TRANSLATIONS OF HIS POETRY by Emma Lazarus and Mrs. Lucas (_op. cit._): Editions of the Prayer-Book; also _J.Q.R._, X, pp. 117, 626; VII, p. 464; _Treasurers of Oxford_ (London, 1850); I. Abrahams, _Jewish Life in the Middle Ages_, chs. 7, 9 and 10. HIS PHILOSOPHY: _Specimen of the Cusari_, translated by A. Neubauer (_Miscellany of the Society of Hebrew Literature_, Vol. I). John Owen.--_J.Q.R._, III, p. 199. CHARIZI. Graetz.--III, p. 559 [577] Karpeles.---_Jewish Literature and other Essays_, p. 210 _seq._ M. Sachs.--_Hebrew Review_, Vol. I. CHAPTER XIII MOSES MAIMONIDES Maimon, Rambam = R. Moses, the son of Maimon, Maimonides.--His Yad Hachazaka and Moreh Nebuchim.--Gersonides.--Crescas.--Albo. The greatest Jew of the Middle Ages, Moses, the son of Maimon, was born in Cordova, in 1135, and died in Fostat in 1204. His father Maimon was himself an accomplished scientist and an enlightened thinker, and the son was trained in the many arts and sciences then included in a liberal education. When Moses was thirteen years old, Cordova fell into the hands of the Almohades, a sect of Mohammedans, whose creed was as pure as their conduct was fanatical. Jews and Christians were forced to choose conversion to Islam, exile, or death. Maimon fled with his family, and, after an interval of troubled wanderings and painful privations, they settled in Fez, where they found the Almohades equally powerful and equally vindictive. Maimon and his son were compelled to assume the outward garb of Mohammedanism for a period of five years. From Fez the family emigrated in 1165 to Palestine, and, after a long period of anxiety, Moses Maimonides settled in Egypt, in Fostat, or Old Cairo. In Egypt, another son of Maimon, David, traded in precious stones, and supported his learned brother. When David was lost at sea, Maimonides earned a living as a physician. His whole day was occupied in his profession, yet he contrived to work at his books during the greater part of the night. His minor works would alone have brought their author fame. His first great work was completed in 1168. It was a Commentary on the Mishnah, and was written in Arabic. But Maimonides' reputation rests mainly on two books, the one written for the many, the other for the few. The former is his "Strong Hand" (_Yad Hachazaka_), the latter his "Guide of the Perplexed" (_Moreh Nebuchim_).