Once, as the Rabbis tell us, the Roman Government issued a decree forbidding Israel to study the law. Whereupon Pappus, the son of Yehudah, one day found Rabbi Akiva teaching it openly to multitudes, whom he had gathered round him to hear it. " Akiva," said he, "art thou not afraid of the Government?" "List," was the reply, "and I will tell thee how it is by a parable. It is with me as with the fishes whom a fox, walking once by a river's side, saw darting distractedly to and fro in the stream; and, addressing, inquired, ( From what, pray, are ye fleeing? ( From the nets,* they replied, ( which the children of men have set to ensnare us.* (Why, then,* rejoined the fox, 'not try the dry land with me, where you and I can live together, as our fathers managed to do before us? ( Surely, } exclaimed they, 'thou art not he of whom we have heard so much as the most cunning of animals, for herein thou art not wise, but foolish.
For if we have cause to fear where it is natural for us to live, how much more reason have we to do so where we needs must die!