barlaam and ioasaph-第24章

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aught　thy　son　to　serve　God；　and　have　turned　him　from　error　to　the　true　God；　and　have　schooled　him　in　all　manner　of　virtue。〃　　Feigning　anger；　again　spake　the　king；　〃Though　I　ought　to　allow　thee　never　a　word；　and　give　thee　no　room　for　defence；　but　rather　do　thee　to　death　without　question；　yet　such　is　my　humanity　that　I　will　bear　with　thine　effrontery　until　on　a　set　day　I　try　thy　cause。　　If　thou　be　persuaded　by　me；　thou　shalt　receive　pardon：　if　not；　thou　shalt　die　the　death。〃　　With　these　words　he　delivered　him　to　Araches；　commanding　that　he　should　be　most　strictly　guarded。

On　the　morrow　the　king　removed　thence；　and　came　back　to　his　own　palace；　and　it　was　blazoned　abroad　that　Barlaam　was　captured；　so　that　the　king's　son　heard　thereof　and　was　exceeding　sad　at　heart；　and　could　in　no　wise　refrain　from　weeping。　　With　groans　and　lamentations　he　importuned　God；　and　called　upon　him　to　succour　the　aged　man。　　Nor　did　the　good　God　despise　his　complaint；　for　he　is　loving　with　them　that　abide　him　in　the　day　of　trouble；　and　knoweth　them　that　fear　him。　　Wherefore　in　a　night…vision　he　made　known　the　whole　plot　to　the　young　prince；　and　strengthened　and　cheered　him　for　the　trial　of　his　righteousness。　　So；　when　the　prince　awoke　from　sleep；　he　found　that　his　heart；　erstwhile　so　sore　and　heavy；　was　now　full　of　joyaunce；　courage　and　pleasant　light。　　But　the　king　rejoiced　at　that　which　he　had　done　and　planned；　imagining　that　he　was　well　advised；　and　showering　thanks　on　Araches。　　But　wickedness　lied　to　itself；　to　use　the　words　of　holy　David；　and　righteousness　overcame　iniquity；　completely　overthrowing　it；　and　causing　the　memorial　thereof　to　perish　with　sound；　as　our　tale　in　its　sequel　shall　show。

After　two　days　the　king　visited　his　son's　palace。　　When　his　son　came　forth　for　to　meet　him；　instead　of　kissing　him；　as　was　his　wont；　the　father　put　on　a　show　of　distress　and　anger；　and　entered　the　royal　chamber；　and　there　sat　down　frowning。　　Then　calling　to　his　son；　he　said；　〃Child；　what　is　this　report　that　soundeth　in　mine　ears；　and　weareth　away　my　soul　with　despondency？　　Never；　I　ween；　was　man　more　filled　with　gladness　of　heart　at　the　birth　of　a　son　than　was　I　at　thine；　and；　I　trow；　never　was　man　so　distressed　and　cruelly　treated　by　child　as　I　have　now　been　by　thee。　　Thou　hast　dishonoured　my　grey　hairs；　and　taken　away　the　light　of　mine　eyes；　and　loosed　the　strength　of　my　sinews；　‘for　the　thing　which　I　greatly　feared　concerning　thee　is　come　upon　me；　and　that　which　I　was　afraid　of　hath　come　unto　me。'　　Thou　art　become　a　joy　to　mine　enemies；　and　a　laughing~stock　to　mine　adversaries。　　With　untutored　mind　and　childish　judgement　thou　hast　followed　the　teaching　of　the　deceivers　and　esteemed　the　counsel　of　the　malicious　above　mine；　thou　hast　forsaken　the　worship　of　our　gods　and　become　the　servant　of　a　strange　God。　Child；　wherefore　hast　thou　done　this？　　I　hoped　to　bring　thee　up　in　all　safety；　and　have　thee　for　the　staff　and　support　of　mine　old　age；　and　leave　thee；　as　is　most　meet；　to　succeed　me　in　my　kingdom；　but　thou　wast　not　ashamed　to　play　against　me　the　part　of　a　relentless　foe。　　And　shouldst　thou　not　rather　have　listened　to　me；　and　followed　my　injunctions；　than　have　obeyed　the　idle　and　foolish　pratings　of　that　crafty　old　knave；　who　taught　thee　to　choose　a　sour　life　instead　of　a　sweet；　and　abandon　the　charms　of　dalliance；　to　tread　the　hard　and　rough　road；　which　the　Son　of　Mary　ordereth　men　to　go？　　Dost　thou　not　fear　the　displeasure　of　the　most　puissant　gods；　lest　they　strike　thee　with　lightning；　or　quell　thee　with　thunderbolt；　or　overwhelm　thee　in　the　yawning　earth；　because　thou　hast　rejected　and　scorned　those　deities　that　have　so　richly　blessed　us；　and　adorned　our　brow　with　the　kingly　diadem；　and　made　populous　nations　to　be　our　servants；　that；　beyond　my　hope；　in　answer　to　my　prayer　and　supplication；　allowed　thee　to　be　born；　and　see　the　sweet　life　of　day；　and　hast　joined　thyself　unto　the　Crucified；　duped　by　the　hopes　of　his　servants　who　tell　thee　fables　of　worlds　to　come；　and　drivel　about　the　resurrection　of　dead　bodies；　and　bring　in　a　thousand　more　absurdities　to　catch　fools？　　But　now；　dearest　son；　if　thou　hast　any　regard　for　me　thy　father；　bid　a　long　farewell　to　these　longwinded　follies；　and　come　sacrifice　to　the　gracious　gods；　and　let　us　propitiate　them　with　hecatombs　and　drink…offerings；　that　they　may　grant　thee　pardon　for　thy　fall；　for　they　be　able　and　strong　to　bless　and　to　punish。　　And　wouldst　thou　have　an　example　of　that　which　I　say？　　Behold　us；　who　by　them　have　been　advanced　to　this　honour；　repaying　them　for　their　kindness　by　honouring　their　worshippers　and　chastising　the　runagates。〃

