barlaam and ioasaph-第3章

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low　degree。


III。

Now　on　his　son's　birth…day　feast　there　came　unto　the　king　some　five　and　fifty　chosen　men；　schooled　in　the　star…lore　of　the　Chaldaeans。　　These　the　king　called　into　his　presence；　and　asked　them；　severally；　to　tell　him　the　future　of　the　new…born　babe。　After　long　counsel　held；　they　said　that　he　should　be　mighty　in　riches　and　power；　and　should　surpass　all　that　had　reigned　before　him。　　But　one　of　the　astrologers；　the　most　learned　of　all　his　fellows；　spake　thus：　〃From　that　which　I　learn　from　the　courses　of　the　stars；　O　king；　the　advancement　of　the　child；　now　born　unto　thee；　will　not　be　in　thy　kingdom；　but　in　another；　a　better　and　a　greater　one　beyond　compare。　　Methinketh　also　that　he　will　embrace　the　Christian　religion；　which　thou　persecutest；　and　I　trow　that　he　will　not　be　disappointed　of　his　aim　and　hope。〃　　Thus　spake　the　astrologer；　like　Balaam　of　old；　not　that　his　star…lore　told　him　true；　but　because　God　signifieth　the　truth　by　the　mouth　of　his　enemies；　that　all　excuse　may　be　taken　from　the　ungodly。

But　when　the　king　heard　thereof；　he　received　the　tidings　with　a　heavy　heart；　and　sorrow　cut　short　his　joy。　　Howsoever　he　built；　in　a　city　set　apart；　an　exceeding　beautiful　palace；　with　cunningly　devised　gorgeous　chambers；　and　there　set　his　son　to　dwell；　after　he　had　ended　his　first　infancy；　and　he　forbade　any　to　approach　him；　appointing；　for　instructors　and　servants；　youths　right　seemly　to　behold。　　These　he　charged　to　reveal　to　him　none　of　the　annoys　of　life；　neither　death；　nor　old　age；　nor　disease；　nor　poverty；　nor　anything　else　grievous　that　might　break　his　happiness：　but　to　place　before　him　everything　pleasant　and　enjoyable；　that　his　heart；　revelling　in　these　delights；　might　not　gain　strength　to　consider　the　future；　nor　ever　hear　the　bare　mention　of　the　tale　of　Christ　and　his　doctrines。　　For　he　was　heedful　of　the　astrologer's　warning；　and　it　was　this　most　that　he　was　minded　to　conceal　from　his　son。　　And　if　any　of　the　attendants　chanced　to　fall　sick；　he　commanded　to　have　him　speedily　removed；　and　put　another　plump　and　well…favoured　servant　in　his　place；　that　the　boy's　eyes　might　never　once　behold　anything　to　disquiet　them。　　Such　then　was　the　intent　and　doing　of　the　king；　for；　'seeing；　he　did　not　see；　and　hearing；　he　did　not　understand。'

But；　learning　that　some　monks　still　remained；　of　whom　he　fondly　imagined　that　not　a　trace　was　left；　he　became　angry　above　measure；　and　his　fury　was　hotly　kindled　against　them。　　And　he　commanded　heralds　to　scour　all　the　city　and　all　the　country；　proclaiming　that　after　three　days　no　monk　whatsoever　should　be　found　therein。　　But　and　if　any　were　discovered　after　the　set　time；　they　should　be　delivered　to　destruction　by　fire　and　sword。　〃For；〃　said　he；　〃these　be　they　that　persuade　the　people　to　worship　the　Crucified　as　God。〃　　Meanwhile　a　thing　befell；　that　made　the　king　still　more　angry　and　bitter　against　the　monks。


IV。

There　was　at　court　a　man　pre…eminent　among　the　rulers；　of　virtuous　life　and　devout　in　religion。　　But　while　working　out　his　own　salvation；　as　best　he　might；　he　kept　it　secret　for　fear　of　the　king。　　Wherefore　certain　men；　looking　enviously　on　his　free　converse　with　the　king；　studied　how　they　might　slander　him；　and　this　was　all　their　thought。　　On　a　day；　when　the　king　went　forth　a…hunting　with　his　bodyguard；　as　was　his　wont；　this　good　man　was　of　the　hunting　party。　　While　he　was　walking　alone；　by　divine　providence；　as　I　believe；　he　found　a　man　in　a　covert；　cast　to　the　ground；　his　foot　grievously　crushed　by　a　wild…beast。　　Seeing　him　passing　by；　the　wounded　man　importuned　him　not　to　go　his　way；　but　to　pity　his　misfortune；　and　take　him　to　his　own　home；　adding　thereto：　〃I　hope　that　I　shall　not　be　found　unprofitable；　nor　altogether　useless　unto　thee。〃　　Our　nobleman　said　unto　him；　〃For　very　charity　I　will　take　thee　up；　and　render　thee　such　service　as　I　may。　　But　what　is　this　profit　which　thou　saidest　that　I　should

