,barlaam and ,ioasaph   by  ,st4 ,john  
,damascene 787  7,st4 ,john of          
,damascus7  c4 #fgf-gdi ,a4,d4    ,it is
 not known where or when this story was 
written1 but it is believed to have been
 translated into ,greek 7possibly from a
 ,georgian original7 sometime in the    
#aath ,century ,a4,d4  ,although the    
ultimate author is usually referred to  
as ,john the ,monk1 it has been         
traditionally ascribed to ,st4 ,john of 
,damascus4  ,the text of this edition is
 based on that published as ,,st4 ,,john
 ,,damascene3 ,,barlaam ,,and ,,ioasaph 
7,trans3 ,g4,r4 ,woodward and ,h4       
,mattingly2 ,harvard ,university ,press1
 ,cambridge ,,ma1 #aiad74  ,this text is
 in the ,,public ,,domain in he ,united 
,states4  ,this electronic edition was  
edited1 proofed1 and prepared by        
,douglas ,b4 ,killings                  
7,de,troyes,enter,act4,,com71 ,november1
 #aiif4  ,,preparer',s ,,note3 ,readers 
of this work will note some startling   
similarities between the story of       

,ioasaph and the traditional ,tale of   
,buddha4 ,the work seems to be a        
retelling of the ,buddha ,legend from   
within a ,christian context1 with the   
singular difference that the ,buddha in 
this tale reaches enlightenment through 
the love of ,jesus ,christ4  ,the       
popularity of the ,greek version of this
 story is attested to by the number of  
translations made of it throughout the  
,christian world1 including versions in 
,latin1 ,old ,slavonic1 ,armenian1      
,christian ,arabic1 ,english1 ,ethiopic1
 and ,french4  ,such was its popularity 
that both ,barlaam and ,josaphat        
7,ioasaph7 were eventually recognized by
 the ,roman ,catholic ,church as        
,saints1 and churches were dedicated in 
their honor from ,portugal to           
,constantinople4  ,it was only after    
,europeans began to have increased      
contacts with ,india that scholars began
 to notice the similarities between the 
two sets of stories4  ,modern scholars  
believe that the ,buddha story came to  

,europe from ,arabic1 ,caucasus1 and_/or
 ,persian sources1 all of which were    
active in trade between the ,european   
and ,indian worlds4  --,,dbk            
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999  ,,selected ,,bibliography3  
,,original ,,text--  ,woodward1 ,g4,r4  
,h4 ,mattingly 7,ed4  ,trans473 ,st4    
,john ,damascene3 ,barlaam and ,ioasaph 
7,harvard ,university ,press1 ,cambridge
 ,,ma1 #aiad74 ,english translation with
 side-by-side ,greek text4              
,,recommended ,,reading--  ,lang1 ,david
 ,marshall 7,trans473 ,the ,balavariani3
 ,a ,tale from the ,christian ,east     
7,california ,university ,press1 ,los   
,angeles1 #aiff74 ,translation of the   
,georgian work that probably served as a
 basis for the ,greek text4             
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999  ,,barlaam ,,and ,,ioasaph   

,,an ,,edifying ,,story ,,from ,,the    
,,inner ,,land ,,of ,,the ,,ethiopians1 
,,called ,,the ,,land ,,of ,,the        
,,indians1 ,,thence ,,brought ,,to ,,the
 ,,holy ,,city1 ,,by ,,john ,,the ,,monk
 7,,an ,,honourable ,,man ,,and ,a      
,,virtuous1 ,,of ,,the ,,monastery ,,of 
,,saint ,,sabas72 ,,wherein ,,are ,,the 
,,lives ,,of ,,the ,,famous ,,and       
,,blessed ,,barlaam ,,and ,,ioasaph4    
,,introduction  ,as many as are led by  
the ,spirit of ,god they are sons of    
,god saith the inspired ,apostle4  ,now 
to have been accounted worthy of the    
,holy ,spirit and to have become sons of
 ,god is of all things most to be       
coveted2 and1 as it is written1 ,they   
that have become his sons find rest from
 all enquiry4  ,this marvellous1 and    
above all else desirable1 blessedness   
have the ,saints from the beginning won 
by the practice of the virtues1 some    
having striven as ,martyrs1 and resisted
 sin unto blood1 and others having      
struggled in self-discipline1 and having

 trodden the narrow way1 proving        
,martyrs in will4  ,now1 that one should
 hand down to memory the prowess and    
virtuous deeds of these1 both of them   
that were made perfect by blood1 and of 
them that by self-denial did emulate the
 conversation of ,angels1 and should    
deliver to the generations that follow a
 pattern of virtue1 this hath the       
,church of ,christ received as a        
tradition from the inspired ,apostles1  
and the blessed ,fathers1 who did thus  
enact for the salvation of our race4    
,for the pathway to virtue is rough and 
steep1 especially for such as have not  
yet wholly turned unto the ,lord1 but   
are still at warfare1 through the       
tyranny of their passions4  ,for this   
reason also we need many encouragements 
thereto1 whether it be exhortations1 or 
the record of the lives of them that    
have travelled on the road before us2   
which latter draweth us towards it the  
less painfully1 and doth accustom us not
 to despair on account of the difficulty

 of the journey4  ,for even as with a   
man that would tread a hard and         
difficult path2 by exhortation and      
encouragement one may scarce win him to 
essay it1 but rather by pointing to the 
many who have already completed the     
course1 and at the last have arrived    
safely4  ,so ,i too1 walking by this    
rule1 and heedful of the danger hanging 
over that servant who1 having received  
of his lord the talent1 buried it in the
 earth1 and hid out of use that which   
was given him to trade withal1 will in  
no wise pass over in silence the        
edifying story that hath come to me1 the
 which devout men from the inner land   
,of the ,ethiopians1 whom our tale      
calleth ,indians1 delivered unto me1    
translated from trustworthy records4    
,it readeth thus4    ,i4  ,the country  
of the ,indians1 as it is called1 is    
vast and populous1 lying far beyond     
,egypt4  ,on the side of ,egypt it is   
washed by seas and navigable gulphs1 but
 on the mainland it marcheth with the   

borders of ,persia1 a land formerly     
darkened with the gloom of idolatry1    
barbarous to the last degree1 and wholly
 given up to unlawful practices4  ,but  
when the only-begotten ,son of ,god1    
which is in the bosom of the ,father1   
being grieved to see his own handiwork  
in bondage unto sin1 was moved with     
compassion for the same1 and shewed     
himself amongst us without sin1 and1    
without leaving his ,father's throne1   
dwelt for a season in the ,virgin's womb
 for our sakes1 that we might dwell in  
heaven1 and be re-claimed from the      
ancient fall1 and freed from sin by     
receiving again the adoption of sons2   
when he had fulfilled every stage of his
 life in the flesh for our sake1 and    
endured the death of the ,cross1 and    
marvellously united earth and heaven2   
when he had risen again from the dead1  
and had been received up into heaven1   
and was seated at the right hand of the 
majesty of the ,father1 whence1         
according to his promise1 he sent down  

the ,comforter1 the ,holy ,ghost1 unto  
his eyewitnesses and disciples1 in the  
shape of fiery tongues1 and despatched  
them unto all nations1 for to give light
 to them that sat in the darkness of    
ignorance1 and to baptize them in the   
,name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1  
and of the ,holy ,ghost1 whereby it fell
 to the lot of some of the ,apostles to 
travel to the far-off ,east and to some 
to journey to the ,west-ward1 while     
others traversed the regions ,north and 
,south1 fulfilling their appointed tasks
 then it was1 ,i say1 that one of the   
company of ,christ's ,twelve ,apostles1 
most holy ,thomas1 was sent out to the  
land of the ,indians1 preaching the     
,gospel of ,salvation4 ,the ,lord       
working with him and confirming the word
 with signs following1 the darkness of  
superstition was banished2 and men were 
delivered from idolatrous sacrifices and
 abominations1 and added to the true    
,faith1 and being thus transformed by   
the hands of the ,apostle1 were made    

members of ,christ's household by       
,baptism1 and1 waxing ever with fresh   
increase1 made advancement in the       
blameless ,faith and built churches in  
all their lands4  ,now when monasteries 
began to be formed in ,egypt1 and       
numbers of monks banded themselves      
together1 and when the fame of their    
virtues and ,angelic conversation was   
gone out into all the ends of the world 
and came to the ,indians1 it stirred    
them up also to the like zeal1 insomuch 
that many of them forsook everything and
 withdrew to the deserts2 and1 though   
but men in mortal bodies1 adopted the   
spiritual life of ,angels4 ,while       
matters were thus prospering and many   
were soaring upward to heaven on wings  
of gold1 as the saying is1 there arose  
in that country a king named ,abenner1  
mighty in riches and power1 and in      
victory over his enemies1 brave in      
warfare1 vain of his splendid stature   
and comeliness of face1 and boastful of 
all worldly honours1 that pass so soon  

away4  ,but his soul was utterly crushed
 by poverty1 and choked with many vices1
 for he was of the ,greek way1 and sore 
distraught by the superstitious error of
 his idol-worship4  ,but1 although he   
lived in luxury1 and in the enjoyment of
 the sweet and pleasant things of life1 
and was never baulked of any of his     
wishes and desires1 yet one thing there 
was that marred his happiness1 and      
pierced his soul with care1 the curse of
 childlessness4  ,for being without     
issue1 he took ceaseless thought how he 
might be rid of this hobble1 and be     
called the father of children1 a name   
greatly coveted by most people4  ,such  
was the king1 and such his mind4        
,meanwhile the glorious band of         
,christians and the companies of monks1 
paying no regard to the king's majesty1 
and in no wise terrified by his threats1
 advanced in the grace of ,christ1 and  
grew in number beyond measure1 making   
short account of the king's words1 but  
cleaving closely to everything that led 

to the service of ,god4  ,for this      
reason many1 who had adopted the        
monastic rule1 abhorred alike all the   
sweets of this world1 and were enamoured
 of one thing only1 namely godliness1   
thirsting to lay down their lives for   
,christ his sake1 and yearning for the  
happiness beyond4 ,wherefore they       
preached1 not with fear and trembling1  
but rather even with excess of boldness1
 the saving ,name of ,god1 and naught   
but ,christ was on their lips1 as they  
plainly proclaimed to all men the       
transitory and fading nature of this    
present time1 and the fixedness and     
incorruptibility of the life to come1   
and sowed in men the first seeds1 as it 
were1 towards their becoming of the     
household of ,god1 and winning that life
 which is hid in ,christ4 ,wherefore    
many1 profiting by this most pleasant   
teaching1 turned away from the bitter   
darkness of error1 and approached the   
sweet light of ,truth2 insomuch that    
certain of their noblemen and senators  

laid aside all the burthens of life1 and
 thenceforth became monks4  ,but when   
the king heard thereof1 he was filled   
with wrath1 and1 boiling over with      
indignation1 passed a decree forthwith1 
compelling all ,christians to renounce  
their religion4  ,thereupon he planned  
and practised new kinds of torture      
against them1 and threatened new forms  
of death4  ,so throughout all his       
dominions he sent letters to his rulers 
and governors ordering penalties against
 the righteous1 and unlawful massacres4 
,but chiefly was his displeasure turned 
against the ranks of the monastic       
orders1 and against them he waged a     
truceless and unrelenting warfare4      
,hence1 of a truth1 many of the         
,faithful were shaken in spirit1 and    
others1 unable to endure torture1       
yielded to his ungodly decrees4  ,but of
 the chiefs and rulers of the monastic  
order some in rebuking his wickedness   
ended their lives by suffering          
martyrdom1 and thus attained to         

everlasting felicity2 while others hid  
themselves in deserts and mountains1 not
 from dread of the threatened tortures1 
but by a more divine dispensation4      
,,ii4  ,now while the land of the       
,indians lay under the shroud of this   
moonless night1 and while the ,faithful 
were harried on every side1 and the     
champions of ungodliness prospered1 the 
very air reeking with the smell of      
bloody sacrifices1 a certain mall of the
 royal household1 chief satrap in rank1 
in courage1 stature1 comeliness1 and in 
all those qualities which mark beauty of
 body and nobility of soul1 far above   
all his ,fellows1 hearing of this       
iniquitous decree1 bade farewell to all 
the grovelling pomps and vanities of the
 world1 joined the ranks of the monks1  
and retired across the border into the  
desert4  ,there1 by fastings and vigils1
 and by diligent study of the divine    
oracles1 he throughly purged his senses1
 and illumined a soul1 set free from    
every passion1 with the glorious light  

of a perfect calm4  ,but when the king1 
who loved and esteemed him highly1 heard
 thereof1 he was grieved in spirit at   
the loss of his friend1 but his anger   
was the more hotly kindled against the  
monks4  ,and so he sent everywhere in   
search of him1 leaving no stone         
unturned1 as the saying is1 to find him4
  ,after a long while1 they that were   
sent in quest of him1 having learnt that
 he abode in the desert1 after diligent 
search1 apprehended him and brought him 
before the king's judgement seat4  ,when
 the king saw him in such vile and      
coarse raiment who before had been clad 
in rich apparel1--saw him1 who had lived
 in the lap of luxury1 shrunken and     
wasted by the severe practice of        
discipline1 and bearing about in his    
body outward and visible signs of his   
hermit-life1 he was filled with mingled 
grief and fury1 and1 in speech blended  
of these two passions1 he spake unto him
 thus3  ,o thou dullard and mad man1    
wherefore hast thou exchanged thine     

honour for shame1 and thy glorious      
estate for this unseemly show8 ,to what 
end hath the president of my kingdom1   
and chief commander of my realm made    
himself the laughingstock of boys1 and  
not only forgotten utterly our          
friendship and fellowship1 but revolted 
against nature herself1 and had no pity 
on his own children1 and cared naught   
for riches and all the splendour of the 
world1 and chosen ignominy such as this 
rather than the glory that men covet8   
,and what shall it profit thee to have  
chosen above all gods and men him whom  
they call ,jesus1 and to have preferred 
this rough life of sackcloth to the     
pleasures and delights of a life of     
bliss4  ,when the man of ,god heard     
these words1 he made reply1 at once     
courteous and unruffled3 ,if it be thy  
pleasure1 ,o king1 to converse with me1 
remove thine enemies out of mid court2  
which done1 ,i will answer thee         
concerning whatsoever thou mayest desire
 to learn2 for while these are here1 ,i 

cannot speak with thee4 ,but1 without   
speech1 torment me1 kill me1 do as thou 
wilt1 for the world is crucified unto   
me1 and ,i unto the world1' as saith my 
divine teacher4  ,the king said1 ,and   
who are these enemies whom thou biddest 
me turn out of court8  ,the saintly man 
answered and said1 ,anger and ,desire4  
,for at the beginning these twain were  
brought into being by the ,creator to be
 fellow-workers with nature2 and such   
they still are to those 'who walk not   
after the flesh but after the ,spirit4' 
,but in you who are altogether carnal1  
having nothing of the ,spirit1 they are 
adversaries1 and play the part of       
enemies and foemen4  ,for ,desire1      
working in you1 stirreth up pleasure1   
but1 when made of none effect1 ,anger4  
,to-day therefore let these be banished 
from thee1 and let ,wisdom and          
,righteousness sit to hear and judge    
that which we say4  ,for if thou put    
,anger and ,desire out of court1 and in 
their room bring in ,wisdom and         

,righteousness1 ,i will truthfully tell 
thee all4 ,then spake the king1 ,lo ,i  
yield to thy request1 and will banish   
out of the assembly both ,desire and    
,anger1 and make ,wisdom and            
,righteousness to sit between us4  ,so  
now1 tell me without fear1 how wast thou
 so greatly taken with this error1 to   
prefer the bird in the bush to the bird 
already in the hand8  ,the hermit       
answered and said1 ,o king1 if thou     
askest the cause how ,i came to despise 
things temporal1 and to devote my whole 
self to the hope of things eternal1     
hearken unto me4  ,in former days1 when 
,i was still but a stripling1 ,i heard a
 certain good and wholesome saying1     
which1 by its three took my soul by     
storm2 and the remembrance of it1 like  
some divine seed1 being planted in my   
heart1 unmoved1 was preserved ever until
 it took root1 blossomed1 and bare that 
fruit which thou seest in me4  ,now the 
meaning of that sentence was this3 ',it 
seemed good to the foolish to despise   

the things that are1 as though they were
 not1 and to cleave and cling to the    
things that are not1 as though they     
were4 ,so he1 that hath never tasted the
 sweetness of the things that are1 will 
not be able to understand the nature of 
the things that are not4  ,and never    
having understood them1 how shall he    
despise them8'  ,now that saying meant  
by 'things that are' the things eternal 
and fixed1 but by 'things that are not' 
earthly life1 luxury1 the prosperity    
that deceives1 whereon1 ,o king1 thine  
heart alas6  is fixed amiss4  ,time was 
when ,i also clung thereto myself4  ,but
 the force of that sentence continually 
goading my heart1 stirred my governing  
power1 my mind1 to make the better      
choice4  ,but 'the law of sin1 warring  
against the law of my mind1' and binding
 me1 as with iron chains1 held me       
captive to the love of things present4  
,but 'after that the kindness and love  
of ,god our ,saviour' was pleased to    
deliver me from that harsh captivity1 he

 enabled my mind to overcome the law of 
sin1 and opened mine eyes to discern    
good from evil4 ,thereupon ,i perceived 
and looked1 and behold6 all things      
present are vanity and vexation of      
spirit1 as somewhere in his writings    
saith ,solomon the wise4  ,then was the 
veil of sin lifted from mine heart1 and 
the dullness1 proceeding from the       
grossness of my body1 which pressed upon
 my soul1 was scattered1 and ,i         
perceived the end for which ,i was      
created1 and how that it behoved me to  
move upward to my ,creator by the       
keeping of his ,commandments4           
,wherefore ,i left all and followed him1
 and ,i thank ,god through ,jesus       
,christ our ,lord that he delivered me  
out of the mire1 and from the making of 
bricks1 and from the harsh and deadly   
ruler of the darkness of this world1 and
 that he showed me the short and easy   
road whereby ,i shall be able1 in this  
earthen body1 eagerly to embrace the    
,angelic life4 ,seeking to attain to it 

the sooner1 ,i chose to walk the strait 
and narrow way1 renouncing the vanity of
 things present and the unstable changes
 and chances thereof1 and refusing to   
call anything good except the true good1
 from which thou1 ,o king1 art miserably
 sundered and alienated4  ,wherefore    
also we ourselves were alienated and    
separated from thee1 because thou wert  
falling into plain and manifest         
destruction1 and wouldst constrain us   
also to descend into like peril4  ,but  
as long as we were tried in the warfare 
of this world1 we failed in no point of 
duty4  ,thou thyself will bear me       
witness that we were never charged with 
sloth or heedlessness4  ,but when thou  
hast endeavoured to rob us of the       
chiefest of all blessings1 our religion1
 and to deprive us of ,god1 the worst of
 deprivations1 and1 in this intent1 dost
 remind us of past honours and          
preferments1 how should ,i not rightly  
tax thee with ignorance of good1 seeing 
that thou dost at all compare these two 

things1 righteousness toward ,god1 and  
human friendship1 and glory1 that       
runneth away like water8  ,and how1 in  
such ease1 may we have fellowship with  
thee1 and not the rather deny ourselves 
friendship and honours and love of      
children1 and if there be any other tie 
greater than these8  ,when we see thee1 
,o king1 the rather forgetting thy      
reverence toward that ,god1 who giveth  
thee the power to live and breathe1     
,christ ,jesus1 the ,lord of all2 who1  
being alike without beginning1 and      
coeternal with the ,father1 and having  
created the heavens and the earth by his
 word1 made man with his own hands and  
endowed him with immortality1 and set   
him king of all on earth and assigned   
him ,paradise1 the fairest place of all1
 as his royal dwelling4  ,but man1      
beguiled by envy1 and 7wo is me67 caught
 by the bait of pleasure1 miserably fell
 from all these blessings4  ,so he that 
once was enviable became a piteous      
spectacle1 and by his misfortune        

deserving of tears4  ,wherefore he1 that
 had made and fashioned us1 looked again
 with eyes of compassion upon the work  
of his own hands4  ,he1 not laying aside
 his ,god-head1 which he had from the   
beginning1 was made man for our sakes1  
like ourselves1 but without sin1 and was
 content to suffer death upon the       
,cross4  ,he overthrew the foeman that  
from the beginning had looked with      
malice on our race2 he rescued us from  
that bitter captivity2 he1 of his       
goodness1 restored to us our former     
freedom1 and1 of his tender love towards
 mankind1 raised us up again to that    
place from whence by our disobedience we
 had fallen1 granting us even greater   
honour than at the first4  ,him         
therefore1 who endured such sufferings  
for our sakes1 and again bestowed such  
blessings upon us1 him dost thou reject 
and scoff at his ,cross8  ,and1 thyself 
wholly riveted to carnal delights and   
deadly passions1 dost thou proclaim the 
idols of shame and dishonour gods8 ,not 

only hast thou alienated thyself from   
the commonwealth of heavenly felicity   
but thou hast also severed from the same
 all others who obey thy commands1 to   
the peril of their souls4  ,know        
therefore that ,i will not obey thee1   
nor join thee in such ingratitude to    
,god-ward2 neither will ,i deny my      
benefactor and ,saviour1 though thou    
slay me by wild beasts1 or give me to   
the fire and sword1 as thou hast the    
power4 ,for ,i neither fear death1 nor  
desire the present world1 having passed 
judgement on the frailty and vanity     
thereof4  ,for what is there profitable1
 abiding or stable therein8  ,nay1 in   
very existence1 great is the misery1    
great the pain1 great and ceaseless the 
attendant care4 ,of its gladness and    
enjoyment the yoke-fellows are dejection
 and pain4 ,its riches is poverty2 its  
loftiness die lowest humiliation2 and   
who shall tell the full tale of its     
miseries1 which ,saint ,john the ,divine
 hath shown me in few words8  ,for he   

saith1 ',the whole world lieth in       
wickedness'2 and1 ',love not the world1 
neither the things that are in the      
world4  ,for all that is in the world is
 the lust of the flesh1 and the lust of 
the eyes1 and the pride of life4  ,and  
the world passeth away1 and the lust    
thereof1 but he that doeth the will of  
,god abideth for ever4'  ,seeking1 then1
 this good will of ,god1 ,i have        
forsaken everything1 and joined myself  
to those who possess the same desire1   
and seek after the same ,god4 ,amongst  
these there is no strife or envy1 sorrow
 or care1 but all run the like race that
 they may obtain those everlasting      
habitations which the ,father of lights 
hath prepared for them that love him4   
,them have ,i gained for my fathers1 my 
brothers1 my friends and mine           
acquaintances4  ,but from my former     
friends and brethren ',i have got me    
away far off1 and lodged in the         
wilderness' waiting for the ,god1 who   
saveth me from faintness of spirit1 and 

from the stormy tempest4  ,when the man 
of ,god had made answer thus gently and 
in good reason1 the king was stirred by 
anger1 and was minded cruelly to torment
 the saint2 but again he hesitated and  
delayed1 regarding his venerable and    
noble mien4  ,so he answered and said3  
,unhappy man1 that hast contrived thine 
own utter ruin1 driven thereto1 ,i ween1
 by fate1 surely thou hast made thy     
tongue as sharp as thy wits4 ,hence thou
 hast uttered these vain and ambiguous  
babblings4  ,had ,i not promised1 at the
 beginning of our converse1 to banish   
,anger from mid court1 ,i had now given 
thy body to be burned4  ,but since thou 
hast prevented and tied me down fast by 
my words1 ,i bear with thine effrontery1
 by reason of my former friendship with 
thee4  ,now1 arise1 and flee for ever   
from my sight1 lest ,i see thee again   
and miserably destroy thee4  ,so the man
 of ,god went out and withdrew to the   
desert1 grieved to have lost the crown  
of martyrdom1 but daily a martyr in his 

conscience1 and 'wrestling against      
principalities and powers1 against the  
rulers of the darkness of this world1   
against spiritual wickedness'2 as saith 
,blessed ,paul4  ,but after his         
departure1 the king waxed yet more      
wroth1 and devised a yet fiercer        
persecution of the monastic order1 while
 treating with greater honour the       
ministers and temple-keepers of his     
idols4  ,while the king was under this  
terrible delusion and error1 there was  
born unto him a son1 a right goodly     
child1 whose beauty from his very birth 
was prophetic of his future fortunes4   
,nowhere in that land1 they said1 had   
there ever been seen so charming and    
lovely a babe4  ,full of the keenest joy
 at the birth of the child1 the king    
called him ,ioasaph1 and in his folly   
went in person to the temples of his    
idols1 for to do sacrifice and offer    
hymns of praise to his still more       
foolish gods1 unaware of the real giver 
of all good things1 to whom he should   

have offered the spiritual sacrifice4   
,he then1 ascribing the cause ,of his   
son's birth to things lifeless and dumb1
 sent out into all quarters to gather   
the people together to celebrate his    
son's birth-day3 and thou mightest have 
seen all the folk running together for  
fear of the king1 and bringing their    
offerings ready for the sacrifice1      
according to the store at each man's    
hand1 and his favour toward his lord4   
,but chiefly the king stirred them up to
 emulation4  ,he brought full many oxen1
 of goodly size1 for sacrifice1 and     
thus1 making a feast for all his people1
 he bestowed largesses on all his       
counsellors and officers1 and on all his
 soldiers1 and all the poor1 and men of 
low degree4    ,,iii4  ,now on his son's
 birth-day feast there came unto the    
king some five and fifty chosen men1    
schooled in the star-lore of the        
,chaldaeans4  ,these the king called    
into his presence1 and asked them1      
severally1 to tell him the future of the

 new-born babe4 ,after long counsel     
held1 they said that he should be mighty
 in riches and power1 and should surpass
 all that had reigned before him4  ,but 
one of the astrologers1 the most learned
 of all his fellows1 spake thus3 ,from  
that which ,i learn from the courses of 
the stars1 ,o king1 the advancement of  
the child1 now born unto thee1 will not 
be in thy kingdom1 but in another1 a    
better and a greater one beyond compare4
  ,methinketh also that he will embrace 
the ,christian religion1 which thou     
persecutest1 and ,i trow that he will   
not be disappointed of his aim and hope4
  ,thus spake the astrologer1 like      
,balaam of old1 not that his star-lore  
told him true1 but because ,god         
signifieth the truth by the mouth of his
 enemies1 that all excuse may be taken  
from the ungodly4  ,but when the king   
heard thereof1 he received the tidings  
with a heavy heart1 and sorrow cut short
 his joy4  ,howsoever he built1 in a    
city set apart1 an exceeding beautiful  

palace1 with cunningly devised gorgeous 
chambers1 and there set his son to      
dwell1 after he had ended his first     
infancy2 and he forbade any to approach 
him1 appointing1 for instructors and    
servants1 youths right seemly to behold4
  ,these he charged to reveal to him    
none of the annoys of life1 neither     
death1 nor old age1 nor disease1 nor    
poverty1 nor anything else grievous that
 might break his happiness3 but to place
 before him everything pleasant and     
enjoyable1 that his heart1 revelling in 
these delights1 might not gain strength 
to consider the future1 nor ever hear   
the bare mention of the tale of ,christ 
and his doctrines4  ,for he was heedful 
of the astrologer's warning1 and it was 
this most that he was minded to conceal 
from his son4  ,and if any of the       
attendants chanced to fall sick1 he     
commanded to have him speedily removed1 
and put another plump and well-favoured 
servant in his place1 that the boy's    
eyes might never once behold anything to

 disquiet them4  ,such then was the     
intent and doing of the king1 for1      
'seeing1 he did not see1 and hearing1 he
 did not understand4'  ,but1 learning   
that some monks still remained1 of whom 
he fondly imagined that not a trace was 
left1 he became angry above measure1 and
 his fury was hotly kindled against     
them4  ,and he commanded heralds to     
scour all the city and all the country1 
proclaiming that after three days no    
monk whatsoever should be found therein4
  ,but and if any were discovered after 
the set time1 they should be delivered  
to destruction by fire and sword4 ,for1 
said he1 these be they that persuade the
 people to worship the ,crucified as    
,god4  ,meanwhile a thing befell1 that  
made the king still more angry and      
bitter against the monks4    ,,iv4      
,there was at court a man pre-eminent   
among the rulers1 of virtuous life and  
devout in religion4  ,but while working 
out his own salvation1 as best he might1
 he kept it secret for fear of the king4

