barlaam and ioasaph-第43章

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given　him；　and　once　more　prepared　his　drugs；　and　on　this　wise。　

The　devil　entered　into　the　heart　of　one　of　the　young　damsels。　　Of　all　she　was　the　most　seemly；　a　king's　daughter；　carried　away　captive　from　her　own　country；　given　to　king　Abenner　as　a　great　prize；　and　sent　by　him；　being　of　ripe　beauty；　to　his　own　son；　for　to　cause　him　to　slip　or　to　trip。　　Of　her　the　deceiver　took　possession；　and　whispered　in　her　ear　suggestions　that　plainly　showed　the　wisdom　and　understanding　of　her　mind；　for　the　evil　one　easily　pursueth　all　devices　that　make　for　wickedness。　　Then　the　evil　spirit　attacked　the　king's　son　on　the　right　hand；　and　gave　him　a　potion　to　make　him　love　the　maiden；　by　reason　　so　he　pretended　　of　her　prudence　and　discretion　and　of　her　nobility　and　royal　blood　that　yet　had　not　saved　her　from　banishment　and　loss　of　glory。　　Moreover　the　devil　secretly　sowed　in　Ioasaph's　heart　thoughts　that　he　might　recover　her　from　idolatry；　and　make　her　a　Christian。

But　these　were　all　stratagems　of　the　wily　serpent。　　For　the　king's　son；　being　in　this　frame　of　mind；　could　see　in　himself　no　unclean　thought　or　passionate　affection　for　the　damsel；　but　only　sympathy　and　pity　for　her　misfortune；　and　the　ruin　of　her　soul；　and　knew　not　that　this　matter　was　a　device　of　the　devil；　for　verily　he　is　darkness；　and　feigneth　to　be　light。　　So　he　began　to　commune　with　the　damsel；　and　talk　with　her　over　the　oracles　of　the　knowledge　of　God；　and　said；　〃Lady；　be　thou　acquainted　with　the　ever…living　God；　and　perish　not　in　the　error　of　these　idols；　but　know　thy　Lord；　and　the　Maker　of　all　this　world；　and　thou　shalt　be　happy；　the　bride　of　the　immortal　bridegroom。〃　　While　he　exhorted　her　with　many　such…like　words；　immediately　the　evil　spirit　whispered　to　the　girl　that　she　should　spread　under　his　feet　the　nets　of　deceit　to　drag　his　blessed　soul　into　the　pit　of　lust；　as　he　once　did　to　our　first　parent　by　means　of　Eve；　thus　miserably　banishing　him；　alas！　from　Paradise　and　God；　and　making　him　to　become　subject　to　death　in　lieu　of　bliss　and　everlasting　life。

When　the　damsel　heard　Ioasaph's　words　fulfilled　with　all　wisdom；　being　without　understanding；　she　understood　them　not；　but　made　answer　thus；　becoming　the　tongue　and　mouth…piece　of　the　evil　one：　〃If；　sir；　thou　takest　thought　for　my　salvation；　and　desirest　to　bring　me　to　thy　God；　and　to　save　my　poor　soul；　do　thou　also　thyself　grant　me　one　request；　and　straightway　I　will　bid　good…bye　to　my　fathers'　gods；　and　join　thy　God；　serving　him　until　my　last　breath；　and　thou　shalt　receive　recompense　for　my　salvation；　and　for　my　turning　to　God…ward。〃

〃Lady；　and　what　is　thy　request？〃　said　he。　　But　she；　setting　her　whole　self；　figure；　look　and　voice　in　a　fashion　to　charm　him；　answered；　〃Be　thou　joined　with　me　in　the　bonds　of　wedlock；　and　I　will　joyfully　follow　out　thy　behests。〃

〃In　vain；　O　Lady；〃　said　he；　〃hast　thou　made　this　hard　request。　For　though　I　earnestly　care　for　thy　salvation；　and　long　to　heave　thee　from　the　depth　of　perdition；　yet　to　pollute　my　body　through　unclean　union　is　grievous　for　me；　and　utterly　impossible。〃

She；　seeking　to　make　the　way　straight　and　smooth　for　him；　cried；　〃Why　dost　thou；　who　are　so　wise；　talk　thus？　　Wherefore　speakest　thou　of　it　as　of　defilement　and　shameful　intercourse？　　I　am　not　unacquainted　with　the　Christian　books：　nay；　I　have　met　with　many　volumes　in　mine　own　country；　and　have　heard　the　discourses　of　many　Christians。　　What；　is　it　not　written　in　one　of　your　books；　‘Marriage　is　honourable；　and　the　bed　undefiled'？　　and；　‘It　is　better　to　marry　than　to　burn'？　and　again；　‘What　God　hath　joined　together；　let　not　man　put　asunder'？　　Do　not　your　Scriptures　teach　that　all　the　righteous　men　of　old；　patriarchs　and　prophets；　were　wedded？　　Is　it　not　written　that　the　mighty　Peter；　whom　ye　call　Prince　of　the　Apostles；　was　a　married　man？　　Who；　then；　hath　persuaded　thee　to　call　this　defilement？　　Methink；　sir；　thou　strayest　utterly　away　from　the　truth　of　your　doctrines。〃

