BALAAM'S ASS

And it came to pass that there was great strife abroad in all the land of the free. For lo! from out the far-off land of the royal oak hast come the voice of the priest, crying, "Wherefore hast thou deceived thy people? Wherefore hast thou removed the names from the petition, O thou servant of the money changers?" And him that he revileth; him who representeth in honor in the city of the father of all the land hath been most wroth. His countenance hath fallen, and his anger hath kindled within him, and his dignity hath left him. Wherefore he hath vowed a great deed, and he hath lifted up his voice and cried, "Wherefore hast thou deceived thy church? And it shall come to pass when thou shalt come to the city of the fathers, so shalt I kicketh thee from the seat of elect to the seat of the mighty: Such shalt be mine atonement". And the priest hath made answer: "Wherefore shalt I appear on the appointed day thereof." And the report hath filled all the land, and the appointed day hath come, and the priest doth not arrive.

But lo! the host of the people do not feel shame; yea and more also if ought they do but take timbrels in their hands and line the place wherein the vow is to be done. Wherefore do they judge o'er all the land the men, and which the larger; to which the longer arm, and which the mightier in his youth. Forgive them for they know not what they do.