The Two Hermits

Upon a lonely mountain, there lived two hermits who worshipped Godand loved one another.

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

One day an evil spirit entered into the heart of the older hermitand he came to the younger and said, "It is long that we havelived together. The time has come for us to part. Let us divideour possessions."

Then the younger hermit was saddened and he said, "It grievesme, Brother, that thou shouldst leave me. But if thou must needsgo, so be it," and he brought the earthen bowl and gave it to himsaying, "We cannot divide it, Brother, let it be thine."

Then the older hermit said, "Charity I will not accept. I willtake nothing but mine own. It must be divided."

And the younger one said, "If the bowl be broken, of what use wouldit be to thee or to me? If it be thy pleasure let us rather casta lot."

But the older hermit said again, "I will have but justice and mineown, and I will not trust justice and mine own to vain chance. Thebowl must be divided."

Then the younger hermit could reason no further and he said, "Ifit be indeed thy will, and if even so thou wouldst have it let usnow break the bowl."

But the face of the older hermit grew exceedingly dark, and hecried, "O thou cursed coward, thou wouldst not fight."