XXVII Here It Is Told of a Great Moaddo Who Was Insulted
A great Moaddo1 went one day to Alexandria, and was going about his business when another man came behind him, and pronounced many insulting words, and made much mock of him, to which he did not reply a word.
So a man came forward and said: why do you not answer this fellow who addresses you so villainously?
And he patiently replied: and said to the man who urged him to make answer. I do not answer because I do not hear anything pleasing to me.
Notes
1 The meaning of this word is uncertain. Probably it is a kind of Oriental wise man from the Arabic Muaddab, meaning sage or wise man. There are several conjectures on this point. Another reading is Mago, mage.