barlaam and ioasaph-第40章

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itable　to　you　to　worship　God　the　Creator；　and　hearken　to　his　incorruptible　sayings；　in　order　that　ye　may　escape　judgement　and　punishment；　and　be　found　partakers　of　deathless　life。〃


XXVIII。

When　Nachor　had　fully　delivered　this　oration；　the　king　changed　countenance　for　very　anger；　but　his　orators　and　temple…keepers　stood　speechless；　having　nothing　but　a　few　weak　and　rotten　shreds　of　argument　in　reply。　　But　the　king's　son　rejoiced　in　spirit　and　with　glad　countenance　magnified　the　Lord；　who　had　made　a　path；　where　no　path　was；　for　them　tat　trusted　in　him；　who　by　the　mouth　of　a　foeman　and　enemy　was　establishing　the　truth；　and　the　leader　of　error　had　proved　a　defender　of　the　right　cause。

But　the　king；　although　furiously　enraged　with　Nachor；　was　nevertheless　unable　to　do　him　any　mischief；　because　of　the　proclamation　already　read　before　all；　wherein　he　urged　him　to　plead　without　fear　in　behalf　of　the　Christians。　　So　he　himself　made　answer　in　many　words；　and　by　dark　speeches　hinted　that　Nachor　should　relax　his　resistance；　and　be　worsted　by　the　argument　of　the　orators。　　But　Nachor　the　more　mightily　prevailed；　tearing　to　pieces　all　their　propositions　and　conclusions　and　exposing　the　fallacy　of　their　error。　　After　the　debate　had　been　prolonged　till　well…nigh　eventide；　the　king　dismissed　the　assembly；　making　as　though　he　would　renew　the　discussion　on　the　morrow。

Then　said　Ioasaph　to　the　king　his　father；　〃As　at　the　beginning；　Sir；　thou　commandedst　that　the　trial　should　be　just；　so　too　crown　the　end　thereof　with　justice；　by　doing　one　or　other　of　these　two　things。　　Either　allow　my　teacher　to　tarry　with　me　to…night；　that　we　may　take　counsel　together　as　touching　those　things　which　we　must　say　unto　our　adversaries　tomorrow：　and　do　thou　in　turn　take　thine　advisers　unto　thee；　and　duly　practise　yourselves　as　ye　will。　　Or　else　deliver　thy　counsellors　to　me　this　night；　and　take　mine　to　thyself。　　But　if　both　sides　be　with　thee；　mine　advocate　in　tribulation　and　fear；　but　thine　in　joy　and　refreshment；　me　thinketh　it　is　not　a　fair　trial；　but　a　tyrannical　misuse　of　power；　and　a　breaking　of　the　covenants。〃　　The　king；　compelled　to　yield　by　the　gracefulness　of　this　speech　took　his　wise　men　and　priests　to　himself；　and　delivered　Nachor　to　his　son；　still　having　hopes　of　him　and　thinking　fit　to　keep　his　agreement。

The　king's　son；　therefore；　departed　unto　his　own　palace；　like　a　conqueror　in　the　Olympic　games；　and　with　him　went　Nachor。　　When　alone；　the　prince　called　him　and　said；　〃Think　not　that　I　am　ignorant　of　thy　tale；　for　I　wot；　of　a　surety；　that　thou　art　not　saintly　Barlaam；　but　Nachor　the　astrologer；　and　I　marvel　how　it　seemed　thee　good　to　act　this　play；　and　to　think　that　thou　couldst　so　dull　my　sight　at　mid…day；　that　I　should　mistake　a　wolf　for　a　sheep。　　But　well　sung　is　the　proverb；　‘The　heart　of　a　fool　will　conceive　folly。'　　So　this　your　device　and　counsel　was　stale　and　utterly　senseless；　but　the　work　that　thou　hast　accomplished　is　full　of　wisdom。　　Wherefore；　rejoice；　Nachor；　and　be　exceeding　glad。　　I　render　thee　many　thanks；　that　thou　hast　been　to…day　advocate　of　the　truth；　and　hast　not　polluted　thy　lips　with　foul　words　and　crafty　simulation；　but　hast　rather　cleansed　them　from　many　defilements；　and　thoroughly　proven　the　error　of　the　gods；　as　they　be　wrongly　called；　and　hast　established　the　truth　of　the　Christian　faith。　　I　have　been　zealous　to　bring　thee　hither　with　me　for　two　reasons；　that　the　king　might　not　privily　seize　and　punish　thee；　because　thou　spakest　not　after　his　heart；　and　next　that　I　might　recompense　thee　for　the　favour　that　thou　hast　done　me　to…day。　　And　what　is　my　recompense　for　thee？　　To　show　thee　how　to　turn　from　the　evil　and　slippery　road　which　thou　hast　trodden　until　now；　and　to　journey　along　the　straight　and　saving　pathway　which　thou　hast　avoided；　not　in　ignorance；　but　by　wilful　wrongdoing；　throwing　thyself　into　depths　and　precipices　of　iniquity。　　Understand　then；　Nachor；　man　of　understanding　as　thou　art；　and　be　thou　zealous　to　gain　Christ　only；　and　the　life　that　is　hid　with　him；　and　despise　this　fleeting　and　corruptible　world。　Thou　shalt　not　live　for　ever；　but；　being　mortal；　shalt　depart　hence　ere　long；　even　as　all　that　have　been　before　thee。　　And　wo　betide　thee；　if；　with　the　heavy　load　of　sin　on　thy　shoulders；　thou　depart　thither　where　there　is　righteous　judgement　and　recompense　for　thy　works；　and　cast　it　not　off；　while　it　is　easy　to　rid　thyself　thereof！〃

