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！
y father？ And whom like unto thee shall I find to be shepherd and guide of my soul's salvation？ What consolation may I find in my loss of thee？ Behold thou hast brought me； the wicked and rebellious servant； back to God； and set me in the place of son and heir！ Thou hast sought me that was lost and astray on the mountain； a prey for every evil beast； and folded me amongst the sheep that had never wandered。 Thou hast shown me the direct road to truth； bringing me out of darkness and the shadow of death； and； changing the course of my feet from the slippery； deadly； crooked and winding pathway； hast ministered to me great and marvellous blessings； whereof speech would fail to recount the exceeding excellence。 Great be the gifts that thou receivest at God's hand； on account of me who am small！ And may the Lord； who in the rewards of his gifts alone overpasseth them that love him； supply that which is lacking to my gratitude！〃
Here Barlaam cut short his lamentation； and rose and stood up to pray； lifting up his either hand； and saying； 〃O God and Father of our Lord Jesu Christ； which didst illuminate the things that once were darkened； and bring this visible and invisible creation out of nothing； and didst turn again this thine handiwork； and sufferedst us not to walk after our foolishness； we give thanks to thee and to thy Wisdom and Might； our Lord Jesu Christ； by whom thou didst make the worlds； didst raise us from our fall； didst forgive us our trespasses； didst restore us from wandering； didst ransom us from captivity； didst quicken us from death by the precious blood of thy Son our Lord。 Upon thee I call； and upon thine only begotten Son； and upon the Holy Ghost。 Look upon this thy spiritual sheep that hath come to be a sacrifice unto thee through me thine unworthy servant； and do thou sanctify his soul with thy might and grace。 Visit this vine； which was planted by thy Holy Spirit； and grant it to bear fruit； the fruit of righteousness。 Strengthen him； and confirm in him thy covenant； and rescue him from the deceit of the devil。 With the wisdom of thy good Spirit teach him to do thy will； and take not thy succour from him； but grant unto him； with me thine unprofitable servant； to become an inheritor of thine everlasting bliss； because thou art blessed and glorified for ever； Amen。〃
When that he had ended his prayer； he turned him round and embraced Ioasaph； now a son of his heavenly father； wishing him eternal peace and salvation； and he departed out of the palace； and went his way； rejoicing and giving thanks to God； who had well ordered his steps for good。
XXII。
After Barlaam was gone forth； Ioasaph gave himself unto prayer and bitter tears； and said； 〃O God； haste thee to help me： O Lord； make speed to help me； because the poor hath committed himself unto thee； thou art the helper of the orphan。 Look upon me； and have mercy upon me； thou who willest have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth； save me； and strengthen me； unworthy though I be； to walk the way of thy holy commandments； for I am weak and miserable； and not able to do the thing that is good。 But thou art mighty to save me； who sustainest and holdest together all things visible and invisible。 Suffer me not to walk after the evil will of the flesh； but teach me to do thy will； and preserve me unto thine eternal and blissful life。 O Father； Son； and Holy Ghost； the consubstantial and undivided Godhead； I call upon thee and glorify thee。 Thou art praised by all creation； thou art glorified by the intelligent powers of the Angels for ever and ever。 Amen。〃
From that time forth he kept himself with all vigilance； seeking to attain purity of soul and body； and living in continency and prayers and intercessions all night long。 In the day…time he was often interrupted by the company of his fellows； and at times by a visit from the king； or a call to the king's presence； but the night would then make good the shortcomings of the day； whilst he stood； in prayer and weeping until daybreak； calling upon God。 Whence in him was fulfilled the saying of the prophet； 〃In nights raise your hands unto holy things； and bless ye the Lord。〃
But Zardan observed Ioasaph's way of life； and was full of sorrow； and his soul was pierced with grievous anxieties； and he knew not what to do。 At the last； worn down with pain； he withdrew to his own home； feigning sickness。 When this had come to the knowledge of the king he appointed in his place another of his trusty men to minister unto his son； while he himself； being concerned for Zardan's health； sent a physician of reputation； and took great pains that he should be healed。
The physician； seeing that Zardan was in favour with the king； attended him diligently； and； having right well judged his ease； soon made this report to the king； 〃I have been unable to discover any root of disease in the man： wherefore I suppose that this weakness is to be ascribed to distress of spirit。〃 But； on hearing his words； the king suspected that his son had been wroth with Zardan； and that this slight had caused his retirement。 So； wishing to search the matter； he sent Zardan word； saying 〃To…morrow I shall come to see thee； and judge of the malady that hath befallen thee。〃
But Zardan； on hearing this message； at daybreak wrapt his cloak around him and went to the king； and entered and fell in obeisance on the ground。 The king spake unto him； 〃Why hast thou forced thyself to appear？ I was minded to visit thee myself； and so make known to all my friendship for thee。〃 He answered； 〃My sickness； O king； is no malady common to man； but pain of heart； arising from an anxious and careful mind； hath caused my body to suffer in sympathy。 It had been folly in me； being as I am； not to attend as a slave before thy might； but to wait for thy Majesty to be troubled to come to me thy servant。〃 Then the king enquired after the cause of his despondency； Zardan answered and said； 〃Mighty is my peril； and mighty are the penalties that I deserve； and many deaths do I merit； for that I have been guilty of neglect of thy behests； and have brought on thee such sorrow as never before。〃
Again said the king； 〃And of what neglect hast thou been guilty？ And what is the dread that encompasseth thee？〃 〃I have been guilty；〃 said he； 〃of negligence in my close care of my lord thy son。 There came an evil man and a sorcerer； and communicated to him the precepts of the Christian religion。〃 Then he related to the king； point by point； the words which the old man spake with his son； and how gladly Ioasaph received his word； and how he had altogether become Christ's。 Moreover he gave the old man's name； saying that it was Barlaam。 Even before then the king had heard tell of Barlaam's ways and his extreme severity of life； but； when this came to the ears of the king； he was straightway astonied by the dismay that fell on him； and was filled with anger； and his blood well…nigh curdled at the tidings。 Immediately he bade call one Araches； who held the second rank after the king； and was the chief in all his private councils： besides which the man was learned in star…lore。 When he was come； with much despondency an