how the contrast is an epitome of the struggle between the two world-ideas, Hellenic and Jewish; on the one hand the overwhelming charm and skill of the Greek, and on the other the unfailing instinct of the Hebrew for the one thing the Greek world lacked. THE LAZY MAN In the lazy man the Wise found a subject that stirred not only their wit but also their eloquence. In two instances proverb has expanded to become a parable and a picture, both of which arrive at the same conclusion. The parable is very famous-- _Go to the ant, thou sluggard, Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, overseer or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer And gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy slumber? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep-- So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man_ (Pr. 6^{6-11}). But the picture deserves to be no less familiar: _I passed by the field of the slothful, By the vineyard of the witless man: And lo! it was all grown over with thorns, Its surface was covered with nettles, Its stonewall was broken down. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep-- So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man_ (Pr. 24^{30-34}). Besides these longer sketches there are several brief and pithy words about the lazy man. First, a delightful “hit” at him to whom any excuse for idleness is better than none: _The sluggard saith, “There is a lion outside. I shall be slain in the streets!”_ (Pr. 22^{13}). And here are two beautiful verses which breathe the very air of indolence: _As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed. The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearyeth him to bring it to his mouth again_ (Pr. 26^{14, 15}). The verse immediately following (Pr. 26^{16}) will serve to conclude this topic, for it shows the sluggard to be own cousin to the type of man whom next we shall consider: _The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason._