as the son (i.e. the burgher's son) is alive,
he can make no other match. The emperor exerted himself to rid the lad from the
earth, and he thought out plans to eliminate him. And he set up false charges
on him and called the judges into session to try him. The judges understood
that the emperor's will was that he be eliminated from the world, and they
delivered the sentence that he (i.e. the burgher's son) be put in a sack and
thrown into the sea.
As
for the empress, her heart was very pained by this, however, even the empress
too can do nothing against the emperor. She went to the designees who were
appointed to throw him into the sea, and she came to them, and fell at their
feet, and pleaded with them direly that they should do for her sake and let him
go, for: why does he deserve execution? So she begged them very much that they
should take another captive who had to be executed, and they should throw him
into the sea, and they should release the young men. She achieved this with
them; they swore that they would release him, and so they did. And they took
another man and threw him into the sea, but him they released (saying):
"Go! Go!" and he went away. And the young man was already of mature
mind, so he went his way.
And
before this, that is, prior to the lad leaving, the empress went and summoned
her daughter and said to her thus: "My daughter, you must know that this
burgher's son is your bridegroom;" and she told her daughter the entire
story that happened to her, and "how the burgher sacrificed his well-being
for my sake, and was with me in the seven places (i.e. in the seven types of
water), and I swore to him every time by G-d that all my good would not be
withheld from him, and I took those seven places as witnesses (i.e. the pit,
the mikveh, and all the rest of the seven types of water.)"
Therefore now - you are all my good, and all my mazal, and my success;
you are certainly his, and his son is your bridegroom. And your father, because
of his haughtiness, wants to kill him for no reason, but I have already made
efforts to save him, and have brought about that he be released. Therefore you
should know that he (i.e. the burgher's son) is your bridegroom, and you must
not agree to any other groom in the world." The daughter accepted her
mother's words, because she too was a G-d fearing person, and she replied to
her mother that she would certainly uphold her words.
The
daughter went and sent a note to the burgher's son in prison, that she retains
herself by him, and he is her bridegroom. And she sent something like a piece
of a map, and she drew on it is all the places where her mother had hidden with
his father, which are the seven witnesses, that is, the pit, the mikveh,
and the rest as mentioned; that is, on it she drew something like a pit, a mikveh,
and the rest of the seven types of waters. And she ordered him very, very
strongly that he should guard this note very, very much, and she signed herself
underneath; then things took place as mentioned: the deputies took another man,
and him they released, and he went on his way.
And
he went and went until he reached the sea, and he boarded a ship, and set upon
the sea. A big storm wind came along and carried away the ship to a coast that
was a desert (i.e. desolate), and on account of the great tempest the ship was
broken up; however, the passengers were saved and made out to dry land. And
there it was a desert; the people from the ship went off in search of food;
each one looked for something to eat, for at that location it was not the norm
for ships to arrive there, for it was desert; therefore they did not think that
some ship would come there so that they could return home. They went along in
the desert in search of food and became scattered here and there, each one
separate. And the young men wanted to turn back but he no longer could, and the
more he wanted to turn back, the farther he got, until he saw he can no longer
return; so he went where he went in the desert. And he had in his hand a bow
with which he protected himself against the vicious animals of the desert, and while
walking he found for himself there something to eat; and thus he walked and
walked, until he emerged from the desert. And he arrived at a place (a settled
area) which had a clearing, and there was water there and fruit trees, and he
ate of the fruit and drank of the water, and he resolved in his mind that he
would settle down there for as long as he lives, for besides this it is already
difficult for him to return to civilization, and who knows whether he would yet
come to such a place if he would leave this place and go away? Consequently he
wanted to settle there, and to live out this world there, for it was good for
him there, for he had fruit to eat and water to drink, and sometimes he would
go out and shoot with his bow, a rabbit or a deer and had meat to eat, and he
would catch fish, for there were very good fish in the water there; so it
pleased him that he should live out his years there.
