barlaam and ioasaph-第25章

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；　and　shake　off　the　rheum　and　mist　from　the　eyes　of　thy　mind；　lift　them　aloft　and　look　upward　to　view　the　light　of　my　God　that　enlighteneth　all　around；　and　be　thyself；　at　last；　enlightened　with　this　light　most　sweet。　　Why　art　thou　wholly　given　up　to　the　passions　and　desires　of　the　flesh；　and　why　is　there　no　looking　upward？　　Know　thou　that　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　my　Lord；　which　by　the　gospel　is　preached　unto　all；　shall　endure　for　ever。　　Why　then　dost　thou　thus　madly　cling　to　and　embrace　that　glory；　which；　like　spring　flowers；　fadeth　and　perisheth；　and　to　beastly　unsavoury　wantonness；　and　to　the　abominable　passions　of　the　belly　and　the　members　thereunder；　which　for　a　season　please　the　senses　of　fools；　but　afterwards　make　returns　more　bitter　than　gall；　when　the　shadows　and　dreams　of　this　vain　life　are　passed　away；　and　the　lovers　thereof；　and　workers　of　iniquity　are　imprisoned　in　the　perpetual　pain　of　dark　and　unquenchable　fire；　where　the　worm　that　sleepeth　not　gnaweth　for　ever；　and　where　the　fire　burneth　without　ceasing　and　without　quenching　through　endless　ages？　　And　with　these　sinners　alas！　thou　too　shalt　be　imprisoned　and　grievously　tormented；　and　shalt　bitterly　rue　thy　wicked　counsels；　and　bitterly　regret　thy　days　that　now　are；　and　think　upon　my　words；　but　there　shall　be　no　advantage　in　repentance；　for　in　death　there　is　no　confession　and　repentance。　　But　the　present　is　the　set　time　for　work：　the　future　for　reward。　　Even　if　the　pleasures　of　the　present　world　were　not　evanescent　and　fleeting；　but　were　to　endure　for　ever　with　their　owners；　not　even　thus　should　any　man　choose　them　before　the　gifts　of　Christ；　and　the　good　things　that　pass　man's　understanding。　Soothly；　as　the　sun　surpasseth　in　radiance　and　brightness　the　dead　of　night；　even　so；　and　much　more　so；　doth　the　happiness　promised　to　those　that　love　God　excel　in　glory　and　magnificence　all　earthly　kinship　and　glory；　and　there　is　utter　need　for　a　man　to　choose　the　more　excellent　before　the　more　worthless。　　And　forasmuch　as　everything　here　is　fleeting　and　subject　to　decay；　and　passeth　and　vanisheth　as　a　dream；　and　as　a　shadow　and　vision　of　sleep；　and　as　one　may　sooner　trust　the　unstable　breezes；　or　the　tracks　of　a　ship　passing　over　the　waves；　than　the　prosperity　of　men；　what　simplicity；　nay；　what　folly　and　madness　it　is　to　choose　the　corruptible　and　perishable；　the　weak　things　of　no　worth；　rather　than　the　incorruptible　and　everlasting；　the　imperishable　and　endless；　and；　by　the　temporal　enjoyment　of　these　things；　to　forfeit　the　eternal　fruition　of　the　happiness　to　come！　Wilt　thou　not　understand　this；　my　father？　　Wilt　thou　not　haste　past　the　things　which　haste　pass　thee；　and　attach　thyself　to　that　which　endureth？　　Wilt　thou　not　prefer　a　home　land　to　a　foreign　land；　light　to　darkness；　the　spirit　to　the　flesh；　eternal　life　to　the　shadow　of　death；　the　indestructible　to　the　fleeting？　　Wilt　thou　not　escape　from　the　grievous　bondage　of　the　cruel　prince　of　this　world；　I　mean　the　evil　one；　the　devil；　and　become　the　servant　of　the　good；　tenderhearted；　and　all　merciful　Lord？　　Wilt　thou　not　break　away　from　serving　thy　many　gods；　falsely　so　called；　and　serve　the　one；　true　and　living　God？　　Though　thou　hast　sinned　against　him　often　times　by　blaspheming　him；　and　often　times　by　slaying　his　servants　with　dread　torments；　yet；　I　know　well；　that　if　thou　turn　again；　he　shall　in　his　kindness　receive　thee；　and　no　more　remember　thine　offences：　because　he　willeth　not　the　death　of　a　sinner　but　rather　that　he　may　turn　and　live　　he；　who　came　down　from　the　unspeakable　heights；　to　seek　us　that　had　　gone　astray：　who　endured　for　us　Cross；　scourge　and　death：　who　bought　with　his　precious　blood　us　who　had　been　sold　in　bondage　under　sin。　　Unto　him　be　glory　and　praise　for　ever　and　ever！　Amen。〃

