barlaam and ioasaph-第35节
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discord？ For if the nature of the gods were one； then ought not one god to persecute； slay or injure another。 But if the gods were persecuted by other gods； and slain and plundered and killed with thunder…stones； then is their nature no longer one； but their wills are divided； and are all mischievous； so that not one among them is God。 So it is manifest； O king； that all this history of the nature of the gods is error。
〃Furthermore； how do the wise and eloquent among the Greeks fail to perceive that law…givers themselves are judged by their own laws？ For if their laws are just； then are their gods assuredly unjust； in that they have offended against law by murders； sorceries； adulteries； thefts and unnatural crimes。 But； if they did well in so doing； then are their laws unjust； seeing that they have been framed in condemnation of the gods。 But now the laws are good and just； because they encourage good and forbid evil； whereas the deeds of their gods offend against law。 Their gods then are offenders against law； and all that introduce such gods as these are worthy of death and are ungodly。 If the stories of the gods be myths； then are the gods mere words： but if the stories be natural； then are they that wrought or endured such things no longer gods： if the stories be allegorical； then are the gods myths and nothing else。 Therefore it hath been proven； O king； that all these idols； belonging to many gods； are works of error and destruction。 So it is not meet to call those gods that are seen； but cannot see： but it is right to worship as God him who is unseen and is the Maker of all mankind。
〃Come we now； O king； to the Jews； that we may see what they also think concerning God。 The Jews are the descendants of Abraham； Isaac and Jacob； and went once to sojourn in Egypt。 From thence God brought them out with a mighty hand and stretched out arm by Moses their lawgiver； and with many miracles and signs made he known unto them his power。 But； like the rest； these proved ungrateful and unprofitable； and often worshipped images of the heathen； and killed the prophets and righteous men that were sent unto them。 Then； when it pleased the Son of God to come on earth； they did shamefully entreat him and deliver him to Pilate the Roman governor； and condemn him to the Cross； regardless of his benefits and the countless miracles that he had worked amongst them。 Wherefore by their own lawlessness they perished。 For though to this day they worship the One Omnipotent God； yet it is not according unto knowledge； for they deny Christ the Son of God； and are like the heathen； although they seem to approach the truth from which they have estranged themselves。 So much for the Jews。
〃As for the Christians； they trace their line from the Lord Jesus Christ。 He is confessed to be the Son of the most high God； who came down from heaven； by the Holy Ghost； for the salvation of mankind； and was born of a pure Virgin； without seed of man； and without defilement； and took flesh； and appeared among men； that he might recall them from the error of worshipping many gods。 When he had accomplished his marvellous dispensation； of his own free will by a mighty dispensation he tasted of death upon the Cross。 But after three days he came to life again； and ascended into the heavens； the glory of whose coming thou mayest learn； O king； by the reading of the holy Scripture； which the Christians call the Gospel； shouldst thou meet therewith。 This Jesus had twelve disciples； who； after his ascent into the heavens； went out into all the kingdoms of the world； telling of his greatness。 Even so one of them visited our coasts； preaching the doctrine of truth； whence they who still serve the righteousness of his preaching are called Christians。 And these are they who； above all the nations of the earth； have found the truth： for they acknowledge God the Creator and Maker of all things in the only begotten Son； and in the Holy Ghost； and other God than him they worship none。 They have the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ himself engraven on their hearts； and these they observe； looking for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come。 They neither commit adultery nor fornication； nor do they bear false witness； nor covet other men's goods： they honour father and mother； and love their neighbours： they give right judgement。 They do not unto other that which they would not have done unto themselves。 They comfort such as wrong them； and make friends of them： they labour to do good to their enemies： they are meek and gentle。 They refrain themselves from all unlawful intercourse and all uncleanness。 They despise not the widow； and grieve not the orphan。 He that hath distributeth liberally to him that hath not。 If they see a stranger； they bring him under their roof； and rejoice over him； as it were their own brother： for they call themselves brethren； not after the flesh； but after the spirit。 For Christ his sake they are ready to lay down their lives： they keep his commandments faithfully； living righteous and holy lives； as the Lord their God commanded them； giving him thanks every hour； for meat and drink and every blessing。 Verily； then； this is the way of truth which leadeth its wayfarers unto the eternal kingdom promised by Christ in the life to come。
〃And that thou mayest know； O king； that I speak nought of myself； look thou into the writings of the Christians； and thou shalt find that I speak nothing but the truth。 Well； therefore； hath thy son understood it； and rightly hath he been taught to serve the living God； and to be saved for the world to come。 Great and marvellous are the things spoken and wrought by the Christians； because they speak not the words of men but the words of God。 But all other nations are deceived； and deceive themselves。 Walking in darkness they stagger one against another like drunken men。 This is the end of my speech spoken unto thee； O king； prompted by the truth that is in my mind。 Wherefore let thy foolish wise…acres refrain from babbling idly against the Lord； for it is profitable to you to worship God the Creator； and hearken to his incorruptible sayings； in order that ye may escape judgement and punishment； and be found partakers of deathless life。〃
XXVIII。
When Nachor had fully delivered this oration； the king changed countenance for very anger； but his orators and temple…keepers stood speechless； having nothing but a few weak and rotten shreds of argument in reply。 But the king's son rejoiced in spirit and with glad countenance magnified the Lord； who had made a path； where no path was； for them tat trusted in him； who by the mouth of a foeman and enemy was establishing the truth； and the leader of error had proved a defender of the right cause。
But the king； although furiously enraged with Nachor； was nevertheless unable to do him any mischief； because of the proclamation already read before all； wherein he urged him to plead without fear in behalf of the Christians。 So he himself made answer in many words； and by dark speeches hinted that Nachor should relax his resistance； and be worsted by the argument of the orators。 But Nachor the more mightily prevailed； tearing to pieces all their propositions and conclusions and exposing the fallacy of their error。 After the debate had been prolonged till well…nigh eventide； the king dismissed the assembly； making as though he would renew the discussion on the morrow。
Then said Ioasaph to the king his father； 〃As at the beginning； Sir； thou commandedst that the trial should be just； so too crown the end thereof with justice； by doing one or other of these two things。 Either allow my teacher to tarry with me to…night； that we may take counsel together as touching those things which we must say unto our adversaries tomorrow： and do thou in turn take thine advisers unto thee； and duly practise yourselves as ye will。 Or else deliver thy counsellors to me this night； and take mine to thyself。 But if both sides be with thee； mine advocate in tribulation and fear； but thine in joy and refreshment； me thinketh it is not a fair trial； but a tyrannical misuse of power； and a breaking of the covenants。〃 The king； compelled to yield by the gracefulness of this speech took his wise men and priests to himself； and delivered Nachor to his son； still having hopes of him and thinking fit to keep his agreement。
The king's son； therefore； departed unto his own palace； like a conqueror in the Olympic games； and with him went Nachor。 When alone； the prince called him and said； 〃Think not that I am ignorant of thy tale； for I wot； of a surety； that thou art not saintly Barlaam； but Nachor the astrologer； and I marvel how it seemed thee good to act this play； and to think that thou couldst so dull my sight at mid…day； that I should mistake a wolf for a sheep。 But well sung is the proverb； ‘The heart of a fool will conceive folly。' So this your device and counsel was stale and utterly senseless； but the work that thou hast accomplished is full of wisdom。 Wherefore； rejoice； Nachor； and be exceeding glad。 I render thee many thanks； that thou hast been to…day advocate of the truth； and hast not polluted thy lips with foul words and cr