As
for the emperor, after the sentence had been carried out on the burgher's son
and he was now free of him (for the emperor thought that they had indeed truly
executed the judgment on the young man and he's no longer on the earth), now he
can already make a match with his daughter.
They
began proposing matches to her with this king and with that king, and he made
her a court in the appropriate way, and she remained there. And she took young
ladies, daughters of nobility, to be her companions, and she lived there, and
she would play on musical instruments in their usual fashion. And for all the
matches proposed to her, she always replied that she did not want any talk
(i.e. talk about the match) but that he himself should come (i.e. he who wants
to marry her). And she had very expert knowledge of the wisdom of poetry (i.e.
the wisdom to speak very beautiful lyrics with great wisdom); and with skillful
artisanship she made a place for him (i.e. he who wants to marry her) to come
to, and stand facing her, and recite a poem, that is, a poem of passion, just
as a desirer speaks to his desired (i.e. words of love). Kings would come to be
matched with her, and they arrived at that place, and they would recite, each
one his poem.
To
some of them she sent a reply through her ladies, also in poetry and with love.
And to some whom she liked more, she herself responded, and she would raise her
voice with a poem and reply to him as well words of affection. And to some whom
she liked even more, she would personally show herself face to face; she showed
her face and replied to him with a poem with affection - but to all of them she
always concluded in the end, "The waters however, did not pass over
you." And none of them understood what she meant. And when she showed her
face, people would fall down from the great beauty, and some were left weak,
and some became insane on account of love sickness due to her great beauty
which was very, very extraordinary. And nonetheless, even though they became
insane and were left weak, despite this, kings would still come to be matched
with her; and she gave them all the same answer, as above.
And
the burgher's son remained in that same place, and he made himself a place to
dwell in, and he lived there. And he too could play and knew the wisdom of
song; he selected wood out of which musical instruments can be made, and he
made himself instruments, and from the veins of animals he made strings; thus
he would accompany himself musically. And he would take the note that he had
which she had sent him (at the time he was in captivity) and he would sing, and
play, and remember what had befallen him, and how his father has been a burgher
etc., and now he has been cast off to here. And he went and took the note and
made a sign on a tree, and made a place there in the tree, and hid the note
there, and he dwelled there for some time.
One
time there was a great storm wind and it broke all the trees that were standing
there. He could not recognize the tree where he had hidden the note, for when
the trees were standing in their place he had a sign to recognize, but now that
they had fallen, the tree became mixed among the other trees which were very
numerous there; he could no longer recognize the particular tree. And it was
impossible to split open all the trees and look for the note, for there were
very many trees. He cried exceedingly and was extremely sad, and he realized
that if he would stay there he would certainly become insane on account of the
great anguish that he had.
He
came to the decision that he must go further away and whatever would happen to
him, let happen - go away he must, for he is anyway in great danger due to the
severe anguish. So he got some meat and fruit into a sack and went wherever he
would go. And he made signs in the place from which he left, and he went along
until he reached a settled area. He asked them, "What land is this?"
They answered him. He asked if they had heard about the emperor here. They
answered him, "Yes." He asked if they had heard about his daughter,
the beauty. They answered him, "Yes, but no one can be matched with her
(as mentioned for she wants none of them, as mentioned)." He made up his
mind, since he can't get there anyway, and he went to the king of the country
and spoke his heart out entirely; (and) that he is her bridegroom, and because
of him she wants no other match; and he cannot get there, therefore he gives
over to the king all the signs that he has, that is, the seven waters mentioned
above, and the king should go there himself and he will match himself with her;
and he should give him money for this. The king recognized that his words are
true, for one cannot think of such things out of one's heart. The matter
pleased the king, however, he decided: if he brings her here and the young man
will be here, this is not good for him. Should he kill him? He did not want to
do such a thing, for why should he be killed for the favor he had done for him?
