The History of Yiddish Literature 10

The History of Yiddish Literature 10

CHANZI-GINENDEL. What do you want with a sapphire ribbon? Oh, I suppose for a tie! I declare, that color has now gone out of fashion. Now they wear Havana or Bismarck. I just lately gave a young man such a ribbon. If you want, I will give you one. VIII. SONG OF THE REJOICING OF THE LAW 1 Your health, brethren, your health! Your health! To-day we finish the Law, to-day we begin to read it anew; hence, may you prosper in peace, dear brethren! Be merry and thank the kind Lord for the holy Law written upon parchment!            2 The holy Law written upon parchment has been our consolation in our poverty! All in the world we have lost: the Temple has been laid in ruins, in ruins the land which we have inhabited; even our tongue we have forgotten,--we have lost our kingdom and our priesthood, only our faith is left to us. God in our hearts, the Law in our hands, we went from land to land, suffered many tribulations, yet have lived through it all by means of the Law written upon parchment.            3     Kummt, liebe Bruder, kummt aher gicher!     Kummt, lā' mir offenen die historische Bucher!     Wās derzaehlt die Geschichte? Wās schreiben die Chronikes?     Nor Raubergeschichten, Maisses vun Rasbojnikes!     Unser Geschichte, asō grōss wie die Erd',     Is' nit mit a Feder, nor mit a Schwert,     Nit mit Tint' geschrieben, nor mit Blut un' Trahren,     Nit in Leipzig gedruckt, nor in Goles dem schweren,     Nit in Goldschnitt gebunden, nor in Kētten un' Eisen.     Lās mir chotsch Einer kummen un' weisen,     Wu hāt men uns nit verfolgt un' vertrieben     Far die hēilige Tōre, auf Parmet geschrieben?            4     Noch gār in Ānhēb, var ganz langer Zeit,     As mir senen gewesen noch Stucklech Leut,     Wie Balebatim in der Hēim nor gesessen     Un' in fremde Hauser kēin Tag' nit gegessen,     Densmāl noch, ach! soll dās nit treffen Kēinem     Wās mir hāben ausgelitten vun unsere Schcheenim!     Wer red't schōn dernāch, wēh unsere Jāhren!     As die Schcheenim seinen Balebatim gewor'en....     Un' mir hāben gemust nit geren, beōnes,     Areinziehen wōhnen bei see in Schcheenes     Wie hāben mir gelebt, wie senen mir gelegen?     Ach, ihr wollt't schōn besser gār nit fragen!     Wie Kopplech Kraut, wie a Haufen Ruben,     Mit der hēiliger Tōre, auf Parmet geschrieben.            5     Zwēitausend Jāhr, a Klēinigkeit zu sāgen!     Zwēitausend Jāhr gemattert, geschlāgen!            3 Come, dear brethren, come quickly! Come, let us open the historical books! What does history tell? What do the chronicles write? Nothing but tales of robbers, stories of highwaymen! Our history, as large as earth, has been written, not with a pen, but with a sword; not with ink, but with blood and tears; has been printed, not in Leipsic, but in heavy exile; is bound, not in gold carving, but in chains and iron. Let a man come and show me where they have not persecuted us and expelled us for the holy Law written upon parchment!            4 In the very beginning, a long time ago, when we still were of some importance, when we were sitting at home and did not lodge in strangers' homes--alas, may that not befall any one, what we have suffered from our neighbors! Not to mention later--woe unto our years!--when our neighbors became our masters.... And we were compelled against our will to take lodgings in their homes. How did we live, how did we rest? Oh, you had better not ask at all! Like cabbage heads, like turnip heaps, with our holy Law written upon parchment.            5 Two thousand years, no small matter that! Two thousand years of torture and vexation! Seventy-seven     Sieben un' siebezig finstere Dōres     Gestoppt mit Zores, gefullt mit Gseeres!     As ich wollt' nehmen derzaehlen jede Gseere,     Wollt' heunt nit gewe'n Ssimchas-Tōre;     Nor dās darf ich gār nit, es is' sēhr gut     Bei Jedem eingeschrieben in sein March, in sein Blut.     Mir hāben All's ausgehalten, All's aweggegeben,     Unser Geld, unser Kowed, unser Gesund, un' Leben,     Wie a Māl Chane ihre Kinder, die sieben,--     Far die hēilige Tōre, auf Parmet geschrieben.            6     Un' itzt? Is' schōn besser? Lāst man uns zufrieden?     Hāt man schōn a Māl derkennt, as mir Juden     Senen auch Menschen asō wie die Andern?     Wellen mir nit mehr in der Welt arumwandern?     Wet man sich auf uns mehr nit beklāgen?     Dās wēiss ich nit, dās kann ich euch nit sāgen.     Ēins wēiss ich, es lebt noch der alter Gott ōben,     Die alte Tōre unten un' der alter Glauben;     Drum sorgt nit un' hofft auf Gott dem lieben     Un' auf die hēilige Tōre, auf Parmet geschrieben!            7     Lechajim, Bruder, lechajim, lechajim!     Heunt senen mir die Tōre messajim,     Heunt hēben mir sie ān noch a Māl wieder:--     Drum lechajim, lescholem, liebe Bruder!     Sorgt nit un' hofft auf Gott dem lieben     Un' auf die hēeilige Tōre, auf Parmet geschrieben!          