  ,wherefore certain men1 looking       
enviously on his free converse with the 
king1 studied how they might slander    
him2 and this was all their thought4    
,on a day1 when the king went forth     
a-hunting with his bodyguard1 as was his
 wont1 this good man was of the hunting 
party4  ,while he was walking alone1 by 
divine providence1 as ,i believe1 he    
found a man in a covert1 cast to the    
ground1 his foot grievously crushed by a
 wild-beast4 ,seeing him passing by1 the
 wounded man importuned him not to go   
his way1 but to pity his misfortune1 and
 take him to his own home1 adding       
thereto3 ,i hope that ,i shall not be   
found unprofitable1 nor altogether      
useless unto thee4  ,our nobleman said  
unto him1 ,for very charity ,i will take
 thee up1 and render thee such service  
as ,i may4  ,but what is this profit    
which thou saidest that ,i should       
receive of thee8  ,the poor sick man    
answered1 ,i am a physician of words4   
,if ever in speech or converse any wound

 or damage be found1 ,i will heal it    
with befitting medicines1 that so the   
evil spread no further4  ,the devout man
 gave no heed to his word1 but on       
account of the commandment1 ordered him 
to be carried home1 and grudged him not 
that tending which he required4  ,but   
the aforesaid envious and malignant     
persons1 bringing forth to light that   
ungodliness with which they had long    
been in travail1 slandered this good man
 to the king2 that not only did he      
forget his friendship with the king1 and
 neglect the worship of the gods1 and   
incline to ,christianity1 but more1 that
 he was grievously intriguing against   
the kingly power1 and was turning aside 
the common people1 and stealing all     
hearts for himself4 ,but1 said they1 if 
thou wilt prove that our charge is not  
ungrounded1 call him to thee privately2 
and1 to try him1 say that thou desirest 
to leave thy fathers' religion1 and the 
glory of thy kingship1 and to become a  
,christian1 and to put on the monkish   

habit which formerly thou didst         
persecute1 having1 thou shalt tell him1 
found thine old course evil4  ,the      
authors of this villainous charge       
against the ,christian knew the         
tenderness of his heart1 how that1 if he
 heard such speech from the king1 he    
would advise him1 who had made this     
better choice1 not to put off his good  
determinations1 and so they would be    
found just accusers4  ,but the king1 not
 forgetful of his friend's great        
kindness toward him1 thought these      
accusations incredible and false2 and   
because he might not accept them without
 proof1 he resolved to try the fact and 
the charge4 ,so he called the man apart 
and said1 to prove him1 ,friend1 thou   
knowest of all my past dealings with    
them that are called monks and with all 
the ,christians4  ,but now1 ,i have     
repented in this matter1 and1 lightly   
esteeming the present world1 would fain 
become partaker of those hopes whereof  
,i have heard them speak1 of some       

immortal kingdom in the life to come2   
for the present is of a surety cut short
 by death4 ,and in none other way1      
methinks1 can ,i succeed herein and not 
miss the mark except ,i become a        
,christian1 and1 bidding farewell to the
 glory of my kingdom and all the        
pleasures and joys of life1 go seek     
those hermits and monks1 wheresoever    
they be1 whom ,i have banished1 and join
 myself to their number4  ,now what     
sayest thou thereto1 and what is thine  
advice8  ,say on2 ,i adjure thee in the 
name of truth2 for ,i know thee to be   
true and wise above all men4  ,the      
worthy man1 hearing this1 but never     
guessing the hidden pitfall1 was pricked
 in spirit1 and1 melting into tears1    
answered in his simplicity1 ,o king1    
live for ever6  ,good and sound is the  
determination that thou hast determined2
 for though the kingdom of heaven be    
difficult to find1 yet must a man seek  
it with all his might1 for it is        
written1 ',he that seeketh shall find   

it4' ,the enjoyment of the present life1
 though in seeming it give delight and  
sweetness1 is well thrust from us4  ,at 
the very moment of its being it ceaseth 
to be1 and for our joy repayeth us with 
sorrow sevenfold4  ,its happiness and   
its sorrow are more frail than a shadow1
 and1 like the traces of a ship passing 
over the sea1 or of a bird flying       
through the air1 quickly disappear4 ,but
 the hope of the life to come which the 
,christians preach is certain1 and as   
surety sure2 howbeit in this world it   
hath tribulation1 whereas our pleasures 
now are short-lived1 and in the beyond  
they only win us correction and         
everlasting punishment without release4 
,for the pleasures of such life are     
temporary1 but its pains eternal2 while 
the ,christians' labours are temporary1 
but their pleasure and gain immortal4   
,therefore well befall this good        
determination of the king6  for right   
good it is to exchange the corruptible  
for the eternal4  ,the king heard these 

words and waxed exceeding wroth3        
nevertheless he restrained his anger1   
and for the season let no word fall4    
,but the other1 being shrewd and quick  
of wit1 perceived that the king took his
 word ill1 and was craftily sounding    
him4  ,so1 on his coming home1 he fell  
into much grief and distress in his     
perplexity how to conciliate the king   
and to escape the peril hanging over his
 own head4  ,but as he lay awake all the
 night long1 there came to his          
remembrance the man with the crushed    
foot2 so he had him brought before him1 
and said1 ,i remember thy saying that   
thou weft an healer of injured speech4  
,yea1 quoth he1 and if thou wilt ,i will
 give thee proof of my skill4  ,the     
senator answered and told him of his    
aforetime friendship with the king1 and 
of the confidence which he had enjoyed1 
and of the snare laid for him in his    
late converse with the king2 how he had 
given a good answer1 but the king had   
taken his words amiss1 and by his change

 of countenance betrayed the anger      
lurking within his heart4  ,the sick    
beggar-man considered and said1 ,be it  
known unto thee1 most noble sir1 that   
the king harboureth against thee the    
suspicion1 that thou wouldest usurp his 
kingdom1 and he spake1 as he spake1 to  
sound thee4  ,arise therefore1 and crop 
thy hair4 ,doff these thy fine garments1
 and don an hair-shirt1 and at daybreak 
present thyself before the king4  ,and  
when he asketh thee1 ',what meaneth this
 apparel8' answer him1 ',it hath to do  
with thy communing with me yesterday1 ,o
 king4 ,behold1 ,i am ready to follow   
thee along the road that thou art eager 
to travel2 for though luxury be         
desirable and passing sweet1 ,god forbid
 that ,i embrace it after thou art gone6
  ,though the path of virtue1 which thou
 art about to tread1 be difficult and   
rough1 yet in thy company ,i shall find 
it easy and pleasant1 for as ,i have    
shared with thee this thy prosperity so 
now will ,i share thy distresses1 that  

in the future1 as in the past1 ,i may be
 thy fellow4'  ,our nobleman1 approving 
of the sick man's saying1 did as he     
said4 ,when the king saw and heard him1 
he was delighted1 and beyond measure    
gratified by his devotion towards him4  
,he saw that the accusations against his
 senator were false1 and promoted him to
 more honour and to a greater enjoyment 
of his confidence4  ,but against the    
monks he again raged above measure1     
declaring that this was of their        
teaching1 that men should abstain from  
the pleasures of life1 and rock         
themselves in visionary hopes4  ,another
 day1 when he was gone a-hunting1 he    
espied two monks crossing the desert4   
,these he ordered to be apprehended and 
brought to his chariot4  ,looking       
angrily upon them1 and breathing fire1  
as they say1 ,ye vagabonds and          
deceivers1 he cried1 have ye not heard  
the plain proclamation of the heralds1  
that if any of your execrable religion  
were found1 after three days1 in any    

city or country within my realm1 he     
should be burned with fire8 ,the monks  
answered1 ,lo6 obedient to thine order1 
we be coming out of thy cities and      
coasts4  ,but as the journey before us  
is long1 to get us away to our brethren1
 being in want of victuals1 we were     
making provision for the way1 that we   
perish not with hunger4  ,said the king1
 ,he that dreadeth menace of death      
busieth not himself with the purveyante 
of victuals4  ,well spoken1 ,o king1    
cried the monks4  ,they that dread death
 have concern how to escape it4  ,and   
who are these but such as cling to      
things temporary and are enamoured of   
them1 who1 having no good hopes yonder1 
find it hard to be wrenched from this   
present world1 and therefore dread      
death8  ,but we1 who have long since    
hated the world and the things of the   
world1 and are walking along the narrow 
and strait road1 for ,christ his sake1  
neither dread death1 nor desire the     
present world1 but only long for the    

world to come4  ,therefore1 forasmuch   
the death that thou art bringing upon us
 proveth but the passage to that        
everlasting and better life1 it is      
rather to be desired of us than feared4 
,hereupon the king1 wishing to entrap   
the monks1 as ,i ween1 shrewdly said1   
,how now8  ,said ye not but this        
instant1 that ye were withdrawing even  
as ,i commanded you8  ,and1 if ye fear  
not death1 how came ye to be fleeing8   
,lo6  this is but another of your idle  
boasts and lies4  ,the monks answered1  
,tis not because we dread the death     
wherewith thou dost threaten us that we 
flee1 but because we pity thee4 ',twas  
in order that we might not bring on thee
 greater condemnation1 that we were     
eager to escape4  ,else for ourselves we
 are never a whit terrified by thy      
threats4  ,at this the king waxed wroth 
and bade burn them with fire4 ,so by    
fire were these servants of ,god made   
perfect1 and received the ,martyr's     
crown4  ,and the king published a decree

 that1 should any be found leading a    
monk's life1 he should be put to death  
without trial4 ,thus was there left in  
that country none of the monastic order1
 save those that had hid them in        
mountains and caverns and holes of the  
earth4  ,so much then concerning this   
matter4    ,v4  ,but meanwhile1 the     
king's son1 of whom our tale began to   
tell1 never departing from the palace   
prepared for him1 attained to the age of
 manhood4  ,he had pursued all the      
learning of the ,ethiopians and         
,persians1 and was as fair and well     
favoured in mind as in body1 intelligent
 and prudent1 and shining in all        
excellencies4  ,to his teachers he would
 propound such questions of natural     
history that even they marvelled at the 
boy's quickness and understanding1 while
 the king was astounded at the charm of 
his countenance and the disposition of  
his soul4  ,he charged the attendants of
 the young prince on no account to make 
known unto him any of the annoys of     

life1 least of all to tell him that     
death ensueth on the pleasures of this  
world4  ,but vain was the hope whereon  
he stayed1 and he was like the archer in
 the tale that would shoot at the sky4  
,for how could death have remained      
unknown to any human creature8  ,nor did
 it to this boy2 for his mind was       
fertile of wit1 and he would reason     
within himself1 why his father had      
condemned him never to go abroad1 and   
had forbidden access to all4  ,he knew1 
without hearing it1 that this was his   
father's express command4 ,nevertheless 
he feared to ask him2 it was not to be  
believed that his father intended aught 
but his good2 and again1 if it were so  
by his father's will1 his father would  
not reveal the true reason1 for all his 
asking4 ,wherefore he determined to     
learn the secret from some other source4
  ,there was one of his tutors nearer   
and dearer to him than the rest1 whose  
devotion he won even further by handsome
 gifts4  ,to him he put the question    

what his father might mean by thus      
enclosing him within those walls1       
adding1 ,if thou wilt plainly tell me   
this1 of all thou shalt stand first in  
my favour1 and ,i will make with thee a 
covenant of everlasting friendship4 ,the
 tutor1 himself a prudent man1 knowing  
how bright and mature was the boy's wit 
and that he would not betray him1 to his
 peril1 discovered to him the whole     
matter the persecution of the           
,christians and especially of the       
anchorets decreed by the king1 and how  
they were driven forth and banished from
 the country round about2 also the      
prophecies of the astrologers at his    
birth4 ',twas in order1 said he1 that   
thou mightest never hear of their       
teaching1 and choose it before our      
religion1 that the king hath thus       
devised that none but a small company   
should dwell with thee1 and hath        
commanded us to acquaint thee with none 
of the woes of life4 ,when the young    
prince heard this he said never a word  

more1 but the word of salvation took    
hold of his heart1 and the grace of the 
,comforter began to open wide the eyes  
of his understanding1 leading him by the
 hand to the true ,god1 as our tale in  
its course shall tell4  ,now the king   
his father came oftentimes to see his   
boy1 for he loved him passing well4  ,on
 a day his son said unto him1 ,there is 
something that ,i long to learn from    
thee1 my lord the king1 by reason of    
which continual grief and unceasing care
 consumeth my soul4  ,his father was    
grieved at heart at the very word1 and  
said1 ,tell me1 darling child1 what is  
the sadness that constraineth thee1 and 
straightway ,i will do my diligence to  
turn it into gladness4  ,the boy said1  
,what is the reason of mine imprisonment
 here8  ,wily hast thou barred me within
 walls and doors1 never going forth and 
seen of none8  ,his father replied1     
,because ,i will not1 my son1 that thou 
shouldest behold anything to embitter   
thy heart or mar thy happiness4  ,i     

intend that thou shalt spend all thy    
days in luxury unbroken1 and in all     
manner joy and pleasaunce4  ,but1 said  
the son unto his father1 know well1     
,sir1 that thus ,i live not in joy and  
pleasaunce1 but rather in affliction and
 great straits1 so that my very meat and
 drink seem distasteful unto me and     
bitter4  ,i yearn to see all that lieth 
without these gates4  ,if then thou     
wouldest not have me live in anguish of 
mind1 bid me go abroad as ,i desire1 and
 let me rejoice my soul with sights     
hitherto unseen by mine eyes4  ,grieved 
was the king to hear these words1 but1  
perceiving that to deny this request    
would but increase his boy's pain and   
grief1 he answered1 ,my son1 ,i will    
grant thee thy heart's desire4  ,and    
immediately he ordered that choice      
steeds1 and an escort fit  for a king1  
be made ready1 and gave him license to  
go abroad whensoever he would1 charging 
his companions to suffer nothing        
unpleasant to come in his way1 but to   

show him all that was beautiful and     
gladsome4  ,he bade them muster in the  
way troops of folk intuning melodies in 
every mode1 and presenting divers mimic 
shows1 that these might occupy and      
delight his mind4  ,so thus it came to  
pass that the king's son often went     
abroad4 ,one day1 through the negligence
 of his attendants1 he descried two men1
 the one maimed1 and the other blind4   
,in abhorrence of the sight1 he cried to
 his esquires1 ,who are these1 and what 
is this distressing spectacle8 ,they1   
unable to conceal what he had with his  
own eyes seen1 answered1 ,these be human
 sufferings1 which spring from corrupt  
matter1 and from a body full of evil    
humours4  ,the young prince asked1 ,are 
these the fortune of all men8  ,they    
answered1 ,not of all1 but of those in  
whom the principle of health is turned  
away by the badness of the humours4     
,again the youth asked1 ,if then this is
 wont to happen not to all1 but only to 
some1 can they be known on whom this    

terrible calamity shall fall8  or is it 
undefined and unforeseeable8  ,what man1
 said they1 can discern the future1 and 
accurately ascertain it8  ,this is      
beyond human nature1 and is reserved for
 the immortal gods alone4  ,the young   
prince ceased from his questioning1 but 
his heart was grieved at the sight that 
he had witnessed1 and the form of his   
visage was changed by the strangeness of
 the matter4  ,not many days after1 as  
he was again taking his walks abroad1 he
 happened with an old man1 well stricken
 in years1 shrivelled in countenance1   
feeble-kneed1 bent double1 grey-haired1 
toothless1 and with broken utterance4   
,the prince was seized with             
astonishment1 and1 calling the old man  
near1 desired to know the meaning of    
this strange sight4  ,his companions    
answered1 ,this man is now well advanced
 in years1 and his gradual decrease of  
strength1 with increase of weakness1    
hath brought him to the misery that thou
 seest4  ,and1 said he1 what will be his

 end8 ,they answered1 ,naught but death 
will relieve him4 ,but1 said he1 is this
 the appointed doom of all mankind8  ,or
 doth it happen only to some8  ,they    
answered1 ,unless death come before hand
 to remove him1 no dweller on earth1    
but1 as life advanceth1 must make trial 
of this lot4  ,then the young prince    
asked in how many years this overtook a 
man1 and whether the doom of death was  
without reprieve1 and whether there was 
no way to escape it1 and avoid coming to
 such misery4 ,they answered him1 ,in   
eighty or an hundred years men arrive at
 this old age1 and then they die1 since 
there is none other way2 for death is a 
debt due to nature1 laid on man from the
 beginning1 and its approach is         
inexorable4  ,when our wise and         
sagacious young prince saw and heard all
 this1 he sighed from the bottom of his 
heart4  ,bitter is this life1 cried he1 
and fulfilled of all pain and anguish1  
if this be so4 ,and how can a body be   
careless in the expectation of an       

unknown death1 whose approach 7ye say7  
is as uncertain as it is inexorable8    
,so he went away1 restlessly turning    
over all these things in his mind1      
pondering without end1 and ever calling 
up remembrances of death4  ,wherefore   
trouble and despondency were his        
companions1 and his grief knew no ease2 
for he said to himself1 ,and is it true 
that death shall one day overtake me8   
,and who is he that shall make mention  
of me after death1 when time delivereth 
all things to forgetfulness8  ,when     
dead1 shall ,i dissolve into            
nothingness8  ,or is there life beyond1 
and another world8  ,ever fretting over 
these and the like considerations1 he   
waxed pale and wasted away1 but in the  
presence of his father1 whenever he     
chanced to come to him1 he made as      
though he were cheerful and without     
trouble1 unwilling that his cares should
 come to his father's knowledge4  ,but  
he longed with an unrestrainable        
yearning1 to meet with the man that     

might accomplish his heart's desire1 and
 fill his ears with the sound of good   
tidings4  ,again he enquired of the     
tutor of whom we have spoken1 whether he
 knew of anybody able to help him       
towards his desire1 and to establish a  
mind1 dazed and shuddering at its       
cogitations1 and unable to throw off its
 burden4  ,he1 recollecting their former
 communications1 said1 ,i have told thee
 already how thy father hath dealt with 
the wise men and anchorets who spend    
their lives in such philosophies4  ,some
 hath he slain1 and others he hath      
wrathfully persecuted1 and ,i wot not   
whether any of this sort be in this     
country side4  ,thereat the prince was  
overwhelmed with woe1 and grievously    
wounded in spirit4  ,he was like unto a 
man that hath lost a great treasure1    
whose whole heart is occupied in seeking
 after it4  ,thenceforth he lived in    
perpetual conflict and distress of mind1
 and all the pleasures and delights of  
this world were in his eyes an          

abomination and a curse4  ,while the    
youth was in this way1 and his soul was 
crying out to discover that which is    
good1 the eye that beholdeth all things 
looked upon him1 and he that willeth    
that 'all men should be saved1 and come 
to the knowledge of the truth1' passed  
him not by1 but showed this man also the
 tender love that he hath toward        
mankind1 and made known upon him the    
path whereon he needs must go4  ,befel  
it thus4    ,,vi4  ,there was at that   
time a certain monk1 learned in heavenly
 things1 graced in word and deed1 a     
model follower of every monastic rule4  
,whence he sprang1 and what his race1 ,i
 cannot say1 but he dwelt in a waste    
howling wilderness in the land of       
,senaar1 and had been perfected through 
the grace of the priesthood4  ,barlaam  
was this elder's name4 ,he1 learning by 
divine revelation the state of the      
king's son1 left the desert and returned
 to the world4  ,changing his habit1 he 
put on lay attire1 and1 embarking on    

ship board1 arrived at the seat of the  
empire of the ,indians4  ,disguised as a
 merchant man1 he entered the city1     
where was the palace of the king's son4 
,there he tarried many days1 and        
enquired diligently concerning the      
prince's affairs1 and those that had    
access to him4  ,learning that the      
tutor1 of whom we have spoken1 was the  
prince's most familiar friend1 he       
privily approached him1 saying1  ,i     
would have thee understand1 my lord1    
that ,i am a merchant man1 come from a  
far country2 and ,i possess a precious  
gem1 the like of which was never yet    
found1 and hitherto ,i have shewed it to
 no man4  ,but now ,i reveal the secret 
to thee1 seeing thee to be wise and     
prudent1 that thou mayest bring me      
before the king's son1 and ,i will      
present it to him4  ,beyond compare1 it 
surpasseth all beautiful things2 for on 
the blind in heart it hath virtue to    
bestow the light of wisdom1 to open the 
ears of the deaf1 to give speech to the 

dumb and strength to the ailing4  ,it   
maketh the foolish wise and driveth away
 devils1 and without stint furnisheth   
its possessor with everything that is   
lovely and desirable4  ,the tutor said1 
,though1 to all seeming1 thou art a man 
of staid and steadfast judgment1 yet thy
 words prove thee to be boastful beyond 
measure4  ,time would fail me to tell   
thee the full tale of the costly and    
precious gems and pearls that ,i have   
seen4  ,but gems1 with such power as    
thou tellest of1 ,i never saw nor heard 
of yet4 ,nevertheless shew me the stone2
 and if it be as thou affirmest1 ,i     
immediately bear it to the king's son1  
from whom thou shalt receive most high  
honours and rewards4  ,but1 before ,i be
 assured by the certain witness of mine 
own eyes1 ,i may not carry to my lord   
and master so swollen a tale about so   
doubtful a thing4  ,quoth ,barlaam1     
,well hast thou said that thou hast     
never seen or heard of such powers and  
virtues2 for my speech to thee is on no 

ordinary matter1 but on a wondrous and a
 great4  ,but1 as thou desiredst to     
behold it1 listen to my words4  ,this   
exceeding precious gem1 amongst these   
its powers and virtues1 possesseth this 
property besides4  ,it cannot be seen   
out of hand1 save by one whose eyesight 
is strong and sound1 and his body pure  
and thoroughly undefiled4  ,if any man1 
lacking in these two good qualities1 do 
rashly gaze upon this precious stone1 he
 shall1 ,i suppose lose even the        
eyesight that he hath1 and his wits as  
well4  ,now ,i1 that am initiated in the
 physician's art1 observe that thine    
eyes are not healthy1 and ,i fear lest  
,i may cause thee to lose even the      
eyesight that thou hast4  ,but of the   
king's son1 ,i have heard that he       
leadeth a sober life1 and that his eyes 
are young and fair1 and healthy4        
,wherefore to him ,i make bold to       
display this treasure4  ,be not thou    
then negligent herein1 nor rob thy      
master of so wondrous a boon4  ,the     

other answered1 ,if this be so1 in no   
wise show me the gem2 for my life hath  
been polluted by many sins1 and also1 as
 thou sayest1 ,i am not possest of good 
eyesight4  ,but ,i am won by thy words1 
and will not hesitate to make known     
these things unto my lord the prince4   
,so saying1 he went in1 and1 word by    
word1 reported everything to the king's 
son4  ,he1 hearing his tutor's words1   
felt a strange joy and spiritual        
gladness breathing into his heart1 and1 
like one inspired1 bade bring in the man
 forthwith4  ,so when ,barlaam was come 
in1 and had in due order wished him     
,peace61 the prince bade him be seated4 
,then his tutor withdrew1 and ,ioasaph  
said unto the elder1 ,shew me the       
precious gem1 concerning which1 as my   
tutor hath narrated1 thou tellest such  
great and marvellous tales4 ,then began 
,barlaam to discourse with him thus3 ,it
 is not fitting1 ,o prince1 that ,i     
should say anything falsely or          
unadvisedly to thine excellent majesty4 