receive　of　thee？〃　　The　poor　sick　man　answered；〃I　am　a　physician　of　words。　　If　ever　in　speech　or　converse　any　wound　or　damage　be　found；　I　will　heal　it　with　befitting　medicines；　that　so　the　evil　spread　no　further。〃　　The　devout　man　gave　no　heed　to　his　word；　but　on　account　of　the　commandment；　ordered　him　to　be　carried　home；　and　grudged　him　not　that　tending　which　he　required。　　But　the　aforesaid　envious　and　malignant　persons；　bringing　forth　to　light　that　ungodliness　with　which　they　had　long　been　in　travail；　slandered　this　good　man　to　the　king；　that　not　only　did　he　forget　his　friendship　with　the　king；　and　neglect　the　worship　of　the　gods；　and　incline　to　Christianity；　but　more；　that　he　was　grievously　intriguing　against　the　kingly　power；　and　was　turning　aside　the　common　people；　and　stealing　all　hearts　for　himself。　〃But；〃　said　they；　〃if　thou　wilt　prove　that　our　charge　is　not　ungrounded；　call　him　to　thee　privately；　and；　to　try　him；　say　that　thou　desirest　to　leave　thy　fathers'　religion；　and　the　glory　of　thy　kingship；　and　to　become　a　Christian；　and　to　put　on　the　monkish　habit　which　formerly　thou　didst　persecute；　having；　thou　shalt　tell　him；　found　thine　old　course　evil。〃　　The　authors　of　this　villainous　charge　against　the　Christian　knew　the　tenderness　of　his　heart；　how　that；　if　he　heard　such　speech　from　the　king；　he　would　advise　him；　who　had　made　this　better　choice；　not　to　put　off　his　good　determinations；　and　so　they　would　be　found　just　accusers。

But　the　king；　not　forgetful　of　his　friend's　great　kindness　toward　him；　thought　these　accusations　incredible　and　false；　and　because　he　might　not　accept　them　without　proof；　he　resolved　to　try　the　fact　and　the　charge。　So　he　called　the　man　apart　and　said；　to　prove　him；　〃Friend；　thou　knowest　of　all　my　past　dealings　with　them　that　are　called　monks　and　with　all　the　Christians。　　But　now；　I　have　repented　in　this　matter；　and；　lightly　esteeming　the　present　world；　would　fain　become　partaker　of　those　hopes　whereof　I　have　heard　them　speak；　of　some　immortal　kingdom　in　the　life　to　come；　for　the　present　is　of　a　surety　cut　short　by　death。　　And　in　none　other　way；　methinks；　can　I　succeed　herein　and　not　miss　the　mark　except　I　become　a　Christian；　and；　bidding　farewell　to　the　glory　of　my　kingdom　and　all　the　pleasures　and　joys　of　life；　go　seek　those　hermits　and　monks；　wheresoever　they　be；　whom　I　have　banished；　and　join　myself　to　their　number。　　Now　what　sayest　thou　thereto；　and　what　is　thine　advice？　　Say　on；　I　adjure　thee　in　the　name　of　truth；　for　I　know　thee　to　be　true　and　wise　above　all　men。〃

The　worthy　man；　hearing　this；　but　never　guessing　the　hidden　pitfall；　was　pricked　in　spirit；　and；　melting　into　tears；　answered　in　his　simplicity；　〃O　king；　live　for　ever！　　Good　and　sound　is　the　determination　that　thou　hast　determined；　for　though　the　kingdom　of　heaven　be　difficult　to　find；　yet　must　a　man　seek　it　with　all　his　might；　for　it　is　written；　‘He　that　seeketh　shall　find　it。'　The　enjoyment　of　the　present　life；　though　in　seeming　it　give　delight　and　sweetness；　is　well　thrust　from　us。　　At　the　very　moment　of　its　being　it　ceaseth　to　be；　and　for　our　joy　repayeth　us　with　sorrow　sevenfold。　　Its　happiness　and　its　sorrow　are　more　frail　than　a　shadow；　and；　like　the　traces　of　a　ship　passing　over　the　sea；　or　of　a　bird　flying　through　the　air；　quickly　disappear。　But　the　hope　of　the　life　to　come　which　the　Christians　preach　is　certain；　and　as　surety　sure；　howbeit　in　this　world　it　hath　tribulation；　whereas　our　pleasures　now　are　short…lived；　and　in　the　beyond　they　only　win　us　correction　and　everlasting　punishment　without　release。　　For　the　pleasures　of　such　life　are　temporary；　but　its　pains　eternal；　while　the　Christians'　labours　are　temporary；　but　their　pleasure　and　gain　immortal。　　Therefore　well　befall　this　good　determination　of　the　king！　　for　right　good　it　is　to　exchange　the　corruptible　for　the　eternal。〃

