barlaam and ioasaph-第16章

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t　lie　in　our　power；　in　choosing　we　desire　that　which　we　have　deliberately　preferred。　　All　deliberation　aimeth　at　action　and　dependeth　on　action；　and　thus　deliberation　goeth　before　all　choice；　and　choice　before　all　action。　　For　this　reason　not　only　our　actions；　but　also　our　thoughts；　inasmuch　as　they　give　occasion　for　choice；　bring　in　their　train　crowns　or　punishments。　For　the　beginning　of　sin　and　righteous　dealing　is　choice；　exercised　in　action　possible　to　us。　　Where　the　power　of　activity　is　ours；　there　too　are　the　actions　that　follow　that　activity　in　our　power。　　Virtuous　activities　are　in　our　power；　therefore　in　our　power　are　virtues　also；　for　we　are　absolute　masters　over　all　our　souls'　affairs　and　all　our　deliberations。　　Since　then　it　is　of　free　will　that　men　deliberate；　and　of　free　will　that　men　choose；　a　man　partaketh　of　the　light　divine；　and　advanceth　in　the　practice　of　this　philosophy　in　exact　measure　of　his　choice；　for　there　are　differences　of　choice。　　And　even　as　water…springs；　issuing　from　the　hollows　of　the　earth；　sometimes　gush　forth　from　the　surface　soil；　and　sometimes　from　a　lower　source；　and　at　other　times　from　a　great　depth；　and　even　as　some　of　these　waters　bubble　forth　continuously；　and　their　taste　is　sweet；　while　others　that　come　from　deep　wells　are　brackish　or　sulphurous；　even　as　some　pour　forth　in　abundance　while　others　flow　drop　by　drop；　thus；　understand　thou；　is　it　also　with　our　choices。　　Some　choices　are　swift　and　exceeding　fervent；　others　languid　and　cold：　some　have　a　bias　entirely　toward　virtue；　while　others　incline　with　all　their　force　to　its　opposite。　　And　like　in　nature　to　these　choices　are　the　ensuing　impulses　to　action。〃


XVI。

Ioasaph　said　unto　the　elder；　〃Are　there　now　others；　too；　who　preach　the　same　doctrines　as　thou？　　Or　art　thou　to…day　the　only　one　that　teacheth　this　hatred　of　the　present　world？〃

The　other　answered　and　said；　〃In　this　your　most　unhappy　country　I　know　of　none：　the　tyranny　of　thy　father　hath　netted　all　such　in　a　thousand　forms　of　death；　and　he　hath　made　it　his　aim　that　the　preaching　of　the　knowledge　of　God　be　not　once　heard　in　your　midst。　　But　in　all　other　tongues　these　doctrines　are　sung　and　glorified；　by　some　in　perfect　truth；　but　by　others　perversely；　for　the　enemy　of　our　souls　hath　made　them　decline　from　the　straight　road；　and　divided　them　by　strange　teachings；　and　taught　them　to　interpret　certain　sayings　of　the　Scriptures　falsely；　and　not　after　the　sense　contained　therein。　　But　the　truth　is　one；　even　that　which　was　preached　by　the　glorious　Apostles　and　inspired　Fathers；　and　shineth　in　the　Catholick　Church　above　the　brightness　of　the　sun　from　the　one　end　of　the　world　unto　the　other；　and　as　an　herald　and　teacher　of　that　truth　have　I　been　sent　to　thee。〃

Ioasaph　said　unto　him；　〃Hath　my　father　then；　learned　naught　of　these　things？〃

The　elder　answered；　〃Clearly　and　duly　he　hath　learned　naught；　for　he　stoppeth　up　his　senses；　and　will　not　admit　that　which　is　good；　being　of　his　own　free　choice　inclined　to　evil。〃

〃Would　God；〃　said　Ioasaph；　〃that　he　too　were　instructed　in　these　mysteries？〃　　The　elder　answered；　〃The　things　that　are　impossible　with　men　are　possible　with　God。　　For　how　knowest　thou　whether　thou　shalt　save　thy　sire；　and　in　wondrous　fashion　be　styled　the　spiritual　father　of　thy　father？