J. L. GORDON. IX. DIE KLATSCHE ('Die Klatsche,' Odessa, 1889, pp. 17-20)      Auf dem Feld, seh' ich, futtern sich panske Zapes, Ēslen, ganze      Tabunes Ferd, wās hāben a Jiches-brief, gloomy generations surfeited with sorrows, filled with misfortunes! Were I to begin to tell all the persecutions, we should not have the Rejoicing of the Law to-day; but I need not do that, it is too well written in each man's marrow, in his blood. We have suffered all, given away all, our money, our honor, our health, our lives, as Hannah once her seven children,--for the holy Law written upon parchment.            6 And now? Is it better? Do they leave us in peace? Have they come to recognize that we Jews are also men like all others? Shall we no longer wander about in the world? Will they no longer complain of us? That I do not know, that I cannot tell you. Thus much I know, there still lives the old God above, the old Law below, and the old faith; therefore do not worry, and hope in the kind Lord and in the holy Law written upon parchment!            7 Your health, brethren, your health! To-day we finish the Law, to-day we begin to read it anew; hence, may you prosper in peace, dear brethren! Do not worry, and hope in the kind Lord and in the Law written upon parchment! IX. THE DOBBIN In the field I see feeding noble goats, asses, whole herds of horses who have genealogies that prove their      as see stammen araus vun ēdle Eltern. Ēinems Seede is' an      englischer Oger, wās hāt varzeitens, durchfāhrendig durch dem Land      Kenoan, Chassene geha't mit an arabischer Schkape. Dem Anderens      Babe wachst vun a beruhmter Mischpoche, wās hāt in Leben genug      Pulwer geschmeckt, un' Jenems Alter-bābe hāt genossen a gute      Erziehung, a Edukazje, ergez in a beruhmten Sawod, is' gewesen a      Melumedes un' hāt in ihr Zeit gegeben Konzert in Tanzen un'      Springen in-ēinem mit noch assach gebildete, gelernte Ferd. Denn      ihr musst wissen, as bei Ferd spielt Jiches a grōsse Rolje, bei see      kuckt man stark auf ēdel Blut, un' die wās fun a guten Sawod      hēissen ēdel oder wōhlgeborene. Die dāsige ēdele Ferd hāben sich      gefuttert frank un' frei, senen auch gegangen in Schāden, kalje      gemacht die Twues, welche āreme Pauern hāben gesaet mit Schwēiss      nebech, un' man hāt sich nischt wissendig gemacht, see nischt      gesāgt kein umtarbisch Wort. Die Ferd hāben gesprungen, gehirset,      gedriget mit die Fuss'. Sejer Kōach, sejer Starkkeit, un' sejer      Wildkeit is' gewe'n "schelo kederech hatewa"! Plutzlim hor' ich vun      der weitens a schrecklich Geschrēi, a Rasch vun Menschen un' a      Billen vun Hund'. Ich hāb' tchilas gemēint, dās hāben die Pauern      sich zunaufgenummen un' laufen mit a Geschrēi, arauszutreiben die      panske Zapes, die Ferd vun sejere Twues; nor āber nein. Die Kōles      hāben sich alls derweitert un' sich vartrāgen gār in ein ander      Seit'. Ich bin gewe'n zikawe un' gegangen nāch dem Kol, gegangen      bis ich bin gekummen zu a ganz grōssen Platz varwachsen mit Grās.      Dort hāt var meine Augen sich vurgestellt a schreckliche Scene.      Junglech, Kundeessim, hāben vun alle Seiten sich gejāgt nāch a      darer, a māgerer Klatsche, geworfen Stēiner un' āngerēizt auf ihr a      ganze Tschate descent from aristocratic parents. The grandfather of one had been an English steed who once, during a journey through the country of Canaan, had been married to an Arabian mare. Again, the grandmother of another was descended from a famous family, and had smelled much powder in her lifetime, while the great-grandmother of still another had been well educated in some famous stud, and had, in her time, given performances in dancing and jumping in company with many other educated, well-trained horses. For you must know that with horses breed is of great importance; much attention is paid to noble blood, and those who come from a good stud are called noble or well born. These noble horses were grazing at their will; now and then they did some damage by ruining the standing grain which poor peasants had sown in the sweat of their brows, and no one noticed that, or said a harsh word to them. The horses jumped about, neighed, kicked. Their strength, their power, and their wildness were out of the common. Suddenly I heard from afar a terrible noise, a hollowing of men and barking of dogs. At first, I thought that the peasants had come together and were starting on a run with a noise, in order to drive out the noble goats and the horses from their corn; but no!... The voice grew more distant, and could be heard from an entirely different direction. I became curious, and followed the noise until I came to a very large place overgrown with grass. There a frightful scene presented itself to my eyes. Street urchins were pursuing from all sides a thin, lean dobbin; they threw stones at her, and urged on against her a whole pack of dogs of all kinds. Some of these dogs were whining, barking, gnashing their teeth; others again were biting her as best they could. I could not stand there looking      Hund' vun allerlēi Minim. A Thēil Hund' hāben gār geheult, gebillt,      gekrizt die Zaehn', a