The　king　was　overwhelmed　with　astonishment　and　anger；　with　astonishment；　at　his　son's　wisdom　and　unanswerable　words；　with　anger；　at　the　persistence　with　which　he　denounced　his　father's　gods；　and　mocked　and　ridiculed　the　whole　tenour　of　his　life。　　He　could　not　admit　the　glory　of　his　discourse　because　of　the　grossness　of　the　darkness　within；　but　natural　affection　forbad　him　to　punish　his　son；　or　evilly　to　entreat　him；　and　he　utterly　despaired　of　moving　him　by　threats。　　Fearing　then　that；　if　he　argued　further　with　him；　his　son's　boldness　and　bitter　satire　of　the　gods　might　kindle　him　to　hotter　anger；　and　lead　him　to　do　him　a　mischief；　he　arose　in　wrath　and　withdrew。　　〃Would　that　thou　hadst　never　been　born；〃　he　cried；　〃nor　hadst　come　to　the　light　of　day；　destined　as　thou　weft　to　be　such　an　one；　a　blasphemer　of　the　gods；　and　a　renegade　from　thy　father's　love　and　admonition〃　　But　thou　shalt　not　alway　mock　the　invincible　gods；　nor　shall　their　enemies　rejoice　for　long；　nor　shall　these　knavish　sorceries　prevail。　　For　except　thou　become　obedient　unto　me；　and　right…　minded　toward　the　gods；　I　will　first　deliver　time　to　sundry　tortures；　and　then　put　thee　to　the　cruellest　death；　dealing　with　thee　not　as　with　a　son；　but　as　with　an　enemy　and　rebel。〃


XXV。

In　such　wise　did　the　father　threaten　and　wrathfully　retire。　　But　the　son　entered　his　own　bedchamber；　and　lifted　up　his　eyes　to　the　proper　judge　of　his　cause；　and　cried　out　of　the　depth　of　his　heart；　〃O　Lord　my　God；　my　sweet　hope　and　unerring　promise；　the　sure　refuge　of　them　that　are　wholly　given　up　to　thee；　with　gracious　and　kindly　eye　look　upon　the　contrition　of　my　heart；　and　leave　me　not；　neither　forsake　me。　　But；　according　to　thine　unerring　pledge；　be　thou　with　me；　thine　unworthy　and　sorry　servant。　　Thee　I　acknowledge　and　confess；　the　maker　and　provider　of　all　creation。　　Therefore　do　thou　thyself　enable　me　to　continue　in　this　good　confession；　until　my　dying　breath：　look　upon　me；　and　pity　me；　and　stand　by　and　keep　me　unhurt　by　any　working　of　Satan。　Look　upon　me；　O　King：　for　my　heart　is　enkindled　with　longing　after　thee；　and　is　parched　as　with　burning　thirst　in　the　desert；　desiring　thee；　the　well　of　immortality。　　Deliver　not　to　the　wild　beasts　my　soul　that　confesseth　thee：　forget　not　the　soul　of　the　poor　for　ever；　but　grant　me　that　am　a　sinner　throughout　my　length　of　days　to　suffer　all　things　for　thy　name's　sake　and　in　the　confession　of　thee；　and　to　sacrifice　my　whole　self　unto　thee。　　For；　with　thy　might　working　in　them；　even　the　feeble　shall　wax　exceeding　strong；　for　thou　only　art　the　unconquerable　ally　and　merciful　God；　whom　all　creation　blesseth；　glorified　for　ever　and　ever。　　Amen。〃

