barlaam and ioasaph-第52章
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ciful。' For the fulfilment of this commandment； above all； is required of them that are in high authority。 And； soothly； the holder of great authority ought to imitate the giver of that authority to the best of his ability。 And herein shall he best imitate God； by considering that nothing is to be preferred before showing mercy。 Nay； further； nothing so surely draweth the subject to loyalty toward his Sovereign as the grace of charity bestowed on such as need it。 For the service that cometh from fear is flattery in disguise； with the pretence of respect cozening them that pay heed to it； and the unwilling subject rebelleth when he findeth occasion。 Whereas he that is held by the ties of loyalty is steadfast in his obedience to the ruling power。 Wherefore be thou easy of access to all and open thine ears unto the poor； that thou mayest find the ear of God open unto thee。 For as we are to our fellow…servants； such shall we find our Master to us…ward。 And； like as we do hear others； so shall we be heard ourselves： and； as we see； so shall we be seen by the divine all… seeing eye。 Therefore pay we first mercy for mercy； that we may obtain like for like。
〃But hear yet another commandment； the fellow of the former； ‘Forgive； and it shall be forgiven unto you；' and ‘If ye forgive not men their trespasses； neither will your heavenly father forgive you your trespasses。' Wherefore bear no malice against them that offend against thee； but； when thou askest forgiveness of thy sins； forgive thyself also them that injure thee； because forgiveness is repaid by forgiveness； and by making peace with our fellow…servants we are ourselves delivered from the wrath of our Master。 Again； a lack of compassion towards them that trespass against us maketh our own trespasses unpardonable； even as thou hast heard what befell the man that owed ten thousand talents； how； through his want of pity on his fellow…servant； he was again required to pay all that mighty debt。 So we must take good heed lest a like fate betide us。 But let us forgive every debt； and cast all anger out of our hearts； in order that our many debts； too； may be forgiven。 Beside this； and before all things； keep thou that good thing which is committed to thy trust； the holy Word of faith wherein thou hast been taught and instructed。 And let no tare of heresy grow up amongst you； but preserve the heavenly seed pure and sincere； that it may yield a manifold harvest to the master； when he cometh to demand account of our lives； and to reward us according to our deeds； when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun； but darkness and everlasting shame shall cover the sinners。 And now； brethren； I commend you to God； and to the word of his grace； which is able to build you up； and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified。〃
And when he had thus spoken； he kneeled down； as it is written； and prayed again in tears。 And he turned him round； and kissed Barachias； whom he had chosen to their king； and all the officers。 Then came a scene fit； belike； to make one weep。 They all crowded around him； as though his presence meant life to them； and his departure would reave them of their very souls； and what piteous pleading； what extravagance of grief did they omit？ They kissed him； they hung about him； they were beside themselves for anguish of heart。 〃Wo is us；〃 cried they； 〃for this grievous calamity！〃 They called him； Master； Father； Saviour； Benefactor。 〃Through thine；〃 said they； 〃we learned to know God； and were redeemed from error； and found rest from every ill。 What remaineth us after thou art gone？ What evils shall not befall us？〃 Thus saying； they smote upon their breasts； and bewailed the misfortune that had overtaken them。 But he with words of comfort hushed their sobs； and promised to be with them still in the spirit though he might no longer abide with them in the body。 And when he had thus spoken； in the sight of all he went forth from the palace。 And immediately all the people followed him。 They despaired of his return； they ran from the city； as from a sight that they could no longer endure。 But when they were outside the city； Ioasaph addressed them with sharp words； and chode with them harshly； and so they were parted from him； and unwillingly went home； often turning round to look on him； and stumbling on their road。 And some of the hotter spirits also followed afar off weeping； until the shades of night parted them one from another。
XXXVII。
Thus this noble man went forth from his palace rejoicing； as when after long exile a man returneth with joy to his own country。 Outwardly he wore the robes that he was wont to wear； but beneath was the hair…shirt which Barlaam had given him。 That night he halted at a poor man's cabin； and stripped himself of his outer raiment； which； as his last alms； he bestowed upon his poor host； and thus by the prayers of that poor man； as well as of so many others； he made God his ally； and put on his grace and help as a garment of salvation； and； clad in a coat of gladness； thus went he off to his hermit…life； carrying with him neither bread； nor water； nor any necessary food； with no garment upon him save the aforesaid rough shirt。 For his heart was wounded with a marvellous longing and divine love for Christ the immortal King； he was beside himself with longing； mad for God； possessed by love of him； 〃For love；〃 he saith； 〃is strong as fire。〃 So drunken was he with this heavenly love； so parched with thirst； according to him that saith； 〃Like as the hart desireth the water…brooks； so longeth my soul after time； O God。 My soul is athirst for the mighty and living God〃； or； as the soul that is sick of love crieth in the Song of Songs； 〃Thou hast ravished us； ravished us with the desire of thee〃； and； 〃Let me see thy countenance； and let me hear thy voice； for thy voice is a sweet voice； and thy countenance is comely。〃
It was the desire for this unspeakable comeliness of Christ that fired the hearts of the Apostolic Quire and of the Martyr folk to despise the things that are seen； and all this temporal life； and the rather to choose ten thousand forms of death and torture； being enamoured of his heavenly beauty； and bearing in mind the charm that the divine Word used for to win our love。 Such was the fire that was kindled in the soul of this fair youth also； noble in body； but most noble and kingly in soul； that led him to despise all earthly things alike； to trample on all bodily pleasures； and to contemn riches and glory and the praise of men； to lay aside diadem and purple； as of less worth than cobwebs； and to surrender himself to all the hard and irksome toils of the ascetic life； crying； 〃O my Christ； my soul is fixed upon thee； and thy right hand hath upholden me。〃
Thus； without looking back； he passed into the depth of the desert； and； laying aside； like a heavy burden and clog； the stress of transitory things； he rejoiced in the Spirit； and looked steadfastly on Christ； whom he longed for； and cried aloud to him； as though he were there present to hear his voice； saying； 〃Lord； let mine eyes never again see the good things of this present world。 Never； from this moment； let my soul be excited by these present vanities； but fill mine eyes with spiritual tears； direct my goings in thy way； and show me thy servant Barlaam。 Show me him that was the means of my salvation； that I may learn of him the exact rule of this lonely and austere life； and may not be tripped up through ignorance of the wiles of the enemy。 Grant me； O Lord； to discover the way whereby to attain unto thee； for my soul is sick of love for thee； and I am athirst for thee； the well of salvation。〃
These were the thoughts of his heart continually； and he communed with God； being made one with him by prayer and sublime meditation。 And thus eagerly he pursued the road； hoping to arrive at the place where Barlaam dwelt。 His meat was the herbs that grow in the desert； for he carried nothing with him； as I have already said； save his own bones； and the ragged garment that was around him。
But whilst he found some food； though scanty and insufficient； from the herbs； of water he was quite destitute in that waterless and
