“Do not let this vex you, good Nicholas,” said Pedro; “prove your statement by bringing a Jew before me and let me hear from his own lips this glorification of his religion, and then I will tell you whether I feel vexed or not.”
Nicholas left the King in order to fetch a Jew as commanded by his royal master. After a few minutes had elapsed, he returned, bringing with him a venerable man with a long beard, white as the driven snow.
“Welcome!” exclaimed King Pedro; “be seated, noble Jew, and answer me without fear or favour any questions I may put to you.”
“May it please your Majesty,” said the Jew, who had risen from his seat when about to speak, “life is dear to me and mine, but truth and honour are dearer still. For nearly ninety years have I remained steadfast to the faith of my fathers. I most humbly beg your Majesty to suffer me and my people to continue to be [[46]]loyal not only to God, our Heavenly King, but also to your Majesty.”
“Have no fear, good Jew, but now tell me your name,” says King Pedro.
“I am called,” he replies, “Ephraim, the son of Sancho.”
“Now will you tell me,” asks the King, “which religion, Judaism or Christianity, is more true and real?”
After a moment’s thought Ephraim replies,—
“My religion is the only good one for me in view of my circumstances. Your Majesty knows that my ancestors, the children of Israel, were once slaves in the land of Egypt. God in His great mercy redeemed my people from that land of bondage with signs and wonders. My religion is bound up with this wonderful love of God, who not only redeemed us, but He also gave us our laws and commandments. In keeping these laws and commandments we serve God, and this is our religion, and it is the most natural for the people of Israel. For your Majesty, however, who is born to rule nations and creeds, your religion is the most suitable, because Christianity is the predominant faith which has cramped my religion in Ghettos and darkness. Christianity has even resolved in this land to drive out the Mohammedans, so [[47]]that a believer in the Koran shall not be found in Catholic Spain.”
“You have spoken wisely and daringly,” says the King, “but I did not ask you to discuss the various religions from the point of view of the individual believer, but I wished to know which religion, in your opinion, is the best. You can limit your reply by discussing whether Judaism is better than Christianity, or, as we think, vice versa.”