barlaam and ioasaph-第21章

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lf　holy　in　all　manner　of　conversation：　for；　‘Be　ye　holy：　for　I　am　holy；'　saith　the　Lord。　And　the　chief　prince　of　the　Apostles　also　writeth；　saying；　‘If　ye　call　on　the　Father；　who　without　respect　of　persons　judgeth　according　to　every　man's　work；　pass　the　time　of　your　sojourning　here　in　fear；　knowing　that　ye　were　not　redeemed　with　corruptible　things；　as　silver　and　gold；　from　your　vain　conversation　received　by　tradition　from　your　fathers；　but　with　the　precious　blood　of　Christ；　as　of　a　lamb　without　blemish　and　without　spot。'

〃All　these　things　therefore　store　thou　up　in　thine　heart；　and　remember　them　unceasingly；　ever　keeping　before　thine　eyes　the　fear　of　God；　and　his　terrible　judgement　seat；　and　the　splendour　of　the　righteous　which　they　shall　receive　in　the　world　to　come；　and　the　shame　of　sinners　in　the　depths　of　darkness；　and　the　frailty　and　vanity　of　things　present；　and　the　eternity　of　things　hereafter；　for；　‘All　flesh　is　grass；　and　all　the　glory　of　man　as　the　flower　of　grass。　　The　grass　withereth；　and　the　flower　thereof　falleth　away：　but　the　word　of　the　Lord　endureth　for　ever。'　　Meditate　upon　these　things　alway　and　the　peace　of　God　be　with　thee；　enlightening　and　informing　thee；　and　leading　thee　into　the　way　of　salvation；　chasing　afar　out　of　thy　mind　every　evil　wish；　and　sealing　thy　soul　with　the　sign　of　the　Cross；　that　no　stumbling　block　of　the　evil　one　come　nigh　thee；　but　that　thou　mayest　merit；　in　all　fulness　of　virtue；　to　obtain　the　kingdom　that　is　to　come；　without　end　or　successor；　and　be　illumined　with　the　light　of　the　blessed　life…giving　Trinity；　which；　in　the　Father；　and　in　the　Son；　and　in　the　Holy　Ghost；　is　glorified。〃


XXI。

With　such　moral　words　did　the　reverend　elder　exhort　the　king's　son；　and　then　withdrew　to　his　own　hospice。　　But　the　young　prince's　servants　and　tutors　marvelled　to　see　the　frequency　of　Barlaam's　visits　to　the　palace；　and　one　of　the　chiefest　among　them；　whom；　for　his　fidelity　and　prudence；　the　king　had　set　over　his　son's　palace；　named　Zardan；　said　to　the　prince；　〃Thou　knowest　well；　sir；　how　much　I　dread　thy　father；　and　how　great　is　my　faith　toward　him：　wherefore　he　ordered　me；　for　my　faithfulness；　to　wait　upon　thee。　　Now；　when　I　see　this　stranger　constantly　conversing　with　thee；　I　fear　he　may　be　of　the　Christian　religion；　toward　which　thy　father　hath　a　deadly　hate；　and　I　shall　be　found　subject　to　the　penalty　of　death。　　Either　then　make　known　to　thy　father　this　man's　business；　or　in　future　cease　to　converse　with　him。　Else　cast　me　forth　from　thy　presence；　that　I　be　not　blameable；　and　ask　thy　father　to　appoint　another　in　my　room。

The　king's　son　said　unto　him；　〃This　do；　Zardan；　first　of　all。　　Sit　thou　down　behind　the　curtain；　and　hear　his　communication　with　me：　and　then　thus　will　I　tell　thee　what　thou　oughtest　to　do。〃

