222 The Legends of the Jews
number of heathen passengers there was a single Jewish youth. To him Elijah appeared and said, he would rescue the vessel, provided the boy went to Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, and took him to a certain place far removed from the town and from human habitation, and showed him the gems. The boy doubted that so great a man would consent to follow a mere slip of a youth to a remote spot, but, reassured by Elijah, who told him of Rabbi Joshua's extraordinary modesty, he undertook the commission, and the vessel with its human freight was saved. The boy came to the Rabbi, besought him to go whither he would lead, and Joshua, who was really possessed of great modesty, followed the boy three miles without even inquiring the purpose of the expe- dition. When they finally reached the cave, the boy said: " See, here are the precious stones ! " The Rabbi grasped them, and a flood of light spread as far as Lydda, the resi- dence of Rabbi Joshua. Startled, he cast the precious stones away from him, and' they disappeared."0
This Rabbi was a particular favorite of Elijah, who even secured him an interview with the Messiah. The Rabbi found the Messiah among the crowd of afflicted poor gath- ered near the city gates of Rome, and he greeted him with the words : " Peace be with thee, my teacher and guide ! " Whereunto the Messiah replied : " Peace be with thee, thou son of Levi ! " The Rabbi then asked him when he would appear, and the Messiah said, " To-day." Elijah explained to the Rabbi later that what the Messiah meant by " to-day " was, that he for his part was ready to bring Israel redemp- tion at any time. If Israel but showed himself worthy, he would instantly fulfil his mission."
