But at this time it happened that King Antiochus the temple-destroyer was visited by his shameful disease, and he sent messengers with rich gifts to all oracles and temples to seek help; but they could find none. Then he said to Assar, "Thou saidst once that the God of Israel was a mighty God; could not he cure me of my disease?" Assar replied: "I have indeed heard from my childhood that the God of Israel is a mighty God; but O King, thou wilt not give in to that hard people and make peace with their God?" The King answered, "I must live! How can he be pacified?" Assar said, "It is too heavy a sacrifice for so great a king as thee. Their wise men assert that God has given them the country for a possession, and it would be necessary for thee not only to allow them to worship their God, but also to call back thy men and make a covenant with them so that they should merely pay a tribute to thee. But this is more than I can advise." The King answered, "Much does a man give for his life. Dost thou believe that he is a great God?" "I have seen a great proof of it, lord." "What is that?" "This: that even a greatness like thine was as nothing to his." "It is not a dishonor to be smaller than the Immortals. Go and prepare all, according to what we have spoken."[Pg 6500] Then Assar prepared all and had the King's men called back, and promised the inhabitants peace and led the King on his way to Jerusalem; and they passed by Modin. And the King's sufferings being very great, he had himself carried into the house of prayers, before the holy, and he prayed to the God of Israel. And the men of Juda stood around him; they stood high and he lay low, and they had saved their souls. But when the King was carried out, one of the Maccabæan warriors recognized Assar and cried out, "Thou hast offered up sacrifices to idols, and from thee have come the evil counsels which have cost precious blood! Thou shalt be wiped off the earth!" He drew his sword and aimed at him, but Mirjam, who had come up, threw herself between them with the cry, "He called forth Israel's God!" And the steel which was meant for him pierced her. Translated for 'A Library of the World's Best Literature,' by Olga Flinch. [Pg 6501] O. GOLDSMITH. OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1728-1774) BY CHARLES MILLS GAYLEY