barlaam and ioasaph-第22章

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y　father？　　And　whom　like　unto　thee　shall　I　find　to　be　shepherd　and　guide　of　my　soul's　salvation？　　What　consolation　may　I　find　in　my　loss　of　thee？　　Behold　thou　hast　brought　me；　the　wicked　and　rebellious　servant；　back　to　God；　and　set　me　in　the　place　of　son　and　heir！　Thou　hast　sought　me　that　was　lost　and　astray　on　the　mountain；　a　prey　for　every　evil　beast；　and　folded　me　amongst　the　sheep　that　had　never　wandered。　　Thou　hast　shown　me　the　direct　road　to　truth；　bringing　me　out　of　darkness　and　the　shadow　of　death；　and；　changing　the　course　of　my　feet　from　the　slippery；　deadly；　crooked　and　winding　pathway；　hast　ministered　to　me　great　and　marvellous　blessings；　whereof　speech　would　fail　to　recount　the　exceeding　excellence。　　Great　be　the　gifts　that　thou　receivest　at　God's　hand；　on　account　of　me　who　am　small！　　And　may　the　Lord；　who　in　the　rewards　of　his　gifts　alone　overpasseth　them　that　love　him；　supply　that　which　is　lacking　to　my　gratitude！〃

Here　Barlaam　cut　short　his　lamentation；　and　rose　and　stood　up　to　pray；　lifting　up　his　either　hand；　and　saying；　〃O　God　and　Father　of　our　Lord　Jesu　Christ；　which　didst　illuminate　the　things　that　once　were　darkened；　and　bring　this　visible　and　invisible　creation　out　of　nothing；　and　didst　turn　again　this　thine　handiwork；　and　sufferedst　us　not　to　walk　after　our　foolishness；　we　give　thanks　to　thee　and　to　thy　Wisdom　and　Might；　our　Lord　Jesu　Christ；　by　whom　thou　didst　make　the　worlds；　didst　raise　us　from　our　fall；　didst　forgive　us　our　trespasses；　didst　restore　us　from　wandering；　didst　ransom　us　from　captivity；　didst　quicken　us　from　death　by　the　precious　blood　of　thy　Son　our　Lord。　　Upon　thee　I　call；　and　upon　thine　only　begotten　Son；　and　upon　the　Holy　Ghost。　　Look　upon　this　thy　spiritual　sheep　that　hath　come　to　be　a　sacrifice　unto　thee　through　me　thine　unworthy　servant；　and　do　thou　sanctify　his　soul　with　thy　might　and　grace。　　Visit　this　vine；　which　was　planted　by　thy　Holy　Spirit；　and　grant　it　to　bear　fruit；　the　fruit　of　righteousness。　　Strengthen　him；　and　confirm　in　him　thy　covenant；　and　rescue　him　from　the　deceit　of　the　devil。　　With　the　wisdom　of　thy　good　Spirit　teach　him　to　do　thy　will；　and　take　not　thy　succour　from　him；　but　grant　unto　him；　with　me　thine　unprofitable　servant；　to　become　an　inheritor　of　thine　everlasting　bliss；　because　thou　art　blessed　and　glorified　for　ever；　Amen。〃

When　that　he　had　ended　his　prayer；　he　turned　him　round　and　embraced　Ioasaph；　now　a　son　of　his　heavenly　father；　wishing　him　eternal　peace　and　salvation；　and　he　departed　out　of　the　palace；　and　went　his　way；　rejoicing　and　giving　thanks　to　God；　who　had　well　ordered　his　steps　for　good。


XXII。

After　Barlaam　was　gone　forth；　Ioasaph　gave　himself　unto　prayer　and　bitter　tears；　and　said；　〃O　God；　haste　thee　to　help　me：　O　Lord；　make　speed　to　help　me；　because　the　poor　hath　committed　himself　unto　thee；　thou　art　the　helper　of　the　orphan。　　Look　upon　me；　and　have　mercy　upon　me；　thou　who　willest　have　all　men　to　be　saved　and　to　come　unto　the　knowledge　of　the　truth；　save　me；　and　strengthen　me；　unworthy　though　I　be；　to　walk　the　way　of　thy　holy　commandments；　for　I　am　weak　and　miserable；　and　not　able　to　do　the　thing　that　is　good。　　But　thou　art　mighty　to　save　me；　who　sustainest　and　holdest　together　all　things　visible　and　invisible。　Suffer　me　not　to　walk　after　the　evil　will　of　the　flesh；　but　teach　me　to　do　thy　will；　and　preserve　me　unto　thine　eternal　and　blissful　life。　　O　Father；　Son；　and　Holy　Ghost；　the　consubstantial　and　undivided　Godhead；　I　call　upon　thee　and　glorify　thee。　　Thou　art　praised　by　all　creation；　thou　art　glorified　by　the　intelligent　powers　of　the　Angels　for　ever　and　ever。　　Amen。〃