,all that hath been signified to thee   
from me is true and may not be gainsaid4
  ,but1 except ,i first make trial of   
thy mind1 it is not lawful to declare to
 thee this mystery2 for my master saith1
 ',there went out a sower to sow his    
seed3 and1 as he sowed1 some seeds fell 
by the wayside1 and the fowls of the air
 came and devoured them up3 some fell   
upon stony places1 where they had not   
much earth3 and forthwith they sprang   
up1 because they had no deepness of     
earth3 and when the sun was up1 they    
were scorched3 and because they had no  
root1 they withered away4  ,and some    
fell among thorns2 and the thorns sprung
 up and choked them3 but others fell    
upon good ground1 and brought forth     
fruit an hundredfold4'  ,now1 if ,i find
 in thine heart fruit-bearing ground1   
and good1 ,i shall not be slow to plant 
therein the heavenly seed1 and manifest 
to thee the mighty mystery4  ,but and if
 the ground be stony and thorny1 and the
 wayside trodden down by all who will1  

it were better never to let fall this   
seed of salvation1 nor to cast it for a 
prey to fowls and beasts1 before which  
,i have been charged not to cast pearls4
  ,but ,i am 'persuaded better things of
 thee1 and things that accompany        
salvation1'--how that thou shalt see the
 priceless stone1 and it shall be given 
thee in the light of that stone to      
become light1 and bring forth fruit an  
hundredfold4  ,aye1 for thy sake ,i gave
 diligence and accomplished a long      
journey1 to shew thee things which thou 
hast never seen1 and teach thee things  
which thou hast never heard4  ,ioasaph  
said unto him1 ,for myself1 reverend    
elder1 ,i have a longing1 all           
irresistible passion to hear some new   
and goodly word1 and in mine heart there
 is kindled fire1 cruelly burning and   
urging me to learn the answer to some   
questions that will not rest4  ,but     
until now ,i never happened on one that 
could satisfy me as touching them4  ,but
 if ,i meet with some wise and          

understanding man1 and hear the word of 
salvation1 ,i shall not deliver it to   
the fowls of the air1 ,i trow1 nor yet  
to the beasts of the field2 nor shall ,i
 be found either stony or               
thorny-hearted1 as thou saidest1 but ,i 
shall receive the word kindly1 and guard
 it wisely4  ,so if thou knowest any    
such like thing1 conceal it not from me1
 but declare it4  ,when ,i heard that   
thou were come from a far country1 my   
spirit rejoiced1 and ,i had good hope of
 obtaining through thee that which ,i   
desire4  ,wherefore ,i called thee      
straightway into my presence1 and       
received thee in friendly wise as one of
 my companions and peers1 if so be that 
,i may not be disappointed of my hope4  
,barlaam answered1 ,fair are thy deeds1 
and worthy of thy royal majesty2 seeing 
that thou hast paid no heed to my mean  
show1 but hast devoted thyself to the   
hope that lieth within4  ,there was once
 a great and famous king3 and it came to
 pass1 when he was riding on a day in   

his golden chariot1 with his royal      
guard1 that there met him two men1 clad 
in filthy rags1 with fallen-in faces1   
and pale as death4  ,now the king knew  
that it was by buffetings of the body   
and by the sweats of the monastic life  
that they had thus wasted their         
miserable flesh4  ,so1 seeing them1 he  
leapt anon from his chariot1 fell on the
 ground1 and did obeisance4  ,then      
rising1 he embraced and greeted them    
tenderly4 ,but his noblemen and         
counsellors took offence thereat1       
deeming that their sovran had disgraced 
his kingly honour4  ,but not daring to  
reprove him to the face1 they bade the  
king's own brother tell the king not    
thus to insult the majesty of his crown4
  ,when he had told the king thereof1   
and had upbraided him for his untimely  
humility1 the king gave his brother an  
answer which he failed to understand4   
,it was the custom of that king1        
whenever he sentenced anyone to death1  
to send a herald to his door1 with a    

trumpet reserved for that purpose1 and  
at the sound of this trumpet all        
understood that that man was liable to  
the penalty of death4  ,so when evening 
was come1 the king sent the             
death-trumpet to sound at his brother's 
door2 who1 when he heard its blast1     
despaired of his life1 and all night    
long set his house in order4  ,at       
day-break1 robed in black and garments  
of mourning1 with wife and children1 he 
went to the palace gate1 weeping and    
lamenting4  ,the king fetched him in1   
and seeing him in tears1 said1 ',o fool1
 and slow of understanding1 how didst   
thou1 who hast had such dread of the    
herald of thy peer and brother 7against 
whom thy conscience doth not accuse thee
 of having committed any trespass7 blame
 me for my humility in greeting the     
heralds of my ,god1 when they warned me1
 in gentler tones than those of the     
trumpet1 of my death and fearful meeting
 with that ,master against whom ,i know 
that ,i have often grievously offended8 

,lo6  then1 it was in reproof of thy    
folly that ,i played thee this turn1    
even as ,i will shortly convict of      
vanity those that prompted thy reproof4'
  ,thus he comforted his brother and    
sent him home with a gift4  ,then he    
ordered four wooden caskets to be made4 
,two of these he covered over all with  
gold1 and1 placing dead men's mouldering
 bones therein1 secured them with golden
 clasps4  ,the other two he smeared over
 with pitch and tar1 but filled them    
with costly stones and precious pearls1 
and all manner of aromatic sweet        
perfume4  ,he bound them fast with cords
 of hair1 and called for the noblemen   
who had blamed him for his manner of    
accosting the men by the wayside4       
,before them he set the four caskets1   
that they might appraise the value of   
these and those4  ,they decided that the
 golden ones were of greatest value1    
for1 peradventure1 they contained kingly
 diadems and girdles4 ,but those1 that  
were be-smeared with pitch and tar1 were

 cheap and of paltry worth1 said they4  
,then said the king to them1 ',i know   
that such is your answer1 for with the  
eyes of sense ye judge the objects of   
sense1 but so ought ye not to do1 but ye
 should rather see with the inner eye   
the hidden worthlessness or value4'     
,whereupon he ordered the golden chests 
to be opened4  ,and when they were      
thrown open1 they gave out a loathsome  
smell and presented a hideous sight4    
,said the king1 ',here is a figure of   
those who are clothed in glory and      
honour1 and make great display of power 
and glory1 but within is the stink of   
dead men's bones and works of iniquity4'
 ,next1 he commanded the pitched and    
tarred caskets also to be opened1 and   
delighted the company with the beauty   
and sweet savour of their stores4  ,and 
he said unto them1 ',know ye to whom    
these are like8  ,they are like those   
lowly men1 clad in vile apparel1 whose  
outward form alone ye beheld1 and deemed
 it outrageous that ,i bowed down to do 

them obeisance4  ,but through the eyes  
of my mind ,i perceived the value and   
exceeding beauty of their souls1 and was
 glorified by their touch1 and ,i       
counted them more honourable than any   
chaplet or royal purple4'  ,thus he     
shamed his courtiers1 and taught them   
not to be deceived by outward           
appearances1 but to give heed to the    
things of the soul4 ,after the example  
of that devout and wise king hast thou  
also done1 in that thou hast received me
 in good hope1 wherein1 as ,i ween1 thou
 shalt not be disappointed4 ,ioasaph    
said unto him1 ,fair and fitting hath   
been all thy speech2 but now ,i fain    
would learn who is thy ,master1 who1 as 
thou saidest at the first1 spake        
concerning the ,sower4    ,,vii4  ,again
 therefore ,barlaam took up his parable 
and said1 ,if thou wilt learn who is my 
,master1 it is ,jesus ,christ the ,lord1
 the only-begotten ,son of ,god1 'the   
blessed and only potentate1 the ,king of
 kings1 and ,lords of lords2 who only   

hath immortality1 dwelling in the light 
which no man can approach unto'2 who    
with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost is
 glorified4  ,i am not one of those who 
proclaim from the house-top their wild  
rout of gods1 and worship lifeless and  
dumb idols1 but one ,god do ,i          
acknowledge and confess1 in three       
persons glorified1 the ,father1 the     
,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 but in one  
nature and substance1 in one glory and  
kingdom undivided4  ,he then is in three
 persons one ,god1 without beginning1   
and without end1 eternal and            
everlasting1 increate1 immutable and    
incorporeal1 invisible1 infinite1       
incomprehensible1 alone good and        
righteous1 who created all things out of
 nothing1 whether visible or invisible4 
,first1 he made the heavenly and        
invisible powers1 countless multitudes1 
immaterial and bodiless1 ministering    
spirits of the majesty of ,god4         
,afterward he created this visible      
world1 heaven and earth and sea1 which  

also he made glorious with light and    
richly adorned it2 the heavens with the 
sun1 moon and stars1 and the earth with 
all manner of herbs and divers living   
beasts1 and the sea in turn with all    
kinds of fishes4  ',he spake the word   
and these all were made2 he commanded   
and they were created4'  ,then with his 
own hands he created man1 taking dust of
 the ground for the fashioning of his   
body1 but by his own in-breathing giving
 him a reasonable and intelligent soul1 
which1 as it is written1 was made after 
the image and likeness of ,god3 after   
his image1 because of reason and free   
will2 after his likeness1 because of the
 likeness of virtue1 in its degree1 to  
,god4  ,him he endowed with free will   
and immortality and appointed sovran    
over everything upon earth2 and from man
 he made woman1 to be an helpmeet of    
like nature for him4  ,and he planted a 
garden eastward in ,eden1 full of       
delight and all heart's ease1 and set   
thereto the man whom he had formed1 and 

commanded him freely to eat of all the  
heavenly trees therein1 but forbade him 
wholly the taste of a certain one which 
was called the tree of the knowledge of 
good and evil1 thus saying1 ',in the day
 that ye eat thereof ye shall surely    
die4'  ,but one of the aforesaid angel  
powers1 the marshall of one host1 though
 he bore in himself no trace of natural 
evil from his ,maker's hand but had been
 created for good1 yet by his own free  
and deliberate choice turned aside from 
good to evil1 and was stirred up by     
madness to the desire to take up arms   
against his ,lord ,god4 ,wherefore he   
was cast out of his rank and dignity1   
and in the stead of his former blissful 
glory and angelick name received the    
name of the ',devil' and ',satan' for   
his title4  ,god banished him as        
unworthy of the glory above4  ,and      
together with him there was drawn away  
and hurled forth a great multitude of   
the company of angels under him1 who    
were evil of choice1 and chose in place 

of good1 to follow in the rebellion of  
their leader4  ,these were called       
,devils1 as being deluders and          
deceivers4  ,thus then did the devil    
utterly renounce the good1 and assume an
 evil nature2 and he conceived spite    
against man1 seeing himself hurled from 
such glory1 and man raised to such      
honour2 and he schemed to oust him from 
that blissful state4  ,so he took the   
serpent for the workshop of his own     
guile4  ,through him he conversed with  
the woman1 and persuaded her to eat of  
that forbidden tree in the hope of being
 as ,god1 and through her he deceived   
,adam also1 for that was the first man's
 name4 ,so ,adam ate of the tree of     
disobedience1 and was banished by his   
maker from that paradise of delight1    
and1 in lieu of those happy days and    
that immortal life1 fell alas6  into    
this life of misery and woe1 and at the 
last received sentence of death4        
,thenceforth the devil waxed strong and 
boastful through his victory2 and1 as   

the race of man multiplied1 he prompted 
them in all manner of wickedness4  ,so1 
wishing to cut short the growth of sin1 
,god brought a deluge on the earth1 and 
destroyed every living soul4 ,but one   
single righteous man did ,god find in   
that generation2 and him1 with wife and 
children1 he saved alive in an ,ark1 and
 set him utterly desolate on earth4     
,but1 when the human race again began to
 multiply1 they forgat ,god1 and ran    
into worse excess of wickedness1 being  
in subjection to divers sins and ruined 
in strange delusions1 and wandering     
apart into many branches of error4      
,some deemed that everything moved by   
mere chance1 and taught that there was  
no ,providence1 since there was no      
master to govern4  ,others brought in   
fate1 and committed everything to the   
stars at birth4 ,others worshipped many 
evil deities subject to many passions1  
to the end that they might have them to 
advocate their own passions and shameful
 deeds1 whose forms they moulded1 and   

whose dumb figures and senseless idols  
they set up1 and enclosed them in       
temples1 and did homage to them1        
'serving the creature more than the     
,creator4'  ,some worshipped the sun1   
moon and stars which ,god fixed1 for to 
give light to our earthly sphere2 things
 without soul or sense1 enlightened and 
sustained by the providence of ,god1 but
 unable to accomplish anything of       
themselves4  ,others again worshipped   
fire and water1 and the other elements1 
things without soul or sense2 and men1  
possest of soul and reason1 were not    
ashamed to worship the like of these4   
,others assigned worship to beasts1     
creeping and four-footed things1 proving
 themselves more beastly than the things
 that they worshipped4  ,others made    
them images of vile and worthless men1  
and named them gods1 some of whom they  
called males1 and some females1 and they
 themselves set them forth as           
adulterers1 murderers1 victims of anger1
 jealousy1 wrath1 slayers of fathers1   

slayers of brothers1 thieves and        
robbers1 lame and maim1 sorcerers and   
madmen4  ,others they showed dead1      
struck by thunderbolts1 or beating their
 breasts1 or being mourned over1 or in  
enslavement to mankind1 or exiled1 or1  
for foul and shameful unions1 taking the
 forms of animals4  ,whence men1 taking 
occasion by the gods themselves1 took   
heart to pollute themselves in all      
manner of uncleanness4  ,so an horrible 
darkness overspread our race in those   
times1 and 'there was none that did     
understand and seek after ,god4'  ,now  
in that generation one ,abraham alone   
was found strong in his spiritual       
senses2 and by contemplation of         
,creation he recognized the ,creator4   
,when he considered heaven1 earth and   
sea1 the sun1 moon and the like1 he     
marvelled at their harmonious ordering4 
,seeing the world1 and all that therein 
is1 he could not believe that it had    
been created1 and was upheld1 by its own
 power1 nor did he ascribe such a fair  

ordering to earthly elements or lifeless
 idols4  ,but therein he recognized the 
true ,god1 and understood him to be the 
maker and sustainer of the whole4  ,and 
,god1 approving his fair wisdom and     
right judgement1 manifested himself unto
 him1 not as he essentially is 7for it  
is impossible for a created being to see
 ,god71 but by certain manifestations in
 material forms1 as he alone can1 and he
 planted in ,abraham more perfect       
knowledge2 he magnified him and made him
 his own servant4 ,which ,abraham in    
turn handed down to his children his own
 righteousness1 and taught them to know 
the true ,god4  ,wherefore also the     
,lord was pleased to multiply his seed  
beyond measure1 and called them 'a      
peculiar people1' and brought them forth
 out of bondage to the ,egyptian nation1
 and to one ,pharaoh a tyrant1 by       
strange and terrible signs and wonders  
wrought by the hand of ,moses and       
,aaron1 holy men1 honoured with the gift
 of prophecy2 by whom also he punished  

the ,egyptians in fashion worthy of     
their wickedness1 and led the           
,israelites 7for thus the people        
descended from ,abraham were called7    
through the ,red ,sea upon dry land1 the
 waters dividing and making a wall on   
the right hand and a wall on the left4  
,but when ,pharaoh and the ,egyptians   
pursued and went in after them1 the     
waters returned and utterly destroyed   
them4  ,then with exceeding mighty      
miracles and divine manifestations by   
the space of forty years he led the     
people in the wilderness1 and fed them  
with bread from heaven1 and gave the    
,law divinely written on tables of      
stone1 which he delivered unto ,moses on
 the mount1 'a type and shadow of things
 to come' leading men away from idols   
and all manner of wickedness1 and       
teaching them to worship only the one   
true ,god1 and to cleave to good works4 
,by such wondrous deeds1 he brought them
 into a certain goodly land1 the which  
he had promised aforetime to ,abraham   

the patriarch1 that he would give it    
unto his seed4  ,and the task were long1
 to tell of all the mighty and          
marvellous works full of glory and      
wonder1 without number1 which he shewed 
unto them1 by which it was his purpose  
to pluck the human race from all        
unlawful worship and practice1 and to   
bring men back to their first estate4   
,but even so our nature was in bondage  
by its freedom to err1 and death had    
dominion over mankind1 delivering all to
 the tyranny of the devil1 and to the   
damnation of hell4  ,so when we had sunk
 to this depth of misfortune and misery1
 we were not forgotten by him that      
formed and brought us out of nothing    
into being1 nor did he suffer his own   
handiwork utterly to perish4  ,by the   
good pleasure of our ,god and ,father1  
and the co-operation of the ,holy       
,ghost1 the only-begotten ,son1 even the
 ,word of ,god1 which is in the bosom of
 the ,father1 being of one substance    
with the ,father and with the ,holy     

,ghost1 he that was before all worlds1  
without beginning1 who was in the       
beginning1 and was with ,god even the   
,father1 and was ,god1 he1 ,i say1      
condescended toward his servants with an
 unspeakable and incomprehensible       
condescension2 and1 being perfect ,god1 
was made perfect man1 of the ,holy      
,ghost1 and of ,mary the ,holy ,virgin  
and ,mother of ,god1 not of the seed of 
man1 nor of the will of man1 nor by     
carnal union1 being conceived in the    
,virgin's undefiled womb1 of the ,holy  
,ghost2 as also1 before his conception1 
one of the ,archangels was sent to      
announce to the ,virgin that miraculous 
conception and ineffable birth4  ,for   
without seed was the ,son of ,god       
conceived of the ,holy ,ghost1 and in   
the ,virgin's womb he formed for himself
 a fleshy body1 animate with a          
reasonable and intelligent soul1 and    
thence came forth in one substance1 but 
in two natures1 perfect ,god and perfect
 man1 and preserved undefiled1 even     

after birth1 the virginity of her that  
bore him4 ,he1 being made of like       
passions with ourselves in all things1  
yet without sin1 took our infirmities   
and bare our sicknesses4  ,for1 since by
 sin death entered into the world1 need 
was that he1 that should redeem the     
world1 should be without sin1 and not by
 sin subject unto death4  ,when he had  
lived thirty years among men1 he was    
baptized in the river ,jordan by ,john1 
an holy man1 and great above all the    
prophets4  ,and when he was baptized    
there came a voice from heaven1 from    
,god1 even the ,father1 saying1 ',this  
is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well  
pleased1' and the ,holy ,ghost descended
 upon him in likeness of a dove4  ,from 
that time forth he began to do great    
signs and wonders1 raising the dead1    
giving sight to the blind1 casting out  
devils1 healing the lame and maim1      
cleansing lepers1 and everywhere        
renewing our out-worn nature1           
instructing men both by word and deed1  

and teaching the way of virtue1 turning 
men from destruction and guiding their  
feet toward life eternal4  ,wherefore   
also he chose twelve disciples1 whom he 
called ,apostles1 and commanded them to 
preach the kingdom of heaven which he   
came upon earth to declare1 and to make 
heavenly us who are low and earthly1 by 
virtue of his ,incarnation4  ,but1      
through envy of his marvellous and      
divine conversation and endless         
miracles1 the chief priests and rulers  
of the ,jews 7amongst whom also he      
dwelt1 on whom he had wrought his       
aforesaid signs and miracles71 in their 
madness forgetting all1 condemned him to
 death1 having seized one of the ,twelve
 to betray him4 ,and1 when they had     
taken him1 they delivered him to the    
,gentiles1 him that was the life of the 
world1 he of his free will consenting   
thereto2 for he came for our sakes to   
suffer all things1 that he might free us
 from sufferings4  ,but when they had   
done him much despite1 at the last they 

condemned him to the ,cross4  ,all this 
he endured in the nature of that flesh  
which he took from us1 his divine nature
 remaining free of suffering3 for1 being
 of two natures1 both the divine and    
that which he took from us1 his human   
nature suffered1 while his ,godhead     
continued free from suffering and death4
  ,so our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 being   
without sin1 was crucified in the flesh1
 for he did no sin1 neither was guile   
found in his mouth2 and he was not      
subject unto death1 for by sin1 as ,i   
have said before1 came death into the   
world2 but for our sakes he suffered    
death in the flesh1 that he might redeem
 us from the tyranny of death4  ,he     
descended into hell1 and having harrowed
 it1 he delivered thence souls that had 
been imprisoned therein for ages long4  
,he was buried1 and on the third day he 
rose again1 vanquishing death and       
granting us the victory over death3 and 
he1 the giver of immortality1 having    
made flesh immortal1 was seen of his    

disciples1 and bestowed upon them peace1
 and1 through them1 peace on the whole  
human race4  ,after forty days he       
ascended into heaven1 and sitteth at the
 right hand of the ,father4  ,and he    
shall come again to judge the quick and 
the dead1 and to reward every man       
according to his works4  ,after his     
glorious ,ascension into heaven he sent 
forth upon his disciples the ,holy      
,ghost in likeness of fire1 and they    
began to speak with other tongues as the
 ,spirit gave them utterance4  ,from    
thence by his grace they were scattered 
abroad among all nations1 and preached  
the true ,catholic ,faith1 baptizing    
them in the name of the ,father1 and of 
the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 and  
teaching them to observe all the        
commandments of the ,saviour4  ,so they 
gave light to the people that wandered  
in darkness1 and abolished the          
superstitious error of idolatry4 ,though
 the enemy chafeth under his defeat1 and
 even now stirreth up war against us1   

the faithful1 persuading the fools and  
unwise to cling to the worship of idols1
 yet is his power grown feeble1 and his 
swords have at last failed him by the   
power of ,christ4 ,lo1 in few words ,i  
have made known unto thee my ,master1 my
 ,god1 and my ,saviour2 but thou shalt  
know him more perfectly1 if thou wilt   
receive his grace into thy soul1 and    
gain the blessing to become his servant4
    ,,viii4  ,when the king's son had   
heard these words1 there flashed a light
 upon his soul4  ,rising from his seat  
in the fulness of his joy1 he embraced  
,barlaam1 saying3 ,most honoured sir1   
methinks this might be that priceless   
stone which thou dost rightly keep      
secret1 not displaying it to all that   
would see it1 but only to these whose   
spiritual sense is strong4  ,for lo1 as 
these words dropped upon mine ear1      
sweetest light entered into my heart1   
and the heavy veil of sorrow1 that hath 
now this long time enveloped my heart1  
was in an instant removed4  ,tell me if 

my guess be true3 or if thou knowest    
aught better than that which thou hast  
spoken1 delay not to declare it to me4  
,again1 therefore1 ,barlaam answered1   
,yea1 my lord and prince1 this is the   
mighty mystery which hath been hid from 
ages and generations1 but in these last 
days hath been made known unto mankind2 
the manifestation whereof1 by the grace 
of the ,holy ,ghost1 was foretold by    
many prophets and righteous men1        
instructed at sundry times and in divers
 manners4 ,in trumpet tones they        
proclaimed it1 and all looked forward to
 the salvation that should be3 this they
 desired to see1 but saw it not4 ,but   
this latest generation was counted      
worthy to receive salvation4 ,wherefore 
he that believeth and is baptized shall 
be saved2 but he that believeth not     
shall be damned4  ,said ,ioasaph1 ,all  
that thou hast told me ,i believe       
without question1 and him whom thou     
declarest ,i glorify as ,god4  ,only    
make all plain to me1 and teach me      

clearly what ,i must do4  ,but          
especially go on to tell me what is that
 ,baptism which thou sayest that the    
,faithful receive4  ,the other answered 
him thus1 ,the root mid sure foundation 
of this holy and perfect ,christian     
,faith is the grace of heavenly         
,baptism1 fraught with the cleansing    
from all original sins1 and complete    
purification of all defilements of evil 
that come after4 ,for thus the ,saviour 
commanded a man to be born again of     
water and of the spirit1 and be restored
 to his first dignity1 to wit1 by       
supplication and by calling on the      
,saving ,name1 the ,holy ,spirit        
brooding on the water4  ,we are         
baptized1 then1 according to the word of
 the ,lord1 in the ,name of the ,father1
 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy      
,ghost1 and thus the grace of the ,holy 
,ghost dwelleth in the soul of the      
baptized1 illuminating and making it    
,god-like and renewing that which was   
made after his own image and likeness4  

,and for the time to come we cast away  
all the old works of wickedness1 and we 
make covenant with ,god of a second life
 and begin a purer conversation1 that we
 may also become fellow-heirs with them 
that are born again to incorruption and 
lay hold of everlasting salvation4 ,but 
without ,baptism it is impossible to    
attain to that good hope1 even though a 
man be more pious than piety itself4    
,for thus spake ,god1 the ,word1 who was
 incarnate for the salvation of our     
race1 ',verily ,i say unto you1 except  
ye be born of water and of the ,spirit1 
ye shall in no wise enter into the      
,kingdom of ,heaven4'  ,wherefore before
 all things ,i require thee to receive  
faith within thy soul1 and to draw near 
to ,baptism anon with hearty desire1 and
 on no account to delay herein1 for     
delay is parlous1 because of the        
uncertainty of the appointed day of     
death4  ,ioasaph said unto him1 ,and    
what is this good hope whereto thou     
sayest it is impossible without baptism 

to attain8  ,and what this kingdom which
 thou callest the kingdom of ,heaven8   
,and how cometh it that thou hast heard 
the words of ,god incarnate8  ,and what 
is the uncertain day of death8  ,for on 
this account much anxiety hath fallen on
 my heart1 and consumeth my flesh in    
pain and grief1 and fasteneth on my very
 bones4  ,and shall we men1 appointed to
 die1 return to nothing1 or is there    
some other life after our departure     
hence8  ,these and kindred questions ,i 
have been longing to resolve4  ,thus    
questioned he2 and ,barlaam answered    
thus3 ,the good hope1 whereof ,i spake1 
is that of the kingdom of ,heaven4  ,but
 that kingdom is far beyond the         
utterance of mortal tongue2 for the     
,scripture saith1 ',eye hath not seen1  
nor ear heard1 neither have entered into
 the heart of man the things which ,god 
hath prepared for them that love him4'  
,but when we have shuffled off this     
gross flesh1 and attained to that       
blessedness1 then will that ,master1    

which hath granted to us not to fail of 
this hope1 teach and make known unto us 
the glory of those good things1 whose   
glory passeth all understanding3--that  
light ineffable1 that life that hath no 
ending1 that converse with ,angels4     
,for if it be granted us to hold        
communion with ,god1 so far as is       
attainable to human nature1 then shall  
we know all things from his lips which  
now we know not4  ,this doth my         
initiation into the teaching of the     
divine ,scriptures teach me to be the   
real meaning of the kingdom of ,heaven2 
to approach the vision of the blessed   
and life-giving ,trinity1 and to be     
illumined with his unapproachable light1
 and with clearer and purer sight1 and  
with unveiled face1 to behold as in a   
glass his unspeakable glory4  ,but1 if  
it be impossible to express in language 
that glory1 that light1 and those       
mysterious blessings1 what marvel8  ,for
 they had not been mighty and singular1 
if they had been comprehended by reason 

and expressed in words by us who are    
earthly1 and corruptible1 and clothed in
 this heavy garment of sinful flesh4    
,holding then such knowledge in simple  
faith1 believe thou undoubtingly1 that  
these are no fictions2 but by good works
 be urgent to lay hold on that immortal 
kingdom1 to which when thou hast        
attained1 thou shalt have perfect       
knowledge4  ,as touching thy question1  
,how it is that we have heard the words 
of the ,incarnate ,god1 know thou that  
we have been taught all that            
appertaineth to the divine ,incarnation 
by the ,holy ,gospels1 for thus that    
holy book is called1 because it telleth 
us1 who are corruptible and earthly1 the
 'good spell' of immortality and        
incorruption1 of life eternal1 of the   
remission of sins1 and of the kingdom of
 heaven4  ,this book was written by the 
eyewitnesses and ministers of the ,word1
 and of these ,i have already said that 
our ,lord ,jesus ,christ chose them for 
disciples and apostles2 and they        

delivered it unto us in writing1 after  
the glorious ,ascension of our ,master  
into ,heaven1 a record of his life on   
earth1 his teachings and miracles1 so   
far as it was possible to commit them to
 writing4  ,for thus1 toward the end of 
his volume1 saith he that is the flower 
of the holy ,evangelists1 ',and there   
are also many other things which ,jesus 
did1 the which1 if they should be       
written every one1 ,i suppose that even 
the world itself could not contain the  
books that should be written4'  ,so in  
this heavenly ,gospel1 written by the   
,spirit of ,god1 is recorded the history
 of his ,incarnation1 his manifestation1
 his miracles and acts4  ,afterward1 it 
telleth of the innocent suffering which 
the ,lord endured for our sake1 of his  
holy ,resurrection on the third day1 his
 ,ascent into the heavens1 and of his   
glorious and dreadful second coming2 for
 the ,son of ,god shall come again on   
earth1 with unspeakable glory1 and with 
a multitude of the heavenly host to     

judge our race1 and to reward every man 
according to his works4  ,for1 at the   
beginning1 ,god created man out of      
earth1 as ,i have already told thee1 and
 breathed into him breath1 which is     
called a reasonable and understanding   
soul4 ,but since we were sentenced to   
death1 we die all3 and it is not        
possible for this cup to pass any man   
by4  ,now death is the separation of the
 soul from the body4  ,and that body    
which was formed out of earth1 when     
severed from the soul1 returneth to     
earth from whence also it was taken1    
and1 decaying1 perisheth2 but the soul1 
being immortal1 fareth whither her      
,maker calleth1 or rather to the place  
where she1 while still in the body1 hath
 prepared for herself lodgement4  ,for  
as a man hath lived here1 so shall he   
receive reward there4  ,then1 after long
 seasons1 ,christ our ,god shall come to
 judge the world in awful glory1 beyond 
words to tell2 and for fear of him the  
powers of heaven shall be shaken1 and   

all the angel hosts stand beside him in 
dread4  ,then1 at the voice of the      
archangel1 and at the trump of ,god1    
shall the dead arise and stand before   
his awful throne4  ,now the             
,resurrection is the re-uniting of soul 
and body4  ,so that very body1 which    
decayeth and perisheth1 shall arise     
incorruptible4  ,and concerning this1   
beware lest the reasoning of unbelief   
overtake thee2 for it is not impossible 
for him1 who at the beginning formed the
 body out of earth1 when according to   
its ,maker's doom it hath returned to   
earth whence it was taken1 to raise the 
same again4  ,if thou wilt but consider 
how many things ,god hath made out of   
nothing1 this proof shall suffice thee4 
,he took earth and made man1 though     
earth was not man before4  ,how then did
 earth become man8  ,and how was earth1 
that did not exist1 produced8  ,and what
 foundation hath it8  ,and how were     
countless kind of things without reason1
 of seeds and plants1 produced out of   

it6  ,nay1 now also consider the manner 
of our birth4  ,is not a little seed    
thrown into the womb that receiveth it8 
,whence then cometh such a marvellous   
fashioning of a living creature8  ,so   
for him1 who hath made everything out of
 nothing1 and still doth make1 it is not
 impossible to raise deadened and       
corrupt bodies from the earth1 that     
every man may be rewarded according to  
his works2 for he saith1 ',the present  
is the time for work1 the future for    
recompense4'  ,else1 where were the     
justice of ,god1 if there were no       
,resurrection8  ,many righteous men in  
this present life have suffered much    
ill-usage and torment1 and have died    
violent deaths2 and the impious and the 
law-breaker hath spent his days here in 
luxury and prosperity4  ,but ,god1 who  
is good and just1 hath appointed a day  
of resurrection and inquisition1 that   
each soul may receive her own body1 and 
that the wicked1 who received his good  
things here1 may there be punished for  

his misdeeds1 and that the good1 who was
 here chastised for his misdeeds1 may   
there inherit his bliss4  ,for1 saith   
the ,lord1 ',they that are in the graves
 shall hear the voice of the ,son of    
,god1 and shall come forth2 they that   
have done good unto the resurrection of 
life1 and they that have done evil unto 
the resurrection of doom4' ,then also   
shall thrones be set1 and the ,ancient  
of days and ,maker of all things shall  
sit as ,judge1 and there shall be opened
 books with records of the deeds and    
words and thoughts of all of us1 and a  
fiery stream shall issue1 and all hidden
 things shall be revealed4  ,there can  
no advocate1 no persuasive words1 no    
false excuse1 no mightiness of riches1  
no pomp of rank1 no lavishment of       
bribes1 avail to pervert righteous      
judgement4  ,for he1 the uncorrupt and  
truthful ,judge1 shall weigh everything 
in the balance of justice1 every act1   
word and thought4  ,and they that have  
done good shall go into life            

everlasting1 into light unspeakable1    
rejoicing in the fellowship of the      
,angels1 to enjoy bliss ineffable1      
standing in purity before the ,holy     
,trinity4  ,but they that have done     
evil1 and all the ungodly and sinners1  
shall go into everlasting punishment1   
which is called ,gehenna1 and outer     
darkness1 and the worm that dieth not1  
and the gnashing of teeth1 and a        
thousand other names of punishment2     
which meaneth rather--bitterest of      
all1--alienation from ,god1 the being   
cast away from the sweetness of his     
presence1 the being deprived of that    
glory which baffleth description1 the   
being made a spectacle unto the whole   
creation1 and the being put to shame1   
and shame that hath no ending4  ,for1   
after the passing of that terrible      
sentence1 all things shall abide        
immutable and unchangeable4  ,the       
blissful life of the righteous shall    
have no close1 neither shall the misery 
and punishment of sinners find an end3  

because1 after him1 there is no higher  
,judge1 and no defence by after-works1  
no time for amendment1 no other way for 
them that are punished1 their vengeance 
being co-eternal with them4  ,seeing    
that this is so1 what manner of persons 
ought we to be in all holy conversation 
and godliness1 that we may be counted   
worthy to escape the wrath to come1 and 
to be ranged on the right hand of the   
,son of ,god8  ,for this is the station 
of the righteous3 but to sinners is     
allotted the station of misery on the   
left4  ,then shall the ,lord call the   
righteous ',blessed1' and shall lead    
them into his everlasting kingdom4      
,but1 as for sinners1 with anger and    
curse he will banish them from his      
serene and gentle countenance the       
bitterest and hardest lot of all and    
will send them away into everlasting    
punishment4    ,,ix4  ,ioasaph said unto
 him1 ,great and marvellous1 sir1 are   
the things whereof thou tellest me1     
fearful and terrible1 if indeed these   

things be so1 and1 if there be after    
death and dissolution into dust and     
ashes1 a resurrection and re-birth1 and 
rewards and punishments for the deeds   
done during life4  ,but what is the     
proof thereof8  ,and how have ye come to
 learn that which ye have not seen1 that
 ye have so steadfastly and undoubtingly
 believed it8  ,as for things that have 
already been done and made manifest in  
deed1 though ye saw them not1 yet have  
ye heard them from the writers of       
history4  ,but1 when it is of the future
 that ye preach tidings of such vast    
import1 how have ye made your conviction
 on these matters sure8  ,quoth         
,barlaam1 ,from the past ,i gain        
certainty about the future2 for they    
that preached the ,gospel1 without      
erring from the truth1 but establishing 
their sayings by signs and wonders and  
divers miracles1 themselves also spake  
of the future4  ,so1 as in the one case 
they taught us nothing amiss or false1  
but made all that they said and did to  

shine clearer than the sun1 so also in  
the other matter they gave us true      
doctrine1 even that which our ,lord and 
,master ,jesus ,christ himself confirmed
 both by word and deed4 ',verily1' he   
spake1 ',i say unto you1 the hour is    
coming in the which all that are in the 
graves shall hear the voice of the ,son 
of ,god and they that hear shall live3' 
and again1 ',the hour cometh when the   
dead shall hear his voice1 and shall    
come forth1 they that have done good    
unto the resurrection of life1 and they 
that have done evil unto the            
resurrection of damnation4'  ,and again 
he said concerning the resurrection of  
the dead1 ',have ye not read that which 
was spoken unto you by ,god1 saying1 ,i 
am the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of
 ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob4  ,god  
is not the ,god of the dead but of the  
living4'  ',for as the tares are        
gathered and burned in the fire1 so     
shall it be in the end of this age4     
,the ,son of ,god shall send forth his  

,angels1 and they shall gather all      
things that offend1 and them which do   
iniquity1 and shall cast them into the  
furnace of fire2 there shall be wailing 
and gnashing of teeth4  ,then shall the 
righteous shine forth as the sun in the 
kingdom of their father4'  ,thus spake  
he and added this thereto1 ',who hath   
ears to hear1 let him hear4'  ,in such  
words and many more did the ,lord make  
manifest the resurrection of our bodies1
 and confirm his words in deed1 by      
raising many that were dead4  ,and1     
toward the end of his life upon earth1  
he called from the grave one ,lazarus   
his friend1 that had already been four  
days dead and stank1 and thus he        
restored the lifeless to life4          
,moreover1 the ,lord himself became the 
first-fruits of that resurrection which 
is final and no longer subject unto     
death1 after he had in the flesh tasted 
of death2 and on the third day he rose  
again1 and became the first-born from   
the dead4  ,for other men also were     

raised from the dead1 but died once     
more1 and might not yet attain to the   
likeness of the future true             
resurrection4  ,but he alone was the    
leader of that resurrection1 the first  
to be raised to the resurrection        
immortal4  ,this was the preaching also 
of them that from the beginning were    
eye-witnesses and ministers of the word2
 for thus saith blessed ,paul1 whose    
calling was not of men1 but from heaven1
 ',brethren1 ,i declare unto you the    
,gospel which ,i preached unto you4     
,for ,i delivered unto you first of all 
that which ,i also received1 how that   
,christ died for our sins according to  
the ,scriptures4  ,now if ,christ be    
preached that he rose from the dead1 how
 say some among you that there is no    
resurrection of the dead8  ,for if the  
dead rise not1 then is not ,christ      
raised4  ,and if ,christ be not raised1 
your faith is vain1 ye are yet in your  
sins4  ,if in this life only we have    
hope in ,christ1 we are of all men most 

miserable4  ,but now is ,christ risen   
from the dead and become the            
first-fruits of them that slept4  ,for  
since by man came death1 by man came    
also the resurrection of the dead4  ,for
 as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ
 shall all be made alive4'  ,and after a
 little while1 ',for this corruptible   
must put on incorruption1 and this      
mortal must put on immortality4  ,so    
when this corruptible shall have put on 
incorruption1 and this mortal shall have
 put on immortality1 then shall be      
brought to pass the saying that is      
written1 ,death is swallowed up in      
victory4  ,o death where is thy sting8  
,o grave1 where is thy victory8' ,for   
then the power of death is utterly      
annulled and destroyed1 no longer       
working in us1 but for the future there 
is given unto men immortality and       
incorruption for evermore4  ,beyond all 
question1 therefore1 there shall be a   
resurrection of the dead1 and this we   
believe undoubtingly4  ,moreover we know

 that there shall be rewards and        
punishments for the deeds done in our   
life-time1 on the dreadful day of       
,christ's coming1 'wherein the heavens  
shall be dissolved in fire and the      
elements shall melt with fervent heat1' 
as saith one of the inspired clerks of  
,god2 'nevertheless we1 according to his
 promise1 look for new heavens and a new
 earth4'  ,for that there shall be      
rewards and punishments for men's works1
 and that absolutely nothing1 good or   
bad1 shall be overlooked1 but that there
 is reserved a requital for words1 deeds
 and thoughts1 is plain4  ,the ,lord    
saith1 ',whosoever shall give to drink  
unto one of these little ones a cup of  
cold water only1 in the name of a       
disciple1 he shall in no wise lose his  
reward4'  ,and again he saith1 ',when   
the ,son of man shall come in his glory1
 and all the holy ,angels with him1 then
 before him shall be gathered all       
nations1 and he shall separate them one 
from another1 as a shepherd divideth his

 sheep from the goats4  ,and he shall   
set the sheep on his right hand1 but the
 goats on the left4  ,then shall the    
,king say unto them on his right hand1  
',come ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit
 the kingdom prepared for you from the  
foundation of the world4  ,for ,i was   
anhungred1 and ye gave me meat3 ,i was  
thirsty1 and ye gave me drink3 ,i was a 
stranger1 and ye took me in3 naked1 and 
ye clothed me3 ,i was sick1 and ye      
visited me3 ,i was in prison1 and ye    
came unto me4' ,wherefore saith he this1
 except he count the kind acts we do    
unto the needy as done unto himself8    
,and in another place he saith1         
',whosoever shall confess me before men1
 him will ,i also confess before my     
,father which is in heaven4'  ,lo1 by   
all these examples and many more he     
proveth that the rewards of good works  
are certain and sure4  ,further1 that   
punishments are in store for the bad1 he
 foretold by parables strange and       
wonderful1 which he1 the ,well of       

,wisdom most wisely put forth4  ,at one 
time he brought into his tale a certain 
rich man which was clothed in purple and
 fine linen1 and fared sumptuously every
 day1 but who was so niggardly and      
pitiless toward the destitute as to     
overlook a certain beggar named ,lazarus
 laid at his gate1 and not even to give 
him of the crumbs from his table4  ,so  
when one and other were dead1 the poor  
man1 full of sores1 was carried away1 he
 saith1 into ,abraham's bosom1 for thus 
he describeth the habitation of the     
righteous--but the rich man was         
delivered to the fire of bitter torment 
in hell4  ,to him said ,abraham1 ',thou 
in thy lifetime receivedst thy good     
things1 and likewise ,lazarus his evil  
things1 but now he is comforted1 and    
thou art tormented4  ,and otherwhere he 
likeneth the kingdom of heaven to a     
certain king which made a marriage-feast
 for his son and thereby he declared    
future happiness and splendour4  ,for as
 he was wont to speak to humble and     

earthly minded men1 he would draw his   
parables from homely and familiar       
things4  ,not that he meant that        
marriages and feasts exist in that      
world2 but in condescension to men's    
grossness1 he employed these names when 
he would make known to them the future4 
,so1 as he telleth1 the king with high  
proclamation called all to come to the  
marriage to take their fill of his      
wondrous store of good things4  ,but    
many of them that were bidden made light
 of it and came not1 and busied         
themselves3 some went to their farms1   
some to their merchandize1 and others to
 their newly wedded wives1 and thus     
deprived themselves of the splendour of 
the bride chamber4  ,now when these had1
 of their own choice1 absented          
themselves from this joyous merriment1  
others were bidden thereto1 and the     
wedding was furnished with guests4 ,and 
when the king came in to see the guests1
 he saw there a man which had not on a  
wedding garment1 and he said unto him1  

,friend1 how camest thou in hither1 not 
having a wedding garment8  ,and he was  
speechless4  ,then said the king to the 
servants1 ,bind him hand and foot1 and  
take him away1 and cast him into outer  
darkness2 there shall be weeping and    
gnashing of teeth4'  ,now they who made 
excuses and paid no heed to the call are
 they that hasten not to the faith of   
,christ1 but continue in idolatry or    
heresy4  ,but he that had no wedding    
garment is he that believeth1 but hath  
soiled his spiritual garment with       
unclean acts1 and was rightly cast forth
 from the joy of the bride chamber4     
,and he put forth yet another parable1  
in harmony with this1 in his picture of 
the ,ten ,virgins1 'five of whom were   
wise1 and five were foolish4  ,they that
 were foolish took their lamps and took 
no oil with them1 but the wise took     
oil4'  ,by the oil he signifieth the    
acquiring of good works4  ',and at      
midnight1' he saith1 'there was a cry   
made1 ,behold the bridegroom cometh1 go 

ye out to meet him4'  ,by midnight he   
denoteth the uncertainty of that time4  
,then all those virgins arose4 ',they   
that were ready went forth to meet the  
bridegroom and went in with him to the  
marriage1 and the door was shut4'  ,but 
they that were un-ready 7whom rightly he
 calleth foolish71 seeing that their    
lamps were going out1 went forth to buy 
oil4  ,afterward they drew nigh1 the    
door being now shut1 and cried1 saying1 
',lord1 ,lord1 open to us4' ,but he     
answered and said1 ',verily ,i say unto 
you1 ,i know you not4' ,wherefore from  
all this it is manifest that there is a 
requital not only for overt acts1 but   
also for words and even secret thoughts2
 for the ,saviour said1 ',i say unto    
you1 that for every idle word that men  
shall speak they shall give account     
thereof in the day of judgement4' ,and  
again he saith1 ',but the very hairs of 
your head are numbered1' by the hairs   
meaning the smallest and slightest      
phantasy or thought4  ,and in harmony   

herewith is the teaching of blessed     
,paul1 ',for the word of ,god1' saith   
he1 'is quick and powerful1 and sharper 
than any two-edged sword1 and piercing  
even to the dividing asunder of soul and
 spirit1 and of the joints and marrow1  
and is a discerner of the thoughts and  
intents of the heart4  ,neither is there
 any creature that is not manifest in   
his sight3 but all things are naked and 
laid bare unto the eyes of him with whom
 we have to do4  ,these things also were
 proclaimed with wondrous clearness by  
the prophets of old time1 illumined by  
the grace of the ,spirit4  ,for ,esay   
saith1 ',i know their works and their   
thoughts1' and will repay them4         
',behold1 ,i come to gather all nations 
and all tongues2 and they shall come and
 see my glory4  ,and the heaven shall be
 new1 and the earth1 which ,i make      
before me4  ,and all flesh shall come to
 worship before me1 saith the ,lord4    
,and they shall go forth1 and look upon 
the carcasses of the men that have      

transgressed against me3 for their worm 
shall not die1 neither shall their fire 
be quenched2 and they shall be a        
spectacle unto all flesh4  ,and again he
 saith concerning that day1 ,and the    
heavens shall be rolled together as a   
scroll1 and all the stars shall fall    
down as leaves from the vine4  ,for     
behold1 the day of the ,lord cometh1    
cruel with wrath and fierce anger1 to   
lay the whole world desolate and to     
destroy the sinners out of it4  ,for the
 stars of heaven and ,orion and all the 
constellations of heaven shall not give 
their light1 and there shall be darkness
 at the sun's rising1 and the moon shall
 not give her light4  ,and ,i will cause
 the arrogancy of the sinners to cease1 
and will lay low the haughtiness of the 
proud4'  ,and again he saith1 ',wo unto 
them that draw their iniquities as with 
a long cord1 and their sins as with an  
heifer's cart-rope6  ,wo unto them that 
call evil good1 and good evil2 that put 
darkness for light1 and light for       

darkness2 that put bitter for sweet1 and
 sweet for bitter6  ,wo unto those of   
you that are mighty1 that are princes1  
that mingle strong drink1 which justify 
the wicked for reward1 and take justice 
from the just1 and turn aside the       
judgement from the needy1 and take away 
the right from the poor1 that the widow 
may be their spoil and the fatherless   
their prey6  ,and what will they do in  
the day of visitation1 and to whom will 
they flee for help8 ,and where will they
 leave their glory1 that they fall not  
into arrest8  ,like as stubble shall be 
burnt by live coal of fire1 and consumed
 by kindled flame1 so their root shall  
be as foam1 and their blossom shall go  
up as dust1 for they would not the law  
of the ,lord of hosts1 and provoked the 
oracle of the ,holy ,one of ,israel4    
,in tune therewith saith also another   
prophet1 ',the great day of the ,lord is
 near1 and hasteth greatly4  ,the bitter
 and austere voice of the day of the    
,lord hath been appointed4  ,a mighty   

day of wrath is that day1 a day of      
trouble and distress1 a day of wasteness
 and desolation1 a day of blackness and 
gloominess1 a day of clouds and thick   
darkness1 a day of the trumpet and      
alarm4 ,and ,i will bring distress upon 
the wicked1 and they shall walk like    
blind men1 because they have sinned     
against the ,lord4 ,neither their silver
 nor their gold shall be able to deliver
 them in the day of the ,lord's wrath2  
for the whole land shall be devoured by 
the fire of his jealousy1 for he shall  
make a riddance of all them that dwell  
in the land4'  ,moreover ,david1 the    
king and prophet1 crieth thus1 ',god    
shall come visibly1 even our ,god1 and  
shall not keep silence3 a fire shall be 
kindled before him1 and a mighty tempest
 round about him4  ,he shall call the   
heaven from above1 and the earth1 that  
he may judge his people4'  ,and again he
 saith1 ',arise1 ,o ,god1 judge thou the
 earth1 because the fierceness of man   
shall turn to thy praise4 ,and thou     

shalt reward every man according to his 
works4' ,and many other such things have
 been spoken by the ,psalmist1 and all  
the ,prophets inspired by the ,holy     
,ghost1 concerning the judgement and the
 recompense to come4  ,their words also 
have been most surely confirmed by the  
,saviour who hath taught us to believe  
the resurrection of the dead1 and the   
recompense of the deeds done in the     
flesh1 and the unending life of the     
world to come4    ,x  ,but ,ioasaph was 
filled hereby with deep compunction1 and
 was melted into tears2 and he said to  
the elder1 ,thou hast told me everything
 plainly1 and hast completed unerringly 
thy terrible and marvellous tale4  ,with
 such truths set before us1 what must we
 do to escape the punishments in store  
for sinners1 and to gain the joy of the 
righteous8  ,barlaam answered3 ,it is   
written of ,peter1 who was also called  
chief of the ,apostles1 that once when  
he was preaching the people were pricked
 in their heart1 like thyself to-day3   

and when they asked1 ',what shall we    
do8'1 ,peter said unto them1 ',repent1  
and be baptized every one of you for the
 remission of sins1 and ye shall receive
 the gift of the ,holy ,ghost4  ,for to 
you is the promise1 and to your         
children1 and to all that are afar off  
even as many as the ,lord our ,god shall
 call4' ,behold therefore upon thee also
 hath he poured forth the riches of his 
mercy1 and hath called thee that wert   
afar off from him in heart1 and didst   
serve others1 not ,gods1 but pernicious 
devils and dumb and senseless wooden    
images4  ,wherefore before all things   
approach thou him who hath called thee1 
and from him shalt thou receive the true
 knowledge of things visible and        
invisible4  ,but if1 after thy calling1 
thou be loth or slack1 thou shalt be    
disherited by the just judgement of     
,god1 and by thy rejection of him thou  
shalt be rejected4  ,for thus too spake 
the same ,apostle ,peter to a certain   
disciple4  ,but ,i believe that thou    

hast heard the call1 and that1 when thou
 hast heard it more plainly1 thou wilt  
take up thy ,cross1 and follow that ,god
 and ,master that calleth thee1 calleth 
thee to himself from death unto life1   
and from darkness unto light4  ,for1    
soothly1 ignorance of ,god is darkness  
and death of the soul2 and to serve     
idols1 to the destruction of all nature1
 is to my thinking the extreme of all   
senselessness4  ,but idolaters--to whom 
shall ,i compare them1 and to what      
likeness shall ,i liken their silliness8
  ,well1 ,i will set before thee an     
example which ,i heard from the lips of 
one most wise4  ',idol worshippers1'    
said he1 'are like a fowler who caught a
 tiny bird1 called nightingale4  ,he    
took a knife1 for to kill and eat her2  
but the nightingale1 being given the    
power of articulate speech1 said to the 
fowler1 ',man1 what advantageth it thee 
to slay me8  for thou shalt not be able 
by my means to fill thy belly4  ,now    
free me of my fetters1 and ,i will give 

thee three precepts1 by the keeping of  
which thou shalt be greatly benefited   
all thy life long4'  ,he1 astonied at   
her speech1 promised that1 if he heard  
anything new from her1 he would quickly 
free her from her captivity4  ,the      
nightingale turned towards our friend   
and said1 ',never try to attain to the  
unattainable3 never regret the thing    
past and gone3 and never believe the    
word that passeth belief4  ,keep these  
three precepts1 and may it be well with 
thee4'  ,the man1 admiring the lucidity 
and sense of her words1 freed the bird  
from her captivity1 and sent her forth  
aloft4 ,she1 therefore1 desirous to know
 whether the man had understood the     
force of her words1 and whether he had  
gleaned any profit therefrom1 said1 as  
she flew aloft1 ',shame1 sir1 on thy    
fecklessness6  ,what a treasure that    
hast lost to-day6  ,for ,i have inside  
me a pearl larger than an ostrich-egg4' 
,when the fowler heard thereof1 he was  
distraught with grief1 regretting that  

the bird had escaped out of his hands4  
,and he would fain have taken her again4
 ',come hither1' said he1 'into my      
house3 ,i will make thee right welcome1 
and send thee forth with honour4'  ,but 
the nightingale said unto him1 ',now ,i 
know thee to be a mighty fool4 ,though  
thou didst receive my words readily and 
gladly1 thou hast gained no profit      
thereby4  ,i bade thee never regret the 
thing past and gone2 and behold thou art
 distraught with grief because ,i have  
escaped out of thy hands there thou     
regrettest a thing past and gone4  ,i   
charged thee not to try to attain to the
 unattainable1 and thou triest to catch 
me1 though thou canst not attain to my  
path4  ,besides which1 ,i bade thee     
never believe a word past belief1 and   
behold thou hast believed that ,i had   
inside me a pearl exceeding the measure 
of my size1 and hadst not the sense to  
see that my whole body doth not attain  
to the bulk of ostrich eggs4 ,how then  
could ,i contain such a pearl8'  ,thus  

senseless1 then1 are also they that     
trust in idols3 for these be their      
handiwork1 and they worship that which  
their fingers made1 saying1 ',these be  
our creators4'  ,how then deem they     
their creators those which have been    
formed and fashioned by themselves8     
,nay more1 they safeguard their gods1   
lest they be stolen by thieves1 and yet 
they call them guardians of their       
safety4  ,and yet what folly not to know
 that they1 which be unable to guard and
 aid themselves1 can in no wise guard   
and save others6  ',for' saith he1 'why1
 on behalf of the living1 should they   
seek unto the dead8'  ,they expend      
wealth1 for to raise statues and images 
to devils1 and vainly boast that these  
give them good gifts1 and crave to      
receive of their hands things which     
those idols never possessed1 nor ever   
shall possess4  ,wherefore it is        
written1 ',may they that make them be   
like unto them1 and so be all such as   
put their trust in them1 who1' he saith1

