barlaam and ioasaph-第38章

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irs；　how　it　runneth　round　and　round；　turning　and　whirling　them　now　up；　now　down：　and　amid　all　its　sudden　changes；　keep　thou　unchanged　a　pious　mind。　　To　change　with　every　change　of　affairs　betokeneth　an　unstable　heart。　　But　be　thou　steadfast；　wholly　established　upon　that　which　is　good。　　Be　not　lifted　and　vainly　puffed　up　because　of　temporal　honour；　but；　with　purified　reason；　understand　the　nothingness　of　thine　own　nature；　and　the　span…length　and　swift　flight　of　life　here；　and　death　the　yoke…fellow　of　the　flesh。　　If　thou　consider　these　things；　thou　shalt　not　be　cast　into　the　pit　of　arrogance；　but　shalt　fear　God；　the　true　and　heavenly　King；　and　verily　thou　shalt　be　blessed。　　For　he　saith；　‘Blessed　are　all　they　that　fear　the　Lord；　and　walk　in　his　ways；'　and　‘Blessed　is　the　man　that　feareth　the　Lord：　he　shall　have　great　delight　in　his　commandments。'　　And　which　commandments　above　all　shouldest　thou　observe？　　‘Blessed　are　the　merciful；　for　they　shall　obtain　mercy；'　and　‘Be　ye　merciful；　as　your　heavenly　Father　is　merciful。'　　For　the　fulfilment　of　this　commandment；　above　all；　is　required　of　them　that　are　in　high　authority。　　And；　soothly；　the　holder　of　great　authority　ought　to　imitate　the　giver　of　that　authority　to　the　best　of　his　ability。　　And　herein　shall　he　best　imitate　God；　by　considering　that　nothing　is　to　be　preferred　before　showing　mercy。　Nay；　further；　nothing　so　surely　draweth　the　subject　to　loyalty　toward　his　Sovereign　as　the　grace　of　charity　bestowed　on　such　as　need　it。　　For　the　service　that　cometh　from　fear　is　flattery　in　disguise；　with　the　pretence　of　respect　cozening　them　that　pay　heed　to　it；　and　the　unwilling　subject　rebelleth　when　he　findeth　occasion。　　Whereas　he　that　is　held　by　the　ties　of　loyalty　is　steadfast　in　his　obedience　to　the　ruling　power。　　Wherefore　be　thou　easy　of　access　to　all　and　open　thine　ears　unto　the　poor；　that　thou　mayest　find　the　ear　of　God　open　unto　thee。　　For　as　we　are　to　our　fellow…servants；　such　shall　we　find　our　Master　to　us…ward。　　And；　like　as　we　do　hear　others；　so　shall　we　be　heard　ourselves：　and；　as　we　see；　so　shall　we　be　seen　by　the　divine　all…　seeing　eye。　　Therefore　pay　we　first　mercy　for　mercy；　that　we　may　obtain　like　for　like。

〃But　hear　yet　another　commandment；　the　fellow　of　the　former；　‘Forgive；　and　it　shall　be　forgiven　unto　you；'　and　‘If　ye　forgive　not　men　their　trespasses；　neither　will　your　heavenly　father　forgive　you　your　trespasses。'　　Wherefore　bear　no　malice　against　them　that　offend　against　thee；　but；　when　thou　askest　forgiveness　of　thy　sins；　forgive　thyself　also　them　that　injure　thee；　because　forgiveness　is　repaid　by　forgiveness；　and　by　making　peace　with　our　fellow…servants　we　are　ourselves　delivered　from　the　wrath　of　our　Master。　　Again；　a　lack　of　compassion　towards　them　that　trespass　against　us　maketh　our　own　trespasses　unpardonable；　even　as　thou　hast　heard　what　befell　the　man　that　owed　ten　thousand　talents；　how；　through　his　want　of　pity　on　his　fellow…servant；　he　was　again　required　to　pay　all　that　mighty　debt。　　So　we　must　take　good　heed　lest　a　like　fate　betide　us。　　But　let　us　forgive　every　debt；　and　cast　all　anger　out　of　our　hearts；　in　order　that　our　many　debts；　too；　may　be　forgiven。　　Beside　this；　and　before　all　things；　keep　thou　that　good　thing　which　is　committed　to　thy　trust；　the　holy　Word　of　faith　wherein　thou　hast　been　taught　and　instructed。　　And　let　no　tare　of　heresy　grow　up　amongst　you；　but　preserve　the　heavenly　seed　pure　and　sincere；　that　it　may　yield　a　manifold　harvest　to　the　master；　when　he　cometh　to　demand　account　of　our　lives；　and　to　reward　us　according　to　our　deeds；　when　the　righteous　shall　shine　forth　as　the　sun；　but　darkness　and　everlasting　shame　shall　cover　the　sinners。　　And　now；　brethren；　I　commend　you　to　God；　and　to　the　word　of　his　grace；　which　is　able　to　build　you　up；　and　to　give　you　an　inheritance　among　all　them　which　are　sanctified。〃