Therefore the King decided he would exile him two hundred miles away. He was
very upset at him exiling him for such a favor he had done him. There as well,
he went to another king, and told him also likewise as before. (i.e. the young
man, the burgher's son, because it upset him that the first king exiled him,
went to another King and told him as well the whole story with all the signs,
so that the other should make haste to marry the beauty.) So he related to him
all the signs, and to this other king he added an additional sign. And he
ordered him and rushed him to set out immediately; maybe he can overtake the
other king, in order to get there first; and even if he does not arrive first,
he still has one sign more than the first. And the second one decided as well
like the first (that it is not good for him if the young man should be here);
the other king also exiled him two hundred miles further. He was again very
upset, and he went again to a third one (i.e. the young man, the burgher's son,
again went to a king who was now the third, and also told him as before, the
entire story), and to the third one he told even more signs, very good signs.
The
first king got up and traveled there, and arrived there at the location of the
emperor's daughter, that is, the beauty. And the king composed a poem and
embedded in the poem, with wisdom, all the places, that is, the seven
aforementioned witnesses (i.e. the seven types of water, which were the
essential signs that she had with her groom, as mentioned). However, in accord
with the science of poetry, the seven places came out for him not in order
(i.e. for example he had to say the pit first and then the mikveh etc.;
but he said in reverse), for so it worked out for him according to the science
of poetry. And the king came up on the place (i.e. on the place where the one
who wanted to be matched with her had to come upon and recite a poem with
wisdom as mentioned), and he recited his poem. When she heard the places (i.e.
the seven types of water) it was an extraordinary novelty for her. It felt to
her that this was certainly her groom, but it was difficult for her why he said
them out of order. However, notwithstanding, she thought perhaps due to the
science of the song he came out with this order. She accepted in heart that
this is he himself. She wrote to him that she designates herself as matched
with him. There was a grand celebration and a commotion inasmuch as the beauty
has at last found her match, and they were already preparing for the wedding.
Meanwhile,
the other one arrived (i.e. the other king to whom the young man had also
divulged all the signs and one sign more, as mentioned). And the other one also
ran there, and they told him that she had already made a match; but he paid no
attention to this [lit. he didn't look at it] and he said: nonetheless, he
still has something to tell her; that he will certainly have an effect. He
(i.e. the other king) came and said his poem - and this other one had now arranged
all the places in order, and moreover he gave one more sign in addition. She
asked him, "From where does the first one know?" If he were to tell
the truth it would not be good for him (i.e. the other thought he cannot tell
her the truth, that the young man told the first one, it's not good for him if
she should know that). So he said he doesn't know (from where the first one
knew the signs). It was a great marvel to her, and she was left standing
bewildered, for the first one also spoke out all the places; and from where
could a man know these signs? However, notwithstanding, it felt to her that
this other [second] one is her groom, for she saw that he had spoken in
sequence and added one more sign; and (as for) the first one, maybe it came out
to him through the science of song that he mentioned the places; however she
remained stationary (in other words she could no longer give a course of
action; she remained still, and now was not willing to be matched with anyone).
And
the young man, that is, the burgher's son, when the second king exiled him, was
again very upset, and he went to a third king and told him the whole entire
story as above, and he told him even more signs, very good signs. And in front
of the third he spoke out his entire heart: inasmuch as he had a note on which
all these places were drawn (i.e. the seven types of water); therefore he
should draw on a piece of paper all those places and bring [it] to her. And the
third king also exiled the young man two hundred miles further yet. And the
third king also ran there, and he got there; he was told that the other two
(i.e. the two kings) are there already. He replied: nevertheless, for he has
such a thing that he will definitely have an effect. And the world [i.e.
people] did not know whatsoever why she wants these kings more than others. And
the third one came and said his poem with very excellent signs, better than the
first ones, and he showed the note (where he himself had redrawn the places)
with all the places drawn. She became very panicked (in other words, scared and
disturbed), however, she did not know at all what she could possibly do, since
regarding the first one she had also thought that this is he himself; and then
regarding the second. Therefore, she said that she would no longer believe
until her very own writing itself is brought.
