barlaam and ioasaph-第6章

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　and　is　reserved　for　the　immortal　gods　alone。〃　　The　young　prince　ceased　from　his　questioning；　but　his　heart　was　grieved　at　the　sight　that　he　had　witnessed；　and　the　form　of　his　visage　was　changed　by　the　strangeness　of　the　matter。

Not　many　days　after；　as　he　was　again　taking　his　walks　abroad；　he　happened　with　an　old　man；　well　stricken　in　years；　shrivelled　in　countenance；　feeble…kneed；　bent　double；　grey…haired；　toothless；　and　with　broken　utterance。　　The　prince　was　seized　with　astonishment；　and；　calling　the　old　man　near；　desired　to　know　the　meaning　of　this　strange　sight。　　His　companions　answered；　〃This　man　is　now　well　advanced　in　years；　and　his　gradual　decrease　of　strength；　with　increase　of　weakness；　hath　brought　him　to　the　misery　that　thou　seest。〃　　〃And；〃　said　he；　〃what　will　be　his　end？〃　They　answered；　〃Naught　but　death　will　relieve　him。〃　　〃But；〃　said　he；　〃is　this　the　appointed　doom　of　all　mankind？　　Or　doth　it　happen　only　to　some？〃　　They　answered；　〃Unless　death　come　before　hand　to　remove　him；　no　dweller　on　earth；　but；　as　life　advanceth；　must　make　trial　of　this　lot。〃　　Then　the　young　prince　asked　in　how　many　years　this　overtook　a　man；　and　whether　the　doom　of　death　was　without　reprieve；　and　whether　there　was　no　way　to　escape　it；　and　avoid　coming　to　such　misery。　　They　answered　him；　〃In　eighty　or　an　hundred　years　men　arrive　at　this　old　age；　and　then　they　die；　since　there　is　none　other　way；　for　death　is　a　debt　due　to　nature；　laid　on　man　from　the　beginning；　and　its　approach　is　inexorable。〃

When　our　wise　and　sagacious　young　prince　saw　and　heard　all　this；　he　sighed　from　the　bottom　of　his　heart。　　〃Bitter　is　this　life；〃　cried　he；　〃and　fulfilled　of　all　pain　and　anguish；　if　this　be　so。　And　how　can　a　body　be　careless　in　the　expectation　of　an　unknown　death；　whose　approach　（ye　say）　is　as　uncertain　as　it　is　inexorable？〃　　So　he　went　away；　restlessly　turning　over　all　these　things　in　his　mind；　pondering　without　end；　and　ever　calling　up　remembrances　of　death。　　Wherefore　trouble　and　despondency　were　his　companions；　and　his　grief　knew　no　ease；　for　he　said　to　himself；　〃And　is　it　true　that　death　shall　one　day　overtake　me？　And　who　is　he　that　shall　make　mention　of　me　after　death；　when　time　delivereth　all　things　to　forgetfulness？　　When　dead；　shall　I　dissolve　into　nothingness？　　Or　is　there　life　beyond；　and　another　world？〃　　Ever　fretting　over　these　and　the　like　considerations；　he　waxed　pale　and　wasted　away；　but　in　the　presence　of　his　father；　whenever　he　chanced　to　come　to　him；　he　made　as　though　he　were　cheerful　and　without　trouble；　unwilling　that　his　cares　should　come　to　his　father's　knowledge。　　But　he　longed　with　an　unrestrainable　yearning；　to　meet　with　the　man　that　might　accomplish　his　heart's　desire；　and　fill　his　ears　with　the　sound　of　good　tidings。

Again　he　enquired　of　the　tutor　of　whom　we　have　spoken；　whether　he　knew　of　anybody　able　to　help　him　towards　his　desire；　and　to　establish　a　mind；　dazed　and　shuddering　at　its　cogitations；　and　unable　to　throw　off　its　burden。　　He；　recollecting　their　former　communications；　said；　〃I　have　told　thee　already　how　thy　father　hath　dealt　with　the　wise　men　and　anchorets　who　spend　their　lives　in　such　philosophies。　　Some　hath　he　slain；　and　others　he　hath　wrathfully　persecuted；　and　I　wot　not　whether　any　of　this　sort　be　in　this　country　side。〃　　Thereat　the　prince　was　overwhelmed　with　woe；　and　grievously　wounded　in　spirit。　　He　was　like　unto　a　man　that　hath　lost　a　great　treasure；　whose　whole　heart　is　occupied　in　seeking　after　it。　　Thenceforth　he　lived　in　perpetual　conflict　and　distress　of　mind；　and　all　the　pleasures　and　delights　of　this　world　were　in　his　eyes　an　abomination　and　a　curse。　　While　the　youth　was　in　this　way；　and　his　soul　was　crying　out　to　discover　that　which　is　good；　the　eye　that　beholdeth　all　things　looked　upon　him；　and　he　that　willeth　that　‘all　men　should　be　saved；　and　come　to　the　knowledge　of　the　truth；'　passed　him　not　by；　but　showed　this　man　also　the　tender　love　that　he　hath　toward　mankind；　and　made　known　upon　him　the　path　whereon　he　needs　must　go。　　Befel　it　thus。


