barlaam and ioasaph-第31章
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rlaam 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； which is the devil； who dwelleth in your midst and is worshipped and served by you。〃 The governor said； 〃It is for Barlaam that I make search； and I asked thee of him； to learn where he is。〃 The monk answered； 〃And wherefore then spakest thou in this ambiguous manner； asking about him that had deceived the king's son？ If thou wast seeking Barlaam； thou shouldest certainly have said； ‘Where is he that hath turned from error and saved the king's son？' Barlaam is our brother and fellow…monk。 But now for many days past we have not seen his face。〃 Said Araches； 〃Show me his abode。〃 The monk answered； 〃Had he wished to see you； he would have come forth to meet you。 As for us； it is not lawful to make known to you his hermitage。〃
Thereupon the governor waxed full of indignation； and； casting a haughty and savage glance upon him； said； 〃Ye shall die no ordinary death； except ye immediately bring Barlaam before me。〃 〃What；〃 said the monk； 〃seest thou in our case that should by its attractions cause us to cling to life； and be afraid of death at thy hands？ Whereas we should the rather feel grateful to thee for removing us from life in the close adherence to virtue。 For we dread； not a little； the uncertainty of the end； knowing not in what state death shall overtake us； lest perchance a slip of the inclination； or some despiteful dealing of the devil； may alter the constancy of our choice； and mis…persuade us to think or do contrary to our covenants with God。 Wherefore abandon all hope of gaining the knowledge that ye desire； and shrink not to work your will。 We shall neither reveal the dwelling…place of our brother； whom God loveth； although we know it； nor shall we betray any other monasteries unbeknown to ye。 We will not endure to escape death by such cowardice。 Nay； liefer would we die honourably； and offer unto God； after the sweats of virtue； the life…blood of courage。〃
That man of sin could not brook this boldness of speech； and was moved to the keenest passion against this high and noble spirit； and afflicted the monks with many stripes and tortures。 Their courage and nobility won admiration even from that tyrant。 But； when after many punishments he failed to persuade them； and none of them consented to discover Barlaam； he took and ordered them to be led to the king； bearing with them the wallet with the relics； and to be beaten and shamefully entreated as they went。
XXIII。
After many days Araches brought them to the king； and declared their case。 Then he set them before the bitterly incensed king： and he； when he saw them； boiled over with fury and was like to one mad。 He ordered them to be beaten without mercy； and； when he saw them cruelly mangled with scourges； could scarcely restrain his madness； and order the tormentors to cease。 Then said he unto them； 〃Why bear ye about these dead men's bones？ If ye carry these bones through affection for those men to whom they belong； this very hour I will set you in their company； that ye may meet your lost friends and be duly grateful to me。〃 The captain and leader of that godly band； setting at naught the king's threats； showing no sign of the torment that he had undergone； with free voice and radiant countenance that signified the grace that dwelt in his soul； cried out； 〃We carry about these clean and holy bones； O king； because we attest in due form our love of those marvellous men to whom they belong： and because we would bring ourselves to remember their wrestlings and lovely conversation； to rouse up ourselves to the like zeal； and because we would catch some vision of the rest and felicity wherein they now live； and thus； as we call them blessed； and provoke one another to emulate them； strive to follow in their footsteps： because moreover； we find thereby that the thought of death； which is right profitable； lendeth wings of zeal to our religious exercises； and lastly； because we derive sanctification from their touch。〃
Again said the king； 〃If the thought of death be profitable； as ye say； why should ye not reach that thought of death by the bones of the bodies that are now your own； and are soon to perish； rather than by the bones of other men which have already perished？〃
The monk said； 〃Five reasons I gave thee； why we carry about these relics； and thou； making answer to one only； art like to be mocking us。 But know thou well that the bones of them； that have already departed this life； bring the thought of death more vividly before us than do the bones of the living。 But since thou judgest otherwise； and since the bones of thine own body are to thee a type of death； why dost thou not recollect thy latter end so shortly to come； and set thine house in order； instead of giving up thy soul to all kinds of iniquities； and violently and unmercifully murdering the servants of God and lovers of righteousness； who have done thee no wrong； and seek not to share with thee in present goods； nor are ambitious to rob thee of them？〃
Said the king； 〃I do well to punish you； ye clever misleaders of the folk； because ye deceive all men； counselling them to abstain from the enjoyments of life； and because； instead of the sweets of life and the allures of appetite and pleasure； ye constrain them to choose the rough； filthy and squalid way； and preach that they should render to Jesus the honour due unto the gods。 Accordingly； in order that the people may not follow your deceits and leave the land desolate； and； forsaking the gods of their fathers； serve another； I think it just to subject you to punishment and death。〃
The monk answered； 〃If thou art eager that all should partake of the good things of life； why dost thou not distribute dainties and riches equally amongst all？ And why is it that the common herd are pinched with poverty； while thou addest ever to thy store by seizing for thyself the goods of others？ Nay； thou carest not for the weal of the many； but fattenest thine own flesh； to be meat for the worms to feed on。 Wherefore also thou hast denied the God of all； and called them gods that are not； the inventors of all wickedness； in