And　when　he　had　thus　spoken；　he　kneeled　down；　as　it　is　written；　and　prayed　again　in　tears。　　And　he　turned　him　round；　and　kissed　Barachias；　whom　he　had　chosen　to　their　king；　and　all　the　officers。　　Then　came　a　scene　fit；　belike；　to　make　one　weep。　　They　all　crowded　around　him；　as　though　his　presence　meant　life　to　them；　and　his　departure　would　reave　them　of　their　very　souls；　and　what　piteous　pleading；　what　extravagance　of　grief　did　they　omit？　They　kissed　him；　they　hung　about　him；　they　were　beside　themselves　for　anguish　of　heart。　〃Wo　is　us；〃　cried　they；　〃for　this　grievous　calamity！〃　　They　called　him；　Master；　Father；　Saviour；　Benefactor。　〃Through　thine；〃　said　they；　〃we　learned　to　know　God；　and　were　redeemed　from　error；　and　found　rest　from　every　ill。　　What　remaineth　us　after　thou　art　gone？　　What　evils　shall　not　befall　us？〃　　Thus　saying；　they　smote　upon　their　breasts；　and　bewailed　the　misfortune　that　had　overtaken　them。　　But　he　with　words　of　comfort　hushed　their　sobs；　and　promised　to　be　with　them　still　in　the　spirit　though　he　might　no　longer　abide　with　them　in　the　body。　And　when　he　had　thus　spoken；　in　the　sight　of　all　he　went　forth　from　the　palace。　　And　immediately　all　the　people　followed　him。　They　despaired　of　his　return；　they　ran　from　the　city；　as　from　a　sight　that　they　could　no　longer　endure。　　But　when　they　were　outside　the　city；　Ioasaph　addressed　them　with　sharp　words；　and　chode　with　them　harshly；　and　so　they　were　parted　from　him；　and　unwillingly　went　home；　often　turning　round　to　look　on　him；　and　stumbling　on　their　road。　　And　some　of　the　hotter　spirits　also　followed　afar　off　weeping；　until　the　shades　of　night　parted　them　one　from　another。


XXXVII。

Thus　this　noble　man　went　forth　from　his　palace　rejoicing；　as　when　after　long　exile　a　man　returneth　with　joy　to　his　own　country。　Outwardly　he　wore　the　robes　that　he　was　wont　to　wear；　but　beneath　was　the　hair…shirt　which　Barlaam　had　given　him。　　That　night　he　halted　at　a　poor　man's　cabin；　and　stripped　himself　of　his　outer　raiment；　which；　as　his　last　alms；　he　bestowed　upon　his　poor　host；　and　thus　by　the　prayers　of　that　poor　man；　as　well　as　of　so　many　others；　he　made　God　his　ally；　and　put　on　his　grace　and　help　as　a　garment　of　salvation；　and；　clad　in　a　coat　of　gladness；　thus　went　he　off　to　his　hermit…life；　carrying　with　him　neither　bread；　nor　water；　nor　any　necessary　food；　with　no　garment　upon　him　save　the　aforesaid　rough　shirt。　　For　his　heart　was　wounded　with　a　marvellous　longing　and　divine　love　for　Christ　the　immortal　King；　he　was　beside　himself　with　longing；　mad　for　God；　possessed　by　love　of　him；　〃For　love；〃　he　saith；　〃is　strong　as　fire。〃　　So　drunken　was　he　with　this　heavenly　love；　so　parched　with　thirst；　according　to　him　that　saith；　〃Like　as　the　hart　desireth　the　water…brooks；　so　longeth　my　soul　after　time；　O　God。　　My　soul　is　athirst　for　the　mighty　and　living　God〃；　or；　as　the　soul　that　is　sick　of　love　crieth　in　the　Song　of　Songs；　〃Thou　hast　ravished　us；　ravished　us　with　the　desire　of　thee〃；　and；　〃Let　me　see　thy　countenance；　and　let　me　hear　thy　voice；　for　thy　voice　is　a　sweet　voice；　and　thy　countenance　is　comely。〃

It　was　the　desire　for　this　unspeakable　comeliness　of　Christ　that　fired　the　hearts　of　the　Apostolic　Quire　and　of　the　Martyr　folk　to　despise　the　things　that　are　seen；　and　all　this　temporal　life；　and　the　rather　to　choose　ten　thousand　forms　of　death　and　torture；　being　enamoured　of　his　heavenly　beauty；　and　bearing　in　mind　the　charm　that　the　divine　Word　used　for　to　win　our　love。　　Such　was　the　fire　that　was　kindled　in　the　soul　of　this　fair　youth　also；　noble　in　body；　but　most　noble　and　kingly　in　soul；　that　led　him　to　despise　all　earthly　things　alike；　to　trample　on　all　bodily　pleasures；　and　to　contemn　riches　and　glory　and　the　praise　of　men；　to　lay　aside　diadem　and　purple；　as　of　less　worth　than　cobwebs；　and　to　surrender　himself　to　all　the　hard　and　irksome　toils　of　the　ascetic　life；　crying；　〃O　my　Christ；　my　soul　is　fixed　upon　thee；　and　thy　right　hand　hath　upholden　me。〃