Then
the young man (i.e. the burgher's son) decided: until when will he always be
sent further away? So he made up his mind that he himself would let himself go
there (i.e. to the emperor's daughter); perhaps he will have effect; and he
went and went until he got there. And he came [Heb. only: and said that he has
something to say] and he recited his poem. And he said even more signs, very
good signs, and he recounted to her that he learned with her in one schoolroom,
and additional other signs. And he told her everything: that he had sent the
aforementioned kings, and he had hidden the writing in a tree, and everything
which had befallen him.
But
she did not regard this at all (and the first three kings certainly also had to
say some reasons for not having the note). And to recognize him was certainly
impossible, for a long time had already passed. So she already no longer wanted
to regard any signs at all until the writing of her own hand is brought, for
regarding the first one she also thought that this is he for certain, and
likewise regarding the second, etc.; therefore she no longer wanted any signs
etc. as mentioned. And the younger man (i.e. the burgher's son) decided that he
cannot stay here [Heb. whatsoever] (in other words, he cannot tarry here, lest
there be an awareness that he is here: the emperor will kill him, as
mentioned).
He
made up his mind, he would return again back to his spot in the desert where he
was before, and there he would live out his life. And he went and went in order
to get to this desert, and he arrived at the desert. Meanwhile, as all the
above was happening, very many years went by. And it remained in the young
man's mind that he should sit away there in the desert and live out his years
there. According to how he had evaluated the entire mortal life on earth, it
was clear in his mind that it is good for him to live out his years here in the
desert; and he lived there and eat from the fruits, etc. as mentioned.
Now,
on the sea was a murderer, and the murderer heard that there exists such a
beauty on the earth. He wanted to abduct her even though he did not need her
for he was an eunuch, but he wanted to seize her in order to sell her to some
king; and he'd get a great deal of money for her. And the murderer began to
busy himself with this. And a murderer is a reckless person, so he acted with
abandon: if he accomplishes, he accomplishes, and if not, what will he forfeit?
For he is self-abandoned as is the way of a murderer. And the murderer went and
bought a very large amount of wares - an extraordinary amount. And he made
golden birds, and they were made with craftsmanship so that one thought they
were alive; they were natural exactly like living birds. Moreover, he made
golden grain stocks, and the birds stood on the grain stocks, and this alone
was a novelty, that the birds stand on the stocks without the stocks breaking,
for they were large birds. And furthermore he made devices so that one thought
that the birds make music; and one clicked its tongue, one chirped, and one
sang. And this was all done with cunning, for men stood there in a room that
was on the ship, and the men stood under the birds, and the men did it all, and
it was thought that the birds themselves make music, for they were cunningly
made with wires; it was thought the birds themselves do all this.
And
the murderer went off with all this to the land where the aforementioned
emperor's daughter was. And he came to the city where she was, and he brought
himself to a standstill with the ship in the sea, and anchored the ship, and
made himself out to be a big merchant. People would go to him to buy expensive
merchandise, and he stayed there a while, a quarter year and longer, and people
always carried off beautiful merchandise that they bought from him.
The
emperor's daughter also desired to buy merchandise from him; she dispatched to
him that he should bring her merchandise. He dispatched to her: he has no need
to bring merchandise to a buyer's house, even if she is an emperor's daughter;
whoever needs merchandise should come to him. And no one can force a merchant
into that, so the emperor's daughter decided to go to him. And her custom was:
whenever she would go in the marketplace she would veil her face in order that
no one would look at her, for people would be liable to fall down and be left
in weakness etc. due to her beauty. The emperor's daughter went, covering her
face, and she took her ladies with her and a watch [Yid. vach - guard, lit.
wake, vigil; a squad of guards] followed her. And she came to the merchant
(i.e. to the murderer, who disguised himself as a merchant), and she bought
some merchandise from him, and went her way. He (i.e. the murderer, the
merchant) told her, "If you come again, I will show you even more
beautiful articles than this, very wonderful things." And she returned
home. After that she came once again and bought merchandise from him and again
went home. And the murderer stayed there for a while; meanwhile the Emperor's
daughter already became accustomed to visiting him; she would go to him often.