Thēil āber hāben auch take gebissen, wie nor      see hāben gekannt. Ich hāb' nischt gekannt stēhn un' zusehn asa      Majsse-ra vun der weitens. Ēinmāl is' doch glatt a Rachmones, dās      Menschlichkeit derlāst nischt zuzusehn asa Achsorjes, un' zwēitens,      awekgenummen schōn Rachmones, hāt doch die Schkape auf mir take a      grōss Recht geha't, ich soll ihr helfen, machmas ich bin eingekauft      in der Chewre "Zar-bal-hachaim," wās ihr is' nischt niche, man soll      peinigen, ānthon Leid lebedige Beschaffenisch, wārim see senen auch      Bossor-wedom, Flēisch un' Blut, un' hāben auch dās Recht zu leben      auf Gotts Welt wie mir. Ich will mich dā nischt areinlāsen in dem      alten un' sēhr tiefen Schmues mikōach dem Menschen un' die      Beheemes. Lās sich sein chotsche wie Jene sāgen, as ich, Mensch,      bin der Tachles, der Zimmes, der Antik vun alle Beschaffenisch; nor      zu lieb mir, Tachschit, zu lieb mein Bederfenisch un' mein      Vergenugen leben see alle auf der Welt; lās sich sein chotsch, as      ich, Tachschit, bin der Meelach, der Ōberharr uber alle Beheemes,      wās musen mir dienen, wās musen gēhn in Joch un' makriw sein far      mir sejer Leben,--vun destwegen, dacht sich mir, wie bald afile a      Klatsche, asa proste Podane, hāt auf mir eppes a Recht, mus ich      al-pi Din, wenn nischt al-pi Menschlichkeit, akegen ihr jōze      sein....      "Kundeessim!" sāg' ich, zugēhendig zu die weisse Chewre, "Wās hā't      ihr, ich bett' euch, zu der Schkape nebech?"      A Thēil vun die Kundeessim hāben mich gārnischt gehort, andere      hāben ja eppes wie gehort un' gelacht mit Ases. A Thēil Hund' hāben      mich eppes varwundert āngekuckt, etliche hāben gebillt vun der      weitens, quietly at such misdeeds. In the first place it is a question of pity--humanity does not permit to look unmoved at such wrong-doing. Secondly, leaving pity out, the mare had a great right to my protection, for I am a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is opposed to vexing and torturing any living being, for they, too, are flesh and blood, and have the same right to live in God's world that we have.... I shall not enter here into the old and profound discussion in regard to man and beast. Let it be as they say that I, man, am the highest aim, the perfection of all creation, that only for me and for my wants and pleasures they all live upon this world. Let it be that I, man, am the king, the supreme lord of all the animals who must serve me, must walk under the yoke and sacrifice their lives for me, nevertheless, it seems to me that even to that dobbin, who is my lowest subject, I have certain duties, and I must, in accordance with the law if not with humanity, do what is right by her....        *       *       *       *       * "Urchins!" I said, as I approached the crowd of wild boys, "what have you, I pray, against that mare?"        *       *       *       *       * Some of the urchins paid no attention at all to me; others did hear me, but they laughed at me with brazen faces. Some of the dogs looked at me somewhat astonished; others barked at me from afar, while others      noch etliche hāben ausgeschtschiret die Augen, gekuckt schrecklich      boes, senen gewe'n berēit ānzufallen auf mir vun hinten un'      zureissen mich auf Stucker.      "Kundeessim!" ruf' ich mich noch a Māl ān. "Wās jāgt ihr un'      peinigt Gotts Beschaffenisch, die Klatsche nebech?"      "A schoener Nebech!" hāben see mit Gespott geentwert. "Far wās      futtert sie sich dā? Far wās futtert sich die schoene Klatsche dā?"      "Steutsch!" thu' ich a Sāg, "dā is' doch a Pasche, dā futteren sich      doch alle Stādt-beheemes vun ēbige Jāhren!"      "Die Stādt-beheemes," hāben see geentwert, "senen eppes andersch,      see mogen un' sie tor nischt."        *       *       *       *       *      "Far wās nischt sie?" ruf' ich mich ān, "sie hāt denn nischt kēin      Neschome wie alle Stādt-beheemes?"      "Efscher take nischt!" hāben see a Sāg gethan.      "Schkozim!" sāg' ich zu see, "āber sie hāt doch sicher a Balebos,      wās zāhlt in der Stādt Zinsen un' alle andere Ābgāben. Sie is' doch      auch a Stādt-beheeme!"      "Ot dās take wēissen mir nischt!" entwern see mir mit a Gespott.      "Ōb sie is' auch a Stādt-beheeme, dās is' erscht a Schaile!"      "Es mag sein, wie es will sich," hāb' ich gesāgt, "āber die      Klatsche is' doch derweil hungerig, sie will doch nebech essen!"      "Lās sie essen Werem, Krank', Makes!" sāgen see zuruck. "Wās hāt      sie zu uns? Far wās soll a solche auffressen un' zunehmen bei die      Stādt-beheemes?"        *       *       *       *       *      "Gaslonim!" hāb' ich schōn mehr nischt gekonnt mich einhalten un' a      Geschrēi gethān mit Kas. "Far again opened their eyes wide open, scanned me in great anger, and were ready to fall upon me from behind, and to tear me to pieces. "Urchins!" I cried out again. "Why do you pursue and torture one of God's creatures--the miserable dobbin?" "Miserable indeed!" they cried out scoffingly. "Why does she graze here? Why does that fine-looking mare graze here?" "How is that?" I exclaimed, "is this not a pasture, and have not all the animals of the town grazed here from time immemorial!" "The animals of the town," they answered, "are an entirely different matter; they may, but she may not." "Why not she?" I called out, "has she not a soul like all the animals of the town?" "Maybe she has not!" they retorted. "Urchins!" I said to them, "but she certainly has a master who pays all the taxes of the town and other duties. She is a town animal like all the others!"        *       *       *       *       * "That's exactly what we do not know!" they answered in scorn. "Whether she is a town animal, that's the question!" "Let it be as it may," I said, "but in the meanwhile the mare is hungry and wants to eat!"        *       *       *       *       * "Let her eat worms, get sick and die!" they replied. "What does she want of us? Why should such a creature eat up that which belongs to the town animals?" "Murderers!" I could no longer hold myself and cried out in anger. "Why do you not pay any attention      wās kuckt ihr nischt, wās dort gēhen arum panske Zapes, ganze      Tabunes Ferd zwischen die Twues un' fressen auf ārem Blut, ārem      Schwēiss nebech? Dā vargunnt ihr nischt a bidner Schkape a Haufen      Grās un' es art euch klal nischt, as dort thuen Ferd ān a Jam      Heskejes un' machen umglucklich viel Menschen. Dās nor allēin, wās      see zutreten, wās see machen kalje glatt asō, wollt' genug gewe'n      der Klatsche bis Kinds-kinds-kinds-kinder! Kundeessim, ihr hā't      nischt kein Jōscher afile auf a Hāar, ihr sent Kēinem nischt getreu      un' ihr hāt noch a Hose sich arauszustellen klomerscht far die      Stādt-beheemes!"      "He, he!" hāben die Kundeessim sich āngerufen, "er is' gār in Kas,      er fragt gār eppes Kasches! Kummt Chewre! Wās taug' uns die Taines?      Lās er sich schreien! Wer hort ihm? Kummt, Chewre, kummt!"      Ēin Kundas hāt a Feif gethān un' bald hāben die weisse Chewre mit      sejere Hund' sich gelāst nāch der Klatsche un' auf ihr wieder      āngefallen. A lange Zeit hāt man sie getrieben, gerissen un'      gebissen, bis man hāt sie zum Ssof vartrieben in a tiefer Grub un'      dort hāt sie sich eingegrisnet in Blote. S. J. ABRAMOWITSCH. X. TUNEJADEWKE ('Binjāmin ha-Schlischi,' pp. 6-9)      Tunejadewke, dās klēine Stadtel, is' a varworfen Winkel, ān der      Seit' vun dem potschtowen Trakt, kimat ābgerissen vun der Welt asō,      as wenn a Māl macht sich, Ēiner kummt ahin zufāhren, offent man die      Fenster, die Thuren, un' man kuckt varwundert ān dem frischen      Parschōn; Schcheenim fragen Ēiner beim Andern, arauskuckendig vun      die offene Fenster, assach mehr wie vier Kasches: Ha, wer soll es      asōns sein? to the noblemen's goats, the whole herds of horses who run around in the grain and eat up the blood and the sweat of the poor? Here you begrudge the poor dobbin a handful of hay, and do not at all care that there the horses are doing no end of damage and making many people unhappy. That alone which they trod under foot, which they simply destroy, would be enough for the mare and her future generations! You, urchins, have no sense of justice, not a hair's-breadth of it, you are not true to anybody, and yet you take it upon yourself to take the part of the town animals!"        *       *       *       *       * "Ho, ho!" the urchins exclaimed, "he is getting angry, and he asks questions of us! Come, boys! What is the use of discussing? Let him cry! Pay no attention to him! Come, boys, come!" An urchin blew his whistle, and the rude company started with their dogs to attack once more the dobbin. They drove her for a long time; she was bitten and torn until at last she was driven into a deep ditch where she sank down in the mud. X. PARASITEVILLE The small town of Parasiteville is a forgotten corner of the earth, to one side of the highway, almost torn away from the world. When by accident some one visits it, the windows and doors are opened and people look in astonishment at the stranger; neighbors ask of each other, as they look out of the open windows, more than the usual four questions: I wonder who he may be? How did he all of a sudden get here? What may      Vun wannen hāt er plutzlim vun der heller Haut aher sich genummen?      