Highlights of the twenty-odd-year relationship between Einstein and Hilbert are reviewed: the encounter that never took place (1912) when Einstein declined Hilbert's invitation to Göttingen; the fateful encounter (1915–1916) leading to a dispute over the final formulation of general relativity; the tragic-comic encounter (1928–1929) over editorship of the Annalen der Mathematik leading to what Einstein called "The battle of the Frogs and Mice"; L"envoi (1932) Einstein's final letter of congratulations to Hilbert on his 70th birthday.