Now　when　the　king　had　ended　all　this　idle　parleying；　gainsaying　and　slandering　of　our　religion；　and　belauding　and　praising　of　his　idolatry；　the　saintly　young　prince　saw　that　the　matter　needed　no　further　to　be　hid　in　a　corner；　but　to　be　lighted　and　made　plain　to　the　eyes　of　all；　and；　full　of　boldness　and　courage；　he　said：

〃That　which　I　have　done；　sir；　I　will　not　deny。　　I　have　fled　from　darkness　and　run　to　the　light：　I　have　left　error　and　joined　the　household　of　truth：　I　have　deserted　the　service　of　devils；　and　joined　the　service　of　Christ；　the　Son　and　Word　of　God　the　Father；　at　whose　decree　the　world　was　brought　out　of　nothing；　who；　after　forming　man　out　of　clay；　breathed　into　him　the　breath　of　life；　and　set　him　to　live　in　a　paradise　of　delight；　and；　when　he　had　broken　his　commandment　and　was　become　subject　unto　death；　and　had　fallen　into　the　power　of　the　dread　ruler　of　this　world；　did　not　fail　him；　but　wrought　diligently　to　bring　him　back　to　his　former　honour。　　Wherefore　he；　the　framer　of　all　Creation　and　maker　of　our　race；　became　man　for　our　sake；　and；　coming　from　a　holy　Virgin's　womb；　on　earth　conversed　with　men：　for　us　ungrateful　servants　did　the　master　endure　death；　even　the　death　of　the　Cross；　that　the　tyranny　of　sin　might　be　destroyed；　that　the　former　condemnation　might　be　abolished；　that　the　gates　of　heaven　might　be　open　to　us　again。　　Thither　he　hath　exalted　our　nature；　and　set　it　on　the　throne　of　glory；　and　granted　to　them　that　love　him　an　everlasting　kingdom　and　joys　beyond　all　that　tongue　can　tell；　or　ear　can　hear。　　He　is　the　mighty　and　only　potentate；　King　of　kings　and　Lord　of　lords；　whose　might　is　invincible；　and　whose　lordship　is　beyond　compare；　who　only　is　holy　and　dwelleth　in　holiness；　who　with　the　Father　and　with　the　Holy　Ghost　is　glorified；　into　this　faith　I　have　been　baptized。　　And　I　acknowledge　and　glorify　and　worship　One　God　in　Three　persons；　of　one　substance；　and　not　to　be　confounded；　increate　and　immortal；　eternal；　infinite；　boundless；　without　body；　without　passions；　immutable；　unchangeable；　undefinable；　the　fountain　of　goodness；　righteousness　and　everlasting　light；　maker　of　all　things　visible　and　invisible；　containing　and　sustaining　all　things；　provident　for　all；　ruler　and　King　of　all。　　Without　him　was　there　nothing　made；　nor　without　his　providence　can　aught　subsist。　　He　is　the　life　of　all；　the　support　of　all；　the　light　of　all；　being　wholly　sweetness　and　insatiable　desire；　the　summit　of　aspiration。　　To　leave　God；　then；　who　is　so　good；　so　wise；　so　mighty；　and　to　serve　impure　devils；　makers　of　all　sinful　lusts；　and　to　assign　worship　to　deaf　and　dumb　images；　that　are　not；　and　never　shall　be；　were　not　that　the　extreme　of　folly　and　madness？　　When　was　there　ever　heard　utterance　or　language　from　their　lips？　　When　have　they　given　even　the　smallest　answer　to　their　bedesmen？　　When　have　they　walked；　or　received　any　impression　of　sense？　　Those　of　them　that　stand　have　never　thought　of　sitting　down；　and　those　that　sit　have　never　been　seen　to　rise。　　From　an　holy　man　have　I　learned　the　ugliness；　ill　savour　and　insensibility　of　these　idols；　and；　moreover；　the　rottenness　and　weakness　of　the　devils　that　operate　in　them　and　by　them　deceive　you；　and　I　loathe　their　wickednesses　and；　hating　them　with　a　perfect　hatred；　have　joined　myself　to　the　living　and　true　God；　and　him　will　I　serve　until　my　latest　breath；　that　my　spirit　also　may　return　into　his　hands。　　When　these　unspeakable　blessings　came　in　my　path　I　rejoiced　to　be　freed　from　the　bondage　of　evil　devils；　and　to　be　reclaimed　from　dire　captivity　and　to　be　illumined　with　the　light　of　the　countenance　of　the　Lord。　　But　my　soul　was　distressed　and　divided　asunder；　that　thou；　my　lord　and　father；　didst　not　share　in　my　blessings。　Yet　I　feared　the　stubbornness　of　thy　mind；　and　kept　my　grief　to　myself；　not　wishing　to　anger　thee；　but；　without　ceasing；　I　prayed　God　to　draw　thee　to　himself；　and　call　thee　back　from　the　long　exile　that　thou　hast　imposed　upon　thyself；　a　runagate　alas！　　from　righteousness；　and　a　servant　of　all　sin　and　wickedness。　　But　sith　thou　thyself；　O　my　father；　hast　brought　mine　affairs　to　light；　hear　the　sum　of　my　resolve：　I　will　not　be　false　to　my　covenant　with　Christ；　no；　I　swear　it　by　him　that　bought　me　out　of　slavery　with　his　own　precious　blood；　even　if　I　must　needs　die　a　thousand　deaths　for　his　sake；　die　I　will。　　Knowing　then　how　matters　now　stand　with　me；　prithee；　no　longer　trouble　thyself　in　endeavouring　to　persuade　me　to　change　my　good　confession。　　For　as　it　were　a　thankless　and　never　ending　task　for　thee　to　try　to　grasp　the　heavens　with　thy　hand；　or　to　dry　up　the　waters　of　the　sea；　so　hard　were　it　for　thee　to　change　me。　　Either　then　now　listen　to　my　counsel；　and　join　the　household　of　Christ；　and　so　thou　shalt　gain　blessings　past　man's　understanding；　and　we　shall　be　fellows　with　one　another　by　faith；　even　as　by　nature；　or　else；　be　well　assured；　I　shall　depart　thy　sonship；　and　serve　my　God　with　a　clear　conscience。〃

