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And that child whom thou sawest is our first-born, and I could not bear the thought that the soul of our innocent babe should perish. Now, my husband, though great among the Mazikin, is more just than the other Demons; and he loves me, whom he hath ruined, with a love of despair.
And she wept again. The Rabbi dashed his turban on the ground, and, tearing his hair, exclaimed, "Woe is me! Who art thou, woman, that speakest to me thus?" "I am a Hebrew woman," said she, "the daughter of a Doctor of the Laws, in the city of Bagdad; and being brought hither it matters not how I am married to a Prince among the Mazikin, even him who was sent for thee.
But when Jochonan looked upon their faces, they were the faces of men pained within; and he saw, by the marks they bore, that they were Mazikin. He was terrified in his soul, and, by the light of the torches, he looked also upon the face of his companion, and, behold! he saw upon him too the mark that showed him to be a Demon.
The room was lighted by a carbuncle, which, from the end of the hall, poured its ever-living light, brighter than the rays of noontide, but cooler than the gentle radiance of the dewy moon. This was a sore trial to the Rabbi; but he was strengthened from above, and he refused again. "Thou knowest me, then, I perceive, O Jochonan, son of Ben-David," said the Prince of the Mazikin.
Be no more Rabbi Jochonan the Miser." The Rabbi bowed to the ground, and blessed the Lord for his escape. "But how," said he, "am I to return, for I know not the way?" "Close thine eyes," said the Demon. He did so, and, in the space of a moment, heard the voice of the Prince of the Mazikin ordering him to open them again.
When she saw the Mohel she began to weep, and told him that he was in the land of the Mazikin, but that she was a human being, a Jewess, who had been carried away when little from home and brought thither.
But when the twelfth hour came, and the sun was set, the Prince of the Mazikin came again unto him, and said, "Eat now, I pray thee, for the day of thy vow is past." And he set meat before him. "Pardon again thy servant, my lord," said Jochonan, "in this thing. I have another vow for this day also. I pray thee be not angry with thy servant."
"I do," said he, with a heavy groan. "I know that I am in a city of the Mazikin." "Know then, further," said she, and the tears gushed from eyes brighter than the diamond, "know then, further, that up one is ever brought here unless he hath sinned before the Lord. What my sin hath been imports not to thee and I seek not to know thine. But here thou remainest for ever lost, even as I am lost."
"What is that, O lady of beauty?" said the agonized Rabbi. "Eat not, drink not, nor take fee or reward while here, and as long as thou canst do thus, the Mazikin have no power over thee, dead or alive. Have courage and persevere." As she ceased from speaking, her husband entered the room, followed by the nurse, who bore all things requisite for the ministration of the Rabbi.
"I am not angry," said the Demon; "be it as thou pleasest: I respect thy vow." And he laughed louder than before. So the Rabbi sat another day in his chamber by the garden, weeping and praying; and when the sun had gone behind the hills, the Prince of the Mazikin again stood before him, and said, "Eat now, for thou must be an hungered. It was a sore vow of thine."
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