give thee leave to choose whatever thou likest best in the house and carry it away with thee.”  The wife with true womanly wit promptly replied, “Well and good, my dear!” The evening thereafter glided pleasantly by, the wine-cup went round freely and without stint, and all passed off well, till first the guests one by one, and then the master of the house himself, fell asleep, and lay buried in unconsciousness.  The lady, who had planned this result, and only waited its denouement, immediately summoned her confidential handmaids and had her lord and master gently borne away as he was to the house of her father.  On the following morning, as the stupor wore off, he awoke, rubbing his eyes with astonishment.  “Where am I?” he cried.  “Be easy, husband dear,” responded the wife in his presence.  “I have only done as thou allowedst me.  Dost thou remember permitting me last night, in the hearing of our guests, to take away from our house whatever best pleased me?  There was nothing there I cared for so much as thyself; thou art all in all to me, so I brought thee with me here.  Where I am there shalt thou be; let nothing but death part us.”  The two thereupon went back to Rabbi Shimon as appointed, and reported their change of purpose, and that they had made up their minds to remain united.  So the Rabbi prayed for them to the Lord, who couples and setteth the single in families.  He then spoke his blessing over the wife, who became thenceforth as a fruitful vine, and honored her husband with children and children’s children.

A parallel to this, illustrative of wifely devotion, is recorded in the early history of Germany.  In the year 1141, during the civil war in Germany between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, it happened that the Emperor Conrad besieged the Guelph Count of Bavaria in the Castle of Weinsberg.  After a long and obstinate defense the garrison was obliged at length to surrender, when the Emperor, annoyed that they had held out so long and defied him, vowed that he would destroy the place with fire and put all to the sword except the women, whom he gallantly promised to let go free and pass out unmolested.  The Guelph Countess, when she heard of this, begged as a further favor that the women might be allowed to bear forth as much of their valuables as they could severally manage to carry.  The Emperor having pledged his word and honor that he would grant this request, on the morrow at daybreak, as the castle gates opened, he saw to his amazement the women file out one by one, every married woman carrying her husband with her young ones upon her back, and the others each the friend or relation nearest and dearest to her.  At sight of this, the Emperor was tenderly moved, and could not help according to the action the homage of his admiration.  The result was that not only was life and liberty extended to the Guelphs, but the place itself was spared and restored in perpetuity to its heroic defenders.  The