‘It may be so. I neither know nor care.’
‘Neither knows nor cares! This will never do; you must not go on in this way at Jerusalem. You must not think of it.’
‘Fellow, I see thou art a miserable prattler. Show me our quarter, and I will pay thee well, or be off.’
‘Be off! Art thou a Hebrew? to say “be off” to any one. You come from Bagdad! I tell you what, go back to Bagdad. You will never do for Jerusalem.’
‘Your grizzled beard protects you. Old fool, I am a pilgrim just arrived, wearied beyond expression, and you keep me here listening to your flat talk!’
‘Flat talk! Why! what would you?’
‘Lead me to the Rabbi Zimri, if that be his name.’
‘If that be his name! Why, every one knows Rabbi Zimri, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, the successor of Aaron. We have our temple yet, say what they like. A very learned doctor is Rabbi Zimri.’
‘Wretched driveller. I am ashamed to lose my patience with such a dotard.’
‘Driveller! dotard! Why, who are you?’