VI。

There　was　at　that　time　a　certain　monk；　learned　in　heavenly　things；　graced　in　word　and　deed；　a　model　follower　of　every　monastic　rule。　　Whence　he　sprang；　and　what　his　race；　I　cannot　say；　but　he　dwelt　in　a　waste　howling　wilderness　in　the　land　of　Senaar；　and　had　been　perfected　through　the　grace　of　the　priesthood。　　Barlaam　was　this　elder's　name。　　He；　learning　by　divine　revelation　the　state　of　the　king's　son；　left　the　desert　and　returned　to　the　world。　　Changing　his　habit；　he　put　on　lay　attire；　and；　embarking　on　ship　board；　arrived　at　the　seat　of　the　empire　of　the　Indians。　　Disguised　as　a　merchant　man；　he　entered　the　city；　where　was　the　palace　of　the　king's　son。　　There　he　tarried　many　days；　and　enquired　diligently　concerning　the　prince's　affairs；　and　those　that　had　access　to　him。　　Learning　that　the　tutor；　of　whom　we　have　spoken；　was　the　prince's　most　familiar　friend；　he　privily　approached　him；　saying；

〃I　would　have　thee　understand；　my　lord；　that　I　am　a　merchant　man；　come　from　a　far　country；　and　I　possess　a　precious　gem；　the　like　of　which　was　never　yet　found；　and　hitherto　I　have　shewed　it　to　no　man。　　But　now　I　reveal　the　secret　to　thee；　seeing　thee　to　be　wise　and　prudent；　that　thou　mayest　bring　me　before　the　king's　son；　and　I　will　present　it　to　him。　　Beyond　compare；　it　surpasseth　all　beautiful　things；　for　on　the　blind　in　heart　it　hath　virtue　to　bestow　the　light　of　wisdom；　to　open　the　ears　of　the　deaf；　to　give　speech　to　the　dumb　and　strength　to　the　ailing。　　It　maketh　the　foolish　wise　and　driveth　away　devils；　and　without　stint　furnisheth　its　possessor　with　everything　that　is　lovely　and　desirable。〃　　The　tutor　said；　〃Though；　to　all　seeming；　thou　art　a　man　of　staid　and　steadfast　judgment；　yet　thy　words　prove　thee　to　be　boastful　beyond　measure。　　Time　would　fail　me　to　tell　thee　the　full　tale　of　the　costly　and　precious　gems　and　pearls　that　I　have　seen。　　But　gems；　with　such　power　as　thou　tellest　of；　I　never　saw　nor　heard　of　yet。　　Nevertheless　shew　me　the　stone；　and　if　it　be　as　thou　affirmest；　I　immediately　bear　it　to　the　king's　son；　from　whom　thou　shalt　receive　most　high　honours　and　rewards。　　But；　before　I　be　assured　by　the　certain　witness　of　mine　own　eyes；　I　may　not　carry　to　my　lord　and　master　so　swollen　a　tale　about　so　doubtful　a　thing。〃　　Quoth　Barlaam；　〃Well　hast　thou　said　that　thou　hast　never　seen　or　heard　of　such　powers　and　virtues；　for　my　speech　to　thee　is　on　no　ordinary　matter；　but　on　a　wondrous　and　a　great。　　But；　as　thou　desiredst　to　behold　it；　listen　to　my　words。

〃This　exceeding　precious　gem；　amongst　these　its　powers　and　virtues；　possesseth　this　property　besides。　　It　cannot　be　seen　out　of　hand；　save　by　one　whose　eyesight　is　strong　and　sound；　and　his　body　pure　and　thoroughly　undefiled。　　If　any　man；　lacking　in　these　two　good　qualities；　do　rashly　gaze　upon　this　precious　stone；　he　shall；　I　suppose　lose　even　the　eyesight　that　he　hath；　and　his　wits　as　well。　　Now　I；　that　am　initiated　in　the　physician's　art；　observe　that　thine　eyes　are　not　healthy；　and　I　fear　lest　I　may　cause　thee　to　lose　even　the　eyesight　that　thou　hast。　　But　of　the　king's　son；　I　have　heard　that　he　leadeth　a　sober　life；　and　that　his　eyes　are　young　and　fair；　and　healthy。　　Wherefore　to　him　I　make　bold　to　display　this　treasure。　　Be　not　thou　then　negligent　herein；　nor　rob　thy　master　of　so　wondrous　a　boon。〃　　The　other　answered；　〃If　this　be　so；　in　no　wise　show　me　the　gem；　for　my　life　hath　been　polluted　by　many　sins；　and　also；　as　thou　sayest；　I　am　not　possest　of　good　eyesight。　　But　I　am　won　by　thy　words；　and　will　not　hesitate　to　make　known　these　things　unto　my　lord　the　prince。〃　　So　saying；　he　went　in；　and；　word　by　word；　reported　everything　to　the　king's　son。　　He；　hearing　his　tutor's　words；　felt　a　strange　joy　and　spiritual　gladness　breathing　into　his　heart；　and；　like　one　inspired；　bade　bring　in　the　man　forthwith。

So　when　Barlaam　was　come　in；　and　had　in　due　order　wished　him　Peace！；　the　prince　bade　him　be　seated。　　Then　his　tutor　withdrew；　and　Ioasaph　said　unto　the　elder；　〃Shew　me　the　precious　gem；　concerning　which；　as　my　tutor　hath　narrated；　thou　tellest　such　great　and　marvellous　tales。〃　　Then　began　Barlaam　to　discourse　with　him　thus：　〃It　is　not　fitting；　O　prince；　that　I　should　say　anything　fal