n to rise against him all
unawares, while he, all thoughtless, was revelling and
squandering and deeming the kingdom his for ever; and
stripping off his royal robes, lead him naked in
procession through the city, and banish him to a
long-uninhabited and great island, where, worn down for
want of food and raiment, he bewailed this unexpected
change. Now, according to this custom, a man was chosen
whose mind was furnished with much understanding, who
was not led away by sudden prosperity, and was
thoughtful and earnest in soul as to how he should best
order his affairs. By close questioning, he learned from
a wise counsellor the citizens' custom, and the place of
exile, and was instructed how he might secure himself.
When he knew this, and that he must soon go to the
island and leave his acquired and alien kingdom to
others, he opened the treasures of which he had for the
time free and unrestricted use, and took an abundant
quantity of gold and silver and precious stones, and
giving them to some trusty servants sent them before him
to the island. At the appointed year's end the citizens
rose and sent him naked into exile, like those before
him. But the other foolish and flitting kings had
perished miserably of hunger, while he who had laid up
that treasure beforehand lived in lusty abundance and
delight, fearless of the turbulent citizens, and
felicitating himself on his wise forethought. Think,
then, the city this vain and deceitful world, the
citizens the principalities and powers of the demons,
who lure us with the bait of pleasure, and make us
believe enjoyment will last for ever, till the sudden
peril of death is upon us.--This parable (which seems to
be of purely Hebrew origin) is also found in the old
Spanish story-book _El Conde Lucanor_.

Closely allied to the foregoing is the characteristic Jewish parable of

_The Man and his Three Friends._

A certain man had three friends, two of whom he loved dearly, but the
other he lightly esteemed. It happened one day that the king commanded
his presence at court, at which he was greatly alarmed, and wished to
procure an advocate. Accordingly he went to the two friends whom he
loved: one flatly refused to