barlaam and ioasaph-第20节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


glory　and　senseless　pleasure；　worthy　of　lamentation　and　tears　in　the　eyes　of　those　who　have　tasted　of　the　sweets　of　the　bliss　beyond。'

〃When　the　king　heard　this；　he　became　as　one　dumb。　　He　said；　‘Who　then　are　these　men　that　live　a　life　better　than　ours？'　　‘All；'　said　the　chief…counsellor　‘who　prefer　the　eternal　to　the　temporal。'　　Again；　when　the　king　desired　to　know　what　the　eternal　might　be　the　other　replied；　‘A　kingdom　that　knoweth　no　succession；　a　life　that　is　not　subject　unto　death；　riches　that　dread　no　poverty：　joy　and　gladness　that　have　no　share　of　grief　and　vexation；　perpetual　peace　free　from　all　hatred　and　love　of　strife。　　Blessed；　thrice　blessed　are　they　that　are　found　worthy　of　these　enjoyments！　　Free　from　pain　and　free　from　toil　is　the　life　that　they　shall　live　for　ever；　enjoying　without　labour　all　the　sweets　and　pleasaunee　of　the　kingdom　of　God；　and　reigning　with　Christ　world　without　end。'

〃'And　who　is　worthy　to　obtain　this？'　asked　the　king。　　The　other　answered；　‘All　they　that　hold　on　the　road　that　leadeth　thither；　for　none　forbiddeth　entrance；　if　a　man　but　will。'

〃Said　the　king；　‘And　what　is　the　way　that　beareth　thither？'　　That　bright　spirit　answered；　‘To　know　the　only　true　God；　and　Jesus　Christ；　his　only…begotten　Son；　and　the　Holy　and　quickening　Spirit。'

〃The　king；　endowed　with　understanding　worthy　of　the　purple；　said　unto　him；　‘What　hath　hindered　thee　until　now　from　doing　me　to　wit　of　these　things？　　For　they　appear　to　me　too　good　to　be　put　off　or　passed　over；　if　they　indeed　be　true；　and；　if　they　be　doubtful；　I　must　search　diligently；　until　I　find　the　truth　without　shadow　of　doubt。'

〃The　chief　counsellor　said；　‘It　was　not　from　negligence　or　indifference　that　I　delayed　to　make　this　known　unto　thee；　for　it　is　true　and　beyond　question；　but　‘twas　because　I　reverenced　the　excellency　of　thy　majesty；　lest　thou　mightest　think　me　a　meddler。　If　therefore　thou　bid　thy　servant　put　thee　in　mind　of　these　things　for　the　future；　I　shall　obey　thy　behest。'　　‘Yea；'　said　the　king；　‘not　every　day　only；　but　every　hour；　renew　in　me　the　remembrance　thereof：　for　it　behoveth　us　not　to　turn　our　mind　inattentively　to　these　things；　but　with　very　fervent　zeal。'

〃We　have　heard；〃　said　Barlaam；　〃that　this　king　lived；　for　the　time　to　come；　a　godly　life；　and；　having　brought　his　days　without　tempest　to　an　end；　failed　not　to　gain　the　felicity　of　the　world　to　come。　　If　then　at　a　convenient　season　one　shall　call　these　things　to　thy　father's　mind　also；　peradventure　he　shall　understand　and　know　the　dire　evil　in　which　he　is　held；　and　turn　therefrom　and　choose　the　good；　since；　for　the　present　at　least；　'he　is　blind　and　cannot　see　afar　off；'　having　deprived　himself　of　the　true　light　and　being　a　deserter　of　his　own　accord　to　the　darkness　of　ungodliness。〃

Ioasaph　said　unto　him；　〃The　Lord　undertake　my　father's　matters；　as　he　ordereth！　　For；　even　as　thou　sayest；　the　things　that　are　impossible　with　men；　are　possible　with　him。　　But　for　myself；　thanks　to　thine　unsurpassable　speech；　I　renounce　the　vanity　of　things　present；　and　am　resolved　to　withdraw　from　them　altogether；　and　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　with　thee；　lest；　by　means　of　these　transitory　and　fleeting　things；　I　lose　the　enjoyment　of　the　eternal　and　incorruptible。〃