The　king　heard　these　words　and　waxed　exceeding　wroth：　nevertheless　he　restrained　his　anger；　and　for　the　season　let　no　word　fall。　　But　the　other；　being　shrewd　and　quick　of　wit；　perceived　that　the　king　took　his　word　ill；　and　was　craftily　sounding　him。　　So；　on　his　coming　home；　he　fell　into　much　grief　and　distress　in　his　perplexity　how　to　conciliate　the　king　and　to　escape　the　peril　hanging　over　his　own　head。　　But　as　he　lay　awake　all　the　night　long；　there　came　to　his　remembrance　the　man　with　the　crushed　foot；　so　he　had　him　brought　before　him；　and　said；　〃I　remember　thy　saying　that　thou　weft　an　healer　of　injured　speech。〃　〃Yea；〃　quoth　he；　〃and　if　thou　wilt　I　will　give　thee　proof　of　my　skill。〃　　The　senator　answered　and　told　him　of　his　aforetime　friendship　with　the　king；　and　of　the　confidence　which　he　had　enjoyed；　and　of　the　snare　laid　for　him　in　his　late　converse　with　the　king；　how　he　had　given　a　good　answer；　but　the　king　had　taken　his　words　amiss；　and　by　his　change　of　countenance　betrayed　the　anger　lurking　within　his　heart。

The　sick　beggar…man　considered　and　said；　〃Be　it　known　unto　thee；　most　noble　sir；　that　the　king　harboureth　against　thee　the　suspicion；　that　thou　wouldest　usurp　his　kingdom；　and　he　spake；　as　he　spake；　to　sound　thee。　　Arise　therefore；　and　crop　thy　hair。　Doff　these　thy　fine　garments；　and　don　an　hair…shirt；　and　at　daybreak　present　thyself　before　the　king。　　And　when　he　asketh　thee；　‘What　meaneth　this　apparel？'　answer　him；　‘It　hath　to　do　with　thy　communing　with　me　yesterday；　O　king。　　Behold；　I　am　ready　to　follow　thee　along　the　road　that　thou　art　eager　to　travel；　for　though　luxury　be　desirable　and　passing　sweet；　God　forbid　that　I　embrace　it　after　thou　art　gone！　　Though　the　path　of　virtue；　which　thou　art　about　to　tread；　be　difficult　and　rough；　yet　in　thy　company　I　shall　find　it　easy　and　pleasant；　for　as　I　have　shared　with　thee　this　thy　prosperity　so　now　will　I　share　thy　distresses；　that　in　the　future；　as　in　the　past；　I　may　be　thy　fellow。'〃　　Our　nobleman；　approving　of　the　sick　man's　saying；　did　as　he　said。　When　the　king　saw　and　heard　him；　he　was　delighted；　and　beyond　measure　gratified　by　his　devotion　towards　him。　　He　saw　that　the　accusations　against　his　senator　were　false；　and　promoted　him　to　more　honour　and　to　a　greater　enjoyment　of　his　confidence。　　But　against　the　monks　he　again　raged　above　measure；　declaring　that　this　was　of　their　teaching；　that　men　should　abstain　from　the　pleasures　of　life；　and　rock　themselves　in　visionary　hopes。

Another　day；　when　he　was　gone　a…hunting；　he　espied　two　monks　crossing　the　desert。　　These　he　ordered　to　be　apprehended　and　brought　to　his　chariot。　　Looking　angrily　upon　them；　and　breathing　fire；　as　they　say；　〃Ye　vagabonds　and　deceivers；〃　he　cried；　〃have　ye　not　heard　the　plain　proclamation　of　the　heralds；　that　if　any　of　your　execrable　religion　were　found；　after　three　days；　in　any　city　or　country　within　my　realm；　he　should　be　burned　with　fire？〃　The　monks　answered；　〃Lo！　obedient　to　thine　order；　we　be　coming　out　of　thy　cities　and　coasts。　　But　as　the　journey　before　us　is　long；　to　get　us　away　to　our　brethren；　being　in　want　of　victuals；　we　were　making　provision　for　the　way；　that　we　perish　not　with　hunger。〃　　Said　the　king；　〃He　that　dreadeth　menace　of　death　busieth　not　himself　with　the　purveyante　of　victuals。〃　　〃Well　spoken；　O　king；〃　cried　the　monks。　　〃They　that　dread　death　have　concern　how　to　escape　it。　　And　who　are　these　but　such　as　cling　to　things　temporary　and　are　enamoured　of　them；　who；　having　no　good　hopes　yonder；　find　it　hard　to　be　wrenched　from　thi