Hebrew letters, but one was at last found in the person of a young man named Louis Anne, a shoemaker, formerly a Jew. He read his translations in the presence of the accused, who admitted their fidelity, with the exception of the letter taken from the servant Houster. The communication in question was ad dressed to the principal Jewish residents of Metz. It was read to them. They were united enough in condemning the interpre tation of Louis Anne, but differed widely among themselves as to actual meanings, — the accused himself repeatedly varying his rendering of the same passage. At length, in despair, the authorities summoned to their aid Monsieur Paul Duralier, formerly a Jew, and an eminent physician of Metz, but since of Kaiserburg, in Alsace. This gentleman made a careful transla tion, the correctness of which Levi ac knowledged, objecting to only one word, "bound " (lie'), in place of which he affirmed he had written "found " (trouve'), his object being, it was supposed, to induce an idea either that the child was yet alive, or, if dead, to conceal the kind of death to which it had been subjected. As the terms of this epistle are curious enough, and as to its testimony the result of the trial was principally due, it is here given literally after Duvalier's translation : — Written by Raphael Levi, in his captivity, to the chief Jews of the Synagogue of Metz. Dear Directors, — I languish to learn what the Parliament hath pronounced, for the at torney of the king hath spoken, and I dwell in constant fear. Let me know, I pray you, the proceedings of the court, and what the control ler 1 doth before it. The jailer's servant told me that the Jew who brings my victuals said they bound {lie') the child. Ah! write to me concerning my wit nesses. Write me everything, so that I may for once receive a little comfort. That Homan ' visited the prison to-day, and 1 A person at Boulay, to whom he was in debt. 2 Corruption of " Haman," — the most injurious epithet a Jew can apply.
said that he would upset all that justice had hitherto effected. Look, therefore, to the Par liament. Invoke them that I may be released from this wretchedness, — debarred as I am from speaking to my dear wife and children; unable to reckon with the controller, my creditor. Ah, I am unhappy! I will die like a son of Israel, and glorify the name of God. All I ask is that my daughter Blimele' (who is betrothed) be married, and that my wife and little ones be cared for. / am plunged in this misery for the sake of the community. God will help me in it. This letter bore no date; neither did any of the others, which contained little more than hints for the guidance of the prisoner when confronted with the witnesses. One of them, however, seems to have enclosed a piece of knotted straw, which the accused was earnestly exhorted to place under his tongue when called upon for his defence, pronouncing at the same time five Hebrew words, the purport of which neither he himself nor any of his interpreters could explain. Another of the captured notes was ac knowledged by the accused to be word for word as follows : — To Raphael Levi in his captivity : In case, O Raphael (the which Heaven forbid), thou art submitted to the torture, thou wilt repeat thrice the following words : Mot Juif, Juif moi; vive Juif, Juif vive; mort Juif, Juif mort. Closely interrogated concerning these let ters, especially the last, which was suspected to be a charm, Levi indignantly repudiated all dealings with sorcery, declaring that the above formula was nothing more than a prayer. Still laboring to save their fellow, the Jews of Metz now had recourse to a strat agem, suggested, it may be, by the passage in Gen. xxxvii. 33 : " An evil beast hath de voured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces." A report was industriously propagated