One
day she came to him; he went and opened for her the room where the golden birds
and so forth were located. She saw that it was a very extraordinary novelty;
and the other people were with her (i.e. the watch etc.) also wanted to go into
the room. He said, "No, no! I don't show this to anyone except you,
because you are the emperor's daughter; but for others, I don't want to show
this at all." She alone entered in there, and he too went into the room,
and he locked the door, and he did a crude thing and took a sack and forcefully
put her into the sack; and he took off (from her) all her clothes, and dressed
a sailor with the clothing, veiled his face, pushed him out, and said to him,
"Go!" And the sailor, not knowing whatsoever what's happening to him,
as soon as he emerged with his face covered, the soldiers (i.e. the watch)
being unaware, immediately began walking with him; they thought that this is the
emperor's daughter. And the sailor went along with the troops wherever they led
him; and not knowing whatsoever where in the world he is, until he came into
the room where the emperor's daughter lived. His face was uncovered and they
saw that this is (plainly) a sailor. There was a tremendous uproar there. (And
the sailor was slapped up in the face quite thoroughly, and was shoved out,
since he is not responsible, for he didn't know at all).
And
the murderer took the emperor's daughter, and he knew that he would certainly
be pursued (after). He left the ship and hid himself together with her in a pit
containing rainwater until the uproar would subside. And he ordered the ship's
sailors to immediately cut anchors and flee immediately, for they would
certainly be pursued; and the ship would certainly not be shot at, on account
of the emperor's daughter, for they will think that she is on the ship. "However,
they will pursue you; therefore you shall flee immediately. If they catch you,
so what?" As the way of murderers is; they do not look at themselves at
all (in other words, they disregard themselves). And that is what happened;
there was a big outcry and they were immediately chased; however, she was not
found there. And the murderer hid himself together with her in a pit of
rainwater, and they lay there. And he scared her so that she shouldn't scream,
in order that people should not hear. And he said to her thus: "I have
risked my life for your sake in order to capture you, and if I should lose you
again, my life is not worth anything at all to me: for since you are already in
my hand, if I should lose you again and you should be taken away from me, then
my life is already worth nothing to me. Therefore as soon as you only give a
yell I will strangle you right away, and let whatever will happen to me happen
to me, for I consider myself worthless in that case." She was terrified of
him (in other words, the emperor's daughter who was lying in the pit with the
murderer, was afraid to scream since the murderer had scared her).
Then
he departed from there with her, and he brought her to a city, and they
traveled on and and traveled on, and they came to a place, and the murderer
understood that there too they are searching. He hid himself together with her
in a mikveh.
And
then he went out from there too, and came to another place, and there also he
hid himself with her in another (type of body of) water, and thus he hid
himself with her each time in another water, until he had hidden himself with
her in all the seven kinds of waters that the burgher had hidden himself in
with her mother, as mentioned, which constitute the seven witnesses, as
mentioned, until he came with her to the sea. The murderer searched there for
even a small fishing boat, in order to cross with her. He found a ship; he took
the emperor's daughter, and he did not need her, for he was an eunuch as
mentioned, but only he wanted to sell her to some king. And he had fear lest
she be snatched away from him, so he went ahead and dressed her in sailor's
clothes; she looked like a male. And the murderer traveled with her on the sea
(i.e. with the emperor's daughter, whom we refer to in male terms, as the
murderer disguised her thus, as mentioned).
