13. Rabbi Meir once left synagogue earlier than usual. Wonder at the reason. He had overheard a snake saying, “I am sent to kill R. Judah the Antoti and his whole family because has never given alms.” R. Meir ran ahead, met the snake by the river, conjured it not to cross it until allowed, covered his face, came to the house,
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was suspected of being a thief, hid in the stables, came to the meal and refused to leave unless he received something to eat and drink. He then asked R. Judah to give him a loan as a charitable gift. When rudely answered he put out the light, uncovered his face and the room was lit up. They recognised R. Meir and prostrated themselves. He ordered R. Judah at once to send his family to hide in different places. He himself remained alone with R. Judah and warned him not to open the door until the morning. After two hours he granted permission to the snake to come; it entered the house and threatened to kill R. Judah. R. Meir rebuked it, saying, “I have just been fed and have received alms. The snake coiled itself round the house outside, and after a time it came and pretending to speak with the voice of the wife, asked to be let in as she was being frozen. R. Meir prevented it. The second time, it spoke with the voice of the eldest son who was afraid of wild beasts. R. Meir kept the door locked. The third time apparently the sons and daughters came but again the door remained locked. The snake seeing its mission frustrated threw itself down from a height and died. In the morning the family returned; and R. Meir told R. Judah to ask whether any of them had come in the night. They all denied it. He shewed him the dead snake and R. Judah promised to give alms profusely.