I will now begin to write down the stories of Rabbi Samuel the Pious and of his son R. Judah the Pious of Regensburg and what happened in their times.

Once upon a time there lived a great man called R. Jacob, who had heard a great deal about R. Samuel, the Pious, the father of R. Judah, the Pious, and desired very much to see him.

One day R. Samuel went abroad to study and came to the very town in which R. Jacob lived. So he went to the house of R. Jacob to take up his lodgings there without making himself known, for he was afraid lest he would derive a special advantage on account of his great learning, and it is not permitted to derive profit from the Torah.

R. Jacob never spoke to him all the time that he was staying with him, .for he thought that he was a simple fellow.

Finally, however, R. Jacob said to him: "My dear friend, what is your name?"

He replied: "Samuel."

Then R. Jacob asked him: "Have you no surname?"

He replied: "I am called Samuel Parchment Maker, after my trade."

R. Jacob thought that he was in truth a parchment maker and showed him no more

respect than any other guest.

When R. Samuel was leaving, R. Jacob and his pupils accompanied him for a short space, while R. Samuel went some distance ahead with one of R. Jacob's students.

When R. Jacob had returned to the town, R. Samuel said to the young man: "Your master asked me yesterday what my name is and I told him that it was Samuel Parchment Maker. I gave myself that name because of my occupation, for I know

thoroughly the whole Torah, which is written on parchment."

With these words R. Samuel left the young man and went on his way.

When the student returned home, he told his master what the stranger had told him.

Then R. Jacob said: "I am sure that he was R. Samuel the Pious and that he purposely refused to make himself known so that I should not show him any special honor, as in fact I did not. And turning to the young man, he said: "Let us hasten after him, perchance we may overtake him and bring him back with us, but assuredly you are not telling me a falsehood."

The young man replied: "God forbid that I should tell you a falsehood."

So R. Jacob hurried after Samuel, came up to him and entreated him so long that

R. Samuel consented to come back with him.

As soon as they had reached R. Jacob's house, they entered a room and stayed there ten days and ten nights and no man knew what they were doing. Then R. Samuel left R. Jacob, having been shown great honor. May the Lord, blessed be He, grant that we benefit by their merits through all ages.