 'hire a goldsmith1 and make them gods1 
and they fall down1 yea1 they worship   
them4  ,they bear them upon the         
shoulders1 and go forward4 ,and if they 
set them in their place1 they stand     
therein3 they shall not remove4  ,yea1  
one shall cry unto them1 yet call they  
not answer him1 nor save him out of his 
trouble4'  ',wherefore be ye ashamed    
with everlasting shame1 ye that trust in
 graven images1 that say to the molten  
images1 ,ye are our gods4'  ',for they  
sacrificed1' he saith1 'unto devils1 and
 not to ,god2 to gods whom their fathers
 knew not4  ,there came new and fresh   
gods2 because it is a froward           
generation1 and there is no faith in    
them4'  ,wherefore out of this wicked   
and faithless generation the ,lord      
calleth thee to him1 saying1 ',come out 
from among them1 and be thou separate1  
and touch no unclean thing1' but 'save  
thyself from this untoward generation4' 
',arise thou1 and depart1 for this is   
not thy rest2' for that divided         

lordship1 which your gods hold1 is a    
thing of confusion and strife and hath  
no real being whatsoever4  ,but with us 
it is not so1 neither have we many gods 
and lords1 but one ,god1 the ,father1 of
 whom are all things1 and we unto him3  
and one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by whom   
are all things and we by him1 'who is   
the image of the invisible ,god1 the    
first born of every creature' and of all
 ages1 'for in him were all things      
created that are in the heavens and that
 are upon the earth1 visible and        
invisible1 whether they be thrones1 or  
dominions1 or principalities1 or        
powers4'  ',all things were made by him1
 and without him was not anything made  
that was made3' and one ,holy ,ghost1 in
 whom are all things1 'the ,lord and    
,giver of life1' ,god and making ,god1  
the good ,spirit1 the right ,spirit1    
'the ,spirit the ,comforter1' 'the      
,spirit of adoption4'  ,of these each   
person1 severally1 is ,god4  ,as the    
,father is1 so also is the ,son1 and as 

the ,son1 so also the ,holy ,ghost4     
,and there is one ,god in three1 one    
nature1 one kingdom1 one power1 one     
glory1 one substance1 distinct in       
persons1 and so only distinct4  ,one is 
the ,father1 whose property it is not to
 have been begotten2 one is the         
only-begotten ,son1 and his property it 
is to have been begotten2 and one is the
 ,holy ,ghost1 and his property it is   
that he proceedeth4 ,thus illuminated by
 that light1 which is the ,father1 with 
that light1 which is the ,son1 in that  
light1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 we    
glorify one ,godhead in three persons4  
,and he is one very and only ,god1 known
 in the ,trinity3 for of him and through
 him1 and unto him are all things4  ,by 
his grace also1 ,i came to know thy     
ease1 and was sent to teach thee the    
lessons that ,i have learned and        
observed from my youth even to these    
grey hairs4  ,if then thou shalt believe
 and be baptized1 thou shalt be saved2  
but if thou believe not1 thou shalt be  

damned4  ,all the things that thou seest
 to-day1 wherein thou gloriest1--pomp1  
luxury1 riches1 and all the             
deceitfulness of life1--quickly pass    
away2 and they shall cast thee hence    
whether thou wilt or no4  ,and thy body 
will be imprisoned in a tiny grave1 left
 in utter loneliness1 and bereft of all 
company of kith and kin4  ,and all the  
pleasant things of the world shall      
perish2 and instead of the beauty and   
fragrance of to-day1 thou shalt be      
encompassed with horror and the stink of
 corruption4 ,but thy soul shall they   
hurl into the nether-regions of the     
earth1 into the condemnation of ,hades1 
until the final resurrection1 when      
re-united to her body1 she shall be cast
 forth from the presence of the ,lord   
and be delivered to hell fire1 which    
burneth everlastingly4  ,these1 and far 
worse haps than these1 shall be thy     
destiny1 if thou continue in unbelief4  
,but and if thou readily obey him that  
calleth thee to salvation1 and if thou  

run unto him with desire and joy1 and be
 signed with his light1 and follow him  
without turn1 renouncing every thing1   
and cleaving only unto him1 hear what   
manner of security and happiness shall  
be thine4 ',when thou sittest down1 thou
 shall not be afraid of sudden fear4    
,when thou liest down1 sweet shall be   
thy sleep4'  ,and thou shalt not be     
afraid of terror coming or the assaults 
of evil spirits1 but shalt go thy way   
bold as any lion1 and shalt live in     
bliss and everlasting joyaunce4  ,for   
joy and praise shall crown thy head1 and
 gladness shall befall thee there1 where
 pain and sorrow and wailing shall flee 
away4' ',then shall thy light break     
forth as the morning1 and thine health  
shall rise speedily3 and thy            
righteousness shall go before thee1 and 
the glory of the ,lord shall be thy     
reward4'  ,then shalt thou call1 and the
 ,lord shall answer2 while thou art yet 
speaking1 he shall say1 ',here am ,i4'  
',i1 even ,i1 am he that blotteth out   

thy transgressions1 and will not        
remember them4  ,put me in remembrance3 
let us plead together3 declare thou thy 
sins that thou mayst be justified4'     
',though thy sins be as scarlet1 ,i will
 make them white as snow3 though they be
 red as crimson ,i will make them white 
as wool1 for the mouth of the ,lord hath
 spoken it4'    ,,xi4  ,ioasaph said    
unto him1 ,all thy words are fair and   
wonderful1 and1 while thou spakest1 ,i  
believed them and still believe them2   
and ,i hate all idolatry with all my    
heart4  ,and indeed1 even before thy    
coming hither1 my soul was1 in uncertain
 fashion1 doubtful of it4  ,but now ,i  
hate it with a perfect hatred1 since ,i 
have learned from thy lips the vanity   
thereof1 and the folly of those who     
worship idols2 and ,i yearn to become   
the servant of the true ,god1 if haply  
he will not refuse me1 that am unworthy 
by reason of my sins1 and ,i trust that 
he will forgive me everything1 because  
he is a lover of men1 and compassionate1

 as thou tellest me1 and will count me  
worthy to become his servant4 ,so ,i am 
ready anon to receive baptism1 and to   
observe all thy sayings4  ,but what must
 ,i do after baptism8  ,and is this     
alone sufficient for salvation1 to      
believe and be baptized1 or must one add
 other services thereto8  ,barlaam      
answered him1 ,hear what thou must do   
after baptism4 ,thou must abstain from  
all sin1 and every evil affection1 and  
build upon the foundation of the        
,catholick ,faith the practice of the   
virtues2 for faith without works is     
dead1 as also are works without faith4  
,for1 saith the ,apostle1 ',walk in the 
,spirit1 and ye shall not fulfil the    
lust of the flesh4'  ,now the works of  
the flesh are manifest1 which are these3
 ,adultery1 fornication1 uncleanness1   
lasciviousness1 idolatry1 witchcraft1   
hatred1 variance1 emulations1 wrath1    
strife1 seditions1 heresies1 envyings1  
murders1 love of money1 railing1 love of
 pleasure1 drunkenness1 revelling1      

arrogance1 and such like1 of the which  
,i tell you before1 as ,i have also told
 you in time past1 that they which do   
such things shall not inherit the       
,kingdom of ,god4  ,but the fruit of the
 ,spirit is love1 joy1 peace1           
longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness1    
faith1 meekness1 temperance1            
sanctification of soul and body1        
lowliness of heart and contrition1      
almsgiving1 forgiveness of injuries1    
loving-kindness1 watchings1 perfect     
repentance of all past offences1 tears  
of compunction1 sorrow for our own sins 
and those of our neighbours1 and the    
like4  ,these1 even as steps and ladders
 that support one another and are       
clinched together1 conduct the soul to  
heaven4  ,lo1 to these we are commanded 
to cleave after baptism1 and to abstain 
from their contraries4  ,but if1 after  
receiving the knowledge of the truth1 we
 again lay hold on dead works1 and1 like
 a dog1 return to our vomit1 it shall   
happen unto us according to the word of 

the ,lord2 'for1' saith he1 'when the   
unclean spirit is gone out of a man' 7to
 wit1 by the grace of baptism7 'he      
walketh through dry places1 seeking     
rest1 and finding none4'  ,but enduring 
not for long to wander homeless and     
hearthless1 he saith1 ',i will return to
 my house whence ,i came out4'  ,and1   
when he cometh1 he findeth it swept and 
garnished1 but empty and unoccupied1 not
 having received the operation of grace1
 nor having filled itself with the      
riches of the virtues4  ,then goeth he1 
and taketh to him seven other spirits   
more wicked than himself2 and they enter
 in and dwell there3 and the last state 
of that man becometh worse than the     
first4'  ,for baptism burieth in the    
water and completely blotteth out the   
hand-writing of all former sins1 and is 
to us for the future a sure fortress and
 tower of defence1 and a strong weapon  
against the marshalled host of the      
enemy2 but it taketh not away free will1
 nor alloweth the forgiving of sins     

after baptism1 or immersion in the font 
a second time4  ,for it is one baptism  
that we confess1 and need is that we    
keep ourselves with all watchfulness    
that so we fall not into defilement a   
second time1 but hold fast to the       
commandments of the ,lord4  ,for when he
 said to the ,apostles1 ',go make       
disciples of all nations1 baptizing them
 in the name of the ,father1 and of the 
,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1' he did  
not stop there1 but added1 'teaching    
them to observe all things whatsoever ,i
 have commanded you4'  ,now he commanded
 men to be poor in spirit1 and such he  
calleth blessed and worthy of the       
kingdom of heaven4  ,again he chargeth  
us to mourn in the present life1 that we
 may obtain comfort hereafter1 and to be
 meek1 and to be ever hungering and     
thirsting after righteousness3 to be    
merciful1 and ready to distribute1      
pitiful and compassionate1 pure in      
heart1 abstaining from all defilement of
 flesh and spirit1 peacemakers with our 

neighbours and with our own souls1 by   
bringing the worse into subjection to   
the better1 and thus by a just decision 
making peace in that continual warfare  
betwixt the twain2 also to endure all   
persecution and tribulation and         
reviling1 inflicted upon us for         
righteousness' sake in defence of his   
name1 that we may obtain everlasting    
felicity in the glorious distribution of
 his rewards4 ,ay1 and in this world he 
exhorteth us to let our 'light so shine 
before men1 that they may see1' he      
saith1 'your good works1 and glorify    
your ,father which is in heaven4'  ,for 
the law of ,moses1 formerly given to the
 ,israelites1 saith1 ',thou shalt not   
kill2 thou shalt not commit adultery2   
thou shalt not steal2 thou shalt not    
bear false witness3' but ,christ saith  
',whosoever is angry with his brother   
without a cause shall be in danger of   
the judgement2 and whosoever shall say1 
,thou fool1 shall be in danger of hell  
fire3' and1 'if thou bring thy gift to  

the altar1 and there rememberest that   
thy brother hath aught against thee1    
leave there thy gift before the altar1  
and go thy way and first be reconciled  
to thy brother4'  ,and he also saith1   
',whosoever looketh on a woman to lust  
after her1 hath committed adultery with 
her in his heart4'  ,and hereby he      
calleth the defilement and consent of   
the affection adultery4 ,furthermore1   
where the law forbade a man to forswear 
himself1 ,christ commanded him to swear 
not at all beyond ,yea and ,nay4  ,there
 we read1 ',eye for eye and tooth for   
tooth'3 here1 ',whosoever shall smite   
thee on thy right cheek1 turn to him the
 other also4  ,and if any man will sue  
thee at the law1 and take away thy coat1
 let him have thy cloke also4 ,and      
whosoever shall compel thee to go a     
mile1 go with him twain4  ,give to him  
that asketh time1 and from him that     
would borrow of thee turn not thou away4
  ,love your enemies1 bless them that   
curse you1 do good to them that hate    

you1 and pray for them which            
despitefully use you and persecute you2 
that ye may be the children of your     
,father which is in heaven3 for he      
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and  
on the good1 and sendeth rain on the    
just and on the unjust4  ,judge not1    
that ye be not judged4  ,forgive1 and ye
 shall be forgiven4  ,lay not up for    
yourselves treasures upon earth1 where  
moth and rust doth corrupt1 and where   
thieves break through and steal3 but lay
 up for yourselves treasures in heaven1 
where neither moth nor rust doth        
corrupt1 and where thieves do not break 
through nor steal3 for where your       
treasure is1 there will your heart be   
also4  ,take no thought for your life1  
what ye shall eat1 or what ye shall     
drink2 nor yet for your body1 what ye   
shall put on3 for your heavenly ,father 
knoweth that ye have need of all these  
things4' ,he therefore that gave life   
and body will assuredly give food and   
raiment3 he that feedeth the fowls of   

the air and arrayeth with such beauty   
the lilies of the field4  ',but1 seek ye
 first1' saith ,christ1 'the kingdom of 
,god1 and his righteousness2 and all    
these things shall be added unto you4   
,take therefore no thought for the      
morrow3 for the morrow shall take       
thought for the things of itself4       
,therefore all things whatsoever ye     
would that men should do to you1 do ye  
even so to them4  ,enter ye in at the   
strait gate3 for wide is the gate1 and  
broad is the way that leadeth to        
destruction1 and many there be which go 
in thereat4  ,strait and narrow is the  
way which leadeth unto life and few     
there be that find it4  ,not every one  
that saith unto me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall 
enter into the kingdom of heaven2 but he
 that doeth the will of my ,father which
 is in heaven4  ,he that loveth father  
or mother more than me is not worthy of 
me2 and he that loveth son and daughter 
more than me is not worthy of me4  ,and 
he that taketh not up his cross and     

followeth after me1 is not worthy of    
me4' ,lo these and the like of these be 
the things which the ,saviour commanded 
his ,apostles to teach the ,faithful3   
and all these things we are bound to    
observe1 if we desire to attain to      
perfection and receive the incorruptible
 crowns of righteousness1 which the     
,lord1 the righteous judge1 shall give  
at that day unto all them that have     
loved his appearing4  ,ioasaph said unto
 the elder1 ,well then1 as the          
strictness of these doctrines demandeth 
such chaste conversation1 if1 after     
baptism1 ,i chance to fail in one or two
 of these commandments1 shall ,i        
therefore utterly miss the goal1 and    
shall all my hope be vain8  ,barlaam    
answered1 ,deem not so4  ,god1 the      
,word1 made man for the salvation of our
 race1 aware of the exceeding frailty   
and misery of our nature1 hath not even 
here suffered our sickness to be without
 remedy4 ,but1 like a skilful leech1 he 
hath mixed for our unsteady and         

sin-loving heart the potion of          
repentance1 prescribing this for the    
remission of sins4  ,for after that we  
have received the knowledge of the      
truth1 and have been sanctified by water
 and the ,spirit1 and cleansed without  
effort from all sin and all defilement1 
if we should fortune to fall into any   
transgression1 there is1 it is true1 no 
second regeneration made within us by   
the spirit through baptism in the water 
of the font1 and wholly re-creating us  
7that gift is given once for all72 but1 
by means of painful repentance1 hot     
tears1 toils and sweats1 there is a     
purifying and pardoning of our offences 
through the tender mercy of our ,god4   
,for the fount of tears is also called  
baptism1 according to the grace of the  
,master1 but it needeth labour and time2
 and many hath it saved after many a    
fall2 because there is no sin too great 
for the clemency of ,god1 if we be quick
 to repent1 and purge the shame of our  
offences1 and death overtake us not1 and

 depart us not from this life still     
defiled2 for in the grave there is no   
confession nor repentance4  ,but as long
 as we are 'among the living1 while the 
foundation of our true faith continueth 
unshattered1 even if somewhat of the    
outer roof-work or inner building be    
disabled1 it is allowed to renew by     
repentance the part rotted by sins4  ,it
 is impossible to count the multitude of
 the mercies of ,god1 or measure the    
greatness of his compassion3 whereas    
sins and offences1 of whatever kind1 are
 subject to measure and may be numbered4
  ,so our offences1 being subject to    
measure and number1 cannot overcome the 
immeasurable compassion1 and innumerable
 mercies of ,god4  ,wherefore we are    
commanded not to despair for our        
trespasses1 but to acknowledge the      
goodness of ,god1 and condemn the sins  
whereof forgiveness is offered us by    
reason of the loving-kindness of        
,christ1 who for our sins shed his      
precious blood4  ,in many places of     

,scripture we are taught the power of   
repentance1 and especially by the       
precepts and parables of our ,lord      
,jesus ,christ4  ,for it saith1 ',from  
that time began ,jesus to preach and to 
say1 ,repent ye1 for the kingdom of     
heaven is at hand4' ,moreover he setteth
 before us1 in a parable1 a certain son 
that had received his father's          
substance1 and taken his journey into a 
far country1 and there spent all in     
riotous living4  ,then1 when there arose
 a famine in that land1 he went and     
joined himself to one of the citizens of
 that land of iniquity1 who sent him    
into his fields to feed swine1--thus    
doth he designate the most coarse and   
loathsome sin4 ,when1 after much labour1
 he had come to the utmost misery1 and  
might not even fill his belly with the  
husks that the swine did eat1 at last he
 came to perceive his shameful plight1  
and1 bemoaning himself1 said1 ',how many
 hired servants of my father's have     
bread enough and to spare1 and ,i perish

 with hunger6  ,i will arise and go to  
my father1 and will say unto him1       
,father1 ,i have sinned against heaven  
and before thee1 and am no more worthy  
to be called thy son3 make me as one of 
thy hired servants4'  ,and he arose1 and
 came to his father4 ,but1 when he was  
yet a great way off1 his father saw him1
 and had compassion1 and ran1 and       
embraced him1 and kissed him tenderly1  
and1 restoring him to his former rank1  
made a feast of joyaunce because his son
 was found again1 and killed the fatted 
calf4  ,lo1 this parable1 that ,jesus   
spake to us1 concerneth such as turn    
again from sin1 and fall at his feet in 
repentance4  ,again1 he representeth a  
certain good shepherd that had an       
hundred sheep1 and1 when one was lost1  
left the ninety and nine1 and went forth
 to seek that which was gone astray1    
until he found it3 and he laid it on his
 shoulders1 and folded it with those    
that had not gone astray1 and called    
together his friends and neighbours to a

 banquet1 because that it was found4    
',likewise1' saith the ,saviour1 'joy   
shall be in heaven over one sinner that 
repenteth1 more than over ninety and    
nine just persons which need no         
repentance4'  ,and1 in sooth1 even the  
chief of the disciples1 ,peter1 the     
,rock of the ,faith1 in the very season 
of the ,saviour's ,passion1 failing for 
a little while in his stewardship1 that 
he might understand the worthlessness   
and misery of human frailty1 fell under 
the guilt of denial4  ,then he          
straightway remembered the ,lord's      
words1 and went out and wept bitterly1  
and with those hot tears made good his  
defeat1 and transferred the victory to  
his own side4  ,like a skilful man of   
war1 though fallen1 he was not undone1  
nor did he despair1 but1 springing to   
his feet1 he brought up1 as a reserve1  
bitter tears from the agony of his soul2
 and straightway1 when the enemy saw    
that sight1 like a man whose eyes are   
scorched with a fierce flame1 he leaped 

off and fled afar1 howling horribly4    
,so the chief became chief again1 as he 
had before been chosen teacher of the   
whole world1 being now become its       
pattern of penitence4  ,and after his   
holy resurrection ,christ made good this
 three-fold denial with the three-fold  
question1 ',peter1 lovest thou me8'1 the
 ,apostle answering1 ',yea1 ,lord1 thou 
knowest that ,i love thee4'  ,so from   
all these and many other examples beyond
 count we learn the virtue of tears and 
repentance4  ,only the manner thereof   
must be noted it must arise from a heart
 that abominateth sin and weepeth1 as   
saith the prophet ,david1 ',i am weary  
of my groaning3 every night will ,i wash
 my bed and water my couch with my      
tears4' ,again the cleansing of sins    
will be wrought by the blood of ,christ1
 in the greatness of his compassion and 
the multitude of the mercies of that    
,god who saith1 ',though your sins be as
 scarlet1 ,i will make them white as    
snow1' and so forth4  ,thus therefore it

 is1 and thus we believe4  ,but after   
receiving the knowledge of the truth and
 winning regeneration and adoption as   
sons1 and tasting of the divine         
mysteries1 we must strive hard to keep  
our feet lest we fall4  ,for to fall    
becometh not the athlete1 since many    
have fallen and been unable to rise4    
,some1 opening a door to sinful lusts1  
and clinging obstinately to them1 have  
no more had strength to hasten back to  
repentance2 and others1 being untimely  
snatched by death1 and having not made  
speed enough to wash them from the      
pollution of their sin1 have been       
damned4  ,and for this cause it is      
parlous to fall into any kind of sinful 
affection whatsoever4  ,but if any man  
fall1 he must at once leap up1 and stand
 again to fight the good fight3 and1 as 
often as there cometh a fall1 so often  
must there at once ensue this rising and
 standing1 unto the end4  ,for1 ',turn  
ye unto me1 and ,i will turn unto you1' 
saith the ,lord ,god4    ,,xii4  ,to    

this said ,ioasaph1 ,but how1 after     
baptism1 shall a man keep himself clear 
from all sin8  ,for even if there be1 as
 thou sayest1 repentance for them that  
stumble1 yet it is attended with toil   
and trouble1 with weeping and mourning2 
things which1 methinks1 are not easy for
 the many to accomplish4  ,but ,i       
desired rather to find a way to keep    
strictly the commandments of ,god1 and  
not swerve from them1 and1 after his    
pardoning of my past misdeeds1 never    
again to provoke that most sweet ,god   
and ,master4  ,barlaam answered1 ,well  
said1 my lord and king4  ,that also is  
my desire2 but it is hard1 nay quite    
impossible1 for a man living with fire  
not to be blackened with smoke3 for it  
is an uphill task1 and one not easy of  
accomplishment1 for a man that is tied  
to the matters of this life and busied  
with its cares and troubles1 and liveth 
in riches and luxury1 to walk           
unswervingly in the way of the          
commandments of the ,lord1 and to       

