210 The Legends of the Jews
whom Elijah appeared the second night, chose knowledge of the Torah. Elijah gave him a book, and " he knew the whole Torah." The third son, on the third night, when Elijah put the same choice before him as before his brothers, wished for a beautiful wife. Elijah invited this third brother to go on a journey with him. Their first night was passed at the house of a notorious villain, who had a daugh- ter. During the night Elijah overheard the chickens and the geese say to one another : " What a terrible sin that young man must have committed, that he should be destined to marry the daughter of so great a villain ! " The two travellers journeyed on. The second night the experiences of the first were repeated. The third night they lodged with a man who had a very pretty daughter. During the night Elijah heard the chickens and the geese say to one another : " How great must be the virtues of this young man, if he is privileged to marry so beautiful and pious a wife." In the morning, when Elijah arose, he at once became a match- maker, the young man married the pretty maiden, and hus- band and wife journeyed homeward in joy.61
If it became necessary, Elijah was ready to do even the services of a sexton. When Rabbi Akiba died in prison, Elijah betook himself to the dead man's faithful disciple, Rabbi Joshua, and the two together went to the prison. There was none to forbid their entrance ; a deep sleep had fallen upon the turnkeys and the prisoners alike. Elijah and Rabbi Joshua took the corpse with them, Elijah bearing it upon his shoulder. Rabbi Joshua in astonishment de- manded how he, a priest, dared defile himself upon a corpse. The answer was : " God forbid ! the pious can never cause
