FALSEHOOD AND WICKEDNESS
[[18]]
[[19]]
Falsehood and Wickedness
After good old father Noah had completed the building of the ark, the animals were gathered together near it by the angels appointed over them. They came in pairs, and Noah stood at the door of the ark to see that each one entered with its mate. As soon as the waters of the flood rose upon the surface of the earth, the children of men hid themselves in their homes for safety. All traffic and business ceased, for the angel of death was abroad. This state of affairs caused Falsehood to realize that henceforth there was no chance of her plying her trade. Was it not quite evident that the ever-increasing waters of the flood would soon sweep away the wicked folk [[20]]who had rebelled against their Heavenly Creator? Where should Falsehood betake herself for safety?
Forthwith she hastened to the ark, but its door was shut. What was to be done?
Falsehood knocked at the door with trembling hand. Noah opened the window of the ark, and put out his head to see who was knocking. It was a strange creature before his door. Noah had never seen her before, because he was a righteous man who never told lies.
“What dost thou want?” he cried.
“Let me come in, please,” she replied.
“Gladly,” cried Noah, “would I admit thee if thy mate were with thee, for only pairs are admitted here.”
In grief and disappointment Falsehood went away. She had not gone a few yards before she met her old friend Wickedness, who was now out of employment.
“Whence cometh thou, dear friend Falsehood?” asked Wickedness.
“I come,” said Falsehood, “from old father Noah. Just listen. I asked him to let me come into the ark, but he refused unless I complied with his rules.”
“What does he require?” asked Wickedness.
“The good old man stipulated that I must have a mate, because all the creatures admitted [[21]]into the ark are in pairs,” Falsehood replied.
“Now, dear friend, is this the truth?” queried Wickedness with a merry twinkle in his evil eye.
“Of course it is the truth, on my word of honour,” rejoined Falsehood. “Come now,” she added, “wilt thou be my mate? Are we not just fit to be joined together, two honest and poor creatures?”
“If I agree,” said Wickedness, “what wilt thou give me in return?”
Falsehood thought awhile and with a cunning look at her friend she exclaimed,—
“I faithfully promise to give to thee all that I earn in the ark. Have no fear, I shall do excellent business even there, because I feel very fit and energetic.”
Wickedness agreed to the terms immediately, and there and then a proper agreement was drawn up, and duly signed and sealed. Without further delay they both hastened to Noah, who readily admitted the happy pair.
Falsehood soon began to be very busy and earned good money. She often thought of her agreement with Wickedness with regret, as she realized that she alone did all the business. She even said to him one day,—
“Look here, how easily can I carry on my trade single-handed?”
He merely reminded her of the agreement, [[22]]and day by day he wrote down in his ledger the sum total of the day’s takings.
At the end of the year, for the flood lasted twelve months, they came out of the ark. Falsehood brought home much treasure, but Wickedness came with her and claimed the whole of the hard-earned fortune. Thereupon Falsehood said to herself, “I will ask my mate to give me some of my earnings.”
She approached Wickedness and in a gentle voice said,—
“Dearest friend, please give me a share of what I have so honestly earned, for I alone did all the work.”
Wickedness looked at her in contempt and with harsh voice cried aloud,—
“Thy share is nought, O cheat! Did we not solemnly agree that I was to take everything which thou shouldst earn? How could I break our agreement? Would this not be a very wicked thing to do, now would it not?”
Falsehood held her peace and went away, well knowing that she had been foiled in her attempt to cheat her friend Wickedness. True indeed is the proverb: “Falsehood begets much, but Wickedness taketh all that away.”
(Yalḳuṭ, Psalms § 638.) [[23]]