But after only three days had passed, man appeared once more before the Creator, to whom he said: “Lord, I know not how it is, but, after all, I have come to the conclusion that she is more trouble than pleasure to me. Therefore I beg that you take her back again.” Twashtri, however, replied: “Out upon you! Be off! I will have no more of this. You must manage how you can.” Then quoth man: “But I cannot live with her!” To which Twashtri answered: “Neither could you live without her.” And he turned his back on man, and went on with his work. Then said man: “Alas, what is to be done? For I cannot live either with or without her!”--_The Churning of the Ocean of Time_ (_Sansara-sagara-manthanam_). The Talmud is far from a humorous work, but it embodies many bits of wise wit, and is the original source of many present day proverbs. In its twelve folio volumes it contains the work of the ancient Jews for nearly a thousand years, and among its fine parables and interesting legends gleams of rare wit frequently occur. _EXTRACTS FROM THE TALMUD_ The forest trees once asked the fruit trees: “Why is the rustling of your leaves not heard in the distance?” The fruit trees replied: “We can dispense with the rustling to manifest our presence, our fruits testify for us.” The fruit trees then inquired of the forest trees: “Why do your leaves rustle almost continually?” “We are forced to call the attention of man to our existence.” Too many captains sink the ship. Birds of a feather flock together; and so with men--like to like. He laid his money on the horns of a deer. Keep partners with him whom the hour favors. Attend no auctions if thou hast no money. Poverty comes from God, but not dirt. Ignorance and conceit go hand in hand. Better eat onions all thy life than dine upon geese and chickens once and then long in vain for more ever after. Go to sleep without supper, but rise without debt. Do not live near a pious fool. If thy friends agree in calling thee an ass, go and get a halter around thee. Love your wife truly and faithfully, and do not compel her to hard work. When our conjugal love was strong, the width of the threshold offered sufficient accommodation for both of us; but now that it has cooled down, a couch sixty yards wide is too narrow. Man is generally led the way which he is inclined to go. If the thief has no opportunity, he thinks himself honorable. Were it not for the existence of passions, no one would build a house, marry a wife, beget children, or do any work. What should man do in order to live? Deaden his passions. What should man do in order to die? Give himself entirely to life. He who hardens his heart with pride softens his brain with the same. Do not reveal thy secret to the apes. Keep shut the doors of thy mouth Even from the wife of thy bosom. Use thy best vase to-day, for to-morrow it may, perchance, be broken.