〃I　have　heard　that；　once　upon　a　time；　there　was　a　king　who　governed　his　kingdom　right　well；　and　dealt　kindly　and　gently　with　his　subjects；　only　failing　in　this　point；　that　he　was　not　rich　in　the　light　of　the　knowledge　of　God；　but　held　fast　to　the　errors　of　idolatry。　　Now　he　had　a　counsellor；　which　was　a　good　man　and　endued　with　righteousness　toward　God　and　with　all　other　virtuous　wisdom。　　Grieved　and　vexed　though　he　was　at　the　error　of　the　king；　and　willing　to　convince　him　thereof；　he　nevertheless　drew　back　from　the　attempt；　for　fear　that　he　might　earn　trouble　for　himself　and　his　friends；　and　cut　short　those　services　which　he　rendered　to　others。　　Yet　sought　he　a　convenient　season　to　draw　his　sovereign　toward　that　which　was　good。　　One　night　the　king　said　unto　him；　〃Come　now；　let　us　go　forth　and　walk　about　the　city；　if　haply　we　may　see　something　to　edify　us。〃　　Now　while　they　were　walking　about　the　city；　they　saw　a　ray　of　light　shining　through　an　aperture。　　Fixing　their　eyes　thereon；　they　descried　an　underground　cavernous　chamber；　in　the　forefront　of　which　there　sat　a　man；　plunged　in　poverty；　and　clad　in　rags　and　tatters。　Beside　him　stood　his　wife；　mixing　wine。　　When　the　man　took　the　cup　in　his　hands；　she　sung　a　clear　sweet　melody；　and　delighted　him　by　dancing　and　cozening　him　with　flatteries。　　The　king's　companions　observed　this　for　a　time；　and　marvelled　that　people；　pinched　by　such　poverty　as　not　to　afford　house　and　raiment；　yet　passed　their　lives　in　such　good　cheer。　　The　king　said　to　his　chief　counsellor；　‘Friend；　how　marvellous　a　thing　it　is；　that　our　life；　though　bright　with　such　honour　and　luxury；　hath　never　pleased　us　so　well　as　this　poor　and　miserable　life　doth　delight　and　rejoice　these　fools：　and　that　this　life；　which　appeareth　to　us　so　cruel　and　abominable；　is　to　them　sweet　and　alluring！'　　The　chief　counsellor　seized　the　happy　moment　and　said；　‘But　to　thee；　O　king；　how　seemeth　their　life？'　　‘Of　all　that　I　have　ever　seen；'　quoth　the　king；　‘the　most　hateful　and　wretched；　the　most　loathsome　and　abhorrent。'　　Then　spake　the　chief　counsellor　unto　him；　〃Such；　know　thou　well；　O　king；　and　even　more　unendurable　is　our　life　reckoned　by　those　who　are　initiated　into　the　sight　of　the　mysteries　of　yonder　everlasting　glory；　and　the　blessings　that　pass　all　understanding。　　Your　palaces　glittering　with　gold；　and　these　splendid　garments；　and　all　the　delights　of　this　life　are　more　loathsome　than　dung　and　filth　in　the　eyes　of　those　that　know　the　unspeakable　beauties　of　the　tabernacles　in　heaven　made　without　hands；　and　the　apparel　woven　by　God；　and　the　incorruptible　diadems　which　God；　the　Creator　and　Lord　of　all；　hath　prepared　for　them　that　love　him。　　For　like　as　this　couple　were　accounted　fools　by　us；　so　much　the　more　are　we；　who　go　astray　in　this　world　and　please　ourselves　in　this　false　glory　and　senseless　pleasure；　worthy　of　lamentation　and　tears　in　the　eyes　of　those　who　have　tasted　of　the　sweets　of　the　bliss　beyond。'

〃When　the　king　heard　this；　he　became　as　one　dumb。　　He　said；　‘Who　then　are　these　men　that　live　a　life　better　than　ours？'　　‘All；'　said　the　chief…counsellor　‘who　prefer　the　eternal　to　the　temporal。'　　Again；　when　the　king　desired　to　know　what　the　eternal　might　be　the　other　replied；　‘A　kingdom　that　knoweth　no　succession；　a　life　that　is　not　subject　unto　death；　riches　that　dread　no　poverty：　joy　and　gladness　that　have　no　share　of　grief　and　vexation；　perpetual　peace　free　from　all　hatred　and　love　of　strife。　　Blessed；　thrice　blessed　are　they　that　are　found　worthy　of　these　enjoyments！　　Free　from　pain　and　free　from　toil　is　the　life　that　they　shall　live　for　ever；　enjoying　without　labour　all　the　sweets　and　pleasaunee　of　the　kingdom　of　God；　and　reigning　with　Christ　world　without　end。'

〃'And　who　is　worthy　to　obtain　this？'　asked　the　king。　　The　other　answered；　‘All　they　that　hold　on　the　road　that　leadeth　thither；　for　none　forbiddeth　entrance；　if　a　man　but　will。'

〃Said　the　king；　‘And　what　is　the　way　that　beareth　thither？'　　That　bright　spirit　answered；　‘To　know　the　only　true　God；　and　Jesus　Christ；　his　only…begotten　Son；　and　the　Holy　and　quickening　Spirit。'