preserve his life pure of these evils4  
',for1' saith the ,lord1 'no man can    
serve two masters2 for either he will   
hate the one and love the other2 or else
 he will hold to the one and despise the
 other4  ,ye cannot serve ,god and      
,mammon4'  ,so also writeth the beloved 
,evangelist and ,divine in his ,epistle1
 thus saying1 ',love not the world1     
neither the things that are in the      
world4  ,if any man love the world1 the 
love of the ,father is not in him4  ,for
 all that is in the world1 the lust of  
the flesh1 and the lust of the eyes1 and
 the pride of life1 is not of the       
,father1 but is of the world4 ,and the  
world passeth away1 and the lust        
thereof2 but he that doeth the will of  
,god abideth for ever4'  ,these things  
were well understood by our holy and    
inspired fathers2 and mindful of the    
,apostle's word that we must through    
much tribulation enter into the ,kingdom
 of ,heaven1 they strove1 after holy    
baptism1 to keep their garment of       

immortality spotless and undefiled4     
,whence some of them also thought fit to
 receive yet another baptism2 ,i mean   
that which is by blood and martyrdom4   
,for this too is called baptism1 the    
most honourable1 and reverend of all1   
inasmuch as its waters are not polluted 
by fresh sin2 which also our ,lord      
underwent for our sakes1 and rightly    
called it baptism4  ,so as imitators and
 followers of him1 first his eyewitness1
 disciples1 and ,apostles1 and then the 
whole band of holy martyrs yielded      
themselves1 for the name of ,christ1 to 
kings and tyrants that worshipped idols1
 and endured every form of torment1     
being exposed to wild beasts1 fire and  
sword1 confessing the good confession1  
running the course and keeping the      
faith4 ,thus they gained the prizes of  
righteousness1 and became the companions
 of ,angels1 and fellow-heirs with      
,christ4  ,their virtue shone so bright 
that their sound went out into all      
lands1 and the splendour of their good  

deeds flashed like lightning into the   
ends of the earth4  ,of these men1 not  
only the words and works1 but even the  
very blood and bones are full of all    
sanctity1 mightily casting out devils1  
and giving to such as touch them in     
faith the healing of incurable diseases3
 yea1 and even their garments1 and      
anything else that hath been brought    
near their honoured bodies1 are always  
worthy of the reverence of all creation4
  ,and it were a long tale to tell one  
by one their deeds of prowess4  ,but    
when those cruel and brutal tyrants     
brought their miserable lives to a      
miserable end1 and persecution ceased1  
and ,christian kings ruled throughout   
the world1 then others too in succession
 emulated the ,martyrs' zeal and divine 
desire1 and1 wounded at heart with the  
same love1 considered well how they     
might present soul and body without     
blemish unto ,god1 by cutting off all   
the workings of sinful lusts and        
purifying themselves of every defilement

 of flesh and spirit4  ,but1 as they    
perceived that this could only be       
accomplished by the keeping of the      
commandments of ,christ1 and that the   
keeping of his commandments and the     
practice of the virtues was difficult to
 attain in the midst of the turmoils of 
the world1 they adopted for themselves a
 strange and changed manner of life1    
and1 obedient to the voice divine1      
forsook all1 parents1 children1 friends1
 kinsfolk1 riches and luxury1 and1      
hating everything in the world1         
withdrew1 as exiles1 into the deserts1  
being destitute1 afflicted1 evil        
entreated1 wandering in wildernesses and
 mountains1 and in dens and caves of the
 earth1 self-banished from all the      
pleasures and delights upon earth1 and  
standing in sore need even of bread and 
shelter4  ,this they did for two causes3
 firstly1 that never seeing the objects 
of sinful lust1 they might pluck such   
desires by the root out of their soul1  
and blot out the memory thereof1 and    

plant within themselves the love and    
desire of divine and heavenly things3   
and secondly1 that1 by exhausting the   
flesh by austerities1 and becoming      
,martyrs in will1 they might not miss   
the glory of them that were made perfect
 by blood1 but might be themselves1 in  
their degree1 imitators of the          
sufferings of ,christ1 and become       
partakers of the kingdom that hath no   
end4  ,having then come to this wise    
resolve1 they adopted the quiet of      
monastic life1 some facing the rigours  
of the open air1 and braving the blaze  
of the scorching heat and fierce frosts 
and rain-storms and tempestuous winds1  
others spending their lives in the      
hovels which they had builded them1 or  
in the hiding of holes and caverns4     
,thus1 in pursuit of virtue1 they       
utterly denied themselves all fleshly   
comfort and repose1 submitting to a diet
 of uncooked herbs and worts1 or acorns1
 or hard dry bread1 not merely saying   
good-bye to delights in their quality1  

but1 in very excess of temperance1      
extending their zeal to limit even the  
quantity of enjoyment4 ,for even of     
those common and necessary meats they   
took only so much as was sufficient to  
sustain life4  ,some of them continued  
fasting the whole week1 and partook of  
victuals only of a ,sunday3 others      
thought of food twice only in the week3 
others ate every other day1 or daily at 
eventide1 that is1 took but a taste of  
food4  ,in prayers and watchings they   
almost rivalled the life of ,angels1    
bidding a long farewell to the          
possession of gold and silver1 and quite
 forgetting that buyings and sellings   
are concerns of men4  ,but envy and     
pride1 the evils most prone to follow   
good works1 had no place amongst them4  
,he that was weaker in ascetic exercises
 entertained no thought of malice       
against him of brighter example4  ,nor  
again was he1 that had accomplished     
great feats1 deceived and puffed up by  
arrogance to despise his weaker         

brethren1 or set at nought his          
neighbour1 or boast of his rigours1 or  
glory in his achievements4  ,he that    
excelled in virtue ascribed nothing to  
his own labours1 but all to the power of
 ,god1 in humility of mind persuading   
himself that his labours were nought and
 that he was debtor even for more1 as   
saith the ,lord1 ',when ye shall have   
done all those things which are         
commanded you1 say1 ,we are unprofitable
 servants3 we have done that which was  
our duty to do4'  ,others again         
persuaded themselves that they had not  
done even the things which they were    
commanded to do1 but that the things    
left undone outnumbered the things      
already well done4  ,again1 he that was 
far behind in austerity1 perchance      
through bodily weakness1 would disparage
 and blame himself1 attributing his     
failure to slothfulness of mind rather  
than to natural frailty4  ,so each      
excelled each1 and all excelled all in  
this sweet reasonableness4  ,but the    

spirit of vain glory and pleasing of    
men--what place had it among them8 ,for 
they had fled from the world1 and were  
dwelling in the desert1 to the end that 
they might show their virtues not to    
men1 but to ,god1 from whom also they   
hope to receive the rewards of their    
good deeds1 well aware that religious   
exercises performed for vain glory go   
without recompense2 for these are done  
for the praise of men and not for ,god4 
,whence all that do thus are doubly     
defrauded3 they waste their body1 and   
receive no reward4 ,but they who yearn  
for glory above1 and strive thereafter1 
despise all earthly and human glory4    
,as to their dwellings1 some monks      
finish the contest in utter retirement  
and solitude1 having removed themselves 
far from the haunts of men throughout   
the whole of their earthly life-time1   
and having drawn nigh to ,god4  ,others 
build their homes at a distance one from
 another1 but meet on the ,lord's ,day  
at one ,church1 and communicate of the  

,holy ,mysteries1 ,i mean the unbloody  
,sacrifice of the undefiled ,body and   
precious ,blood of ,christ1 which the   
,lord gave to the ,faithful for the     
remission of sins1 for the enlightenment
 and sanctification of soul and body4   
,they entertain one another with the    
exercises of the divine ,oracles and    
moral exhortations1 and make public the 
secret wiles of their adversaries1 that 
none1 through ignorance of the manner of
 wrestling1 may be caught thus4  ,then  
turn they again1 each to his own home1  
eagerly storing the honey of virtue in  
the cells of their hearts1 and          
husbanding sweet fruits worthy of the   
heavenly board4  ,others again spend    
their life in monasteries4  ,these      
gather in multitudes in one spot1 and   
range themselves under one superior and 
president1 the best of their number1    
slaying all self-will with the sword of 
obedience4  ,of their own free choice   
they consider themselves as slaves      
bought at a price1 and no longer live   

for themselves1 but for him1 to whom1   
for ,christ his sake1 they have become  
obedient2 or rather1 to speak more      
properly1 they live no more for         
themselves1 but ,christ liveth in them1 
whom to follow1 they renounce all4      
,this is retirement1 a voluntary hatred 
of the world1 and denial of nature by   
desire of things above nature4  ,these  
men therefore live the lives of ,angels 
on earth1 chanting psalms and hymns with
 one consent unto the ,lord1 and        
purchasing for themselves the title of  
,confessors by labours of obedience4    
,and in them is fulfilled the word of   
the ,lord1 when he saith1 ',where two or
 three are gathered together in my name1
 there am ,i in the midst of them4'  ,by
 this number he limiteth not the        
gathering together in his name1 but by  
'two or three' signifieth that the      
number is indefinite4  ,for1 whether    
there be many1 or few1 gathered together
 because of his holy name1 serving him  
with fervent zeal1 there we believe him 

to be present in the midst of his       
servants4  ,by these ensamples and such 
like assemblies men of earth and clay   
imitate the life of heavenly beings1 in 
fastings and prayers and watchings1 in  
hot tears and sober sorrow1 as soldiers 
in the field with death before their    
eyes1 in meekness and gentleness1 in    
silence of the lips1 in poverty and     
want1 in chastity and temperance1 in    
humbleness and quietude of mind1 in     
perfect charity toward ,god and their   
neighbour1 carrying their present life  
down to the grave1 and becoming ,angels 
in their ways4 ,wherefore ,god hath     
graced them with miracles1 signs and    
various virtues and made the voice of   
their marvellous life to be sounded     
forth to the ends of the world4  ,if ,i 
open my mouth to declare in every point 
the life of one of them who is said to  
have been the founder of the monastic   
life1 ,antony by name1 by this one tree 
thou shalt assuredly know the sweet     
fruits of other trees of the like kind  

and form1 and shalt know what a         
foundation of religious life that great 
man laid1 and what a roof he built1 and 
what gifts he merited to receive from   
the ,saviour4  ,after him many fought   
the like fight and won like crowns and  
guerdons4  ,blessed1 yea1 thrice        
blessed1 are they that have loved ,god1 
and1 for his love's sake1 have counted  
every thing as nothing worth4 ,for they 
wept and mourned1 day and night1 that   
they might gain everlasting comfort3    
they humbled themselves willingly1 that 
there they might be exalted3 they       
afflicted the flesh with hunger and     
thirst and vigil1 that there they might 
come to the pleasures and joys of       
,paradise4  ,by their purity of heart   
they became a tabernacle of the ,holy   
,ghost1 as it is written1 ',i will dwell
 in them and walk in them4'  ,they      
crucified themselves unto the world1    
that they might stand at the right hand 
of the ,crucified3 they girt their loins
 with truth1 and alway had their lamps  

ready1 looking for the coming of the    
immortal bridegroom4  ,the eye of their 
mind being enlightened1 they continually
 looked forward to that awful hour1 and 
kept the contemplation of future        
happiness and everlasting punishment    
immovable from their hearts1 and pained 
themselves to labour1 that they might   
not lose eternal glory4  ,they became   
passionless as the ,angels1 and now they
 weave the dance in their fellowship1   
whose lives also they imitated4         
,blessed1 yea1 thrice blessed are they1 
because with sure spiritual vision they 
discerned the vanity of this present    
world and the uncertainty and           
inconstancy of mortal fortune1 and cast 
it aside1 and laid up for themselves    
everlasting blessings1 and laid hold of 
that life which never faileth1 nor is   
broken by death4  ,these then are the   
marvellous holy men whose examples we1  
that are poor and vile1 strive to       
imitate1 but cannot attain to the high  
level of the life of these heavenly     

citizens4  ,nevertheless1 so far as is  
possible for our weakness and feeble    
power1 we take the stamp of their lives1
 and wear their habit3 even though we   
fail to equal their works2 for we are   
assured that this holy profession is a  
means to perfection and an aid to the   
incorruption given us by holy baptism4  
,so1 following the teachings of these   
blessed ,saints1 we utterly renounce    
these corruptible and perishable things 
of life1 wherein may be found nothing   
stable or constant1 or that continueth  
in one stay2 but all things are vanity  
and vexation of spirit1 and many are the
 changes that they bring in a moment2   
for they are slighter than dreams and a 
shadow1 or the breeze that bloweth the  
air4  ,small and short-lived is their   
charm1 that is after all no charm1 but  
illusion and deception of the wickedness
 of the world2 which world we have been 
taught to love not at all1 but rather to
 hate with all our heart4  ,yea1 and    
verily it is worthy of hatred and       

abhorrence2 for whatsoever gifts it     
giveth to its friends1 these in turn in 
passion it taketh away1 and shall hand  
over its victims1 stripped of all good  
things1 clad in the garment of shame1   
and bound under heavy burdens1 to       
eternal tribulation4 ,and those again   
whom it exalteth1 it quickly abaseth to 
the utmost wretchedness1 making them a  
foot-stool and a laughing stock for     
their enemies4  ,such are its charms1   
such its bounties4 ,for it is an enemy  
of its friends1 and traitor to such as  
carry out its wishes3 dasheth to dire   
destruction all them that lean upon it1 
and enervateth those that put their     
trust therein4  ,it maketh covenants    
with fools and fair false promises1 only
 that it may allure them to itself4     
,but1 as they have dealt treacherously1 
it proveth itself treacherous and false 
in fulfilling none of its pledges4      
,to-day it tickleth their gullet with   
pleasant dainties2 to-morrow it maketh  
them nought but a gobbet for their      

enemies4  ,to-day it maketh a man a     
king3 to-morrow it delivereth him into  
bitter servitude4  ,to-day its thrall is
 fattening on a thousand good things2   
to-morrow he is a beggar1 and drudge of 
drudges4  ,to-day it placeth on his head
 a crown of glory2 to-morrow it dasheth 
his face upon the ground4 ,to-day it    
adorneth his neck with brilliant badges 
of dignity2 to-morrow it humbleth him   
with a collar of iron4  ,for a little   
while it causeth him to be the desire of
 all men2 but after a time it maketh him
 their hate and abomination4  ,to-day it
 gladdeneth him3 but to-morrow it       
weareth him to a shadow with            
lamentations and wailings4 ,what is the 
end thereof1 thou shalt hear4           
,ruthlessly it bringeth its former      
lovers to dwell in hell4 ,such is ever  
its mind1 such its purposes4  ,it       
lamenteth not its departed1 nor pitieth 
the survivor4 ,for after that it hath   
cruelly duped and entangled in its      
meshes the one party1 it immediately    

transferreth the resources of its       
ingenuity against the other1 not willing
 that any should escape its cruel       
snares1  ,these men that have foolishly 
alienated themselves from a good and    
kind master1 to seek the service of so  
harsh and savage a lord1 that are all   
agog for present joys and are glued     
thereto1 that take never a thought for  
the future1 that always grasp after     
bodily enjoyments1 but suffer their     
souls to waste with hunger1 and to be   
worn with myriad ills1 these ,i consider
 to be like a man flying before the face
 of a rampant unicorn1 who1 unable to   
endure the sound of the beast's cry1 and
 its terrible bellowing1 to avoid being 
devoured1 ran away at full speed4  ,but 
while he ran hastily1 he fell into a    
great pit2 and as he fell1 he stretched 
forth his hands1 and laid hold on a     
tree1 to which he held tightly4  ,there 
he established some sort of foot-hold   
and thought himself from that moment in 
peace and safety4  ,but he looked and   

descried two mice1 the one white1 the   
other black1 that never ceased to gnaw  
the root of the tree whereon he hung1   
and were all but on the point of        
severing it4  ,then he looked down to   
the bottom of the pit and espied below a
 dragon1 breathing fire1 fearful for eye
 to see1 exceeding fierce and grim1 with
 terrible wide jaws1 all agape to       
swallow him4  ,again looking closely at 
the ledge whereon his feet rested1 he   
discerned four heads of asps projecting 
from the wall whereon he was perched4   
,then he lift up his eyes and saw that  
from the branches of the tree there     
dropped a little honey4  ,and thereat he
 ceased to think of the troubles whereby
 he was surrounded2 how1 outside1 the   
unicorn was madly raging to devour him3 
how1 below1 the fierce dragon was       
yawning to swallow him3 how the tree1   
which he had clutched1 was all but      
severed2 and how his feet rested on     
slippery1 treacherous ground4  ,yea1 he 
forgat1 without care1 all those sights  

of awe and terror1 and his whole mind   
hung on the sweetness of that tiny drop 
of honey4  ,this is the likeness of     
those who cleave to the deceitfulness of
 this present life1--the interpretation 
whereof ,i will declare to thee anon4   
,the unicorn is the type of death1 ever 
in eager pursuit to overtake the race of
 ,adam4  ,the pit is the world1 full of 
all manner of ills and deadly snares4   
,the tree1 which was being continually  
fretted by the two mice1 to which the   
man clung1 is the course of every man's 
life1 that spendeth and consuming itself
 hour by hour1 day and night1 and       
gradually draweth nigh its severance4   
,the fourfold asps signify the structure
 of man's body upon four treacherous and
 unstable elements which1 being         
disordered and disturbed1 bring that    
body to destruction4 ,furthermore1 the  
fiery cruel dragon betokeneth the maw of
 hell that is hungry to receive those   
who choose present pleasures rather than
 future blessings4  ,the dropping of    

honey denoteth the sweetness of the     
delights of the world1 whereby it       
deceiveth its own friends1 nor suffereth
 them to take timely thought for their  
salvation4    ,,xiii4  ,ioasaph received
 this parable with great joy and said1  
,how true this story is1 and most apt6  
,grudge not1 then1 to shew me other such
 like figures1 that ,i may know for     
certain what the manner of our life is1 
and what it hath in store for its       
friends4  ,the elder answered1 ,again1  
those who are enamoured of the pleasures
 of life1 and glamoured by the sweetness
 thereof1 who prefer fleeting and paltry
 objects to those which are future and  
stable1 are like a certain man who had  
three friends4  ,on the first two of    
these he was extravagantly lavish of his
 honours1 and clave passionately to     
their love1 fighting to the death and   
deliberately hazarding his life for     
their sakes4  ,but to the third he bore 
himself right arrogantly1 never once    
granting him the honour nor the love    

that was his due1 but only making show  
of some slight and inconsiderable regard
 for him4  ,now one day he was          
apprehended by certain dread and strange
 soldiers1 that made speed to hale him  
to the king1 there to render account for
 a debt of ten thousand talents4  ,being
 in a great strait1 this debtor sought  
for a helper1 able to take his part in  
this terrible reckoning with the king4  
,so he ran to his first and truest      
friend of all1 and said1 ',thou wottest1
 friend1 that ,i ever jeopardied my life
 for thy sake4  ,now to-day ,i require  
help in a necessity that presseth me    
sore4  ,in how many talents wilt thou   
undertake to assist me now8  ,what is   
the hope that ,i may count upon at thy  
hands1 ,o my dearest friend8'  ,the     
other answered and said unto him1 ',man1
 ,i am not thy friend3 ,i know not who  
thou art4  ,other friends ,i have1 with 
whom ,i must needs make merry to-day1   
and so win their friendship for the time
 to come4  ,but1 see1 ,i present thee   

with two ragged garments1 that thou     
mayest have them on the way whereon thou
 goest1 though they will do thee no     
manner of good4 ,further help from me   
thou mayest expect none4'  ,the other1  
hearing this1 despaired of the succour  
whereon he had reckoned1 and went to his
 second friend1 saying1 ',friend1 thou  
rememberest how much honour and kindness
 thou hast enjoyed at my hands4  ,to-day
 ,i have fallen into tribulation and    
sorrow1 and need a helping hand4  ,to   
what extent then canst thou share my    
labour8  ,tell me at once4'  ,said he1  
',i have on leisure today to share thy  
troubles4  ,i too have fallen among     
cares and perils1 and am myself in      
tribulation4  ,howbeit1 ,i will go a    
little way with thee1 even if ,i shall  
fail to be of service to thee4  ,then   
will ,i turn quickly homeward1 and busy 
myself with mine own anxieties4'  ,so   
the man returned from him too           
empty-handed and baulked at every turn2 
and he cried misery on himself for his  

vain hope in those ungrateful friends1  
and the unavailing hardships that he had
 endured through love of them4  ,at the 
last he went away to the third friend1  
whom he had never courted1 nor invited  
to share his happiness4  ,with          
countenance ashamed and downcast1 he    
said unto him1 ',i can scarce open my   
lips to speak with thee1 knowing full   
well that ,i have never done thee       
service1 or shown thee any kindness that
 thou mightest now remember4  ,but      
seeing that a heavy misfortune hath     
overtaken me1 and that ,i have found    
nowhere among my friends any hope of    
deliverance1 ,i address myself to thee1 
praying thee1 if it lie in thy power1 to
 afford me some little aid4  ,bear no   
grudge for my past unkindness1 and      
refuse me not4'  ,the other with a      
smiling and gracious countenance        
answered1 ',assuredly ,i own thee my    
very true friend4 ,i have not forgotten 
those slight services of thine3 and ,i  
will repay them to-day with interest4   

,fear not therefore1 neither be afraid4 
,i will go before thee and entreat the  
king for thee1 and will by no means     
deliver thee into the hands of thine    
enemies4 ,wherefore be of good courage1 
dear friend1 and fret not thyself4'     
,then1 pricked at heart1 the other said 
with tears1 ',wo is me6 ,which shall ,i 
first lament1 or which first deplore8   
,condemn my vain preference for my      
forgetful1 thankless and false friends1 
or blame the mad ingratitude that ,i    
have shown to thee1 the sincere and     
true8'  ,ioasaph heard this tale also   
with amazement and asked the            
interpretation thereof4  ,then said     
,barlaam1 ,the first friend is the      
abundance of riches1 and love of money1 
by reason of which a man falleth into   
the midst of ten thousand perils1 and   
endureth many miseries3 but when at last
 the appointed day of death is come1 of 
all these things he carrieth away       
nothing but the useless burial cloths4  
,by the second friend is signified our  

wife and children and the remnant of    
kinsfolk and acquaintance1 to whom we   
are passionately attached1 and from whom
 with difficulty we tear ourselves away1
 neglecting our very soul and body for  
the love of them4  ,but no help did man 
ever derive from these in the hour of   
death1 save only that they will         
accompany and follow him to the         
sepulchre1 and then straightway turning 
them homeward again they are occupied   
with their own cares and matters1 and   
bury his memory in oblivion as they have
 buried his body in the grave4  ,but the
 third friend1 that was altogether      
neglected and held cheap1 whom the man  
never approached1 but rather shunned and
 fled in horror1 is the company of good 
deeds1--faith1 hope1 charity1 alms1     
kindliness1 and the whole band of       
virtues1 that can go before us1 when we 
quit the body1 and may plead with the   
,lord on our behalf1 and deliver us from
 our enemies and dread creditors1 who   
urge that strict rendering of account in

 the air1 and try bitterly to get the   
mastery of us4 ,this is the grateful and
 true friend1 who beareth in mind those 
small kindnesses that we have shown him 
and repayeth the whole with interest4   
,,xiv4  ,again said ,ioasaph1 ,the ,lord
 ,god prosper thee1 ,o thou ,wisest of  
men6 ,for thou hast gladdened my soul   
with thine apt and excellent sayings4   
,wherefore sketch me yet another picture
 of the vanity of the world1 and how a  
man may pass through it in peace and    
safety4  ,barlaam took up his parable   
and said1 ,hear then a similitude of    
this matter too4  ,i once heard tell of 
a great city whose citizens had1 from   
old time1 the custom of taking some     
foreigner and stranger1 who knew nothing
 of their laws and traditions1 and of   
making him their king1 to enjoy absolute
 power1 and follow his own will and     
pleasure without hindrance1 until the   
completion of a year4  ,then suddenly1  
while he was living with never a care in
 rioting and wantonness1 without fear1  

and alway supposing that his reign would
 only terminate with his life1 they     
would rise up against him1 strip him    
bare of his royal robes1 lead him in    
triumph up and down the city1 and thence
 dispatch him beyond their borders into 
a distant great island2 there1 for lack 
of food and raiment1 in hunger and      
nakedness he would waste miserably away1
 the luxury and pleasure so unexpectedly
 showered upon him changed as           
unexpectedly into woe4  ,in accordance  
therefore with the unbroken custom of   
these citizens1 a certain man was       
ordained to the kingship4 ,but his mind 
was fertile of understanding1 and he was
 not carried away by this sudden access 
of prosperity1 nor did he emulate the   
heedlessness of the kings that had gone 
before him1 and had been miserably      
expelled1 but his soul was plunged in   
care and trouble how he might order his 
affairs well4  ,after long and careful  
search1 he learned from a wise          
counsellor the custom of the citizens1  

and the place of perpetual banishment1  
and was taught of him without guile how 
to ensure himself against this fate4    
,so with this knowledge that within a   
very little while he must reach that    
island and leave to strangers this      
chance kingdom among strangers1 he      
opened the treasures whereof he had     
awhile absolute and unforbidden use1 and
 took a great store of money and huge   
masses of gold and silver and precious  
stones and delivered the same to trusty 
servants and sent them before him to the
 island whither he was bound4  ,when the
 appointed year came to an end1 the     
citizens rose against him1 and sent him 
naked into banishment like those that   
went before him4  ,but while the rest of
 these foolish kings1 kings only for a  
season1 were sore anhungred1 he1 that   
had timely deposited his wealth1 passed 
his time in continual plenty mid        
dainties free of expense1 and1 rid of   
all fear of those mutinous and evil     
citizens1 could count himself happy on  