When　he　had　thus　prayed；　he　felt　divine　comfort　stealing　over　his　heart；　and；　fulfilled　with　courage；　he　spent　the　whole　night　in　prayer。　　Meanwhile　the　king　communed　with　Araches；　his　friend；　as　touching　his　son's　matters；　and　signified　to　him　his　son's　sheer　audacity　and　unchangeable　resolution。　　Araches　gave　counsel　that　he　should；　in　his　dealings　with　him；　show　the　utmost　kindness　and　courtesy；　in　the　hope；　perchance；　of　alluring　him　by　flattering　attentions。　　The　day　following；　the　king　came　to　his　son；　and　sat　down；　and　called　him　to　his　side。　　He　embraced　and　kissed　him　affectionately；　coaxing　him　gently　and　tenderly；　and　said；　〃O　my　darling　and　well…beloved　son；　honour　thou　thy　father's　grey　hairs：　listen　to　my　entreaty；　and　come；　do　sacrifice　to　the　gods；　thus　shalt　thou　win　their　favour；　and　receive　at　their　hands　length　of　days；　and　the　enjoyment　of　all　glory　and　of　an　undisputed　kingdom；　and　happiness　of　every　sort。　　Thus　shalt　thou　be　well　pleasing　to　me　thy　father　throughout　life　and　be　honoured　and　lauded　of　all　men。　　It　is　a　great　count　in　the　score　of　praise　to　be　obedient　to　thy　father；　especially　in　a　good　cause；　and　to　gain　the　goodwill　of　the　gods。　　What　thinkest　thou；　my　son？　　Is　it　that　I　have　willingly　declined　from　the　right；　and　chosen　to　travel　on　the　wrong　road：　or　that；　from　ignorance　and　inexperience　of　the　good；　I　have　given　myself　to　destruction？　Well；　if　thou　thinkest　that　I　willingly　prefer　the　evil　to　the　profitable；　and　choose　death　before　life；　thou　seemest　to　me；　son；　completely　to　have　missed　the　goal　in　judging。　　Dost　thou　not　see　to　what　discomfort　and　trouble　I　often　expose　myself　in　mine　expeditions　against　my　foes；　or　when　I　am　engaged　in　divers　other　business　for　the　public　good；　not　sparing　myself　even　hunger　and　thirst；　if　need　be；　the　march　on　foot；　or　the　couch　on　the　ground？　　As　for　riches　and　money；　such　is　my　contempt　and　scorn　thereof；　that　I　have　at　times　ungrudgingly　lavished　all　the　stores　of　my　palace；　to　build　mighty　temples　for　the　gods；　and　to　adorn　them　with　all　manner　of　splendour；　or　else　to　distribute　liberal　largess　to　my　soldiers。　　Possessing　then；　as　I　also　do；　this　contempt　of　pleasure　and　this　courage　in　danger；　what　zeal　would　I　not　have　devoted　to　contemning　all　else；　and　winning　my　salvation；　had　I　only　found　that　the　religion　of　the　Galileans　were　better　than　mine　own？　　But；　if　thou　condemnest　me　for　ignorance　and　inexperience　of　the　good；　consider　how　many　sleepless　nights　I　have　spent；　with　some　problem　before　me；　oft…　times　no　very　important　one；　giving　myself　no　rest　until　I　had　found　the　clear　and　most　apt　solution。

Seeing　then　that　I　reckon　that　not　even　the　least　of　these　temporal　concerns　is　unworthy　of　thought　until　all　be　fitly　completed　for　the　advantage　of　all　and　seeing　that　all　（I　ween）　bear　me　witness　that　no　man　under　the　sun　can　search　out　secrets　with　more　diligence　than　I；　how　then　could　I　have　considered　divine　things；　that　call　for　worship　and　serious　consideration；　unworthy　of　thought；　and　not　rather　have　devoted　all　my　zeal　and　might；　all　my　mind　and　soul　to　the　investigation　thereof；　to　find　out　the　right　and　the　true？　　Aye；　and　I　have　laboriously　sought　thereafter。　　Many　nights　and　days　have　I　spent　thus：　many　wise　and　learned　men　have　I　called　to　my　council；　and　with　many　of　them　that　are　called　Christians　have　I　conversed。　　By　untiring　enquiry　and　ardent　search　I　have　discovered　the　pathway　of　truth；　witnessed　by　wise　men　honoured　for　their　intelligence　and　wit；　　that　there　is　none　other　faith　than　ours。　　This　is　the　path　that　we　tread　to…day；　worshipping　the　most　puissant　gods；　and　holding　fast　to　that　sweet　and　delightsome　life；　given　by　them　to　all　men；　fulfilled　with　all　manner　of　pleasure　and　gladness　of　heart；　which　the　leaders　and　priests　of　the　Galileans　have　in　their　folly　rejected；　so　that；　in　hope　of　some　other　uncertain　life；　they　have　readily　cast　away　this　sweet　light；　and　all　those　pleasures　which　the　gods　have　bestowed　on　us　for　enjoyment；　and　all　the　while　know　not　what　they　say；　nor　whereof　they　confidently　affirm。

〃But　thou；　dearest　son；　obey　thy　father；　who；　by　diligent　and　honest　search；　hath　found　the　real　good。　　Lo；　I　have　shown　thee　that；　neither　willingly；　I　no；　nor　by　way　of　ignorance；　have　I　failed　of　the　good；　but　rather　that　I　have　found　and　laid　hold　thereon。　　And　I　earnestly　desire　that　thou　too　shouldest　not　wander　as　a　fool；　but　shouldest　follow　me。　　Have　respect　then　unto　thy　father。　　Dost　thou　not　know　how　lovely　a　thing　it　is　to　obey　one's　father；　and　please　him　in　all　ways？　　Contrariwise；　how　deadly　and　cursed　a　thing　it　is　to　provoke　a　father　and　despise　his　commands？　　As　many　as　have　done　so；　have　come　to　a　miserable　end。　　But　be　not　thou；　my　son；　one　of　t