barlaam and ioasaph-第29节
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heir first plan； to look to the second and summon the man Nachor。 At dead of night Araches repaired to his cave （he dwelt in the desert practising the arts of divination）； and told him of their plans； and returned to the king at day…break。 Again he demanded horsemen； and made as though he went in quest of Barlaam。 When he was gone forth； and was walking the desert； a man was seen to issue from a ravine。 Araches gave command to his men to pursue him。 They took and brought him before their master。 When asked who he was； what his religion and what his name； the man declared himself a Christian and gave his name as Barlaam； even as he had been instructed。 Araches made great show of joy； apprehended him and returned quickly to the king； and told his tale and produced his man。 Then said the king in the hearing of all present； 〃Art thou the devil's workman； Barlaam？〃 But he denied it； saying； 〃I am God's workman； not the devil's。 Revile me not； for I am thy debtor to render me much thanks； because I have taught thy son to serve God； and have turned him from error to the true God； and have schooled him in all manner of virtue。〃 Feigning anger； again spake the king； 〃Though I ought to allow thee never a word； and give thee no room for defence； but rather do thee to death without question； yet such is my humanity that I will bear with thine effrontery until on a set day I try thy cause。 If thou be persuaded by me； thou shalt receive pardon： if not； thou shalt die the death。〃 With these words he delivered him to Araches； commanding that he should be most strictly guarded。
On the morrow the king removed thence； and came back to his own palace； and it was blazoned abroad that Barlaam was captured； so that the king's son heard thereof and was exceeding sad at heart； and could in no wise refrain from weeping。 With groans and lamentations he importuned God； and called upon him to succour the aged man。 Nor did the good God despise his complaint； for he is loving with them that abide him in the day of trouble； and knoweth them that fear him。 Wherefore in a night…vision he made known the whole plot to the young prince； and strengthened and cheered him for the trial of his righteousness。 So； when the prince awoke from sleep； he found that his heart； erstwhile so sore and heavy； was now full of joyaunce； courage and pleasant light。 But the king rejoiced at that which he had done and planned； imagining that he was well advised； and showering thanks on Araches。 But wickedness lied to itself； to use the words of holy David； and righteousness overcame iniquity； completely overthrowing it； and causing the memorial thereof to perish with sound； as our tale in its sequel shall show。
After two days the king visited his son's palace。 When his son came forth for to meet him； instead of kissing him； as was his wont； the father put on a show of distress and anger； and entered the royal chamber； and there sat down frowning。 Then calling to his son； he said； 〃Child； what is this report that soundeth in mine ears； and weareth away my soul with despondency？ Never； I ween； was man more filled with gladness of heart at the birth of a son than was I at thine； and； I trow； never was man so distressed and cruelly treated by child as I have now been by thee。 Thou hast dishonoured my grey hairs； and taken away the light of mine eyes； and loosed the strength of my sinews； ‘for the thing which I greatly feared concerning thee is come upon me； and that which I was afraid of hath come unto me。' Thou art become a joy to mine enemies； and a laughing~stock to mine adversaries。 With untutored mind and childish judgement thou hast followed the teaching of the deceivers and esteemed the counsel of the malicious above mine； thou hast forsaken the worship of our gods and become the servant of a strange God。 Child； wherefore hast thou done this？ I hoped to bring thee up in all safety； and have thee for the staff and support of mine old age； and leave thee； as is most meet； to succeed me in my kingdom； but thou wast not ashamed to play against me the part of a relentless foe。 And shouldst thou not rather have listened to me； and followed my injunctions； than have obeyed the idle and foolish pratings of that crafty old knave； who taught thee to choose a sour life instead of a sweet； and abandon the charms of dalliance； to tread the hard and rough road； which the Son of Mary ordereth men to go？ Dost thou not fear the displeasure of the most puissant gods； lest they strike thee with lightning； or quell thee with thunderbolt； or overwhelm thee in the yawning earth； because thou hast rejected and scorned those deities that have so richly blessed us； and adorned our brow with the kingly diadem； and made populous nations to be our servants； that； beyond my hope； in answer to my prayer and supplication； allowed thee to be born； and see the sweet life of day； and hast joined thyself unto the Crucified； duped by the hopes of his servants who tell thee fables of worlds to come； and drivel about the resurrection of dead bodies； and bring in a thousand more absurdities to catch fools？ But now； dearest son； if thou hast any regard for me thy father； bid a long farewell to these longwinded follies； and come sacrifice to the gracious gods； and let us propitiate them with hecatombs and drink…offerings； that they may grant thee pardon for thy fall； for they be able and strong to bless and to punish。 And wouldst thou have an example of that which I say？ Behold us； who by them have been advanced to this honour； repaying them for their kindness by honouring their worshippers and chastising the runagates。〃
Now when the king had ended all this idle parleying； gainsaying and slandering of our religion； and belauding and praising of his idolatry； the saintly young prince saw that the matter needed no further to be hid in a corner； but to be lighted and made plain to the eyes of all； and； full of boldness and courage； he said：
〃That which I have done； sir； I will not deny。 I have fled from darkness and run to the light： I have left error and joined the household of truth： I have deserted the service of devils； and joined the service of Christ； the Son and Word of God the Father； at whose decree the world was brought out of nothing； who； after forming man out of clay； breathed into him the breath of life； and set him to live in a paradise of delight； and； when he had broken his commandment and was become subject unto death； and had fallen into the power of the dread ruler of this world； did not fail him； but wrought diligently to bring him back to his former honour。 Wherefore he； the framer of all Creation and maker of our race； became man for our sake； and； coming from a holy Virgin's womb； on earth conversed with men： for us ungrateful servants did the master endure death； even the death of the Cross； that the tyranny of sin might be destroyed； that the former condemnation might be abolished； that the gates of heaven might be open to us again。 Thither he hath exalted our nature； and set it on the throne of glory； and granted to them that love him an everlasting kingdom and joys beyond all that tongue can tell； or ear can hear。 He is the mighty and only potentate； King of kings and Lord of lords； whose might is invincible； and whose lordship is beyond compare； who only is holy and dwelleth in holiness； who with the Father and with the Holy Ghost is glorified； into this faith I have been baptized。 And I acknowledge and glorify and worship One God in Three persons； of one substance； and not to be confounded； increate and immortal； eternal； infinite； boundless； without body； without passions； immutable； unchangeable； undefinable； the fountain of goodness； righteousness and everlasting light； maker of all things visible and invisible； containing and sustaining all things； provident for all； ruler and King of all。 Without him was there nothing made； nor without his providence can aught subsist。 He is the life of all； the support of all； the light of all； being wholly sweetness and insatiable desire； the summit of aspiration。 To leave God； then； who is so good； so wise； so mighty； and to serve impure devils； makers of all sinful lusts； and to assign worship to deaf and dumb images； that are not； and never shall be； were not that the extreme of folly and madness？ When was there ever heard utterance or language from their lips？ When have they given even the smallest answer to their bedesmen？ When have they walked； or received any impression of sense？ Those of them that stand have never thought of sitting down； and those that sit have never been seen to rise。 From an holy man have I learned the ugliness； ill savour and insensibility of these idols； and； moreover； the rottenness and weakness of the devils that operate in them and by them deceive you； and I loathe their wickednesses and； hating them with a perfect hatred； have joined myself to the living and true God； and him will I serve until my latest breath； that my spirit also may return into his hands。 When these unspeakable blessings came in my path I rejoiced to be freed from the bondage of evil devils； and to be reclaimed from dire captivity and to be illumined with the light of the countenance of the Lord。 But my s
