barlaam and ioasaph-第18章

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〃

Barlaam　said　unto　him；　〃If　it　be　the　number　of　years　from　my　birth　that　thou　askest；　thou　hast　well　reckoned　them　at　upwards　of　seventy。　　But；　for　myself；　I　count　not　amongst　the　number　of　my　days　the　years　that　I　wasted　in　the　vanity　of　the　world。　　When　I　lived　to　the　flesh　in　the　bondage　of　sin；　I　was　dead　in　the　inner　man；　and　those　years　of　deadness　I　can　never　call　years　of　life。　　But　now　the　world　hath　been　crucified　to　me；　and　I　to　the　world；　and　I　have　put　off　the　old　man；　which　is　corrupt　according　to　the　deceitful　lusts；　and　live　no　longer　to　the　flesh；　but　Christ　liveth　in　me；　and　the　life　that　I　live；　I　live　by　the　faith　of　the　Son　of　God；　who　loved　me　and　gave　himself　for　me。　And　the　years；　that　have　passed　since　then；　I　may　rightly　call　years　of　life；　and　days　of　salvation。　　And　in　numbering　these　at　about　forty　and　five；　I　reckoned　by　the　true　tale；　and　not　off　the　mark。　　So　do　thou　also　alway　hold　by　this　reckoning；　and　be　sure　that　there　is　no　true　life　for　them　that　are　dead　to　all　good　works；　and　live　in　sin；　and　serve　the　world…ruler　of　them　that　are　dragged　downward；　and　waste　their　time　in　pleasures　and　lusts：　but　rather　be　well　assured　that　these　are　dead　and　defunct　in　the　activity　of　life。　　For　a　wise　man　hath　fitly　called　sin　the　death　of　the　immortal　soul。　　And　the　Apostle　also　saith；　'When　ye　were　the　servants　of　sin；　ye　were　free　from　righteousness。　　What　fruit　had　ye　then　in　those　things　whereof　ye　are　now　ashamed？　　for　the　end　of　those　things　is　death。　　But　now　being　made　free　from　sin；　and　become　servants　to　God；　ye　have　your　fruit　unto　holiness；　and　the　end　everlasting　life。　　For　the　wages　of　sin　is　death；　but　the　gift　of　God　is　eternal　life。'〃

Ioasaph　said　unto　him；　〃Since　thou　reckonest　not　the　life　in　the　flesh　in　the　measure　of　life；　neither　canst　thou　reckon　that　death；　which　all　men　undergo；　as　death。〃

The　elder　answered；　〃Without　doubt　thus　think　I　of　these　matters　also；　and　fear　this　temporal　death　never　a　whit；　nor　do　I　call　it　death　at　all；　if　only　it　overtake　me　walking　in　the　way　of　the　commandments　of　God；　but　rather　a　passage　from　death　to　the　better　and　more　perfect　life；　which　is　hid　in　Christ；　in　desire　to　obtain　which　the　Saints　were　impatient　of　the　present。　Wherefore　saith　the　Apostle；　‘We　know　that　if　our　earthly　house　of　this　tabernacle　be　dissolved；　we　have　a　building　of　God；　a　house　not　made　with　hands；　eternal　in　the　heavens。　　For　in　this　we　groan；　earnestly　desiring　to　be　clothed　upon　with　our　house　which　is　from　heaven：　if　so　be　that　being　clothed　we　shall　not　be　found　naked。　　For　we　that　are　in　this　tabernacle　do　groan；　being　burdened：　not　for　that　we　would　be　unclothed；　but　clothed　upon；　that　mortality　might　be　swallowed　up　of　life。'　　And　again；　‘O　wretched　man　that　I　am！　　who　shall　deliver　me　from　the　body　of　this　death？'　　And　once　more；　‘I　desire　to　depart　and　be　with　Christ。'　　And　the　prophet　saith；　‘When　shall　I　come　and　appear　before　the　presence　of　God？'　　Now　that　I　the　least　of　all　men；　choose　not　to　fear　bodily　death；　thou　mayest　learn　by　this；　that　I　have　set　at　nought　thy　father's　threat；　and　come　boldly　unto　thee；　and　have　preached　to　thee　the　tidings　of　salvation；　though　I　knew　for　sure　that；　if　this　came　to　his　knowledge；　he　would；　were　that　possible；　put　me　to　a　thousand　deaths。　　But　I；　honouring　the　word　of　God　afore　all　things；　and　longing　to　win　it；　dread　not　temporal　death；　nor　reek　on　it　at　all　worthy　of　such　an　appellation；　in　obedience　to　my　Lord's　command；　which　saith；　‘Fear　not　them　which　kill　the　body；　but　are　not　able　to　kill　the　soul：　but　rather　fear　him　which　is　able　to　destroy　both　soul　and　body　in　hell。'〃