The　elder　answered　him；　〃This　do；　and　thou　shalt　be　like　unto　a　youth　of　great　understanding　of　whom　I　have　heard　tell；　that　was　born　of　rich　and　distinguished　parents。　　For　him　his　father　sought　in　marriage　the　exceeding　fair　young　daughter　of　a　man　of　high　rank　and　wealth。　　But　when　he　communed　with　his　son　concerning　the　espousals；　and　informed　him　of　his　plans；　the　son　thought　it　strange　and　ill…sounding；　and　cast　it　off；　and　left　his　father　and　went　into　exile。　　On　his　journey　he　found　entertainment　in　the　house　of　a　poor　old　man；　where　he　rested　awhile　during　the　heat　of　the　day。

〃Now　this　poor　man's　daughter；　his　only　child；　a　virgin；　was　sitting　before　the　door；　and；　while　she　wrought　with　her　hands；　with　her　lips　she　loudly　sang　the　praises　of　God　with　thanksgiving　from　the　ground　of　her　heart。　　The　young　man　heard　her　hymn　of　praise　and　said；　‘Damsel；　what　is　thine　employment？　and　wherefore；　poor　and　needy　as　thou　art；　givest　thou　thanks　as　though　for　great　blessings；　singing　praise　to　the　Giver？'　　She　answered；　‘Knowest　thou　not　that；　as　a　little　medicine　often　times　delivereth　a　man　from　great　ailments；　even　so　the　giving　of　thanks　to　God　for　small　mercies　winneth　great　ones？　　Therefore　I；　the　daughter　of　a　poor　old　man；　thank　and　bless　God　for　these　small　mercies；　knowing　that　the　Giver　thereof　is　able　to　give　even　greater　gifts。　　And　this　applieth　but　to　those　external　things　that　are　not　our　own　from　whence　there　accrueth　no　gain　to　those　who　possess　much　（not　to　mention　the　loss　that　often　ariseth）；　nor　cometh　there　harm　to　those　who　have　less；　for　both　sorts　journey　along　the　same　road；　and　hasten　to　the　same　end。　But；　in　things　most　necessary　and　vital；　many　and　great　the　blessings　I　have　enjoyed　of　my　Lord；　though　indeed　they　are　without　number　and　beyond　compare。　　I　have　been　made　in　the　image　of　God；　and　have　gained　the　knowledge　of　him；　and　have　been　endowed　with　reason　beyond　all　the　beasts；　and　have　been　called　again　from　death　unto　life；　through　the　tender　mercy　of　our　God；　and　have　received　power　to　share　in　his　mysteries；　and　the　gate　of　Paradise　hath　been　opened　to　me；　allowing　me　to　enter　without　hindrance；　if　I　will。　　Wherefore　for　gifts　so　many　and　so　fine；　shared　alike　by　rich　and　poor；　I　can　indeed　in　no　wise　praise　him　as　I　ought；　yet　if　I　fail　to　render　to　the　Giver　this　little　hymn　of　praise；　what　excuse　shall　I　have？'

