It came to pass when R. Eliezer was lying ill that R. Johanan came to visit him on his sickbed. And he found R. Eliezer lying in a dark room. Then R. Johanan uncovered his arm, for he was a very handsome man, and the whole room was filled with light.

R. Eliezer began to weep.

R. Johanan said, "My dear Master, why do you weep? Surely not because you have not learned enough Torah? The amount is not of much importance, so long as one studies for the sake of Heaven. You weep perhaps because you are not rich. No man is privileged to have both gifts. One cannot be both rich and learned."

R. Eliezer replied, "I weep for your beauty, which will one day be put under the earth."

Then they both began to weep. R. J ohanan said, "You no doubt are happy with your sufferings, for through them all your sins will be forgiven."

R. Eliezer replied, "No, I do not like the suffering, nor the reward that follows upon it."