ABSTRACT
I H A V E heard that once an Egyptian, being athirst, entered the house of an Israelite.
‘ I am your friend and kinsman,’ he cried. ‘Now today I have become in need of you. For Moses wrought magic and cast spells, so that he turned the water of the Nile into blood for us. The Israelites drink pure water from it ; but before the Egyptians the water has become blood, our eyes being spell bound. See, the Egyptians are dying of thirst because of their ill-luck, or their evil nature. Fill a cup with water for yourself, so that this ancient friend of yours may drink of your water. When you fill that cup on your own behalf it will not be blood, it will be water pure and untainted. I will sip that water also after you; the guest, following the host, surely escapes from grief. ’