〃These　then；〃　said　Ioasaph；　〃are　the　good　deeds　of　that　true　philosophy；　that　far　surpass　the　nature　of　these　earthly　men　who　cleave　fast　to　the　present　life。　　Blessed　are　ye　that　hold　to　so　noble　a　purpose！　　But　tell　me　truly　what　is　thy　manner　of　life　and　that　of　thy　companions　in　the　desert；　and　from　whence　cometh　your　raiment　and　of　what　sort　may　it　be？　　Tell　me　as　thou　lovest　truth。〃

Said　Barlaam；　〃Our　sustenance　consisteth　of　acorns　and　herbs　that　we　find　in　the　desert；　watered　by　the　dew　of　heaven；　and　in　obedience　to　the　Creator's　command；　and　for　this　there　is　none　to　fight　and　quarrel　with　us；　seeking　by　the　rule　and　law　of　covetousness　to　snatch　more　than　his　share；　but　in　abundance　for　all　is　food　provided　from　unploughed　lands；　and　a　ready　table　spread。　　But；　should　any　of　the　faithful　brethren　in　the　neighbourhood　bring　a　blessed　dole　of　bread；　we　receive　it　as　sent　by　providence；　and　bless　the　faith　that　brought　it。　　Our　raiment　is　of　hair；　sheepskins　or　shirts　of　palm　fibre；　all　thread…bare　and　much　patched；　to　mortify　the　frailty　of　the　flesh。　　We　wear　the　same　clothing　winter　and　summer；　which；　once　put　on；　we　may　on　no　account　put　off　until　it　be　old　and　quite　outworn。　　For　by　thus　afflicting　our　bodies　with　the　constraints　of　cold　and　heat　we　purvey　for　ourselves　the　vesture　of　our　future　robes　of　immortality。〃

Ioasaph　said；　〃But　whence　cometh　this　garment　that　thou　wearest？〃　The　elder　answered；〃I　received　it　as　a　loan　from　one　of　our　faithful　brethren；　when　about　to　make　my　journey　unto　thee；　for　it　behoved　me　not　to　arrive　in　mine　ordinary　dress。　　If　one　had　a　beloved　kinsman　carried　captive　into　a　foreign　land；　and　wished　to　recover　him　thence；　one　would　lay　aside　one's　own　clothing；　and　put　on　the　guise　of　the　enemy；　and　pass　into　their　country　and　by　divers　crafts　deliver　one's　friend　from　that　cruel　tyranny。　　Even　so　I　also；　having　been　made　aware　of　thine　estate；　clad　myself　in　this　dress；　and　came　to　sow　the　seed　of　the　divine　message　in　thine　heart；　and　ransom　thee　from　the　slavery　of　the　dread　ruler　of　this　world。　　And　now　behold　by　the　power　of　God；　as　far　as　in　me　lay；　I　have　accomplished　my　ministry；　announcing　to　thee　the　knowledge　of　him；　and　making　known　unto　thee　the　preaching　of　the　Prophets　and　Apostles；　and　teaching　thee　unerringly　and　soothly　the　vanity　of　the　present　life；　and　the　evils　with　which　this　world　teems；　which　cruelly　deceiveth　them　that　trust　therein；　and　taketh　them　in　many　a　gin。　　Now　must　I　return　thither　whence　I　came；　and　thereupon　doff　this　robe　belonging　to　another；　and　don　mine　own　again。〃

Ioasaph　therefore　begged　the　elder　to　shew　himself　in　his　wonted　apparel。　　Then　did　Barlaam　strip　off　the　mantle　that　he　wore；　and　lo；　a　terrible　sight　met　Ioasaph's　eyes：　for　all　the　fashion　of　his　flesh　was　wasted　away；　and　his　skin　blackened　by　the　scorching　sun；　and　drawn　tight　over　his　bones　like　an　hide　stretched　over　thin　canes。　　And　he　wore　an　hair　shirt；　stiff　and　rough；　from　his　loins　to　his　knees；　and　over　his　shoulders　there　hung　a　coat　of　like　sort。

But　Ioasaph；　being　sore　amazed　at　the　hardship　of　his　austere　life；　and　astonished　at　his　excess　of　endurance；　burst　into　tears；　and　said　to　the　elder；　〃Since　thou　art　come　to　deliver　me　from　the　slavery　of　the　devil；　crown　thy　good　service　to　me；　and　'bring　my　soul　out　of　prison；'　and　take　me　with　thee；　and　let　us　go　hence；　that　I　may　be　fully　ransomed　from　this　deceitful　world　and　then　receive　the　seal　of　saving　Baptism；　and　share　with　thee　this　thy　marvellous　philosophy；　and　this　more　than　human　discipline〃