〃Yea；　Lady；〃　said　he；　〃all　this　is　even　as　thou　sayest。　　It　is　permitted　to　all　who　will　to　live　in　wedlock；　but　not　to　them　that　have　once　made　promise　to　Christ　to　be　virgins。　　For　myself；　ever　since　I　was　cleansed　in　the　laver　of　Holy　Baptism　from　the　sins　of　my　youth　and　ignorance；　I　have　resolved　to　present　myself　pure　to　Christ；　and　how　shall　I　dare　break　my　covenants　with　God？〃

Again　quoth　the　damsel；　〃Let　this　also　be　thy　pleasure；　as　thou　wilt。　　But　fulfil　me　one　other　small　and　trivial　desire　of　mine；　if　thou　art　in　very　truth　minded　for　to　save　my　soul。　　Keep　company　with　me　this　one　night　only；　and　grant　me　to　revel　in　thy　beauty；　and　do　thou　in　turn　take　thy　fill　of　my　comeliness。　　And　I　give　thee　my　word；　that；　with　daybreak；　I　will　become　a　Christian；　and　forsake　all　the　worship　of　my　gods。　　Not　only　shalt　thou　be　pardoned　for　this　dealing；　but　thou　shalt　receive　recompense　from　thy　God　because　of　my　salvation；　for　thy　Scripture　saith；　‘There　is　joy　in　heaven　over　one　sinner　that　repenteth。'　　If；　therefore；　there　is　joy　in　heaven　over　the　conversion　of　a　sinner；　shall　not　great　recompense　be　due　to　the　causer　of　that　conversion？　　Yea；　so　it　is：　and　dispute　it　not。　Did　not　even　the　Apostles；　the　leaders　of　your　religion；　do　many　a　thing　by　dispensation；　at　times　transgressing　a　commandment　on　account　of　a　greater　one？　　Is　not　Paul　said　to　have　circumcised　Timothy　on　account　of　a　greater　dispensation？　　And　yet　circumcision　hath　been　reckoned　by　Christians　as　unlawful；　but　yet　he　did　not　decline　so　to　do。　　And　many　other　such　things　shalt　thou　find　in　thy　Scriptures。　　If　then　in　very　sooth；　as　thou　sayest；　thou　seekest　to　save　my　soul；　fulfil　me　this　my　small　desire。　　And　although　I　seek　to　be　joined　with　thee　in　the　full　estate　of　matrimony；　yet；　sith　this　is　contrary　to　thy　mind；　I　will　never　constrain　thee　again；　but　will　do　everything　that　liketh　thee。　　For　the　rest；　do　not　thou　utterly　abhor　me；　but　hearken　to　me　for　the　nonce；　and　thou　shalt　deliver　me　from　superstitious　error；　and　thou　shalt　do　whatever　seemeth　thee　good　hereafter　all　the　days　of　thy　life。〃

Thus　spake　she；　for　indeed　she　had；　for　her　adviser；　one　to　whom　she　lent　a　privy　ear；　and　the　pirate　was　well　versed　in　Scripture；　being　verily　the　creator　and　teacher　of　iniquity。　　Thus　then　she　spake　with　fawning　words　entangling　him；　right　and　left；　around　with　her　toils　and　meshes；　and　she　began　to　shake　the　citadel　of　his　soul；　and　to　slacken　his　tension　of　purpose；　and　to　soften　the　temper　of　his　mind。　　Then　the　sower　of　these　evil　tares；　and　enemy　of　the　righteous；　when　he　saw　the　young　man's　heart　wavering；　was　full　of　joy；　and　straightway　called　to　the　evil　spirits　that　were　with　him；　crying；　〃Look　you　how　yond　damsel　hasteth　to　bring　to　pass　all　that　we　were　unable　to　accomplish！　　Hither！　　fall　we　now　furiously　upon　him：　for　we　shall　find　none　other　season　so　favourable　to　perform　the　will　of　him　that　sent　us。〃　　Thus　spake　this　crafty　spirit　to　his　hounds：　and　straightway　they　lept　on　that　soldier　of　Christ；　disquieting　all　the　powers　of　his　soul；　inspiring　him　with　vehement　love　for　the　damsel；　and　kindling　within　him　the　fiercest　fire　of　lust。

When　Ioasaph　saw　that　he　was　greatly　inflamed；　and　was　being　led　captive　into　sin；　and　perceived　that　his　thoughts　about　the　salvation　of　the　damsel　and　her　conversion　to　God　had　been　set　like　bait　on　hook　to　hide　the　deed　which　she　purposed；　and　were　troubling　him　with　the　suggestion　of　the　enemy；　that；　for　the　salvation　of　a　soul；　it　was　not　sin　for　once　to　lie　with　a　woman；　then　in　the　agony　of　his　soul　he　drew　a　deep　and　lamentable　groan；　and　nerved　himself　to　pray；　and；　with　streams　of　tears　running　down　his　cheeks；　he　cried　aloud　to　him　that　is　able　to　save　them　that　trust　in　him；　saying；　〃On　thee；　O　Lord；　have　I　set　my　trust：　let　me　not　be　confounded　for　ever；　neither　let　mine　enemies　triumph　over　me；　that　hold　by　thy　right　hand。　　But　stand　thou　by　me　at　this　hour；　and　according　to　thy　will　make　straight　my　path；　that　thy　glorious　and　dreadful　name　may　be　glorified　in　me　thy　servant；　because　thou　art　blessed　for　ever。　　Amen。〃

Now　when　he　had　prayed　in　tears　for　many　hours；　and　often　bent　the　knee；　he　sunk　down　upon　the　pavement。　　After　he　had　slumbered　awhile；　he　saw　himself　carried　off　by　certain