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Cedars of Lebanon: The Nag
- Abstract
This is Mendele the Book-Peddler speaking.
Glory be to the Creator for that, after having created all this enormous Universe, He did thereafter take counsel with the host of heavenly Angels and, at the very last, did make a universe-in-little—by which you may understand Man, who is justly styled olam katan [a microcosm], inasmuch as man, if you do but look closely at him, combines in himself all species of creatures and creations. You will find in him all possible wild beasts, as well as different breeds of cattle. You will find in him the lizard, the leech, the Spanish fly, the Prussian cockroach, and on top of that, a devil and a werewolf, a clown, a Jew-baiter, and other uncanny foes of man and scourges of God. You will see, as well, among these universes-in-little all sorts of amazing scenes. Here’s a tomcat, for instance, playing with a babymouse; here’s a polecat making its way into a hencoop and twisting the necks of the poor little things; here’s a jocko, mimicking and mocking everybody it comes across; here’s a dog standing up on its hind legs and wagging its tail for anybody who may throw it a crust; here’s a spider, leading a fly astray, enmeshing it, strangling it, and sucking all the juices out of it; here are midges, overtaking a passer-by and humming all sorts of secrets in his ears; here are thousands of things no less amazing.
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