[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE JEW AND THE PAGAN.]] *To do pite support and grace,[1213] The Philosophre upon a place [Sidenote: Hic in pietatis exemplum prout Aristotiles Regi Alexandro nuper rettulit, declarans scribit qualiter Iudeus pedester cum quodam pagano asinum equitante per desertum itinerando ipsum de secta et fide sua strictius interrogauit. Qui respondens ait: ‘Paganus sum et fides mea hec est, vt omnes vno animo diligam et penes vnumquemque tempore necessitatis pietatem[1214] pro posse meo excerceam.’[1215] Cui Iudeus: ‘Permitte me ergo, qui lassatus itinere deficio, aliquantulum equitare, et tu respectu pietatis ob meam recreacionem pedibus pro tempore[1216] incedas.’ Et ita factum est, vnde postea paganus infra breue lassatus asino suo restitui[1217] a Iudeo postulauit. At ille ait: ‘Nequaquam: quia fides mea est, vt illi qui sectam meam non credit, nocumentum[1218] absque pietate prouocare debeo.’ Et hiis dictis asellum veloci passu coegit, et paganum a dorso illusum reliquit. Quod videns paganus in terram dolens corruit, extensisque in celum manibus summam iusticiam inuocabat. Postque a terra exurgens, cum paulisper deambulasset, respexit in quamdam vallem[1219] Iudeum a leone in mortis articulo prostratum; et sic asinum suum cum gaudio resumens, pietatem magis quam austeritatem laudabilem decreuit.[1220]] In his writinge of daies olde A tale of gret essample tolde 3210* Unto the king of Macedoine: How betwen Kaire and Babeloine,[1221] Whan comen is the somer heete, It hapneth tuo men forto meete, As thei scholde entren in a pas, Wher that the wyldernesse was. And as they wenten forth spekende Under the large wodes ende, That o man axeth of that other: ‘What man art thou, mi lieve brother?[1222] 3220* Which is thi creance and thi feith?’ ‘I am paien,’ that other seith, ‘And be the lawe which I use I schal noght in mi feith refuse [Sidenote: =P. iii. 194=] To loven alle men aliche, The povere bothe and ek the riche: Whan thei ben glade I schal be glad, And sori whan thei ben bestad; So schal I live in unite With every man in his degre. 3230* For riht as to miself I wolde, Riht so toward alle othre I scholde[1223] Be gracious and debonaire. Thus have I told thee softe and faire Mi feith, mi lawe, and mi creance; And if thee list for aqueintance, Now tell what maner man thou art.’ And he ansuerde upon his part: ‘I am a Jew, and be mi lawe I schal to noman be felawe 3240* To kepe him trowthe in word ne dede, Bot if he be withoute drede[1224] A verrai Jew riht as am I: For elles I mai trewely Bereve him bothe lif and good.’