Wās kann asolcher bedarfen? Eppes asō glatt kann es nit sein, glatt      asō denn nemmt man un' man kummt? Mistome liegt doch dā eppes, wās      man mus es dergēhn.... Derbei will Itlicher arausweisen sein      Chochme, sein Genitschaft, un' Bauchswores fallen wie Mist. Alte      Leut' derzaehlen Maisses un' brengen Mescholim vun Orchim, wās      senen in dem un' dem Jāhr gekummen aher zufāhren, Balamzojes sāgen      mikōach dem Wortlich, a Bissel eppes nischt kein schoene;      Mannsbill' halten sich bei die Bardlich un' schmēichlen; alte      Weiber siedlen āb die Balamzojes auf Katowes, mit a Boeser i mit a      Lachen in ēinem; junge Weiblich derlangen vun die arābgelāsene      Augen a gebōgenem Kuck vun unten arauf, halten die Hand' auf'n Maul      un' sticken sich lachendig in Kulak. Der Schmues mikōach dem      dāsigen Injen kaukelt sich vun Stub' zu Stub' wie a Kaul vun Schnee      un' werd kauklendig sich all's grosser, grosser, bis er kaukelt      sich arein in Bessmedresch ssame unter'n Ōwen, in dem Ort, wās ahin      varkauklen sich alle Schmuessen vun allerlēi Injonim, hen Sōdes vun      Stubsachen, hen Politike mikōach Stambul, mikōach dem Tōger      u-mikōach Kiren, hen Geldgeschaften mikōach Rothschild's Varmogen      in Vargleich mit die grōsse Prizim un' die andere gewisse Negidim,      we-hen Potschten mikōach die Gseeres u-mikōach die rōthe Judlich      uchdōme, un' wās dort rasbirajet see kesseeder a besunder Komitat      vun schoene betāgte Juden, wās sitzen standig a ganzen Tāg bis spat      in der Nacht, senen mafker Weib i Kinder un' giben sich mit die      alle Geschaften take emes getreu āb, thuen sejer Sach' bischleemes,      glatt asō le-Schemschomajim, nischt zu nehmen far sejer Muh', far      sejer Praze, afile a zubrochenem Heller. such a one want here? There is something wrong, for without good reason no one would come to this place! There is some secret in it which I must find out.... And each one wants to show his wisdom, his skill, and all kinds of speculations come as fast as hail. All tell stories and make allusions to strangers who had visited them in such and such a year; jesters relate anecdotes about it, and they are not always within the bounds of propriety; men twirl their beards and smile; old women jokingly scold the jesters, angered and laughing at the same time; young married women stealthily look upwards with their drooping eyes, hold their hands before their mouths and choke with laughter. The conversation in regard to that matter rolls on from house to house like a snowball and rolling grows larger, larger, until it rolls into the synagogue near the stove, the very place where find their final abode gossips of all kinds, whether domestic secrets, or politics in regard to Stamboul, in regard to the Mogul and Cyrus, or money matters regarding the wealth of Rothschild as compared with that of great lords and the other well-known millionaires, or reports of persecutions and the tribe of the Red Jews, and so forth. And there these matters are discussed one after the other by a special committee of pious Jews advanced in years, who sit there whole days until late into the night, who abandon their wives and children and earnestly devote themselves to those affairs, doing their business in peace, just for the glory of God, without receiving a broken penny for their labor and their work.      Vun dem dāsigen Komitat gēhen oft die Injonim aweg in Bād auf der      oberster Bank, un' in a polner Ssobranje vun Stādt-balebatim wer'en      see dort utwerdet, "wehakol schorir wekajom," as dernāch sollen      afile kummen kol Malchej Misrach un' Majrew, sich stellen mit dem      Kopp arāb un' mit die Fuss' arauf, wellen see gār nischt pōeln. Der      Tōger is' schier ein Māl nischt umglucklich gewor'en in asa      Ssobranje auf der ōberster Bank, wenn etliche juste Balebatim      sollen nischt gewe'n halten mit ihm Blatt, wer wēisst, wu er wollt'      itzt āngesparrt. Rothschild nebech hāt schier nit varlōren dort      eppes a zehn, fufzehn Milljon; derfar hāt ihm Gott geholfen in a      Pāar Wochen arum: der Ōlem is' gewe'n, wie man sāgt, begelufin; auf      der ōberster Bank is' grād' gewe'n a Bissel leblich; die Besemlich      hāben sich gehōben,--un' man hat ihm mit a Māl zugelāst rēin      Vardienst akegen a kan Milljon Karblich!      Die Einwōhner allēin in Tunejadewke senen nebech kimat alle,      lō-aleechem, grōsse Ewjōnim, starke Dalfonim. Nor dem Emes mus man      sāgen, see senen froehliche Ewjōnim, lustige Kabzonim, wilde      Bal-bitochens. As man soll, a Stēiger, plutzlim a Frag geben a      Tunejadewker Juden, vun wannen un' wie asō er is sich mefarnes,      bleibt er tchilas stēhn wie zumischt, wēisst nebech nischt, wās zu      entwern, nor spater a Bissel āber kummt er zu sich un' entwert      bitmimes: Ich, wie arum ich leb', ich? Et, 's is' dā a Gott, sāg'      ich euch, ot-o, wās varlāst nischt alle seine Beschaffenisch, Er      schickt zu un' wet mistome weiter zuschicken, sāg' ich euch,      ot-o!--Fort, wās thut ihr asōns? Hā't ihr chotsch eppes wās 's is'      far a Meloche oder a Parnosse in der Hand?