“I grieve to tell your Majesty that I am ill. I have this day been most
grossly insulted and abused. I am perfectly innocent of having done any
wrong to the men who have been so cruel and unjust to me. Gracious
King! I appeal to you to hear my complaint and to see that justice is
done.”
“Have no fear,” cried the King. “I am the fountain of justice, and
every one in my realm may look to me for impartial judgment. What is
your complaint?”
The King and Nicholas turned to Ephraim and anxiously awaited his
reply.
“My story is as follows,” says the Jew. “A month ago my neighbour went
away from home on a very long journey. In order to give some comfort
and consolation to his two sons during his absence, he gave a precious
jewel to each of them. Early this day the two sons of my good neighbour
came to my house and asked to see me. I received them very politely in
my humble apartment and asked them how I could be of service. They
showed me their jewels and demanded that I should there and then
explain to them both the various characteristics of the gems. I was
also to point out the beauties and flaws—if any—in the precious stones.
They asked me to appraise their value and to decide which of the two
was the better and the more valuable. I told them that there was no one
so well qualified to answer all their questions as their dear father
who happens to be an eminent authority on gems, for he is a jeweller.
‘Go,’ I said, ‘to your beloved father and let him decide, for he will
tell you all you desire to know about the jewels, and whatever he tells
you will be right and true.’ No sooner had I said this, when the two
sons attacked me, striking me upon my head. They abused me, calling me
‘heretic and Jew,’ just because I tried to answer their question to the
best of my ability.”
“Truly,” cried the King in a passion, “they have acted most shamefully;
they deserve to be most severely punished.”
“Listen, O sire, to the words of your mouth,” rejoined Ephraim. “Two
brothers were Esau and Jacob, and to each one did their father give a
precious jewel. Now your Majesty likewise asks me to decide which is
the better? Let your Majesty send a messenger to our Father in Heaven,
for He is the greatest owner of jewels, and He will be able to explain
exactly how the two jewels differ, and He will also tell your Majesty
which of the two is the more precious.”
With a smile on his face, King Pedro turned to Nicholas and said to
him,—
“Do you not see how wisely this learned Jew has answered my question?
He deserves to be rewarded not only for his wisdom but also for his
toleration, for he implies that our religion and his own have both been
given to humanity by our Heavenly Father, who, in His own good time,
will decide which is the best religion. Meanwhile, let all men, be
their faith what it may, learn to be brothers and friends, trusting
that the time may come when love and charity will lead every one to the
truth.”
Shebet Jehudah, pages 53, 54 (ed. Wiener).