A
storm wind came and carried away the ship to a shore, and the boat was broken,
and they came to the shore where the desert was, where the young man was
living. When they came there, and the robber was expert in routes as is their
way, he knew that this land is desert; which no ships come here. Therefore, he
no longer had any fear of any man, and he let her loose; and they walked (i.e.
the murderer and the emperor's daughter), he this way and she that way, to find
themselves something to eat. She distanced herself from the robber, and the
robber went his own way, and he noticed that she isn't here beside him. He
began to shout out to her, and she made up her mind and did not respond to him
at all, for she thought to herself, "My end is that he will sell me - why
should I answer him? If he reaches me again, I will answer him I did not hear,
especially as he does not want to kill me, for he wants to sell me." She
did not respond to him and she went further on. And the robber sought her here
and there, and he could not find her. And he went further and he still could
not find her; and probably wild animals devoured him. And she went further and
further and was able to find some food, and walked on thus until she came to
the place where the young man was living (i.e. the aforementioned burgher's
son). And by this time, she was now overgrown with hair, and additionally she
was dressed as a male in sailor's clothes as mentioned; they did not recognize
one another. And immediately when she came, he became very happy that another
person had come here. He asked her, "From where have you come here?"
[S]he answered, "I was with a merchant on the sea etc." She asked
him, "From where did you come here?" He also answered her,
"Through a merchant." The two of them remained there.
After
the emperor's daughter was snatched away from the emperor, as mentioned, the
empress lamented a great deal and struck her head against the wall over the
loss of her daughter, and she severely ate away at the emperor with words and
said to him, "Because of your pride you've quashed the young man, and now
our daughter has become lost!" And she said to him, "She was our
entire fortune and our entire success. Now we've lost her. What is left for
me?" so she eat away at him severely. And for himself as well, this was
certainly also very bitter that his daughter was lost; in addition the empress
ate away at him and tormented him very much. So there were severe quarrels and
bickering between them; and she would say nasty things to him until she made
him so miserable that he ordered her banished. And he sat judges to try her;
they ruled that she be banished, and she was banished. Afterwards the emperor
sent out into war and was not successful; he blamed this on some general:
"Because you did so, therefore you lost the war." He banished the
general. After that he sent off again into war and again was not successful. He
banished more generals, and so he banished a number of generals. The country
saw that he was doing bizarre things: first he banished the empress, then the
generals. They (i.e. the citizens) decided: maybe the other way around - the
empress should be sent for, he should be banished, and she should rule the
country. They did so, and banished the emperor; and the empress they took back
and she led the country. And the empress immediately sent for the burgher and
his wife the burgheress to be brought back (as the emperor had put them down
and made them into paupers as mentioned etc.). And she brought them into her
palace.
And
the emperor, while he was being sent into exile, went and begged those who were
transporting him that they should release him, "for, after all, I have
been your emperor and must certainly have done you favors. Now do this for me
and let me go, for I will certainly not come back to the country any longer.
You need have no fear. Release me. Let me go my way. Let me at least be free,
the little bit of life that I have yet to live." They released him, and he
went on and went on. Meanwhile, several years passed by and the emperor went on
and went on until he reached the sea. The wind carried away his boat too, and
he too reached the aforementioned desert, until he came to the place where the
other two were living (i.e. the young man, the burgher's son, and his daughter,
the beauty, who was now going dressed as a male). They did not recognize one
another, for the emperor had already become overgrown with hair, and already
several years had passed; and they too had become overgrown with hair as
mentioned. They asked him, "From where have you come here?" He
answered them, "Through a merchant." And they answered him thus as
well. The three of them stayed there together, eating and drinking there, as
mentioned. And they played on musical instruments there, for they all were able
to play, for this one is an emperor and likewise they too were able to play.
And
he, that is, the young man, was the competent [ berya] among them, for
he had already been there since long ago. And he would bring them meat, and
they ate, and they would burn wood there, which was more precious than gold in
settled places. The young man used to prove to them that here it is good for
them to live out their years. According to the benefits that people have on
earth in civilization. It is better that they should stay here, living out
their worldly existence here. They asked him, "What sort of good did you
have, that you say it is better for you here?" He answered them and told
them what had happened to him: how we had been a burgher's son etc. until he
came here, and what did his being a burgher's son benefit him - that he had everything
good, here too he has all the good. (Thus did the young man keep saying to
them.) And he kept proving to them that here it is good to live out their
worldly lives.