--Gelōbt is'      ha-Schem-jisborach! Ich hāb', borchaschem, asō wie ihr kuckt mich      ān, ot-o, a Matone vun sein lieben Nāmen, a Keele, a Kol-negine, From this committee the affairs are frequently transferred to the upper bench in the bathhouse, and in a plenary assembly of householders they are confirmed, "resolved and decreed." If after that even all the kings of the East and the West were to come and walk with their heads downwards and their feet in the air, they could not move them to change their decrees. The Mogul came once very near falling into misfortune in such an assembly of the higher bench; if some of the householders had not taken his part, who knows where he would now be resting his head. Rothschild very nearly lost there ten or fifteen millions; but God came to his rescue a few weeks later: the people felt, as they say, in high spirits; all was alive upon the highest bench; the bathing brooms were dancing over their backs, and they all at once gave him a clean gain of one hundred and fifty million roubles. Nearly all the inhabitants of Parasiteville are, may it be no evil omen to you, nothing but poor people and quite destitute. But the truth must be told, they are merry beggars, joyful mendicants, possessed of unbounded hope. If one, for example, suddenly asks a Parasiteville Jew where and how he manages to make a living, he stops at first bewildered, and does not know what to answer, but after a while he collects himself and answers in good spirits: I, how I make a living, I? Well, there is a God, I tell you, you see, who does not abandon His creatures; He sends us a living and will no doubt continue to send us, I tell you!--After all, what is your occupation? Have you some kind of trade that you ply, or have you some kind of income?--Praised be the Lord! I have, thanks to the Lord, as you see me, a gift from Him, a good voice, and I lead the prayers of the Mussafim on the great holidays      un' dawen' Mussofim Jomim-nōrojim in der Swiwe; ich bin a Mohel un'      a Maze-radler, Ēiner in der Welt; ich fuhr' a Māl aus a Schidech,      fuhr' ich aus. Ich hāb' a Stāat, wie ihr kuckt mich ān, ot-o, in      der Schul'; heunt halt' ich auch, zwischen uns soll es bleiben, a      Schēnkel, wās melkt sich zu bisslich; ich hāb' a Zieg', wās melkt      sich ohn' Anore sēhr gut, un' hāb' nischt weit vun danneu a reichen      Korew, ot-o, wās lāst sich unter a schlechter Zeit auch a Bissel      melken. Heunt, chuz die alle Sachen, sāg' ich euch ot-o, is' Gott a      Tate un' die Jisroejel senen Rachmonim-bnee-rachmonim, sāg' ich      euch ot-o, nischt zu varsundigen!...      Auch mus man die Tunejadewker Einwōhner dem Schwach nāchsāgen, as      see seneu zufrieden mit wās Gott gi't un' klauben cholile in der      Halbosche un' in dem Essen stark nischt uber. As die schabesdige      Kapote, a Stēiger, is' zuhackt, zufallen, zurissen, a Bissel      varschlumpert un' eppes nischt asō rēin, macht auch nit aus, abi      sie is' fort vun Atlas un' glanzt. Ai orterweis kuckt wie vun a      Reschete araus dās hōhle Leib, meele wās art es wemen? Wer wet sich      dā asō stellen zukucken? Lemai Pjates, mit wās is' dās arger vun      ausgerissene Pjates? Pjates is' denn nischt kēin Leib, kēin      Menschenflēisch?...      A Stuckel Brōt mit a Kolisch, abi 's is' nor dā, is' sēhr a guter      Mittāg. Wer schmuest a Bulke mit a Rosselflēisch Freitāg, wer es      hāt nor,--dās is' take a Maichel-Mecholim, kēin Besseres dervun is'      schōn, dacht sich, auf der Welt nischt dā. Lās man see derzaehlen,      a Stēiger, vun andere Minee Potrawes chuz Fischjauch, Gebrāten's      un' a Mahren-oder Posternakzimmes, kummt see dās aus eppes meschune      wild un' sāgen darauf āb varschiedene Wortlich mit dem grossten      Gelachter, gleich wie der, wās sāgt es, is' narrisch, in the towns hereabout; I am a Mohel and a roller of matzoth, an expert in my work; I sometimes make a match and get people married. I have a pew in the synagogue, although you may not think it of me; besides I have a grog-shop, between us be it said, that brings me in a little income; I have a goat that gives a great deal of milk, and not far from here I have a rich relative who in bad times lets himself be milked a little too. Besides all these things, I tell you, God is a father and the Jews are the recipients of His mercy, I tell you, and may we not sin against Him!...        *       *       *       *       * We must give the inhabitants of Parasiteville their due,--they are contented with anything God may give them, and they are not by any means dainty in their garments and their food. If, for example, the Sabbath coat is all crushed, threadbare, and torn, a little bedraggled and of questionable cleanliness, that does not trouble them much, provided it is of satin and has a sheen. You will say that in places the bare body looks out of it as from a sieve! What of that? Whose concern is it? Who will stop to look at it inquisitively? Is that at all worse than bare heels? Are heels no body, no human flesh?... A piece of bread with a buckwheat cake, if only it can be procured, is a very good dinner indeed. And just think of a white roll with some braized meat on a Friday! Whoever can get that, regards it as the finest dainty, better than which, it seems, nothing can be found in the world. Let anybody tell of any other kinds of choice dishes than fish juice, roast meat, and carrot or parsnip scallop, he will be looked upon as a madman, and they will make all kinds of jests about him and burst out in loud laughter, as if he who had      meschuge un' will see auch machen meschuge, einrēden see a Kind in      Bauch, a Kuh is' geflōgen uber'n Dach un' gelēgt an Ēi. A Stuckel      Bockser in Chamischo-ossor dās