his wise forethought4  ,understand thou1
 therefore1 that the city is this vain  
and deceitful world2 that the citizens  
are the principalities and powers of the
 devils1 the rulers of the darkness of  
this world1 who entice us by the soft   
bait of pleasure1 and counsel us to     
consider corruptible and perishable     
things as incorruptible1 as though the  
enjoyment that cometh from them were    
co-existent with us1 and immortal as we4
  ,thus then are we deceived2 we have   
taken no thought concerning the things  
which are abiding and eternal1 and have 
laid up in store for ourselves no       
treasure for that life beyond1 when of a
 sudden there standeth over us the doom 
of death4  ,then1 then at last do those 
evil and cruel citizens of darkness1    
that received us1 dispatch us stript of 
all worldly goods1--for all our time has
 been wasted on their service--and carry
 us off 'to a dark land and a gloomy1 to
 a land of eternal darkness1 where there
 is no light1 nor can one behold the    

life of men4'  ,as for that good        
counsellor1 who made known all the truth
 and taught that sagacious and wise king
 the way of salvation1 understand thou  
that ,i1 thy poor and humble servant1 am
 he1 who am come hither for to shew thee
 the good and infallible way to lead    
thee to things eternal and unending1 and
 to counsel thee to lay up all thy      
treasure there2 and ,i am come to lead  
thee away from the error of this world1 
which1 to my woe1 ,i also loved1 and    
clave to its pleasures and delights4    
,but1 when ,i perceived1 with the       
unerring eyes of my mind how all human  
life is wasted in these things that come
 and go2 when ,i saw that no man hath   
aught that is stable and steadfast1     
neither the rich in his wealth1 nor the 
mighty in his strength1 nor the wise in 
his wisdom1 nor the prosperous in his   
prosperity1 nor the luxurious in his    
wantonness1 nor he that dreameth of     
security of life in that vain and feeble
 security of his dreams1 nor any man in 

any of those things that men on earth   
commend 7'tis like the boundless rush of
 torrents that discharge themselves into
 the deep sea1 thus fleeting and        
temporary are all present things72 then1
 ,i say1 ,i understood that all such    
things are vanity1 and that their       
enjoyment is naught2 and1 that even as  
the past is all buried in oblivion1 be  
it past glory1 or past kingship1 or the 
splendour of rank1 or amplitude of      
power1 or arrogance of tyranny1 or aught
 else like them1 so also present things 
will vanish in the darkness of the days 
to come4  ,and1 as ,i am myself of the  
present1 ,i also shall doubtless be     
subject to its accustomed change2 and1  
even as my fathers before me were not   
allowed to take delight for ever in the 
present world1 so also shall it be with 
me4  ,for ,i have observed how this     
tyrannical and troublesome world        
treateth mankind1 shifting men hither   
and thither1 from wealth to poverty1 and
 from poverty to honour1 carrying some  

out of life and bringing others in1     
rejecting some that are wise and        
understanding1 making the honourable and
 illustrious dishonoured and despised1  
but seating others who are unwise and of
 no understanding upon a throne of      
honour1 and making the dishonoured and  
obscure to be honoured of all4  ,one may
 see how the race of mankind may never  
abide before the face of the cruel      
tyranny of the world4  ,but1 as when a  
dove fleeing from an eagle or a hawk    
flitteth from place to place1 now       
beating against this tree1 now against  
that bush1 and then anon against the    
clefts of the rocks and all manner of   
bramble-thorns1 and1 nowhere finding any
 safe place of refuge1 is wearied with  
continual tossing and crossing to and   
fro1 so are they which are flustered by 
the present world4  ,they labour        
painfully under unreasoning impulse1 on 
no sure or firm bases3 they know not to 
what goal they are driving1 nor whither 
this vain life leadeth them this vain   

life1 whereto they have in miserable    
folly subjected themselves1 choosing    
evil instead of good1 and pursuing vice 
instead of goodness2 and they know not  
who shall inherit the cold fruits of    
their many heavy labours1 whether it be 
a kinsman or a stranger1 and1 as oft    
times it haps1 not even a friend or     
acquaintance at all1 but an enemy and   
foeman4  ,on all these things1 and      
others akin to them1 ,i held judgement  
in the tribunal of my soul1 and ,i came 
to hate my whole life that had been     
wasted in these vanities1 while ,i still
 lived engrossed in earthly things4     
,but when ,i had put off from my soul   
the lust thereof1 and cast it from me1  
then was there revealed unto me the true
 good1 to fear ,god and do his will2 for
 this ,i saw to be the sum of all good4 
,this also is called the beginning of   
wisdom1 and perfect wisdom4  ,for life  
is without pain and reproach to those   
that hold by her1 and safe to those who 
lean upon her as upon the ,lord4  ,so1  

when ,i had set my reason on the        
unerring way of the commandments of the 
,lord1 and had surely learned that there
 is nothing froward or perverse therein1
 and that it is not full of chasms and  
rocks1 nor of thorns and thistles1 but  
lieth altogether smooth and even1       
rejoicing the eyes of the traveller with
 the brightest sights1 making beautiful 
his feet1 and shoeing them with 'the    
preparation of the ,gospel of peace1'   
that he may walk safely and without     
delay1 this way1 then1 ,i rightly chose 
above all others1 and began to rebuild  
my soul's habitation1 which had fallen  
into ruin and decay4  ,in such wise was 
,i devising mine estate1 and            
establishing mine unstable mind1 when ,i
 heard the words of a wise teacher      
calling loudly to me thus1 ',come ye    
out1' said he1 'all ye that will to be  
saved4  ,be ye separate from the vanity 
of the world1 for the fashion thereof   
quickly passeth away1 and behold it     
shall not be4 ,come ye out1 without     

turning back1 not for nothing and       
without reward1 but winning supplies for
 travelling to life eternal1 for ye are 
like to journey a long road1 needing    
much supplies from hence1 and ye shall  
arrive at the place eternal that hath   
two regions1 wherein are many mansions2 
one of which places ,god hath prepared  
for them that love him and keep his     
commandments1 full of all manner of good
 things2 and they that attain thereto   
shall live for ever in incorruption1    
enjoying immortality without death1     
where pain and sorrow and sighing are   
fled away4  ,but the other place is full
 of darkness and tribulation and pain1  
prepared for the devil and his angels1  
wherein also shall be cast they who by  
evil deeds have deserved it1 who have   
bartered the incorruptible and eternal  
for the present world1 and have made    
themselves fuel for eternal fire4'      
,when ,i heard this voice1 and          
recognized the truth1 ,i did my         
diligence to attain to that abode1 that 

is free from all pain and sorrow1 and   
full of security and all good things1   
whereof ,i have knowledge now only in   
part1 being but a babe in my spiritual  
life1 and seeing the sights yonder as   
through mirrors and riddles2 but when   
that which is perfect is come1 and ,i   
shall see face to face1 then that which 
is in part shall be done away4          
,wherefore ,i thank ,god through ,jesus 
,christ our ,lord2 for the law of the   
,spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath  
made me free from the law of sin and of 
death1 and hath opened mine eyes to see 
clearly that the will of the flesh is   
death1 but the will of the ,spirit is   
life and peace4  ,and even as ,i did    
discern the vanity of present things and
 hate them with a perfect hatred1 so    
likewise ,i counsel thee to decide      
thereon1 that thou mayest treat them as 
something alien and quickly passing     
away1 and mayest remove all thy store   
from earth and lay up for thyself in the
 incorruptible world a treasure that can

 not be stolen1 wealth inexhaustible1 in
 that place whither thou must shortly   
fare1 that when thou comest thither thou
 mayest not be destitute1 but be laden  
with riches1 after the manner of that   
aptest of parables that ,i lately showed
 thee4    ,,xv4  ,said ,ioasaph unto the
 elder1 ,how then shall ,i be able to   
send before me thither treasures of     
money and riches1 that1 when ,i depart  
hence1 ,i may find these unharmed and   
unwasted for my enjoyment8  ,how must ,i
 show my hatred for things present and  
lay hold on things eternal8  ,this make 
thou right plain unto me4 ,quoth        
,barlaam1 ,the sending before thee of   
money to that eternal home is wrought by
 the hands of the poor4  ,for thus saith
 one of the prophets1 ,daniel the wise1 
unto the king of ,babylon1 ',wherefore1 
,o ,prince1 let my counsel be acceptable
 unto thee1 and redeem thy sins by      
almsgiving1 and thine iniquities by     
showing mercy to the poor4'  ,the       
,saviour also saith1 ',make to          

yourselves friends of the mammon of     
unrighteousness2 that1 when ye fail1    
they may receive you into everlasting   
habitations4'  ,and1 in divers places1  
the ,master maketh much mention of      
almsgiving and liberality to the poor1  
as we learn in the ,gospel4  ,thus shalt
 thou most surely send all thy treasure 
before thee by the hands of the needy1  
for whatsoever thou shalt do unto these 
the ,master counteth done unto himself1 
and will reward thee manifold2 for1 in  
the recompense of benefits1 he ever     
surpasseth them that love him4  ,so in  
this manner by seizing for awhile the   
treasures of the darkness of this world1
 in whose slavery for a long time past  
thou hast been miserable1 thou shalt by 
these means make good provision for thy 
journey1 and by plundering another's    
goods thou shalt store all up for       
thyself1 with things fleeting and       
transient purchasing for thyself things 
that are stable and enduring4           
,afterwards1 ,god working with thee1    

thou shalt perceive the uncertainty and 
inconstancy of the world1 and saying    
farewell to all1 shalt remove thy barque
 to anchor in the future1 and1 passing  
by the things that pass away1 thou shalt
 hold to the things that we look for1   
the things that abide4  ,thou shalt     
depart from darkness and the shadow of  
death1 and hate the world and the ruler 
of the world2 and1 counting thy         
perishable flesh thine enemy1 thou shalt
 run toward the light that is           
unapproachable1 and taking the ,cross on
 thy shoulders1 shalt follow ,christ    
without looking back1 that thou mayest  
also be glorified with him1 and be made 
inheritor of the life that never        
changeth nor deceiveth4  ,ioasaph said1 
,when thou spakest a minute past of     
despising all things1 and taking up such
 a life of toil1 was that an old        
tradition handed down from the teaching 
of the ,apostles1 or is this a late     
invention of your wits1 which ye have   
chosen for yourselves as a more         

excellent way8  ,the elder answered and 
said1 ,i teach thee no law introduced   
but yesterday1 ,god forbid6  but one    
given unto us of old4  ,for when a      
certain rich young man asked the ,lord1 
',what shall ,i do to inherit eternal   
life8' and boasted that he had observed 
all that was written in the ,law1 ,jesus
 said unto him1 ',one thing thou lackest
 yet4  ,go sell all that thou hast and  
distribute unto the poor1 and thou shalt
 have treasure in heaven1 and come1 take
 up thy cross and follow me4  ,but when 
the young man heard this he was very    
sorrowful1 for he was very rich4  ,and  
when ,jesus saw that he was very        
sorrowful1 he said1 ',how hardly shall  
they which have riches enter into the   
kingdom of ,god6  ,for it is easier for 
a camel to go through the eye of a      
needle1 than for a rich man to enter    
into the kingdom of ,god6'  ,so1 when   
all the ,saints heard this command1 they
 thought fit by all means to withdraw   
from this hardness of riches4  ,they    

parted with all their goods1 and by this
 distribution of their riches to the    
poor laid up for themselves eternal     
riches2 and they took up their ,cross   
and followed ,christ1 some being made   
perfect by martyrdom1 even as ,i have   
already told thee2 and some by the      
practice of self-denial falling not a   
whit short of those others in the life  
of the true philosophy4  ,know thou1    
then1 that this is a command of ,christ 
our ,king and ,god1 which leadeth us    
from things corruptible and maketh us   
partakers of things everlasting4  ,said 
,ioasaph1 ,if1 then1 this kind of       
philosophy be so ancient and so         
salutary1 how cometh it that so few folk
 now-a-days follow it8  ,the elder      
answered1 ,many have followed1 and do   
follow it2 but the greatest part        
hesitate and draw back4  ,for few1 saith
 the ,lord1 are the travellers along the
 strait and narrow way1 but along the   
wide and broad way many4  ,for they that
 have once been taken prisoners by the  

love of money1 and the evils that come  
from the love of pleasure1 and are given
 up to idle and vain glory1 are hardly  
to be torn therefrom1 seeing that they  
have of their own free will sold        
themselves as slaves to a strange       
master1 and setting themselves on the   
opposite side to ,god1 who gave these   
commands1 are held in bondage to that   
other4  ,for the soul that hath once    
rejected her own salvation1 and given   
the reins to unreasonable lusts1 is     
carried about hither and thither4       
,therefore saith the prophet1 mourning  
the folly that encompasseth such souls1 
and lamenting the thick darkness that   
lieth on them1 ',o ye sons of men1 how  
long will ye be of heavy heart8  ,why   
love ye vanity1 and seek after leasing8'
  ,and in the same tone as he1 but      
adding thereto some thing of his own1   
one of our wise teachers1 a most        
excellent divine1 crieth aloud to all1  
as from some exceeding high place of    
vantage1 ',o ye sons of men1 how long   

will ye be of heavy heart8  ,why love ye
 vanity and seek after leasing8  ,trow  
ye that this present life1 and luxury1  
and these shreds of glory1 and petty    
lordship and false prosperity are any   
great thing8'--things which no more     
belong to those that possess them than  
to them that hope for them1 nor to these
 latter any more than to those who never
 thought of them3 things like the dust  
carried and whirled about to and fro by 
the tempest1 or vanishing as the smoke1 
or delusive as a dream1 or intangible as
 a shadow2 which1 when absent1 need not 
be despaired of by them that have them  
not1 and1 when present1 cannot be       
trusted by their owners4  ,this then was
 the commandment of the ,saviour2 this  
the preaching of the ,prophets and      
,apostles2 in such wise do all the      
,saints1 by word and deed1 constrain us 
to enter the unerring road of virtue4   
,and though few walk therein and more   
choose the broad way that leadeth to    
destruction1 yet not for this shall the 

life of this divine philosophy be       
minished in fame4  ,but as the sun1     
rising to shine on all1 doth bounteously
 send forth his beams1 inviting all to  
enjoy his light1 even so doth our true  
philosophy1 like the sun1 lead with her 
light those that are her lovers1 and    
warmeth and brighteneth them4  ,but if  
any shut their eyes1 and will not behold
 the light thereof1 not for that must   
the sun be blamed1 or scorned by others3
 still less shall the glory of his      
brightness be dishonoured through their 
silliness4  ,but while they1            
self-deprived of light1 grope like blind
 men along a wall1 and fall into many a 
ditch1 and scratch out their eyes on    
many a bramble bush1 the sun1 firmly    
established on his own glory1 shall     
illuminate them that gaze upon his beams
 with unveiled face4 ,even so shineth   
the light of ,christ on all men         
abundantly1 imparting to us of his      
lustre4  ,but every man shareth thereof 
in proportion to his desire and zeal4   

,for the ,sun of righteousness          
disappointeth none of them that would   
fix their gaze on him1 yet doth he not  
compel those who willingly choose       
darkness2 but every man1 so long as he  
is in this present life1 is committed to
 his own free will and choice4  ,ioasaph
 asked1 ,what is free will and what is  
choice8  ,the elder answered1 ,free will
 is the willing of a reasonable soul1   
moving without hindrance toward whatever
 it wisheth1 whether to virtue or to    
vice1 the soul being thus constituted by
 the ,creator4  ,free will again is the 
sovran motion of an intelligent soul4   
,choice is desire accompanied by        
deliberation1 or deliberation           
accompanied by desire for things that   
lie in our power2 for in choosing we    
desire that which we have deliberately  
preferred4 ,deliberation is a motion    
towards enquiry about actions possible  
to us2 a man deliberateth whether he    
ought to pursue an object or no4  ,then 
he judgeth which is the better1 and so  

ariseth judgement4  ,then he is inclined
 towards it1 and loveth that which was  
so judged by the deliberative faculty1  
and this is called resolve2 for1 if he  
judge a thing1 and yet be not inclined  
toward the thing that he hath judged1   
and love it not1 it is not called       
resolve4 ,then1 after inclination toward
 it1 there ariseth choice or rather     
selection4  ,for choice is to choose one
 or other of two things in view1 and to 
select this rather than that4  ,and it  
is manifest that choice is deliberation 
plus discrimination1 and this from the  
very etymology4 ,for that which is the  
'object of choice' is the thing chosen  
before the other thing4  ,and no man    
preferreth a thing without deliberation1
 nor makeeth a choice without having    
conceived a preference4  ,for1 since we 
are not zealous to carry into action all
 that seemeth good to us1 choice only   
ariseth and the deliberately preferred  
only becometh the chosen1 when desire is
 added thereto4  ,thus we conclude that 

choice is desire accompanied by         
deliberation for things that lie in our 
power2 in choosing we desire that which 
we have deliberately preferred4  ,all   
deliberation aimeth at action and       
dependeth on action2 and thus           
deliberation goeth before all choice1   
and choice before all action4 ,for this 
reason not only our actions1 but also   
our thoughts1 inasmuch as they give     
occasion for choice1 bring in their     
train crowns or punishments4 ,for the   
beginning of sin and righteous dealing  
is choice1 exercised in action possible 
to us4  ,where the power of activity is 
ours1 there too are the actions that    
follow that activity in our power4      
,virtuous activities are in our power1  
therefore in our power are virtues also2
 for we are absolute masters over all   
our souls' affairs and all our          
deliberations4  ,since then it is of    
free will that men deliberate1 and of   
free will that men choose1 a man        
partaketh of the light divine1 and      

advanceth in the practice of this       
philosophy in exact measure of his      
choice1 for there are differences of    
choice4  ,and even as water-springs1    
issuing from the hollows of the earth1  
sometimes gush forth from the surface   
soil1 and sometimes from a lower source1
 and at other times from a great depth1 
and even as some of these waters bubble 
forth continuously1 and their taste is  
sweet1 while others that come from deep 
wells are brackish or sulphurous1 even  
as some pour forth in abundance while   
others flow drop by drop1 thus1         
understand thou1 is it also with our    
choices4  ,some choices are swift and   
exceeding fervent1 others languid and   
cold3 some have a bias entirely toward  
virtue1 while others incline with all   
their force to its opposite4  ,and like 
in nature to these choices are the      
ensuing impulses to action4    ,,xvi4   
,ioasaph said unto the elder1 ,are there
 now others1 too1 who preach the same   
doctrines as thou8  ,or art thou to-day 

the only one that teacheth this hatred  
of the present world8  ,the other       
answered and said1 ,in this your most   
unhappy country ,i know of none3 the    
tyranny of thy father hath netted all   
such in a thousand forms of death2 and  
he hath made it his aim that the        
preaching of the knowledge of ,god be   
not once heard in your midst4  ,but in  
all other tongues these doctrines are   
sung and glorified1 by some in perfect  
truth1 but by others perversely2 for the
 enemy of our souls hath made them      
decline from the straight road1 and     
divided them by strange teachings1 and  
taught them to interpret certain sayings
 of the ,scriptures falsely1 and not    
after the sense contained therein4  ,but
 the truth is one1 even that which was  
preached by the glorious ,apostles and  
inspired ,fathers1 and shineth in the   
,catholick ,church above the brightness 
of the sun from the one end of the world
 unto the other2 and as an herald and   
teacher of that truth have ,i been sent 

to thee4  ,ioasaph said unto him1 ,hath 
my father then1 learned naught of these 
things8  ,the elder answered1 ,clearly  
and duly he hath learned naught2 for he 
stoppeth up his senses1 and will not    
admit that which is good1 being of his  
own free choice inclined to evil4       
,would ,god1 said ,ioasaph1 that he too 
were instructed in these mysteries8     
,the elder answered1 ,the things that   
are impossible with men are possible    
with ,god4  ,for how knowest thou       
whether thou shalt save thy sire1 and in
 wondrous fashion be styled the         
spiritual father of thy father8  ,i have
 heard that1 once upon a time1 there was
 a king who governed his kingdom right  
well1 and dealt kindly and gently with  
his subjects1 only failing in this      
point1 that he was not rich in the light
 of the knowledge of ,god1 but held fast
 to the errors of idolatry4  ,now he had
 a counsellor1 which was a good man and 
endued with righteousness toward ,god   
and with all other virtuous wisdom4     

,grieved and vexed though he was at the 
error of the king1 and willing to       
convince him thereof1 he nevertheless   
drew back from the attempt1 for fear    
that he might earn trouble for himself  
and his friends1 and cut short those    
services which he rendered to others4   
,yet sought he a convenient season to   
draw his sovereign toward that which was
 good4  ,one night the king said unto   
him1 ,come now1 let us go forth and walk
 about the city1 if haply we may see    
something to edify us4  ,now while they 
were walking about the city1 they saw a 
ray of light shining through an         
aperture4  ,fixing their eyes thereon1  
they descried an underground cavernous  
chamber1 in the forefront of which there
 sat a man1 plunged in poverty1 and clad
 in rags and tatters4 ,beside him stood 
his wife1 mixing wine4  ,when the man   
took the cup in his hands1 she sung a   
clear sweet melody1 and delighted him by
 dancing and cozening him with          
flatteries4  ,the king's companions     

observed this for a time1 and marvelled 
that people1 pinched by such poverty as 
not to afford house and raiment1 yet    
passed their lives in such good cheer4  
,the king said to his chief counsellor1 
',friend1 how marvellous a thing it is1 
that our life1 though bright with such  
honour and luxury1 hath never pleased us
 so well as this poor and miserable life
 doth delight and rejoice these fools3  
and that this life1 which appeareth to  
us so cruel and abominable1 is to them  
sweet and alluring6'  ,the chief        
counsellor seized the happy moment and  
said1 ',but to thee1 ,o king1 how       
seemeth their life8'  ',of all that ,i  
have ever seen1' quoth the king1 'the   
most hateful and wretched1 the most     
loathsome and abhorrent4'  ,then spake  
the chief counsellor unto him1 ,such1   
know thou well1 ,o king1 and even more  
unendurable is our life reckoned by     
those who are initiated into the sight  
of the mysteries of yonder everlasting  
glory1 and the blessings that pass all  

understanding4  ,your palaces glittering
 with gold1 and these splendid garments1
 and all the delights of this life are  
more loathsome than dung and filth in   
the eyes of those that know the         
unspeakable beauties of the tabernacles 
in heaven made without hands1 and the   
apparel woven by ,god1 and the          
incorruptible diadems which ,god1 the   
,creator and ,lord of all1 hath prepared
 for them that love him4  ,for like as  
this couple were accounted fools by us1 
so much the more are we1 who go astray  
in this world and please ourselves in   
this false glory and senseless pleasure1
 worthy of lamentation and tears in the 
eyes of those who have tasted of the    
sweets of the bliss beyond4'  ,when the 
king heard this1 he became as one dumb4 
,he said1 ',who then are these men that 
live a life better than ours8'  ',all1' 
said the chief-counsellor 'who prefer   
the eternal to the temporal4'  ,again1  
when the king desired to know what the  
eternal might be the other replied1 ',a 

kingdom that knoweth no succession1 a   
life that is not subject unto death1    
riches that dread no poverty3 joy and   
gladness that have no share of grief and
 vexation2 perpetual peace free from all
 hatred and love of strife4  ,blessed1  
thrice blessed are they that are found  
worthy of these enjoyments6  ,free from 
pain and free from toil is the life that
 they shall live for ever1 enjoying     
without labour all the sweets and       
pleasaunce of the kingdom of ,god1 and  
reigning with ,christ world without     
end4'  ',and who is worthy to obtain    
this8' asked the king4  ,the other      
answered1 ',all they that hold on the   
road that leadeth thither2 for none     
forbiddeth entrance1 if a man but will4'
  ,said the king1 ',and what is the way 
that beareth thither8'  ,that bright    
spirit answered1 ',to know the only true
 ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 his          
only-begotten ,son1 and the ,holy and   
quickening ,spirit4'  ,the king1 endowed
 with understanding worthy of the       

purple1 said unto him1 ',what hath      
hindered thee until now from doing me to
 wit of these things8  ,for they appear 
to me too good to be put off or passed  
over1 if they indeed be true2 and1 if   
they be doubtful1 ,i must search        
diligently1 until ,i find the truth     
without shadow of doubt4'  ,the chief   
counsellor said1 ',it was not from      
negligence or indifference that ,i      
delayed to make this known unto thee1   
for it is true and beyond question1 but 
'twas because ,i reverenced the         
excellency of thy majesty1 lest thou    
mightest think me a meddler4 ,if        
therefore thou bid thy servant put thee 
in mind of these things for the future1 
,i shall obey thy behest4'  ',yea1' said
 the king1 'not every day only1 but     
every hour1 renew in me the remembrance 
thereof3 for it behoveth us not to turn 
our mind inattentively to these things1 
but with very fervent zeal4'  ,we have  
heard1 said ,barlaam1 that this king    
lived1 for the time to come1 a godly    

life1 and1 having brought his days      
without tempest to an end1 failed not to
 gain the felicity of the world to come4
  ,if then at a convenient season one   
shall call these things to thy father's 
mind also1 peradventure he shall        
understand and know the dire evil in    
which he is held1 and turn therefrom and
 choose the good2 since1 for the present
 at least1 'he is blind and cannot see  
afar off1' having deprived himself of   
the true light and being a deserter of  
his own accord to the darkness of       
ungodliness4  ,ioasaph said unto him1   
,the ,lord undertake my father's        
matters1 as he ordereth6  ,for1 even as 
thou sayest1 the things that are        
impossible with men1 are possible with  
him4  ,but for myself1 thanks to thine  
unsurpassable speech1 ,i renounce the   
vanity of things present1 and am        
resolved to withdraw from them          
altogether1 and to spend the rest of my 
life with thee1 lest1 by means of these 
transitory and fleeting things1 ,i lose 

