162 The Legends of the Jews
even of such varieties as were unknown in Palestine, were not lacking, and daily there came a gorgeous bird from Bar- bary and settled down before the king's seat at the table. The Scriptures tell us of great quantities of food required by Solomon's household, and yet it was not all that was needed. What the Bible mentions, covers only the acces- sories, such as spices and the minor ingredients. The real needs were far greater, as may be judged from the custom that all of Solomon's thousand wives arranged a banquet daily, each in the hope of having the king dine with her.™
Lessons in Humility
Great and powerful as Solomon was, and wise and just, still occasions were not lacking to bring home to him the truth that the wisest and mightiest of mortals may not in- dulge in pride and arrogance.
Solomon had a precious piece of tapestry, sixty miles square, on which he flew through the air so swiftly that he could eat breakfast in Damascus and supper in Media. To carry out his orders he had at his beck and call Asaph ben Berechiah n among men, Ramirat among demons, the lion among beasts, and the eagle among birds. Once it hap- pened that pride possessed Solomon while he was sailing through the air on his carpet, and he said : " There is none like unto me in the world, upon whom God has bestowed sagacity, wisdom, intelligence, and knowledge, besides mak- ing me the ruler of the world." The same instant the stirred, and forty thousand men dropped from the ma carpet. The king ordered the wind to cease from blowin with the word : " Return ! " Whereupon the wind :