is' asa Peere, wās is' mechaje      Nefosches; kuckendig derauf dermāhnt man sich in Erzesrojel, nischt      ēin Māl varglotzt man derbei die Augen mit a Krachz: Ach,      "wessōlicheenu kōmmius," sollst uns, harzediger Vāter, fuhren      kōmmius, take was kōmmius hēisst, "learzeenu"--zu unser Land, wās      Ziegen essen dort Bocksern!... Al-pi Mikre hāt Ēiner a Māl in dem      Stadtel gebracht a Tēitel, hā't ihr bedarft sehn, wie asō man is'      dās gelaufen ānkucken auf Chidesch! Man hāt aufgemischt a Chumesch      un' gewiesen, as "Tomer" der Tēitel stēht in Chumesch! Steutsch,      der Tēitel, ot der Tēitel wachst doch vun Erzesrojel!... Kuckendig      auf'n Tēitel, hāt sich ausgedacht, Erzesrojel is var die Augen, ot      gēht man uber dem Jarden, ot is' die Meoras-hamachpeelo, der Mutter      Rochel's Keewer, dās Kōssel-maarowi, ot bādt man sich in      Chamee-te-warjo, man kriecht arauf auf'n Har-haseessim, man esst      sich ān mit Bocksern, mit Tēitlen, un' man lēgt ān fulle Keschenjes      mit Erzesrojel-erd'. Ach, hāt man gekrachzt, un' in die Augen hāben      Itlichen sich gestellt Trahren. "Jene Zeit," asō sāgt Binjāmin,      "is' ganz Tunejadewke, wie grōss sie is', gewe'n in Erzesrojel. Man      hāt geschmack geredt vun Moschiach'n, ot, ot, is' schōn Gott's      Freitāg noch halben Tāg.... Der neuer Pristaw, wās is' nischt lang      āngekummen, hāt grād be-jod-romo denstmāl gefuhrt dās Stadtel. Bei      a Pāar Juden hāt er arābgerissen die Jarmelkes, Ēinem ābgeschnitten      a Peje, Etliche nebech gechappt spat bei der Nacht in a Gassel ohn'      Pasporten, bei noch Ēinem varnummen a Zieg', wās hāt aufgegessen a      neuem told that had actually become crazy and wanted to drive them crazy too by making them believe of a child in the stomach,[119] of a cow that has flown over the roof and has laid an egg. A piece of buck's-horn on the fifteenth day in the month of Shebat is regarded as a fruit that delights the heart. Looking at it they are reminded of Palestine, and they frequently raise their eyes in ecstasy and say with a sigh: "Oh, wessolicheenu kōmmius," lead us, O merciful Father, upwards, yes, upwards indeed, "learzeenu," into our land where goats feed on buck's-horn.... By chance some one brought a date to town. You ought to have seen how people rushed up to see the wonder! They opened the Pentateuch and pointed out that "Tomer," the date, was mentioned in the Bible! Just think of it! The date, that very date grows in Palestine!... Looking at the date it appeared to them that Palestine was before their very eyes, that, behold, they were crossing the Jordan; right there was the cave of Machpelah, Rachel's grave, the western wall; that now they were bathing in the Pool of Tiberias, they were climbing the Olive Mount, they were eating their fill of bucks'-horn and dates, and swelling their pockets with earth of Palestine. Ah, they sighed, and tears filled the eyes of all. "In those days," says Benjamin, "all of Parasiteville, as large as it is, was in Palestine. They talked with zest of Moses; and behold, it is already past noon on God's Friday.... The new police captain who had only lately arrived in town ruled it with a firm hand. He had torn off the skullcaps from the heads of a few Jews, he had lopped off an earlock, had bagged a few men late at night in a side street without passports, had confiscated another man's goat that had eaten up a      strōhenem Dach; un' er is' dermit auch gewe'n die Ssibe dervun, wās      der Komitat unter'n Ōwen hāt sich stark geduret mit'n Tōger,      ad-mossaj wet der Scharschel-jischmoel asō schōlet sein? Man hāt      aufgemischt dem gewoehntlichen Schmues mikōach die      Ascheres-haschwotim, wie glucklich see leben dort in jene weite      Mekōmes, in Gdule-ōscher un' Kowed; man hāt avurgenummen die rōthe      Judlech, die Bneemōsche, mit Gusmes Maisses vun sejere Gwures      uchdōme; Eldād ha-Dāni, es varstēht sich, hāt auch getanzt in      dermit. Jene Zeit, zum Mēisten, hāb' ich zu vardanken die Nessie      meine, wās ich hāb' dernāch gemacht." XI. A HARTER BISSEN (_Hausfreund_, Vol. II. pp. 22-25)     Beim Breg vun dem Wasser, vun Jāffō bis Tarschisch,     Dort hort sich a Žummen un' Brummen--     Beim Breg vun dem Wasser, vun Jāffō bis Tarschisch,     Is' finster die Nacht āngekummen.     Un' tief aus dem Wasser dort hort sich dās Brummen,     A Kol vun a Wallfisch gār, dacht sich:     "Rabōssai! Heunt hāt mich der Teuwel genummen,     Ich starb' heunt, ich spur' schōn, es macht sich!     "Ich eck' bald! Mein Bauch, oi, mein Bauch mus mir platzen--     Heunt hāb' ich a Nowi verschlungen!     Dā helft mehr kēin Glatten, kēin Reiben, kēin Kratzen--     Bald is' schōn der Bauch mir zusprungen!     "A Nowi, dās is' gār a zu harter Bissen,     Es kann ihm gār Kēiner vertrāgen;     Zu fett is' sein Frummkeit--es soll schōn nit wissen     Vun ihm kēin schum ehrlicher Māgen! newly laid strawthatch. And it was he that was the cause of the committee's preoccupation with the Mogul, and their discussion of how much longer the Prince of the Ishmaelites would be reigning. They returned to the usual conversation of the Ten Tribes, how happy they lived in those distant lands, enjoying wealth and honor; they recalled the Red Jews, the Sons of Moses, and told a mass of stories of their bravery, etc.; Eldad the Danite was naturally also dished up. I owe it mainly to those times that I later undertook my journey." XI. A TOUGH MORSEL On the shore of the waters, from Jaffa to Tarshish, one may hear a grumbling and growling;--on the shore of the waters, from Jaffa to Tarshish, the night descended in darkness. And deep out of the water one may hear a growling,--it seems, the voice of a whale. "My lords! To-day the devil has taken me, I am going to die to-day, I feel it, I am sure! "My end has come! My belly, O my belly will burst;--I have swallowed this day a prophet! No massaging, no rubbing, no scratching will help me;--ere long my belly will certainly burst! "A prophet is entirely too tough a morsel, and no one can digest him; his piety is too fat,--may no honest stomach ever know the like.     "A Nowi, derzu noch gār ēiner, a klēiner!     (Punkt zwolf auf a Tutz gār in Ganzen)     Gār hart is' sein Nefesch, gār hart seine Bēiner--     Er lochert mir 's Harz mit sein Tanzen!     "Un' Stēiner, un' Bēiner, un' kolerlēi Sachen,     See hāt schōn mein Māgen zurieben;     Un' nor mit Newiim kann gār ich nit machen--     A Make, wās stēht nit geschrieben!     "A Nowi is' gār nit varhanden a wēicher--     Nit kann man ihm essen, nit nāgen:     Es wollt' sein a Mizwe, nit lāsen kēin Seecher     Vun Frumme, wās grablen beim Māgen!     "A Frummer is' gār nit varhanden kēin wēicher--     Mir kennen die dāsige Helden!     Es wollt' sein a Mizwe, nit lāsen a Seecher     Vun see--mit Respekt dās zu melden!     "Rabōssai! Ich spur' jetzt, er grabelt in Bauch mir--     Gewalt! 's is' die Tewa vun Frumme     Rak grablen in Jenems Gedarem--nu, auch mir     A Nowi,--nor, ach, vun die Krumme!     "Rabōssai! Mir dacht sich, er murmelt jetzt eppes     Un' krummt sich, un' bēugt sich gār plutzim--     Du darschenst umsust gār, du darschenst in Steppes     Un' wartst gār umsust auf Tiruzim!     "Rabōssai! Ich spur' jetzt sein Grablen, sein Zapplen,     Es dacht sich, er dawent a Bissel!     Un' halt' ich's noch langer jetzt aus, mus ich mapplen--     Gewald! Gi't mir Brechwein a Schussel! "A prophet, and one of the smaller kind at that!--Just twelve of them to the dozen. Too tough is his body, too tough are his bones, he pierces my heart with his dancing! "And stones, and bones, and all other kinds of things my stomach has digested; but I am powerless with prophets,--they are a plague not mentioned in the Scriptures. "There does not exist a tender prophet,--you can never eat them or gnaw them. It would be meritorious not to leave a trace of pious men who rummage in your stomachs! "There does not exist a pious man who is tender,--we know that class of heroes! It would be meritorious not to leave a trace of them--with all due respect permit me to say that! "My lords! I feel he is now rummaging in my stomach, oh, help me! It has ever been the business of pious people to rummage in other people's entrails,--that's the kind of a prophet he is, only, alas, he is crooked! "My lords! meseems, he is now mumbling something, and he is writhing and bending up all of a sudden,--you preach in vain, you preach in the wilderness, and you are waiting in vain for an answer! "My lords! I now feel his crawling, his sprawling, it seems, he is praying now a bit! And if I am to endure it much longer, I shall have to abort. Help! Give me a dish full of emetic!     "Ich kann nit derhalten sein Dawnen, sein Singen,--     Dās Tanzen arum, wie die Rinder,     Die falsche, verwilderte Tnues, dās Springen....     Gewald! Gi't mir Brechwein geschwinder!     "Gewald! Gi't mir Brechwein, gi't Zeitungsmaimorim,     Gi't Nechbi-ben-Wofsi's Artiklen;     Gi't gich Feuilletonen, gi't judische Sforim--     Un' thut mir dās All's zunaufwicklen,     "Un' macht mir a Mittel zum Brechen, zum Brechen!     Gi't Sforim vun spatere Dōres!     Gi't Schomer's Romanen, see senen, ich rechen'     Zum Brechen vorzugliche S-chōres--     "Gi't Sforim vun neunzehnten klugen Jāhrhundert,     Gi't kluge 'Kritiken'--vun wemen     Ihr willt sich allein nor; gi't gicher--mich wundert,     Wie brech' ich schōn nit bei die Namen!"--     Beim Breg vun dem Wasser, vun Jāffō bis Tarschisch,     Dort hort sich a Žummen un' Brummen--     A Mittel zu Brechen, vun Jāffō bis Tarschisch,     Hāt dorten a Fisch eingenummen.     Un' still is' un' ruhig; es krauselt die Nacht sich     Un' flecht ihre tunkele Locken;     In Himmel die Steren,--see flammen, es dacht sich,     Wie gelbliche, goldene Pocken.     Un' still is' un' ruhig, es flecht gār die Nacht sich     Un' krauselt die finstere Locken;     Es wandelt gār still die Natur, un' es dacht sich,     Sie gēht wie auf seidene Socken. "I cannot stand his praying, his chanting,--his dancing, like a calf, his false, barbaric doings,--his leaping.... Help! Give me quickly some emetic!