Thus；　without　looking　back；　he　passed　into　the　depth　of　the　desert；　and；　laying　aside；　like　a　heavy　burden　and　clog；　the　stress　of　transitory　things；　he　rejoiced　in　the　Spirit；　and　looked　steadfastly　on　Christ；　whom　he　longed　for；　and　cried　aloud　to　him；　as　though　he　were　there　present　to　hear　his　voice；　saying；　〃Lord；　let　mine　eyes　never　again　see　the　good　things　of　this　present　world。　　Never；　from　this　moment；　let　my　soul　be　excited　by　these　present　vanities；　but　fill　mine　eyes　with　spiritual　tears；　direct　my　goings　in　thy　way；　and　show　me　thy　servant　Barlaam。　　Show　me　him　that　was　the　means　of　my　salvation；　that　I　may　learn　of　him　the　exact　rule　of　this　lonely　and　austere　life；　and　may　not　be　tripped　up　through　ignorance　of　the　wiles　of　the　enemy。　　Grant　me；　O　Lord；　to　discover　the　way　whereby　to　attain　unto　thee；　for　my　soul　is　sick　of　love　for　thee；　and　I　am　athirst　for　thee；　the　well　of　salvation。〃

These　were　the　thoughts　of　his　heart　continually；　and　he　communed　with　God；　being　made　one　with　him　by　prayer　and　sublime　meditation。　　And　thus　eagerly　he　pursued　the　road；　hoping　to　arrive　at　the　place　where　Barlaam　dwelt。　　His　meat　was　the　herbs　that　grow　in　the　desert；　for　he　carried　nothing　with　him；　as　I　have　already　said；　save　his　own　bones；　and　the　ragged　garment　that　was　around　him。

But　whilst　he　found　some　food；　though　scanty　and　insufficient；　from　the　herbs；　of　water　he　was　quite　destitute　in　that　waterless　and　dry　desert。　　And　so　at　noon…tide；　as　he　held　on　his　way　under　the　fierce　blaze　of　the　sun；　he　was　parched　with　thirst　in　the　hot　drought　of　that　desert　place；　and　he　suffered　the　extreme　of　anguish。　　But　desire　of　Christ　conquered　nature；　and　the　thirst　wherewith　he　thirsted　for　God　bedewed　the　heat　of　thirst　for　water。

Now　the　devil；　being　envious　and　full　of　hate　for　that　which　is　beautiful；　unable　to　endure　the　sight　of　such　steadfastness　of　purpose；　and　glowing　love　towards　God；　raised　up　against　Ioasaph　many　temptations　in　the　wilderness。　　He　called　to　his　remembrance　his　kingly　glory；　and　his　magnificent　body…guard；　his　friends；　kinsfolk　and　companions；　and　how　the　lives　of　all　had　depended　on　his　life；　and　he　minded　him　of　the　other　solaces　of　life。　　Then　he　would　confront　him　with　the　hardness　of　virtue；　and　the　many　sweats　that　she　requireth；　with　the　weakness　of　his　flesh；　with　his　lack　of　practice　in　such　rigours；　the　long　years　to　come；　this　present　distress　from　thirst；　his　want　of　any　comfort；　and　the　unendingness　of　his　toils。　　In　a　word；　he　raised　a　great　dust…cloud　of　reasonings　in　his　mind；　exactly；　I　ween；　as　it　hath　been　recorded　of　the　mighty　Antony。

But；　when　the　enemy　saw　himself　too　weak　to　shake　that　purpose　（for　Ioasaph　set　Christ　before　his　mind；　and　glowed　with　love　of　him；　and　was　well　strengthened　by　hope；　and　steadfast　in　faith；　and　recked　nothing　of　the　devil　and　his　suggestions）；　then　was　the　adversary　ashamed　of　having　fallen　in　the　first　assault。　　So　he　came　by　another　road　（for　many　are　his　paths　of　wickedness）；　and　endeavoured　to　overthrow　and　terrify　Ioasaph　by　means　of　divers　apparitions。　　Sometimes　he　appeared　to　him　in　black；　and　such　indeed　he　is：　sometimes　with　a　drawn　sword　he　leapt　upon　him；　and　threatened　to　strike；　unless　he　speedily　turned　back。　　At　other　times　he　assumed　the　shapes　of　all　manner　of　beasts；　roaring　and　making　a　terrible　din　and　bellowing；　or　again　he　became　a　dragon；　adder；　or　basilisk。　　But　that　fair　and　right　noble　athlete　kept　his　soul　in　q