Rav Assi's mother’s apron strings

1
Rav Assi had an aged mother.
She said to him: “I need jewellery”. He made them.
“I need a husband.” “I will look out for you."
“I need a husband as handsome as you.”
He left and went to Eretz Yisrael.

2
He heard that she was coming after him.
He went before Rabbi Yochanan
and said to him: “It is permitted to leave Eretz Yisrael?”
He said “It is forbidden.”
“If it is to meet my mother?”
He said “I do not know.”

3
He [Assi] waited a short time, then went before him again.
He said to him “Assi, you have determined to leave. May the Omnipresent bring you back in peace.”

4
He [Assi] went before Rabbi Elazar.
He said to him “Perhaps God forbid he [Yochanan] was angry?"
He [Elazar] said “what did he say to you?”
He said “May the Omnipresent bring you back in peace.”
He said to him “Had he been angry he would not have blessed you.”

5
Meanwhile he [Assi] heard that her coffin was coming.
He said “Had I known I would not have left.”