〃The　king；　endowed　with　understanding　worthy　of　the　purple；　said　unto　him；　‘What　hath　hindered　thee　until　now　from　doing　me　to　wit　of　these　things？　　For　they　appear　to　me　too　good　to　be　put　off　or　passed　over；　if　they　indeed　be　true；　and；　if　they　be　doubtful；　I　must　search　diligently；　until　I　find　the　truth　without　shadow　of　doubt。'

〃The　chief　counsellor　said；　‘It　was　not　from　negligence　or　indifference　that　I　delayed　to　make　this　known　unto　thee；　for　it　is　true　and　beyond　question；　but　‘twas　because　I　reverenced　the　excellency　of　thy　majesty；　lest　thou　mightest　think　me　a　meddler。　If　therefore　thou　bid　thy　servant　put　thee　in　mind　of　these　things　for　the　future；　I　shall　obey　thy　behest。'　　‘Yea；'　said　the　king；　‘not　every　day　only；　but　every　hour；　renew　in　me　the　remembrance　thereof：　for　it　behoveth　us　not　to　turn　our　mind　inattentively　to　these　things；　but　with　very　fervent　zeal。'

〃We　have　heard；〃　said　Barlaam；　〃that　this　king　lived；　for　the　time　to　come；　a　godly　life；　and；　having　brought　his　days　without　tempest　to　an　end；　failed　not　to　gain　the　felicity　of　the　world　to　come。　　If　then　at　a　convenient　season　one　shall　call　these　things　to　thy　father's　mind　also；　peradventure　he　shall　understand　and　know　the　dire　evil　in　which　he　is　held；　and　turn　therefrom　and　choose　the　good；　since；　for　the　present　at　least；　'he　is　blind　and　cannot　see　afar　off；'　having　deprived　himself　of　the　true　light　and　being　a　deserter　of　his　own　accord　to　the　darkness　of　ungodliness。〃

Ioasaph　said　unto　him；　〃The　Lord　undertake　my　father's　matters；　as　he　ordereth！　　For；　even　as　thou　sayest；　the　things　that　are　impossible　with　men；　are　possible　with　him。　　But　for　myself；　thanks　to　thine　unsurpassable　speech；　I　renounce　the　vanity　of　things　present；　and　am　resolved　to　withdraw　from　them　altogether；　and　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　with　thee；　lest；　by　means　of　these　transitory　and　fleeting　things；　I　lose　the　enjoyment　of　the　eternal　and　incorruptible。〃

The　elder　answered　him；　〃This　do；　and　thou　shalt　be　like　unto　a　youth　of　great　understanding　of　whom　I　have　heard　tell；　that　was　born　of　rich　and　distinguished　parents。　　For　him　his　father　sought　in　marriage　the　exceeding　fair　young　daughter　of　a　man　of　high　rank　and　wealth。　　But　when　he　communed　with　his　son　concerning　the　espousals；　and　informed　him　of　his　plans；　the　son　thought　it　strange　and　ill…sounding；　and　cast　it　off；　and　left　his　father　and　went　into　exile。　　On　his　journey　he　found　entertainment　in　the　house　of　a　poor　old　man；　where　he　rested　awhile　during　the　heat　of　the　day。

〃Now　this　poor　man's　daughter；　his　only　child；　a　virgin；　was　sitting　before　the　door；　and；　while　she　wrought　with　her　hands；　with　her　lips　she　loudly　sang　the　praises　of　God　with　thanksgiving　from　the　ground　of　her　heart。　　The　young　man　heard　her　hymn　of　praise　and　said；　‘Damsel；　what　is　thine　employment？　and　wherefore；　poor　and　needy　as　thou　art；　givest　thou　thanks　as　though　for　great　blessings；　singing　praise　to　the　Giver？'　　She　answered；　‘Knowest　thou　not　that；　as　a　little　medicine　often　times　delivereth　a　man　from　great　ailments；　even　so　the　giving　of　thanks　to　God　for　small　mercies　winneth　great　ones？　　Therefore　I；　the　daughter　of　a　poor　old　man；　thank　and　bless　God　for　these　small　mercies；　knowing　that　the　Giver　thereof　is　able　to　give　even　greater　gifts。　　And　this　applieth　but　to　those　external　things　that　are　not　our　own　from　whence　there　accrueth　no　gain　to　those　who　possess　much　（not　to　mention　the　loss　that　often　ariseth）；　nor　cometh　there　harm　to　those　who　have　less；　for　both　sorts　journey　along　the　same　road；　and　hasten　to　the　same　end。　But；　in　things　most　necessary　and　vital；　many　and　great　the　blessings　I　have　enjoyed　of　my　Lord；　though　indeed　they　are　without　number　and　beyond　compare。　　I　have　been　made　in　the　image　of　God；　and　have　gained　the　knowledge　of　him；　and　have　been　endowed　with　reason　beyond　all　the　beasts