From　that　time　forth　he　kept　himself　with　all　vigilance；　seeking　to　attain　purity　of　soul　and　body；　and　living　in　continency　and　prayers　and　intercessions　all　night　long。　　In　the　day…time　he　was　often　interrupted　by　the　company　of　his　fellows；　and　at　times　by　a　visit　from　the　king；　or　a　call　to　the　king's　presence；　but　the　night　would　then　make　good　the　shortcomings　of　the　day；　whilst　he　stood；　in　prayer　and　weeping　until　daybreak；　calling　upon　God。　Whence　in　him　was　fulfilled　the　saying　of　the　prophet；　〃In　nights　raise　your　hands　unto　holy　things；　and　bless　ye　the　Lord。〃

But　Zardan　observed　Ioasaph's　way　of　life；　and　was　full　of　sorrow；　and　his　soul　was　pierced　with　grievous　anxieties；　and　he　knew　not　what　to　do。　　At　the　last；　worn　down　with　pain；　he　withdrew　to　his　own　home；　feigning　sickness。　　When　this　had　come　to　the　knowledge　of　the　king　he　appointed　in　his　place　another　of　his　trusty　men　to　minister　unto　his　son；　while　he　himself；　being　concerned　for　Zardan's　health；　sent　a　physician　of　reputation；　and　took　great　pains　that　he　should　be　healed。

The　physician；　seeing　that　Zardan　was　in　favour　with　the　king；　attended　him　diligently；　and；　having　right　well　judged　his　ease；　soon　made　this　report　to　the　king；　〃I　have　been　unable　to　discover　any　root　of　disease　in　the　man：　wherefore　I　suppose　that　this　weakness　is　to　be　ascribed　to　distress　of　spirit。〃　　But；　on　hearing　his　words；　the　king　suspected　that　his　son　had　been　wroth　with　Zardan；　and　that　this　slight　had　caused　his　retirement。　　So；　wishing　to　search　the　matter；　he　sent　Zardan　word；　saying　〃To…morrow　I　shall　come　to　see　thee；　and　judge　of　the　malady　that　hath　befallen　thee。〃

But　Zardan；　on　hearing　this　message；　at　daybreak　wrapt　his　cloak　around　him　and　went　to　the　king；　and　entered　and　fell　in　obeisance　on　the　ground。　　The　king　spake　unto　him；　〃Why　hast　thou　forced　thyself　to　appear？　　I　was　minded　to　visit　thee　myself；　and　so　make　known　to　all　my　friendship　for　thee。〃　　He　answered；　〃My　sickness；　O　king；　is　no　malady　common　to　man；　but　pain　of　heart；　arising　from　an　anxious　and　careful　mind；　hath　caused　my　body　to　suffer　in　sympathy。　　It　had　been　folly　in　me；　being　as　I　am；　not　to　attend　as　a　slave　before　thy　might；　but　to　wait　for　thy　Majesty　to　be　troubled　to　come　to　me　thy　servant。〃　　Then　the　king　enquired　after　the　cause　of　his　despondency；　Zardan　answered　and　said；　〃Mighty　is　my　peril；　and　mighty　are　the　penalties　that　I　deserve；　and　many　deaths　do　I　merit；　for　that　I　have　been　guilty　of　neglect　of　thy　behests；　and　have　brought　on　thee　such　sorrow　as　never　before。〃

Again　said　the　king；　〃And　of　what　neglect　hast　thou　been　guilty？　And　what　is　the　dread　that　encompasseth　thee？〃　　〃I　have　been　guilty；〃　said　he；　〃of　negligence　in　my　close　care　of　my　lord　thy　son。　　There　came　an　evil　man　and　a　sorcerer；　and　communicated　to　him　the　precepts　of　the　Christian　religion。〃　　Then　he　related　to　the　king；　point　by　point；　the　words　which　the　old　man　spake　with　his　son；　and　how　gladly　Ioasaph　received　his　word；　and　how　he　had　altogether　become　Christ's。　　Moreover　he　gave　the　old　man's　name；　saying　that　it　was　Barlaam。　　Even　before　then　the　king　had　heard　tell　of　Barlaam's　ways　and　his　extreme　severity　of　life；　but；　when　this　came　to　the　ears　of　the　king；　he　was　straightway　astonied　by　the　dismay　that　fell　on　him；　and　was　filled　with　anger；　and　his　blood　well…nigh　curdled　at　the　tidings。　Immediately　he　bade　call　one　Araches；　who　held　the　second　rank　after　the　king；　and　was　the　chief　in　all　his　private　councils：　besides　which　the　man　was　learned　in　star…lore。　　When　he　was　come；　with　much　despondency　and　dejection　the　king　told　him　of　that　which　had　happened。　　He；　seeing　the　king's　trouble　and　confusion　of　mind；　said；　〃O　king；　trouble　and　distress　thyself　no　more。　　We　are　not　without　hope　that　the　prince　will　yet　change　for　the　better：　nay；　I　know　for　very　certain　that　he　will　speedily　renounce　the　teaching　of　this　deceiver；　and　conform　to　thy　will。〃

