barlaam and ioasaph-第32章
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hast denied the God of all； and called them gods that are not； the inventors of all wickedness； in order that； by wantonness and wickedness after their example； thou mayest gain the title of imitator of the gods。 For； as your gods have done； why should not also the men that follow them do？ Great then is the error that thou hast erred； O king。 Thou fearest that we should persuade certain of the people to join with us； and revolt from thy hand； and place themselves in that hand that holdeth all things； for thou willest the ministers of thy covetousness to be many； that they may be miserable while thou reapest profit from their toil； just as a man； who keepeth hounds or falcons tamed for hunting； before the hunt may be seen to pet them； but； when they have once seized the quarry； taketh the game with violence out of their mouths。 So also thou； willing that there should be many to pay thee tribute and toll from land and water； pretendest to care for their welfare； but in truth bringest on them and above all on thyself eternal ruin； and simply to pile up gold； more worthless than dung or rottenness； thou hast been deluded into taking darkness for light。 But recover thy wits from this earthly sleep： open thy sealed eyes； and behold the glory of God that shineth round about us all； and come at length to thyself。 For saith the prophet； ‘Take heed； ye unwise among the people； and； O ye fools； understand at last。' Understand thou that there is no God except our God； and no salvation except in him。〃
But the king said； 〃Cease this foolish babbling； and anon discover to me Barlaam： else shalt thou taste instruments of torture such as thou hast never tasted before。〃 That noble… minded； great…hearted monk； that lover of the heavenly philosophy； was not moved by the king's threats； but stood unflinching； and said； 〃We are not commanded to fulfil thy hest； O king； but the orders of our Lord and God who teacheth us temperance； that we should be lords over all pleasures and passions； and practise fortitude； so as to endure all toil and all ill…treatment for righteousness' sake。 The more perils that thou subjectest us to for the sake of our religion； the more shalt thou be our benefactor。 Do therefore as thou wilt： for we shall not consent to do aught outside our duty； nor shall we surrender ourselves to sin。 Deem not that it is a slight sin to betray a fellow…combatant and fellow…soldier into thy hands。 Nay； but thou shalt not have that scoff to make at us； no； not if thou put us to ten thousand deaths。 We be not such cowards as to betray our religion through dread of thy torments； or to disgrace the law divine。 So then； if such be thy purpose； make ready every weapon to defend thy claim； for to us to live is Christ； and to die for him is the best gain。〃
Incensed with anger thereat； the monarch ordered the tongues of these Confessors to be rooted out； and their eyes digged out； and likewise their hands and feet lopped off。 Sentence passed； the henchmen and guards surrounded and mutilated them； without pity and without ruth。 And they plucked out their tongues from their mouths with prongs； and severed them with brutal severity； and they digged out their eyes with iron claws； and stretched their arms and legs on the rack； and lopped them off。 But those blessed； shamefast； noble…hearted men went bravely to torture like guests to a banquet； exhorting one another to meet death for Christ his sake undaunted。
In such divers tortures did these holy monks lay down their lives for the Lord。 They were in all seventeen。 By common consent； the pious mind is superior to sufferings； as hath been said by one； but not of us； when narrating the martydom of the aged priest； and of the seven sons with their equally brave mother when contending for the law of their fathers： whose bravery and lofty spirit； however； was equalled by these marvellous fathers and citizens and heirs of Hierusalem that is above。
XXIV。
After the monks had made this godly end； the king bade Araches； his chief councillor； now that they had failed of their first plan； to look to the second and summon the man Nachor。 At dead of night Araches repaired to his cave （he dwelt in the desert practising the arts of divination）； and told him of their plans； and returned to the king at day…break。 Again he demanded horsemen； and made as though he went in quest of Barlaam。 When he was gone forth； and was walking the desert； a man was seen to issue from a ravine。 Araches gave command to his men to pursue him。 They took and brought him before their master。 When asked who he was； what his religion and what his name； the man declared himself a Christian and gave his name as Barlaam； even as he had been instructed。 Araches made great show of joy； apprehended him and returned quickly to the king； and told his tale and produced his man。 Then said the king in the hearing of all present； 〃Art thou the devil's workman； Barlaam？〃 But he denied it； saying； 〃I am God's workman； not the devil's。 Revile me not； for I am thy debtor to render me much thanks； because I have taught thy son to serve God； and have turned him from error to the true God； and have schooled him in all manner of virtue。〃 Feigning anger； again spake the king； 〃Though I ought to allow thee never a word； and give thee no room for defence； but rather do thee to death without question； yet such is my humanity that I will bear with thine effrontery until on a set day I try thy cause。 If thou be persuaded by me； thou shalt receive pardon： if not； thou shalt die the death。〃 With these words he delivered him to Araches； commanding that he should be most strictly guarded。
On the morrow the king removed thence； and came back to his own palace； and it was blazoned abroad that Barlaam was captured； so that the king's son heard thereof and was exceeding sad at heart； and could in no wise refrain from weeping。 With groans and lamentations he importuned God； and called upon him to succour the aged man。 Nor did the good God despise his complaint； for he is loving with them that abide him in the day of trouble； and knoweth them that fear him。 Wherefore in a night…vision he made known the whole plot to the young prince； and strengthened and cheered him for the trial of his righteousness。 So； when the prince awoke from sleep； he found that his heart； erstwhile so sore and heavy； was now full of joyaunce； courage and pleasant light。 But the king rejoiced at that which he had done and planned； imagining that he was well advised； and showering thanks on Araches。 But wickedness lied to itself； to use the words of holy David； and righteousness overcame iniquity； completely overthrowing it； and causing the memorial thereof to perish with sound； as our tale in its sequel shall show。
After two days the king visited his son's palace。 When his son came forth for to meet him； instead of kissing him； as was his wont； the father put on a show of distress and anger； and entered the royal chamber； and there sat down frowning。 Then calling to his son； he said； 〃Child； what is this report that soundeth in mine ears； and weareth away my soul with despondency？ Never； I ween； was man more filled with gladness of heart at the birth of a son than was I at thine； and； I trow； never was man so distressed and cruelly treated by child as I have now been by thee。 Thou hast dishonoured my grey hairs； and taken away the light of mine eyes； and loosed the strength of my sinews； ‘for the thing which I greatly feared concerning thee is come upon me； and that which I was afraid of hath come unto me。' Thou art become a joy to mine enemies； and a laughing~stock to mine adversaries。 With untutored mind and childish judgement thou hast followed the teaching of the deceivers and esteemed the counsel of the malicious above mine； thou hast forsaken the worship of our gods and become the servant of a strange God。 Child； wherefore hast thou done this？ I hoped to bring thee up in all safety； and have thee for the staff and support of mine old age； and leave thee； as is most meet； to succeed me in my kingdom； but thou wast not ashamed to play against me the part of a relentless foe。 And shouldst thou not rather have listened to me； and followed my in
