The Name of the Worm, to which the marvellous Property of breaking Stones is ascribed, is corruptly given by the foregoing Authorities. It is called by the Jews, not tamir, or thamus, but schamir (שמיר), and frequent Allusions to it occur in the Rabbinical Writers. The original Story is to be found in the Talmud, and seems intended to explain what we read 1 Kings, vi. 7, that neither Hammer nor Axe nor any Tool of Iron was heard in the Temple of Solomon while it was in building. The following[107] is an abridged Account of the original Legend: Solomon, when about to build the Temple, perceived by his Wisdom, that it would be more acceptable to God, if built of Stones upon which no Tool of Iron had ever been raised. Whereupon he inquired of the Rabbis how this was to be effected.—They told him that he must procure the Worm Schamir, by the Help of which Moses had cut the Stones of the High Priest’s Breastplate. Solomon then inquired where this Worm was to be found. The Rabbis confessed their Ignorance, but advised him to summon certain Devils, and compel them, by Torments, to make the Discovery; this was done, and the Devils answered, that Aschmedai, the King of the Devils, alone, could tell where the Worm Schamir was to be found. Accordingly, Benaiah, Son of Jehoiada, was sent with a Chain on which the Name of God was inscribed, to bind Aschmedai, and bring him before Solomon. It took some Time to capture Aschmedai, and a long Account is given of the Difficulties of the Undertaking. At Length, on the third Day, he is brought to Solomon, who asks him for the Schamir. Aschmedai answers, It is not in my Keeping; but Sara-Dima (the Angel that presides over the Sea) has it, and he will entrust it only to the Wild-Hen (תרנגולא), from whom he exacts an Oath for its safe Return. Solomon asked what the Wild-Hen did with the Schamir; the Dæmon answered, She brings the Worm to the Rocky Mountains, destitute of Grass and Verdure, and by its means she breaks down their Rocks; she then carries up the Seeds of Trees, and thus the Mountains, once Barren, become covered with Woods. Having obtained this Information, Solomon sought out the Nest of the Wild-Hen, and enclosed it, with her Young Ones, in a Covering of transparent Crystal. The Wild-Hen, on her Return, seeing her Nest and Young Ones, but finding herself unable to enter it, flew away, and soon after returned with the Worm Schamir; whereupon Solomon’s Servants, who had been lying in Wait for her, set up a great Shout, which so terrified her, that she dropped the Worm, and thus Solomon obtained Possession of it. The Wild-Hen, however, flew away, and hanged herself, for having lost the Worm, and broken her Oath. See Eisenmenger, Entdecktes Judenthum Theil, I. p. 350. Johan. Christoph. Wagenseilii Sota, p. 1072, and Buxtorfii Lexicon Chald. et Talmud. in voce שמיר.
[Page xxxv.] line 1.
aftir þe talis of iewis of Salamon.
That is, “reherseth, after, or according to, the Tales or Legends of the Jews, concerning Solomon.”
[Ibid.] line 8.
Þe glass to barst.
To, perhaps for “al to,” statim, penitus. Thus in our English Version of the Bible, (Judg. ix. 53.) “And a certain Woman cast a Piece of a Millstone upon Abimelech’s Head, and al to brake his Skull.”
[Ibid.] line 14.
þe on & twenty Salme. 2i.
The Editor is not sure that he has rightly deciphered the Letters represented by “2i;” he once thought they were “xi,” but this seemed inexplicable, and he now believes them to be an Attempt of a very ignorant Transcriber to represent in Arabic Numerals the Number of the Psalm referred to.