But　Barlaam　said　unto　him；　〃A　certain　rich　man　once　reared　the　fawn　of　a　gazelle；　which；　when　grown　up；　was　impelled　by　natural　desire　to　long　for　the　desert。　　So　on　a　day　she　went　out　and　found　an　herd　of　gazelles　browsing；　and；　joining　them；　she　would　roam　through　the　glades　of　the　forest；　returning　at　evenfall；　but　issuing　forth　at　dawn；　through　the　heedlessness　of　her　keepers；　to　herd　with　her　wild　companions。　　When　these　removed；　to　graze　further　afield；　she　followed　them。　　But　the　rich　man's　servants；　when　they　learned　thereof；　mounted　on　horseback；　and　gave　chase；　and　caught　the　pet　fawn；　and　brought　her　home　again；　and　set　her　in　captivity　for　the　time　to　come。　　But　of　the　residue　of　the　herd；　some　they　killed；　and　roughly　handled　others。　　Even　so　I　fear　that　it　may　happen　unto　us　also　if　thou　follow　me；　that　I　may　be　deprived　of　thy　fellowship；　and　bring　many　ills　to　my　comrades；　and　everlasting　damnation　to　thy　father。　　But　this　is　the　will　of　the　Lord　concerning　time；　thou　now　indeed　must　be　signed　with　the　seal　of　holy　Baptism；　and　abide　in　this　country；　cleaving　to　all　righteousness；　and　the　fulfilling　of　the　commandments　of　Christ；　but　when　the　Giver　of　all　good　things　shall　give　thee　opportunity；　then　shalt　thou　come　to　us；　and　for　the　remainder　of　this　present　life　we　shall　dwell　together；　and　I　trust　in　the　Lord　also　that　in　the　world　to　come　we　shall　not　be　parted　asunder。〃

Again　Ioasaph；　in　tears；　said　unto　him；　〃If　this　be　the　Lord's　pleasure；　his　will　be　done！　　For　the　rest；　perfect　me　in　holy　Baptism。　　Then　receive　at　my　hands　money　and　garments　for　the　support　and　clothing　both　of　thyself　and　thy　companions；　and　depart　to　the　place　of　thy　monastic　life；　and　the　peace　of　God　be　thy　guard！　　But　cease　not　to　make　supplications　on　my　behalf；　that　I　may　not　fall　away　from　my　hope；　but　may　soon　be　able　to　reach　thee；　and　in　peace　profound　may　enjoy　thy　ministration。〃

Barlaam　answered；　〃Nought　forbiddeth　thee　to　receive　the　seal　of　Christ。　　Make　thee　ready　now；　and；　the　Lord　working　with　thee；　thou　shalt　be　perfected。　　But　as　concerning　the　money　that　thou　didst　promise　to　bestow　on　my　companions；　how　shall　this　be；　that　thou；　a　poor　man；　shouldest　give　alms　to　the　rich？　　The　rich　always　help　the　poor；　not　the　needy　the　wealthy。　　And　the　least　of　all　my　comrades　is　incomparably　richer　than　thou。　　But　I　trust　in　the　mercies　of　God　that　thou　too　shalt　soon　be　passing　rich　as　never　afore：　and　then　thou　wilt　not　be　ready　to　distribute。〃

Ioasaph　said　unto　him；　〃Make　plain　to　me　this　saying；　how　the　least　of　all　thy　companions　surpasseth　me　in　riches　　thou　saidest　but　now　that　they　lived　in　utter　penury；　and　were　pinched　by　extreme　poverty　and　why　thou　callest　me　a　poor　man；　but　sayest　that；　when　I　shall　be　passing　rich；　I；　who　am　ready　to　distribute；　shall　be　ready　to　distribute　no　more。〃

Barlaam　answered；　〃I　said　not　that　these　men　were　pinched　by　poverty；　but　that　they　plume　themselves　on　their　inexhaustible　wealth。　　For　to　be　ever　adding　money　to　money；　and　never　to　curb　the　passion　for　it；　but　insatiably　to　covet　more　and　more；　betokeneth　the　extreme　of　poverty。　　But　those　who　despise　the　present　for　love　of　the　eternal　and　count　it　but　dung；　if　only　they　win　Christ；　who　have　laid　aside　all　care　for　meat　and　raiment　and　cast　that　care　on　the　Lord；　and　rejoice　in　penury　as　no　lover　of　the　world　could　rejoice；　were　he　rolling　in　riches；　who　have　laid　up　for　themselves　plenteously　the　riches　of　virtue；　and　are　fed　by　the　hope　of　good　things　without　end；　may　more　fitly　be　termed　rich　than　thou；　or　any　other　earthly　kingdom。　But；　God　working　with　thee；　thou　shalt　lay　hold　on　such　spiritual　abundance　that；　if　thou　keep　it　in　safety　and　ever　rightfully　desire　more；　thou　shalt　never　wish　to　dispend　any　part　of　it。　This　is　true　abundance：　but　the　mass　of　material　riches　will　damage　rather　than　benefit　its　friends。　　Meetly　therefore　called　I　it　the　extreme　of　poverty；　which　the　lovers　of　heavenly　blessings　utterly　renounce　and　eschew；　and　flee　from　it；　as　a　man　fleeth　from　an　adder。　　But　if　I　take　fro