of the toy a draught from the window blew the flame towards the other
little sheep and in a minute they were all burned to ashes. Then
thought the little boy, 'If only I had let the ugly sheep alone! What
can I play with now?' and he began to cry. But this was not all, for
while the little rascal was drying his eyes, the flame spread and burnt
up the loom, the wool, the flax, the woven pieces, the whole house--the
town in which he was born, and even, I believe, the boy himself!--Now
worthy friends and Macedonian citizens, reflect a moment. Any man among
you who is possessed of any property may read the moral of my fable."

"Put out the torches!" cried the wife of a charcoal dealer.

"He is right; for by reason of the Jew, we are putting the whole town in
danger!" cried the cobbler.

"The mad fools have already thrown in some brands!"

"If you fellows up there fling any more I will break your ankles for
you," shouted a flax-dealer.

"Don't try any burning," the tailor commanded, "force open the door and
have out the Jew." These words raised a storm of applause and the mob
pressed forward to the Jew's abode. No one listened to Verus any more,
and he slipped down from his slave's shoulders, placed himself in front
of the door and called out:

"In the name of Caesar and the law I command you to leave this house
unharmed."

The Roman's warning was evidently quite in earnest, and the false Eros