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pleasures rather than future blessings。 The dropping of honey denoteth the sweetness of the delights of the world; whereby it deceiveth its own friends; nor suffereth them to take timely thought for their salvation。〃
XIII。
Ioasaph received this parable with great joy and said; 〃How true this story is; and most apt! Grudge not; then; to shew me other such like figures; that I may know for certain what the manner of our life is; and what it hath in store for its friends。〃
The elder answered; 〃Again; those who are enamoured of the pleasures of life; and glamoured by the sweetness thereof; who prefer fleeting and paltry objects to those which are future and stable; are like a certain man who had three friends。 On the first two of these he was extravagantly lavish of his honours; and clave passionately to their love; fighting to the death and deliberately hazarding his life for their sakes。 But to the third he bore himself right arrogantly; never once granting him the honour nor the love that was his due; but only making show of some slight and inconsiderable regard for him。 Now one day he was apprehended by certain dread and strange soldiers; that made speed to hale him to the king; there to render account for a debt of ten thousand talents。 Being in a great strait; this debtor sought for a helper; able to take his part in this terrible reckoning with the king。 So he ran to his first and truest friend of all; and said; ‘Thou wottest; friend; that I ever jeopardied my life for thy sake。 Now to…day I require help in a necessity that presseth me sore。 In how many talents wilt thou undertake to assist me now? What is the hope that I may count upon at thy hands; O my dearest friend?' The other answered and said unto him; ‘Man; I am not thy friend: I know not who thou art。 Other friends I have; with whom I must needs make merry to…day; and so win their friendship for the time to come。 But; see; I present thee with two ragged garments; that thou mayest have them on the way whereon thou goest; though they will do thee no manner of good。 Further help from me thou mayest expect none。' The other; hearing this; despaired of the succour whereon he had reckoned; and went to his second friend; saying; ‘Friend; thou rememberest how much honour and kindness thou hast enjoyed at my hands。 To…day I have fallen into tribulation and sorrow; and need a helping hand。 To what extent then canst thou share my labour? Tell me at once。' Said he; ‘I have on leisure today to share thy troubles。 I too have fallen among cares and perils; and am myself in tribulation。 Howbeit; I will go a little way with thee; even if I shall fail to be of service to thee。 Then will I turn quickly homeward; and busy myself with mine own anxieties。' So the man returned from him too empty…handed and baulked at every turn; and he cried misery on himself for his vain hope in those ungrateful friends; and the unavailing hardships that he had endured through love of them。 At the last he went away to the third friend; whom he had never courted; nor invited to share his happiness。 With countenance ashamed and downcast; he said unto him; ‘I can scarce open my lips to speak with thee; knowing full well that I have never done thee service; or shown thee any kindness that thou mightest now remember。 But seeing that a heavy misfortune hath overtaken me; and that I have found nowhere among my friends any hope of deliverance; I address myself to thee; praying thee; if it lie in thy power; to afford me some little aid。 Bear no grudge for my past unkindness; and refuse me not。' The other with a smiling and gracious countenance answered; ‘Assuredly I own thee my very true friend。 I have not forgotten those slight services of thine: and I will repay them to…day with interest。 Fear not therefore; neither be afraid。 I will go before thee and entreat the king for thee; and will by no means deliver thee into the hands of thine enemies。 Wherefore be of good courage; dear friend; and fret not thyself。' Then; pricked at heart; the other said with tears; ‘Wo is me! Which shall I first lament; or which first deplore? Condemn my vain preference for my forgetful; thankless and false friends; or blame the mad ingratitude that I have shown to thee; the sincere and true?'〃
Ioasaph heard this tale also with amazement and asked the interpretation thereof。 Then said Barlaam; 〃The first friend is the abundance of riches; and love of money; by reason of which a man falleth into the midst of ten thousand perils; and endureth many miseries: but when at last the appointed day of death is come; of all these things he carrieth away nothing but the useless burial cloths。 By the second friend is signified our wife and children and the remnant of kinsfolk and acquaintance; to whom we are passionately attached; and from whom with difficulty we tear ourselves away; neglecting our very soul and body for the love of them。 But no help did man ever derive from these in the hour of death; save only that they will accompany and follow him to the sepulchre; and then straightway turning them homeward again they are occupied with their own cares and matters; and bury his memory in oblivion as they have buried his body in the grave。 But the third friend; that was altogether neglected and held cheap; whom the man never approached; but rather shunned and fled in horror; is the company of good deeds; faith; hope; charity; alms; kindliness; and the whole band of virtues; that can go before us; when we quit the body; and may plead with the Lord on our behalf; and deliver us from our enemies and dread creditors; who urge that strict rendering of account in the air; and try bitterly to get the mastery of us。 This is the grateful and true friend; who beareth in mind those small kindnesses that we have shown him and repayeth the whole with interest。〃
XIV。
Again said Ioasaph; 〃The Lord God prosper thee; O thou Wisest of men! For thou hast gladdened my soul with thine apt and excellent sayings。 Wherefore sketch me yet another picture of the vanity of the world; and how a man may pass through it in peace and safety。〃
Barlaam took up his parable and said; 〃Hear then a similitude of this matter too。 I once heard tell of a great city whose citizens had; from old time; the custom of taking some foreigner and stranger; who knew nothing of their laws and traditions; and of making him their king; to enjoy absolute power; and follow his own will and pleasure without hindrance; until the completion of a year。 Then suddenly; while he was living with never a care in rioting and wantonness; without fear; and alway supposing that his reign would only terminate with his life; they would rise up against him; strip him bare of his royal robes; lead him in triumph up and down the city; and thence dispatch him beyond their borders into a distant great island; there; for lack of food and raiment; in hunger and nakedness he would waste miserably away; the luxury and pleasure so unexpectedly showered upon him changed as unexpectedly into woe。 In accordance therefore with the unbroken custom of these citizens; a certain man was ordained to the kingship。 But his mind was fertile of understanding; and he was n