“I am he, Macedonian citizens, yes, I am he,” answered Verus in a clear voice. “And I will tell you a story.”
“Listen, Listen.”
“No let us get into the Jew’s house.”
“Presently—listen a minute to what the sham Eros says.”
“I will knock your teeth down your throat boy, if you don’t hold your tongue.”
All the crowd were shouting in wild confusion.
Curiosity, on the one hand, to hear the noble gentleman’s speech, and the somewhat superficial fury of the mob contended together for a few minutes; at last curiosity seemed to be gaining the day, the tumult subsided, and the praetor began:
“Once upon a time there was a child who had given to him ten little sheep made of cotton, little foolish toys such as the old women sell in the market place.”
“Get into the Jew’s house, we don’t want to hear children’s stories—”
“Be quiet there!”