By　these　words　then　did　Araches　set　the　king　in　happier　frame　of　mind；　and　they　turned　their　thoughts　to　the　thorough　sifting　of　the　matter。　　〃This；　O　king；〃　said　Araches；　〃do　we　first　of　all。　Make　we　haste　to　apprehend　that　infamous　Barlaam。　　If　we　take　him；　I　am　assured　that　we　shall　not　miss　the　mark；　nor　be　cheated　of　our　hope。　Barlaam　himself　shall　be　persuaded；　either　by　persuasion　or　by　divers　engines　of　torture；　against　his　will　to　confess　that　he　hath　been　talking　falsely　and　at　random；　and　shall　persuade　my　lord；　thy　son；　to　cleave　to　his　father's　creed。　But　if　we　fail　to　take　Barlaam；　I　know　of　an　eremite；　Nachor　by　name；　in　every　way　like　unto　him：　it　is　impossible　to　distinguish　the　one　from　the　other。　　He　is　of　our　opinion；　and　was　my　teacher　in　studies。　　I　will　give　him　the　hint；　and　go　by　night；　and　tell　him　the　full　tale。　　Then　will　we　blazon　it　abroad　that　Barlaam　hath　been　caught；　but　we　shall　exhibit　Nachor；　who；　calling　himself　Barlaam；　shall　feign　that　he　is　pleading　the　cause　of　the　Christians　and　standing　forth　as　their　champion。　　Then；　after　much　disputation；　he　shall　be　worsted　and　utterly　discomfited。　The　prince；　seeing　Barlaam　worsted；　and　our　side　victorious；　will　doubtless　join　the　victors；　the　more　so　that　he　counteth　it　a　great　duty　to　reverence　thy　majesty；　and　do　thy　pleasure。　　Also　the　man　who　hath　played　the　part　of　Barlaam　shall　be　converted；　and　stoutly　proclaim　that　he　hath　been　in　error。〃

Tim　king　was　delighted　with　his　words；　and　rocked　himself　on　idle　hopes；　and　thought　it　excellent　counsel。　　Thereupon；　learning　that　Barlaam　was　but　lately　departed；　he　was　zealous　to　take　him　prisoner。　　He　therefore　occupied　most　of　the　passes　with　troops　and　captains；　and；　himself；　mounting　his　chariot；　gave　furious　chase　along　the　one　road　of　which　he　was　especially　suspicious；　being　minded　to　surprise　Barlaam　at　all　costs。　　But　though　he　toiled　by　the　space　of　six　full　days；　his　labour　was　but　spent　in　vain。　　Then　he　himself　remained　behind　in　one　of　his　palaces　situate　in　the　country；　but　sent　forward　Araches；　with　horsemen　not　a　few；　as　far　as　the　wilderness　of　Senaar；　in　quest　of　Barlaam。　　When　Araches　arrived　in　that　place；　he　threw　all　the　neighbour　folk　into　commotion：　and　when　they　constantly　affirmed　that　they　had　never　seen　the　man；　he　went　forth　into　the　desert　places；　for　to　hunt　out　the　Faithful。　　When　he　had　gone　through　a　great　tract　of　desert；　and　made　the　circuit　of　the　fells　around；　and　journeyed　a…foot　over　untrodden　and　pathless　ravines；　he　and　his　hosts　arrived　at　a　plateau。　　Standing　thereon；　he　descried　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain　a　company　of　hermits　a…walking。　Straightway　at　their　governor's　word　of　command　all　his　men　ran　upon　them　in　breathless　haste；　vying　one　with　another；　who　should　arrive　first。　　When　they　arrived；　they　came　about　the　monks　like　so　many　dogs；　or　evil　beasts　that　plague　mankind。　　And　they　seized　these　men　of　reverend　mien　and　mind；　that　bore　on　their　faces　the　hall…mark　of　their　hermit　life；　and　haled　them　before　the　governor；　but　the　monks　showed　no　sign　of　alarm；　no　sign　of　meanness　or　sullenness；　and　spake　never　a　word。　　Their　leader　and　captain　bore　a　wallet　of　hair；　charged　with　the　relics　of　some　holy　Fathers　departed　this　life。

When　Araches　beheld　them；　but　saw　no　Barlaam　　for　he　knew　him　by　sight　　he　was　overwhelmed　with　grief；　and　said　unto　them；　〃Where　is　that　deceiver　who　hath　led　the　king's　son　astray？〃　　The　bearer　of　the　wallet　answered；　〃He　is　not　amongst　us；　God　forbid！　For；　driven　forth　by　the　grace　of　Christ；　he　avoideth　us；　but　amongst　you　he　hath　his　dwelling。〃　　The　governor　said；　〃Thou　knowest　him　then？〃　　〃Yea；〃　said　the　hermit；　〃I　know　him　that　is　called　the　deceiver；　wh