The
emperor asked him, "Have you heard of the emperor?" He answered him:
he had heard. He asked him about the beauty: whether he had heard of her. He
answered him also, "Yes." The young man began to talk angrily and
said, "The murderer!" (As one who gnashes his teeth at the other
person, so did the young man talk angrily about the emperor of whom they were
speaking, for he did not know that the emperor himself is talking with him.) He
asked him, "Why is he a murderer?" He answered him, "Because of
his cruelty and because of his arrogance I've arrived here." He asked him,
"How did that happen?"
The
young man made up his mind that here he has no need to fear anyone, so he spoke
to him and retold the entire story what had happened to him. He asked him,
"If the emperor should come into your hands, would you take revenge on him
now?" He answered him, "No," (for he was a good person and
merciful) "on the contrary, I would provide sustenance for him just as I
sustain you." The emperor proceeded and began to sigh and groan, saying,
"What an evil and bitter old age this emperor has!" For he had heard that
his daughter, the beauty, had been lost and he himself had been banished. Again
the young man spoke up, "Because of his cruelty (in other words,
mercilessness) and because of his pride, he squandered himself and his
daughter, and I have been cast off to here - all because of him." Again he
asked him (the emperor to the young man), "If he should come into your
hands would you take revenge on him?" He answered him, "No. I would
sustain him precisely as I sustain you." The emperor made himself known to
him, and informed him that he himself is the emperor, and what had befallen
him. The young man fell on him, and kissed him, and hugged him. And she, that
is, the beauty, who was also present, only in disguise etc. was listening to
everything as the two were talking to one another.
And
the young man, his routine was to go everyday and make a sign for himself on
three trees and look for the writing there (i.e. in these three, of the trees),
for there were thousands of thousands of trees, so he would make himself a sign
on those which he searched, in order that he should no longer need to search in
these three trees tomorrow; thus he kept doing everyday; perhaps he would still
find the writing (i.e. the note that she had sent him which he had lost among
the trees, as mentioned). And when he would return from there, he would come
with wept-out eyes, for he would cry when he searched and could not find. They
(i.e. the emperor and the beauty) asked him, "What do you look for among
the trees and then come back with wept-out eyes?" He told them the entire
story: insofar as the emperor's daughter (i.e. the beauty) had sent him a note;
he had hid it in one of the trees; a storm wind came etc. as mentioned. Now he
searches; maybe he'll find it. They said to him, "Tomorrow when you go
look, we will also go with you. Maybe we will find the note." And so it
was. They went with him too, the emperor's daughter found the note in a tree,
and she opened it up and saw that this is her own writing, from her hand. She
reckoned if she immediately discloses to him that it is she herself, proceeding
again to remove these clothes and return again to her beauty, and again be a
beauty as before, he may collapse and pass away. And she wants that it should
be done in a kosher way, lawfully (in other words, she cannot marry him here in
the wilderness, for she needs to have a wedding with him, as it ought to be).
She went and returned the note to him, and told him that she had found the
note. (In other words, she did not tell him that this is she herself; rather,
she simply told him that she had found the note.) He immediately dropped down
and remained faint. They restored him to health and there was great rejoicing
among them.
Later,
the young man said, "What use is the writing for me? How will I ever be
able to find her? For surely she is now with some king (for he thought that she
had been sold by the murderer, just as the emperor had told him). What use is
it for me? I will live out my years here." And he went and gave her back
the writing and said to her, "Here! Take the note for yourself, and you go
and marry her" (for she was disguised as a male). She allowed herself to
go but asked him to go with her as well. "For I will certainly take her;
things will be good for me; I'll give you a share of my good. (In other words,
the emperor's daughter who was disguised as a male said thus to the young man.)