So　when　Barlaam　was　about　to　enter　into　his　presence；　Ioasaph　hid　Zardan　within　the　curtain；　and　said　to　the　elder；　〃Sum　me　up　the　matter　of　thy　divine　teaching；　that　it　may　the　more　firmly　be　implanted　in　my　heart。〃　　Barlaam　took　up　his　parable　and　uttered　many　sayings　touching　God；　and　righteousness　toward　him；　and　how　we　must　love　him　alone　with　all　our　heart；　and　with　all　our　soul；　and　with　all　our　mind；　and　keep　his　commandments　with　fear　and　love…and　how　he　is　the　Maker　of　all　things　visible　and　invisible。　Thereon　he　called　to　remembrance　the　creation　of　the　first　man；　the　command　given　unto　him；　and　his　transgression　thereof；　and　the　sentence　pronounced　by　the　Creator　for　this　transgression。　Then　he　reckoned　up　in　order　the　good　things　wherefrom　we　excluded　ourselves　by　the　disannulling　of　his　commandment。　　Again　he　made　mention　of　the　many　grievous　misfortunes　that　unhappily　overtook　man；　after　the　loss　of　the　blessings。　　Besides　this　he　brought　forward　God's　love　toward　mankind；　how　our　Maker；　heedful　of　our　salvation；　sent　forth　teachers　and　prophets　proclaiming　the　Incarnation　of　the　Only…begotten。　　Then　he　spake　of　the　Son；　his　dwelling　among　men；　his　deeds　of　kindness；　his　miracles；　his　sufferings　for　us　thankless　creatures；　his　Cross；　his　spear；　his　voluntary　death；　finally；　of　our　recovery　and　recall；　our　return　to　our　first　good　estate；　after　this；　of　the　kingdom　of　heaven　awaiting　such　as　are　worthy　thereof；　of　the　torment　in　store　for　the　wicked；　the　fire　that　is　not　quenched；　the　never　ending　darkness；　the　undying　worm；　and　all　the　other　tortures　which　the　slaves　of　sin　have　laid　up　in　store　for　themselves。　　When　he　had　fully　related　these　matters；　he　ended　his　speech　with　moral　instruction；　and　dwelt　much　upon　purity　of　life；　and　utterly　condemned　the　vanity　of　things　present；　and　proved　the　utter　misery　of　such　as　cleave　thereto；　and　finally　made　an　end　with　prayer。　　And　therewith　he　prayed　for　the　prince；　that　he　might　hold　fast　the　profession　of　the　Catholick　Faith　without　turning　and　without　wavering；　and　keep　his　life　blameless　and　his　conversation　pure；　and　so　ending　with　prayer　again　withdrew　to　his　hospice。

But　the　king's　son　called　Zardan　forth；　and；　to　try　his　disposition；　said　unto　him；　〃Thou　hast　heard　what　sort　of　discourses　this　babbler　maketh　me；　endeavouring　to　be…jape　me　with　his　specious　follies；　and　rob　me　of　this　pleasing　happiness　and　enjoyment；　to　worship　a　strange　God。〃　Zardan　answered；　〃Why　hath　it　pleased　thee；　O　prince；　to　prove　me　that　am　thy　servant？　I　wot　that　the　words　of　that　man　have　sunk　deep　into　thine　heart；　for；　otherwise；　thou　hadst　not　listened　gladly　and　unceasingly　to　his　words。　　Yea；　and　we　also　are　not　ignorant　of　this　preaching。　But　from　the　time　when　thy　father　stirred　up　truceless　warfare　against　the　Christians；　the　men　have　been　banished　hence；　and　their　teaching　is　silenced。　　But　if　now　their　doctrine　commend　itself　unto　thee；　and　if　thou　have　the　strength　to　accept　its　austerity；　may　thy　wishes　be　guided　straight　toward　the　good！　　But　for　myself；　what　shall　I　do；　that　am　unable　to　bear　the　very　sight　of　such　austerity；　and　through　fear　of　the　King　am　divided　in　soul　with　pain　and　anguish？　　What　excuse　shall　I　make；　for　neglecting　his　orders；　and　giving　this　fellow　access　unto　thee？〃

The　King's　son　said　unto　him；　〃I　knew　full　well　that　in　none　other　wise　could　I　requite　thee　worthily　for　thy　much　kindness；　and　therefore　have　I　tasked　myself　to　make　known　unto　thee　this　more　than　human　good；　which　doth　even　exceed　the　worth　of　thy　good　service；　that　thou　mightest　know　to　what　end　thou　wast　born；　and　acknowledge　thy　Creator；　and；　leaving　darkness；　run　to　the　light。　　And　I　hoped　that　when　thou　heardest　thereof　thou　wouldst　follow　it　with　irresistible　desire。　　But；　as　I　perceive；　I　am　disappointed　of　my　hope；　seeing　that　thou　art　listless　to　that　which　hath　been　spoken。　　But　if　thou　reveal　these　secrets　to　the　king　my　father；　thou　shalt　but　distress　his　mind　with　sorrows　and　griefs。　　If　thou　be　well　disposed　to　him；　on　no　account　reveal　this　matter　to　him　until　a　convenient　season。〃　　Speaking　thus；　he　seemed　to　be　only　casting　seed　upon　the　water；　for　wisdom　shall　not　enter　into　a　soul　void　of　understanding。

