barlaam and ioasaph-第29章

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ary　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？　　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　t