Sharing Joy and Sorrow

Once upon a time there was a tailor who was always picking fights. His wife was good, hardworking, and kind, but she could never please him. No matter what she did, he was never satisfied. He grumbled and scolded, hit her and beat her.

When the authorities finally heard about it, they had him arrested and put in prison to teach him a lesson. He was kept on bread and water for a while, and then set free. But he had to promise never to beat his wife again, and to live with her in peace, sharing joy and sorrow as married people should.

For a while everything went well. But soon the tailor fell back into his old ways. He became grumpy and quarrelsome again. Because he did not dare to beat her, he would grab her by the hair and pull it out. His wife ran away from him, out into the yard. He chased after her with his yardstick and scissors, throwing them at her, and anything else he could get his hands on. When he hit her, he laughed. When he missed, he shouted and cursed.

This went on until the neighbors came to help the wife. The tailor was brought before the judges again, and they reminded him of his promise.

"Dear gentlemen," said the tailor, "I have kept my word. I have not beaten her. I have shared joy and sorrow with her."

"How can that be?" asked the judge. "She brings such heavy complaints against you."

"I have not beaten her. But because she looked so strange, I wanted to comb her hair with my hand. She ran away from me and left me spitefully. I hurried after her, and to bring her back to her duty, I threw at her whatever came to hand, as a well-meant warning. I have shared joy and sorrow with her too. Whenever I hit her, I was full of joy, and she was full of sorrow. When I missed her, she was joyful, and I was sorry."

The judges were not satisfied with this answer. They gave him the punishment he deserved.