Upon　the　morrow　came　Barlaam　and　spake　of　his　departure：　but　Ioasaph；　unable　to　bear　the　separation；　was　distressed　at　heart；　and　his　eyes　filled　with　tears。　　The　elder　made　a　long　discourse；　and　adjured　him　to　continue　unshaken　in　good　works；　and　with　words　of　exhortation　established　his　heart；　and　begged　him　to　send　him　cheerfully　on　his　way；　and　at　the　same　time　he　foretold　that　they　should　shortly　be　at　one；　never　to　be　parted　more。　　But　Ioasaph；　unable　to　impose　fresh　labours　on　the　elder；　and　to　restrain　his　desire　to　be　on　his　way；　and　suspecting　moreover　that　the　man　Zardan　might　make　known　his　case　to　the　King　and　subject　him　to　punishment；　said　unto　Barlaam；　〃Since　it　seemeth　thee　good；　my　spiritual　father；　best　of　teachers　and　minister　of　all　good　to　me；　to　leave　me　to　live　in　the　vanity　of　the　world；　while　thou　journeyest　to　thy　place　of　spiritual　rest；　I　dare　no　longer　let　and　hinder　thee。　　Depart　therefore；　with　the　peace　of　God　for　thy　guardian；　and　ever　in　thy　worthy　prayers；　for　the　Lord's　sake；　think　upon　my　misery；　that　I　may　be　enabled　to　overtake　thee；　and　behold　thine　honoured　face　for　ever。　　But　fulfil　this　my　one　request；　since　thou　couldest　not　receive　aught　for　thy　fellow　monks；　yet　for　thyself　accept　a　little　money　for　sustenance；　and　a　cloak　to　cover　thee。〃　　But　Barlaam　answered　and　said　unto　him；　〃Seeing　that　I　would　not　receive　aught　for　my　brethren　（for　they　need　not　grasp　at　the　world's　chattels　which　they　have　chosen　to　forsake）；　how　shall　I　acquire　for　myself　that　which　I　have　denied　them？　　If　the　possession　of　money　were　a　good　thing；　I　should　have　let　them　share　it　before　me。　　But；　as　I　understand　that　the　possession　thereof　is　deadly；　I　will　hazard　neither　them　nor　myself　in　such　snares。〃

But　when　Ioasaph　had　failed　once　again　to　persuade　Barlaam；　‘twas　but　a　sign　for　a　second　petition；　and　he　made　yet　another　request；　that　Barlaam　should　not　altogether　overlook　his　prayer；　nor　plunge　him　in　utter　despair；　but　should　leave　him　that　stiff　shirt　and　rough　mantle；　both　to　remind　him　of　his　teacher's　austerities　and　to　safe…guard　him　from　all　the　workings　of　Satan；　and　should　take　from　him　another　cloak　instead；　in　order　that　〃When　thou　seest　my　gift；〃　said　he；　〃thou　mayest　bear　my　lowliness　in　remembrance。〃

But　the　elder　said；　〃It　is　not　lawful　for　me　to　give　thee　my　old　and　worn　out　vestment；　and　take　one　that　is　new；　lest　I　be　condemned　to　receive　here　the　recompense　of　my　slight　labour。　But；　not　to　thwart　thy　willing　mind；　let　the　garments　given　me　by　thee　be　old　ones；　nothing　different　from　mine　own。〃　　So　the　king's　son　sought　for　old　shirts　of　hair；　which　he　gave　the　aged　man；　rejoicing　to　receive　his　in　exchange；　deeming　them　beyond　compare　more　precious　than　any　regal　purple。

Now　saintly　Barlaam；　all　but　ready　for　to　start；　spake　concerning　his　journey；　and　delivered　Ioasaph　his　last　lesson；　saying；　〃Brother　beloved；　and　dearest　son；　whom　I　have　begotten　through　the　Gospel；　thou　knowest　of　what　King　thou　art　the　soldier；　and　with　whom　thou　hast　made　thy　covenant。　　This　thou　must　keep　steadfastly；　and　readily　perform　the　duties　of　thy　service；　even　as　thou　didst　promise　the　Lord　of　all　in　the　script　of　thy　covenant；　with　the　whole　heavenly　host　present　to　attest　it；　and　record　the　terms；　which　if　thou　keep；　thou　shalt　be　blessed。　Esteem　therefore　nought　in　the　present　world　above　God　and　his　blessings。　　For　what　terror　of　this　life　can　be　so　terrible　as　the　Gehenna　of　eternal　fire；　that　burneth　and　yet　hath　no　light；　that　punisheth　and　never　ceaseth？　　And　which　of　the　goodly　things　of　this　world　can　give　such　gladness　as　that　which　the　great　God　giveth　to　those　that　love　him？　　Whose　beauty　is　unspeakable；　and　power　invincible；　and　glory　everlasting；　whose　good　things；　prepared　for　his　friends；　exceed　beyond　comparison　all　that　is　seen；　which　eye　hath　not　seen；　nor　ear　heard；　neither　have　entered　into　the　heart　of　man：　whereof　mayest　thou　be　shown　an　inheritor；　preserved　by　the　mighty　hand　of　God！〃

Here　the　king's　son　burst　into　tears　of　pain　and　vexation；　unable　to　bear　the　parting　from　a　loving　father　and　excellent　teacher。　〃And　who；〃　quoth　he；　〃shall　fill　thy　place；　O　my　father？　　And　whom　like　unto　thee　shall　I　find　to　be　shepherd　and　guide　of　my　soul's　salvation？　　Wh