The Two Hermits

Upon a lonely mountain, there lived two hermits who worshipped God

and loved one another.

Now these two hermits had one earthen bowl, and this was their only

possession.

One day an evil spirit entered into the heart of the older hermit

and he came to the younger and said, "It is long that we have

lived together. The time has come for us to part. Let us divide

our possessions."

Then the younger hermit was saddened and he said, "It grieves

me, Brother, that thou shouldst leave me. But if thou must needs

go, so be it," and he brought the earthen bowl and gave it to him

saying, "We cannot divide it, Brother, let it be thine."

Then the older hermit said, "Charity I will not accept. I will

take nothing but mine own. It must be divided."

And the younger one said, "If the bowl be broken, of what use would

it be to thee or to me? If it be thy pleasure let us rather cast

a lot."

But the older hermit said again, "I will have but justice and mine

own, and I will not trust justice and mine own to vain chance. The

bowl must be divided."

Then the younger hermit could reason no further and he said, "If

it be indeed thy will, and if even so thou wouldst have it let us

now break the bowl."

But the face of the older hermit grew exceedingly dark, and he

cried, "O thou cursed coward, thou wouldst not fight."