〃The　youth；　astonished　at　her　wit；　called　to　her　father；　and　said　unto　him；　‘Give　me　thy　daughter：　for　I　love　her　wisdom　and　piety。'　　But　the　elder　said；　‘It　is　not　possible　for　thee；　the　son　of　wealthy　parents；　to　take　this　a　beggar's　daughter。'　　Again　the　young　man　said；　‘Yea；　but　I　will　take　her；　unless　thou　forbid：　for　a　daughter　of　noble　and　wealthy　family　hath　been　betrothed　unto　me　in　marriage；　and　her　I　have　cast　off　and　taken　to　flight。　　But　I　have　fallen　in　love　with　thy　daughter　because　of　her　righteousness　to　God…ward；　and　her　discreet　wisdom；　and　I　heartily　desire　to　wed…her。'　　But　the　old　man　said　unto　him；　‘I　cannot　give　her　unto　thee；　to　carry　away　to　thy　father's　house；　and　depart　her　from　mine　arms；　for　she　is　mine　only　child。'　'But；'　said　the　youth；　‘I　will　abide　here　with　your　folk　and　adopt　your　manner　of　life。'　　Thereupon　he　stripped　him　of　his　own　goodly　raiment；　and　asked　for　the　old　man's　clothes　and　put　them　on。　　When　the　father　had　much　tried　his　purpose；　and　proved　him　in　manifold　ways；　and　knew　that　his　intent　was　fixed；　and　that　it　was　no　light　passion　that　led　him　to　ask　for　his　daughter；　but　love　of　godliness　that　constrained　him　to　embrace　a　life　of　poverty；　preferring　it　to　his　own　glory　and　noble　birth；　he　took　him　by　the　hand；　and　brought　him　into　his　treasure…house；　where　he　showed　him　much　riches　laid　up；　and　a　vast　heap　of　money；　such　as　the　young　man　had　never　beheld。　　And　he　said　unto　him；　‘Son；　all　these　things　give　I　unto　thee；　forasmuch　as　thou　hast　chosen　to　become　the　husband　to　my　daughter；　and　also　thereby　the　heir　of　all　my　substance。'　　So　the　young　man　acquired　the　inheritance；　and　surpassed　all　the　famous　and　wealthy　men　of　the　land。〃


XVII。

Said　Ioasaph　unto　Barlaam；　〃This　story　also　fitly　setteth　forth　mine　own　estate。　　Whence　also　me　thinketh　that　thou　hadst　me　in　mind　when　thou　spakest　it。　　But　what　is　the　proof　whereby　thou　seekest　to　know　the　steadfastness　of　my　purpose？〃

Said　the　elder；　〃I　have　already　proved　thee；　and　know　how　wise　and　steadfast　is　thy　purpose；　and　how　truly　upright　is　thine　heart。　　But　the　end　of　thy　fortune　shall　confirm　it。　　For　this　cause　I　bow　my　knees　unto　our　God　glorified　in　Three　Persons；　the　Maker　of　all　things　visible　and　invisible；　who　verily　is；　and　is　for　ever；　that　never　had　beginning　of　his　glorious　being；　nor　hath　end；　the　terrible　and　almighty；　the　good　and　pitiful；　that　he　may　enlighten　the　eyes　of　thine　heart；　and　give　thee　the　spirit　of　wisdom　and　revelation　in　the　knowledge　of　him；　that　thou　mayest　know　what　is　the　hope　of　his　calling；　and　what　the　riches　of　the　glory　of　his　inheritance　in　the　Saints；　and　what　is　the　exceeding　greatness　of　his　power　to　us…ward　who　believe；　that　thou　mayest　be　no　more　a　stranger　and　sojourner；　but　a　fellow…　citizen　with　the　Saints；　and　of　the　household　of　God；　being　built　upon　the　foundation　of　the　Apostles　and　Prophets；　Jesus　Christ　our　Lord　himself　being　the　chief　corner…stone；　in　whom　all　the　building　fitly　framed　together　groweth　unto　an　holy　temple　in　the　Lord。〃

Ioasaph；　keenly　pricked　at　the　heart；　said；　〃All　this　I　too　long　to　learn：　and　I　beseech　thee　make　known　to　me　the　riches　of　the　glory　of　God；　and　the　exceeding　greatness　of　his　power。〃

Barlaam　said　unto　him；　〃I　pray　God　to　teach　thee　this；　and　to　plant　in　thy　soul　the　knowledge　of　the　same；　since　with　men　it　is　impossible　that　his　glory　and　power　be　told；　yea；　even　if　the　tongues　of　all　men　that　now　are　and　have　ever　been　were　combined　in　one。　　For；　as　saith　the　Evangelist　and　Divine；　‘No　man　hath　seen　God　at　any　time；　the　only　begotten　Son；　which　is　in　the　bosom　of　t