human
They will stone you, Levi, if you continue to serve the Romans,
gpt
They hated me even when I did not serve the Romans, said the man.
human
Since that Feast of Tabernacles at Tiberias when I said that Mammon and desire of luxury had estranged the God of Abraham from the chosen people, and subjected them to Jupiter, they have hated me.
gpt
But you yourself follow Mammon,
human
Because since they hate me I must create a power for myself which will support me, if all are against me. It is the power with which the contemned man conquers his bitterest enemies. You don't understand me? Look there! He bent down in a dark corner of the chamber, lifted an old cloth, and displayed to view a stone vessel like a mortar.
gpt
Real Romans, he said, grinning;
human
Levi, shall I tell you what you are?
gpt
I am a publican, as I well know, he returned calmly, carefully covering his money chest with the cloth.
human
A despised publican who takes money from his own people to give to the stranger, who demands toll-money of the Jews although they themselves made the roads. Such a one am I, my Judith! And why did I become a Roman publican? Because I wished to gain money so as to support myself among those who hate me.
gpt
Levi, you are a miser, she said.
human
You bury your money in a hole instead of buying me a Greek mantle like what Rebecca and Amala wear.
gpt
Then I shall remain a miser, he replied,
human
You will soon see, said Judith.
gpt
If I don't have the Greek mantle in two days from now, you'll see me on the road, but from behind.
human
You don't look bad from behind,