Pricked　at　heart　by　these　words；　spake　Nachor；　〃Well　said！　　Sir　prince；　well　said！　　I　do　know　the　true　and　very　God；　by　whom　all　things　were　made；　and　I　wot　of　the　judgement　to　come；　having　heard　thereof　from　many　texts　of　the　Scriptures。　　But　evil　habit　and　the　insolence　of　the　ancient　supplanter　hath　blinded　the　eyes　of　my　heart；　and　shed　a　thick　darkness　over　my　reason。　　But　now；　at　thy　word；　I　will　cast　away　the　veil　of　gloom；　and　run　unto　the　light　of　the　countenance　of　the　Lord。　　May　be；　he　will　have　mercy　on　me；　and　will　open　a　door　of　repentance　to　his　wicked　and　rebellious　servant；　even　if　it　seem　impossible　to　me　that　my　sins；　which　are　heavier　than　the　sand；　be　forgiven；　sins；　which；　wittingly　or　unwittingly；　I　have　sinned　from　childhood　upwards　to　this　my　hoary　age。〃

When　the　king's　son　heard　these　words；　immediately　he　arose；　and　his　heart　waxed　warm；　and　he　began　to　try　to　raise　Nachor's　courage　which　was　drooping　to　despair；　and　to　confirm　it　in　the　faith　of　Christ；　saying；　〃Let　no　doubt　about　this；　Nachor；　find　place　in　thy　mind。　　For　it　is　written；　God　is　able　of　these　very　stones　to　raise　up　children　unto　Abraham。　　What　meaneth　this　（as　father　Barlaam　said）　except　that　men　beyond　hope；　stained　with　all　manner　of　wickedness；　can　be　saved；　and　become　servants　of　Christ；　who；　in　the　exceeding　greatness　of　his　love　toward　mankind；　hath　opened　the　gates　of　heaven　to　all　that　turn；　barring　the　way　of　salvation　to　none；　and　receiving　with　compassion　them　that　repent？　　Wherefore　to　all　that　have　entered　the　vineyard　at　the　first；　third；　sixth；　ninth　or　eleventh　hour　there　is　apportioned　equal　pay；　as　saith　the　holy　Gospel：　so　that　even　if；　until　this　present　time；　thou　hast　waxen　old　in　thy　sins；　yet　if　thou　draw　nigh　with　a　fervent　heart；　thou　shalt　gain　the　same　rewards　as　they　who　have　laboured　from　their　youth　upwards。〃

With　these　and　many　other　words　did　that　saintly　youth　speak　of　repentance　to　that　aged　sinner　Nachor；　promising　him　that　Christ　was　merciful；　and　pledging　him　forgiveness；　and　satisfying　him　that　the　good　God　is　alway　ready　to　receive　the　penitent；　and　with　these　words；　as　it　were　with　ointments；　did　he　mollify　that　ailing　soul　and　give　it　perfect　health。　　Nachor　at　once　said　unto　him；　〃O　prince；　more　noble　in　soul　even　than　in　outward　show；　well　instructed　in　these　marvellous　mysteries；　mayst　thou　continue　in　thy　good　confession　until　the　end；　and　may　neither　time　nor　tide　ever　pluck　it　out　of　thine　heart！　　For　myself；　I　will　depart　straightway　in　search　of　my　salvation；　and　will　by　penance　pacify　that　God　whom　I　have　angered：　for；　except　thou　will　it；　I　shall　see　the　king's　face　no　more。〃　　Then　was　the　prince　exceeding　glad；　and　joyfully　heard　his　saying。　　And　he　embraced　and　kissed　him　affectionately；　and；　when　he　had　prayed　earnestly　to　God；　he　sent　him　forth　from　the　palace。

So　Nachor　stepped　forth　with　a　contrite　heart；　and　went　bounding　into　the　depths　of　the　desert；　like　as　doth　an　hart；　and　came　to　a　den　belonging　to　a　monk　that　had　attained　to　the　dignity　of　the　priesthood；　and　was　hiding　there　for　fear　of　the　pressing　danger。　With　a　right　warm　heart　knelt　Nachor　down　before　him；　and　washed　his　feet　with　his　tears；　like　the　harlot　of　old；　and　craved　holy　Baptism。　　The　priest；　full　of　heavenly　grace；　was　passing　glad；　and　did　at　once　begin　to　instruct　him；　as　the　custom　is；　and　after　many　days；　perfected　him　with　baptism　in　the　name　of　the　Father；　and　of　the　Son；　and　of　the　Holy　Ghost。　　And　Nachor　abode　with　him；　always　repentant　of　his　sins；　and　blessing　that　God　who　never　willeth　that　ally　should　perish；　but　receiveth　all　that　turn　again　unto　him；　and　lovingly　accepteth　the　penitent。

Now　on　the　morrow　when　the　king　heard　what　had　befallen　Nachor；　he　despaired　of　the　hopes　that　he　once　had　in　him：　and；　seeing　those　wise