And the young man saw that "he" is a wise man and will certainly take
her; he was willing to go with him (i.e. with the emperor's daughter who he
thought was a male). And the emperor was left alone, for he was afraid to go
back into his country. She asked him to go too: for he will surely take the
beauty. "You no longer have anything to fear. (In other words, she said to
him, 'I will certainly seek out the beauty, so you no longer have anything to
fear, for the mazal will return when she is found.') And you will also
be ordered to return."
The
three set out together, and they hired a ship, and they came to the country
where the empress lived, and they came to the city where she is located, and
they docked the ship. The emperor's daughter figured: if she immediately
informs her mother that she has come back, she may pass away. She went and
dispatched to her mother, inasmuch as there is a man who has knowledge of her
daughter. Then she herself went to the empress and told her what had happened
to her daughter, telling her the entire story. And at the end, she said to her
(in these words), "And she (i.e. the daughter) is also here." She
told her the truth: "I myself am her!" And she informed her that her
bridegroom, that is, the burgher's son is here too; however, she said to her
mother that she wants it no other way except that her father, the emperor, be
restored to his place. But her mother did not want this at all, for she was
very upset at him, because all this was due to him; but nonetheless she had to
do it for the sake of her daughter. They wanted to bring him (the emperor)
back; they searched for the emperor - and he's not there at all. Her daughter told
(out to) her that the emperor is also here with her. The wedding took place;
the joy was complete. And the kingdom and the empire they took over, that is,
the burgher's son with the beauty who got married, and they reigned over the
face of the earth (lit. everything under the cap of the sky), that is, they
reigned over the entire world, amen and amen.
Afterwards
as well, the old emperor had no greatness, for it was all because of him. The
burgher had enormous greatness - he is the emperor's father, who is the
essential one. The sailor was smacked (Heb.: and smacked in the face) and
pushed away.
[Notes
Following the Story]
By
Lot it says, "to the mountain flee to salvation" (Gen. 19:17) - this
is a burgher [a play on words: Yid.barg - mountain], and from him comes [Heb.
is born] Messiah [Heb. may he come speedily in our days, amen].
The
Jews in Egypt had signs who the Redeemer would be etc. [Heb only: pakod
pakadeti (Exodus 3:16; "I have remembered you;") - he who says to
them these terms is the Redeemer. And it is an astounding thing, since all
Israel knew of this - so then what is this sign? Possibly it was not
transmitted except to the elders.] And upon the [Heb. final] Redeemer [Yid. to
come] there are certainly signs [Yid. here] as well.
Messiah
will tell every Jew everything that has happened to him every single day. Tamar
also lost the signs, as it says in the Midrash (Beraishis Rabba, 85:11 also see
the Me-Am Loez). Also when she was going to be burned the Samech-Mem
(Satan) came and distanced the signs from her, and the angel Gabriel came and
brought them near, as it says in the Midrash; and from her comes out Messiah,
speedily in our days, amen.
Regarding
that which is explained in the story, that everyone comes with his love poem
and some are replied to via an emissary etc. as mentioned - so there are a
number of great people who each do what they do [Heb. only: each says poetry
and so forth] and each busies himself and wants to reach the truth (Heb. the
desired) purpose. But there is none who merits to the essential true purpose
completely - except the one who is worthy of it. And some are answered via an
emissary, or from under [Heb. behind] the wall, or they show them the face etc.
as in the story. However, in the end, when they leave this world, they answer
them that they've still done nothing at all, as it is written in the story, how
the beauty ultimately answers them [Yid. "The waters however, did not pass
over you."] until the right leader comes - speedily in our days, amen!
This too the Rebbe said (shmoozed).
All
this the Rebbe said (shmoozed) after the story so that one can make some kind
of appraisal how far the story reaches. So, good for him who is privileged to
know the secret of the stories even in the other (-future) world!
Na
Nach Nachma Nachman Me'Uman!
Legendary Tales of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
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