Now　when　the　king　heard　all　these　words；　he　was　furiously　enraged：　and；　seized　with　ungovernable　anger；　he　cried　out　wrathfully　against　him；　and　gnashed　his　teeth　fiercely；　like　any　madman。　　〃And　who；〃　said　he；　〃is　blameable　for　all　my　misfortunes　but　myself；　who　have　dealt　with　thee　so　kindly；　and　cared　for　thee　as　no　father　before？　　Hence　the　perversity　and　contrariness　of　thy　mind；　gathering　strength　by　the　licence　that　I　gave　thee；　hath　made　thy　madness　to　fall　upon　mine　own　pate。　　Rightly　prophesied　the　astrologers　in　thy　nativity　that　thou　shouldest　prove　a　knave　and　villain；　an　impostor　and　rebellious　son。　　But　now；　if　thou　wilt　make　void　my　counsel；　and　cease　to　be　my　son；　I　will　become　thine　enemy；　and　entreat　thee　worse　than　ever　man　yet　entreated　his　foes。〃

Again　said　Ioasaph；　〃Why；　O　king；　hast　thou　been　kindled　to　wrath？　　Art　thou　grieved　that　I　have　gained　such　bliss？　　Why；　what　father　was　ever　seen　to　be　sorrowful　in　the　prosperity　of　his　son？　　Would　not　such　an　one　be　called　an　enemy　rather　than　a　father？　　Therefore　will　I　no　more　call　thee　my　father；　but　will　withdraw　from　thee；　as　a　man　fleeth　from　a　snake；　if　I　know　that　thou　grudgest　me　my　salvation；　and　with　violent　hand　forcest　me　to　destruction。　　If　thou　wilt　force　me；　and　play　the　tyrant；　as　thou　hast　threatened；　be　assured　that　thou　shalt　gain　nought　thereby　save　to　exchange　the　name　of　father　for　that　of　tyrant　and　murderer。　　It　were　easier　for　thee　to　attain　to　the　ways　Of　the　eagle；　and；　like　him；　cleave　the　air；　than　to　alter　my　loyalty　to　Christ；　and　that　good　confession　that　I　have　confessed　in　him。　　But　be　wise；　O　my　father；　and　shake　off　the　rheum　and　mist　from　the　eyes　of　thy　mind；　lift　them　aloft　and　look　upward　to　vie