the enjoyment of the eternal and        
incorruptible4  ,the elder answered him1
 ,this do1 and thou shalt be like unto a
 youth of great understanding of whom ,i
 have heard tell1 that was born of rich 
and distinguished parents4  ,for him his
 father sought in marriage the exceeding
 fair young daughter of a man of high   
rank and wealth4  ,but when he communed 
with his son concerning the espousals1  
and informed him of his plans1 the son  
thought it strange and ill-sounding1 and
 cast it off1 and left his father and   
went into exile4  ,on his journey he    
found entertainment in the house of a   
poor old man1 where he rested awhile    
during the heat of the day4  ,now this  
poor man's daughter1 his only child1 a  
virgin1 was sitting before the door1    
and1 while she wrought with her hands1  
with her lips she loudly sang the       
praises of ,god with thanksgiving from  
the ground of her heart4  ,the young man
 heard her hymn of praise and said1     
',damsel1 what is thine employment8 and 

wherefore1 poor and needy as thou art1  
givest thou thanks as though for great  
blessings1 singing praise to the        
,giver8'  ,she answered1 ',knowest thou 
not that1 as a little medicine often    
times delivereth a man from great       
ailments1 even so the giving of thanks  
to ,god for small mercies winneth great 
ones8  ,therefore ,i1 the daughter of a 
poor old man1 thank and bless ,god for  
these small mercies1 knowing that the   
,giver thereof is able to give even     
greater gifts4  ,and this applieth but  
to those external things that are not   
our own from whence there accrueth no   
gain to those who possess much 7not to  
mention the loss that often ariseth71   
nor cometh there harm to those who have 
less2 for both sorts journey along the  
same road1 and hasten to the same end4  
,but1 in things most necessary and      
vital1 many and great the blessings ,i  
have enjoyed of my ,lord1 though indeed 
they are without number and beyond      
compare4  ,i have been made in the image

 of ,god1 and have gained the knowledge 
of him1 and have been endowed with      
reason beyond all the beasts1 and have  
been called again from death unto life1 
through the tender mercy of our ,god1   
and have received power to share in his 
mysteries2 and the gate of ,paradise    
hath been opened to me1 allowing me to  
enter without hindrance1 if ,i will4    
,wherefore for gifts so many and so     
fine1 shared alike by rich and poor1 ,i 
can indeed in no wise praise him as ,i  
ought1 yet if ,i fail to render to the  
,giver this little hymn of praise1 what 
excuse shall ,i have8'  ,the youth1     
astonished at her wit1 called to her    
father1 and said unto him1 ',give me thy
 daughter3 for ,i love her wisdom and   
piety4'  ,but the elder said1 ',it is   
not possible for thee1 the son of       
wealthy parents1 to take this a beggar's
 daughter4'  ,again the young man said1 
',yea1 but ,i will take her1 unless thou
 forbid3 for a daughter of noble and    
wealthy family hath been betrothed unto 

me in marriage1 and her ,i have cast off
 and taken to flight4  ,but ,i have     
fallen in love with thy daughter because
 of her righteousness to ,god-ward1 and 
her discreet wisdom1 and ,i heartily    
desire to wed-her4'  ,but the old man   
said unto him1 ',i cannot give her unto 
thee1 to carry away to thy father's     
house1 and depart her from mine arms1   
for she is mine only child4' ',but1'    
said the youth1 ',i will abide here with
 your folk and adopt your manner of     
life4'  ,thereupon he stripped him of   
his own goodly raiment1 and asked for   
the old man's clothes and put them on4  
,when the father had much tried his     
purpose1 and proved him in manifold     
ways1 and knew that his intent was      
fixed1 and that it was no light passion 
that led him to ask for his daughter1   
but love of godliness that constrained  
him to embrace a life of poverty1       
preferring it to his own glory and noble
 birth1 he took him by the hand1 and    
brought him into his treasure-house1    

where he showed him much riches laid up1
 and a vast heap of money1 such as the  
young man had never beheld4  ,and he    
said unto him1 ',son1 all these things  
give ,i unto thee1 forasmuch as thou    
hast chosen to become the husband to my 
daughter1 and also thereby the heir of  
all my substance4' ,so the young man    
acquired the inheritance1 and surpassed 
all the famous and wealthy men of the   
land4    ,,xvii4  ,said ,ioasaph unto   
,barlaam1 ,this story also fitly setteth
 forth mine own estate4  ,whence also me
 thinketh that thou hadst me in mind    
when thou spakest it4  ,but what is the 
proof whereby thou seekest to know the  
steadfastness of my purpose8  ,said the 
elder1 ,i have already proved thee1 and 
know how wise and steadfast is thy      
purpose1 and how truly upright is thine 
heart4  ,but the end of thy fortune     
shall confirm it4  ,for this cause ,i   
bow my knees unto our ,god glorified in 
,three ,persons1 the ,maker of all      
things visible and invisible1 who verily

 is1 and is for ever1 that never had    
beginning of his glorious being1 nor    
hath end1 the terrible and almighty1 the
 good and pitiful1 that he may enlighten
 the eyes of thine heart1 and give thee 
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in  
the knowledge of him1 that thou mayest  
know what is the hope of his calling1   
and what the riches of the glory of his 
inheritance in the ,saints1 and what is 
the exceeding greatness of his power to 
us-ward who believe2 that thou mayest be
 no more a stranger and sojourner1 but a
 fellow-citizen with the ,saints1 and of
 the household of ,god1 being built upon
 the foundation of the ,apostles and    
,prophets1 ,jesus ,christ our ,lord     
himself being the chief corner-stone1 in
 whom all the building fitly framed     
together groweth unto an holy temple in 
the ,lord4  ,ioasaph1 keenly pricked at 
the heart1 said1 ,all this ,i too long  
to learn3 and ,i beseech thee make known
 to me the riches of the glory of ,god1 
and the exceeding greatness of his      

power4  ,barlaam said unto him1 ,i pray 
,god to teach thee this1 and to plant in
 thy soul the knowledge of the same2    
since with men it is impossible that his
 glory and power be told1 yea1 even if  
the tongues of all men that now are and 
have ever been were combined in one4    
,for1 as saith the ,evangelist and      
,divine1 ',no man hath seen ,god at any 
time2 the only begotten ,son1 which is  
in the bosom of the ,father1 he hath    
declared him4'  ,but the glory and      
majesty of the invisible and infinite   
,god1 what son of earth shall skill to  
comprehend it1 save he to whom he       
himself shall reveal it1 in so far as he
 will1 as he hath revealed it1 to his   
,prophets and ,apostles8  ,but we learn 
it1 so far as in us lieth1 by their     
teaching1 and from the very nature of   
the world4  ,for the ,scripture saith1  
',the heavens declare the glory of ,god1
 and the firmament sheweth his          
handiwork2' and1 ',the invisible things 
of him from the creation ,of the world  

are clearly understood by the things    
that are made1 even his eternal power   
and ,godhead4'  ,even as a man1         
beholding an house splendidly and       
skilfully builded1 or a vessel fairly   
framed1 taketh note of the builder or   
workman and marvelleth thereat1 even so 
,i that was fashioned out of nothing and
 brought into being1 though ,i cannot   
see the maker and provider1 yet from his
 harmonious and marvellous fashioning of
 me have come to the knowledge of his   
wisdom1 not to the full measure of that 
wisdom1 but to the full compass of my   
powers2 yea ,i have seen that ,i was not
 brought forth by chance1 nor made of   
myself1 but that he fashioned me1 as it 
pleased him1 and set me to have dominion
 over his creatures1 howbeit making me  
lower than some2 that1 when ,i was      
broken1 he re-created me with a better  
renewal2 and that he shall draw me by   
his divine will from this world and     
place me in that other life that is     
endless and eternal2 and that in nothing

 ,i could withstand the might of his    
providence1 nor add anything to myself  
nor take anything away1 whether in      
stature or bodily form1 and that ,i am  
not able to renew for myself that which 
is waxen old1 nor raise that which hath 
been destroyed4  ,for never was man able
 to accomplish aught of these things1   
neither king1 nor wise man1 nor rich    
man1 nor ruler1 nor any other that      
pursueth the tasks of men4  ,for he     
saith1 ',there is no king1 or mighty    
man1 that had any other beginning of    
birth4  ,for all men have one entrance  
into life1 and the like going out4'  ,so
 from mine own nature1 ,i am led by the 
hand to the knowledge of the mighty     
working of the ,creator2 and at the same
 time ,i think upon the well-ordered    
structure and preservation of the whole 
creation1 how that in itself it is      
subject everywhere to variableness and  
change1 in the world of thought by      
choice1 whether by advance in the good1 
or departure from it1 in the world of   

sense by birth and decay1 increase and  
decrease1 and change in quality and     
motion in space4  ,and thus all things  
proclaim1 by voices that cannot be      
heard1 that they were created1 and are  
held together1 and preserved1 and ever  
watched over by the providence of the   
uncreate1 unturning and unchanging ,god4
 ,else how could diverse elements have  
met1 for the consummation of a single   
world1 one with another1 and remained   
inseparable1 unless some almighty power 
had knit them together1 and still were  
keeping them from dissolution8  ',for   
how could anything have endured1 if it  
had not been his will8  or been         
preserved1 if not called by him8' as    
saith the ,scripture4  ,a ship holdeth  
not together without a steersman1 but   
easily foundereth2 and a small house    
shall not stand without a protector4    
,how then could the world have subsisted
 for long ages1 a work so great1 and so 
fair and wondrous1--without some        
glorious mighty and marvellous          

steersmanship and all-wise providence8  
,behold the heavens1 how long they have 
stood1 and have not been darkened3 and  
the earth hath not been exhausted1      
though she hath been bearing offspring  
so long4  ,the water-springs have not   
failed to gush out since they were made4
  ,the sea1 that receiveth so many      
rivers1 hath not exceeded her measure4  
,the courses of ,sun and ,moon have not 
varied3 the order of day and night hath 
not changed4  ,from all these objects is
 declared unto us the unspeakable power 
and magnificence of ,god1 witnessed by  
,prophets and ,apostles4  ,but no man   
can fitly conceive or sound forth his   
glory4  ,for the holy ,apostle1 that had
 ,christ speaking within him1 after     
perceiving all objects of thought and   
sense1 still said1 ',we know in part1   
and we prophesy in part4  ,but when that
 which is perfect is come1 then that    
which is in part shall be done away4'   
,wherefore also1 astonied at the        
infinite riches of his wisdom and       

knowledge1 he cried for all to          
understand1 ',o the depth of the riches 
both of the wisdom and knowledge of     
,god6  how unsearchable are his         
judgments1 and his ways past finding    
out6'  ,now1 if he1 that attained unto  
the third heaven and heard such         
unspeakable words1 uttered such         
sentences1 what man of my sort shall    
have strength to look eye to eye upon   
the abysses of such mysteries1 or speak 
rightly thereof1 or think meetly of the 
things whereof we speak1 unless the very
 giver of wisdom1 and the amender of the
 unwise1 vouchsafe that power8  ,for in 
his hand are we and our words1 and all  
prudence and knowledge of wisdom is with
 him4  ,and he himself hath given us the
 true understanding of the things that  
are2 to know the structure of the world1
 the working of the elements1 the       
beginning1 end and middle of times1 the 
changes of the solstices1 the succession
 of seasons1 and how he hath ordered all
 things by measure and weight4  ,for he 

can shew his great strength at all      
times1 and who may withstand the power  
of his arm8  ,for the whole world before
 him is as a little grain of the        
balance1 yea1 as a drop of the morning  
dew that falleth down upon the earth4   
,but he hath mercy upon all2 for he can 
do all things1 and winketh at the sins  
of men1 because they should amend4  ,for
 he abhorreth nothing1 nor turneth away 
from them that run unto him1 he1 the    
only good ,lord and lover of souls4     
,blessed be the holy name of his glory1 
praised and exalted above all for ever6 
,amen4    ,,xviii4  ,ioasaph said unto  
him1 ,if thou hadst for a long time     
considered1 most wise ,sir1 how thou    
mightest best declare to me the         
explanation of the questions that ,i    
propounded1 methinks thou couldest not  
have done it better than by uttering    
such words as thou hast now spoken unto 
me4 ,thou hast taught me that ,god is   
the ,maker and preserver of all things2 
and in unanswerable language thou hast  

shown me that the glory of his majesty  
is incomprehensible to human reasonings1
 and that no man is able to attain      
thereto1 except those to whom1 by his   
behest1 he revealeth it4  ,wherefore am 
,i lost in amaze at thine eloquent      
wisdom4  ,but tell me1 good ,sir1 of    
what age thou art1 and in what manner of
 place is thy dwelling1 and who are thy 
fellow philosophers2 for my soul hangeth
 fast on thine1 and fain would ,i never 
be parted from thee all the days of my  
life4  ,the elder said1 ,mine age is1 as
 ,i reckon1 forty and five years1 and in
 the deserts of the land of ,senaar do  
,i dwell4  ,for my fellow combatants ,i 
have those who labour and contend       
together with me on the course of the   
heavenly journey4  ,what sayest thou8   
quoth ,ioasaph4  ,thou seemest to me    
upwards of seventy years old4  ,how     
speakest thou of forty and five8 ,herein
 methinks thou tellest not the truth4   
,barlaam said unto him1 ,if it be the   
number of years from my birth that thou 

askest1 thou hast well reckoned them at 
upwards of seventy4  ,but1 for myself1  
,i count not amongst the number of my   
days the years that ,i wasted in the    
vanity of the world4  ,when ,i lived to 
the flesh in the bondage of sin1 ,i was 
dead in the inner man2 and those years  
of deadness ,i can never call years of  
life4  ,but now the world hath been     
crucified to me1 and ,i to the world1   
and ,i have put off the old man1 which  
is corrupt according to the deceitful   
lusts1 and live no longer to the flesh1 
but ,christ liveth in me2 and the life  
that ,i live1 ,i live by the faith of   
the ,son of ,god1 who loved me and gave 
himself for me4 ,and the years1 that    
have passed since then1 ,i may rightly  
call years of life1 and days of         
salvation4  ,and in numbering these at  
about forty and five1 ,i reckoned by the
 true tale1 and not off the mark4  ,so  
do thou also alway hold by this         
reckoning2 and be sure that there is no 
true life for them that are dead to all 

good works1 and live in sin1 and serve  
the world-ruler of them that are dragged
 downward1 and waste their time in      
pleasures and lusts3 but rather be well 
assured that these are dead and defunct 
in the activity of life4  ,for a wise   
man hath fitly called sin the death of  
the immortal soul4  ,and the ,apostle   
also saith1 ',when ye were the servants 
of sin1 ye were free from righteousness4
  ,what fruit had ye then in those      
things whereof ye are now ashamed8  for 
the end of those things is death4  ,but 
now being made free from sin1 and become
 servants to ,god1 ye have your fruit   
unto holiness1 and the end everlasting  
life4  ,for the wages of sin is death1  
but the gift of ,god is eternal life4'  
,ioasaph said unto him1 ,since thou     
reckonest not the life in the flesh in  
the measure of life1 neither canst thou 
reckon that death1 which all men        
undergo1 as death4  ,the elder answered1
 ,without doubt thus think ,i of these  
matters also1 and fear this temporal    

death never a whit1 nor do ,i call it   
death at all1 if only it overtake me    
walking in the way of the commandments  
of ,god1 but rather a passage from death
 to the better and more perfect life1   
which is hid in ,christ1 in desire to   
obtain which the ,saints were impatient 
of the present4 ,wherefore saith the    
,apostle1 ',we know that if our earthly 
house of this tabernacle be dissolved1  
we have a building of ,god1 a house not 
made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4
  ,for in this we groan1 earnestly      
desiring to be clothed upon with our    
house which is from heaven3 if so be    
that being clothed we shall not be found
 naked4  ,for we that are in this       
tabernacle do groan1 being burdened3 not
 for that we would be unclothed1 but    
clothed upon1 that mortality might be   
swallowed up of life4'  ,and again1 ',o 
wretched man that ,i am6 who shall      
deliver me from the body of this death8'
  ,and once more1 ',i desire to depart  
and be with ,christ4'  ,and the prophet 

saith1 ',when shall ,i come and appear  
before the presence of ,god8'  ,now that
 ,i the least of all men1 choose not to 
fear bodily death1 thou mayest learn by 
this1 that ,i have set at nought thy    
father's threat1 and come boldly unto   
thee1 and have preached to thee the     
tidings of salvation1 though ,i knew for
 sure that1 if this came to his         
knowledge1 he would1 were that possible1
 put me to a thousand deaths4  ,but ,i1 
honouring the word of ,god afore all    
things1 and longing to win it1 dread not
 temporal death1 nor reek on it at all  
worthy of such an appellation1 in       
obedience to my ,lord's command1 which  
saith1 ',fear not them which kill the   
body1 but are not able to kill the soul3
 but rather fear him which is able to   
destroy both soul and body in hell4'    
,these then1 said ,ioasaph1 are the good
 deeds of that true philosophy1 that far
 surpass the nature of these earthly men
 who cleave fast to the present life4   
,blessed are ye that hold to so noble a 

purpose6  ,but tell me truly what is thy
 manner of life and that of thy         
companions in the desert1 and from      
whence cometh your raiment and of what  
sort may it be8  ,tell me as thou lovest
 truth4  ,said ,barlaam1 ,our sustenance
 consisteth of acorns and herbs that we 
find in the desert1 watered by the dew  
of heaven1 and in obedience to the      
,creator's command2 and for this there  
is none to fight and quarrel with us1   
seeking by the rule and law of          
covetousness to snatch more than his    
share1 but in abundance for all is food 
provided from unploughed lands1 and a   
ready table spread4  ,but1 should any of
 the faithful brethren in the           
neighbourhood bring a blessed dole of   
bread1 we receive it as sent by         
providence1 and bless the faith that    
brought it4  ,our raiment is of hair1   
sheepskins or shirts of palm fibre1 all 
thread-bare and much patched1 to mortify
 the frailty of the flesh4  ,we wear the
 same clothing winter and summer1 which1

 once put on1 we may on no account put  
off until it be old and quite outworn4  
,for by thus afflicting our bodies with 
the constraints of cold and heat we     
purvey for ourselves the vesture of our 
future robes of immortality4  ,ioasaph  
said1 ,but whence cometh this garment   
that thou wearest8 ,the elder answered1 
,i received it as a loan from one of our
 faithful brethren1 when about to make  
my journey unto thee2 for it behoved me 
not to arrive in mine ordinary dress4   
,if one had a beloved kinsman carried   
captive into a foreign land1 and wished 
to recover him thence1 one would lay    
aside one's own clothing1 and put on the
 guise of the enemy1 and pass into their
 country and by divers crafts deliver   
one's friend from that cruel tyranny4   
,even so ,i also1 having been made aware
 of thine estate1 clad myself in this   
dress1 and came to sow the seed of the  
divine message in thine heart1 and      
ransom thee from the slavery of the     
dread ruler of this world4  ,and now    

behold by the power of ,god1 as far as  
in me lay1 ,i have accomplished my      
ministry1 announcing to thee the        
knowledge of him1 and making known unto 
thee the preaching of the ,prophets and 
,apostles1 and teaching thee unerringly 
and soothly the vanity of the present   
life1 and the evils with which this     
world teems1 which cruelly deceiveth    
them that trust therein1 and taketh them
 in many a gin4  ,now must ,i return    
thither whence ,i came1 and thereupon   
doff this robe belonging to another1 and
 don mine own again4  ,ioasaph therefore
 begged the elder to shew himself in his
 wonted apparel4  ,then did ,barlaam    
strip off the mantle that he wore1 and  
lo1 a terrible sight met ,ioasaph's     
eyes3 for all the fashion of his flesh  
was wasted away1 and his skin blackened 
by the scorching sun1 and drawn tight   
over his bones like an hide stretched   
over thin canes4  ,and he wore an hair  
shirt1 stiff and rough1 from his loins  
to his knees1 and over his shoulders    

there hung a coat of like sort4  ,but   
,ioasaph1 being sore amazed at the      
hardship of his austere life1 and       
astonished at his excess of endurance1  
burst into tears1 and said to the elder1
 ,since thou art come to deliver me from
 the slavery of the devil1 crown thy    
good service to me1 and 'bring my soul  
out of prison1' and take me with thee1  
and let us go hence1 that ,i may be     
fully ransomed from this deceitful world
 and then receive the seal of saving    
,baptism1 and share with thee this thy  
marvellous philosophy1 and this more    
than human discipline4  ,but ,barlaam   
said unto him1 ,a certain rich man once 
reared the fawn of a gazelle2 which1    
when grown up1 was impelled by natural  
desire to long for the desert4  ,so on a
 day she went out and found an herd of  
gazelles browsing2 and1 joining them1   
she would roam through the glades of the
 forest1 returning at evenfall1 but     
issuing forth at dawn1 through the      
heedlessness of her keepers1 to herd    

with her wild companions4  ,when these  
removed1 to graze further afield1 she   
followed them4  ,but the rich man's     
servants1 when they learned thereof1    
mounted on horseback1 and gave chase1   
and caught the pet fawn1 and brought her
 home again1 and set her in captivity   
for the time to come4  ,but of the      
residue of the herd1 some they killed1  
and roughly handled others4  ,even so ,i
 fear that it may happen unto us also if
 thou follow me2 that ,i may be deprived
 of thy fellowship1 and bring many ills 
to my comrades1 and everlasting         
damnation to thy father4  ,but this is  
the will of the ,lord concerning time2  
thou now indeed must be signed with the 
seal of holy ,baptism1 and abide in this
 country1 cleaving to all righteousness1
 and the fulfilling of the commandments 
of ,christ2 but when the ,giver of all  
good things shall give thee opportunity1
 then shalt thou come to us1 and for the
 remainder of this present life we shall
 dwell together2 and ,i trust in the    

,lord also that in the world to come we 
shall not be parted asunder4  ,again    
,ioasaph1 in tears1 said unto him1 ,if  
this be the ,lord's pleasure1 his will  
be done6  ,for the rest1 perfect me in  
holy ,baptism4 ,then receive at my hands
 money and garments for the support and 
clothing both of thyself and thy        
companions1 and depart to the place of  
thy monastic life1 and the peace of ,god
 be thy guard6  ,but cease not to make  
supplications on my behalf1 that ,i may 
not fall away from my hope1 but may soon
 be able to reach thee1 and in peace    
profound may enjoy thy ministration4    
,barlaam answered1 ,nought forbiddeth   
thee to receive the seal of ,christ4    
,make thee ready now2 and1 the ,lord    
working with thee1 thou shalt be        
perfected4  ,but as concerning the money
 that thou didst promise to bestow on my
 companions1 how shall this be1 that    
thou1 a poor man1 shouldest give alms to
 the rich8  ,the rich always help the   
poor1 not the needy the wealthy4  ,and  

the least of all my comrades is         
incomparably richer than thou4  ,but ,i 
trust in the mercies of ,god that thou  
too shalt soon be passing rich as never 
afore3 and then thou wilt not be ready  
to distribute4  ,ioasaph said unto him1 
,make plain to me this saying2 how the  
least of all thy companions surpasseth  
me in riches--thou saidest but now that 
they lived in utter penury1 and were    
pinched by extreme poverty and why thou 
callest me a poor man1 but sayest that1 
when ,i shall be passing rich1 ,i1 who  
am ready to distribute1 shall be ready  
to distribute no more4  ,barlaam        
answered1 ,i said not that these men    
were pinched by poverty1 but that they  
plume themselves on their inexhaustible 
wealth4  ,for to be ever adding money to
 money1 and never to curb the passion   
for it1 but insatiably to covet more and
 more1 betokeneth the extreme of        
poverty4  ,but those who despise the    
present for love of the eternal and     
count it but dung1 if only they win     

,christ1 who have laid aside all care   
for meat and raiment and cast that care 
on the ,lord1 and rejoice in penury as  
no lover of the world could rejoice1    
were he rolling in riches1 who have laid
 up for themselves plenteously the      
riches of virtue1 and are fed by the    
hope of good things without end1 may    
more fitly be termed rich than thou1 or 
any other earthly kingdom4 ,but1 ,god   
working with thee1 thou shalt lay hold  
on such spiritual abundance that1 if    
thou keep it in safety and ever         
rightfully desire more1 thou shalt never
 wish to dispend any part of it4 ,this  
is true abundance3 but the mass of      
material riches will damage rather than 
benefit its friends4  ,meetly therefore 
called ,i it the extreme of poverty1    
which the lovers of heavenly blessings  
utterly renounce and eschew1 and flee   
from it1 as a man fleeth from an adder4 
,but if ,i take from thee and so bring  
back to life that foe1 whom my comrades 
in discipline and battle have slain and 

trampled under foot1 and carry him back 
to them1 and so be the occasion of wars 
and lusts1 then shall ,i verily be unto 
them an evil angel1 which heaven        
forfend6  ,let the same1 ,i pray thee1  
be thy thoughts about raiment4  ,as for 
them that have put off the corruption of
 the old man1 and1 as far as possible1  
cast away the robe of disobedience1 and 
put on ,christ as a coat of salvation   
and garment of gladness1 how shall ,i   
again clothe these in their coats of    
hide1 and gird them about with the      
covering of shame8  ,but be assured that
 my companions have no need of such     
things1 but are content with their hard 
life in the desert1 and reckon it the   
truest luxury2 and bestow thou on the   
poor the money and garments which thou  
promisedst to give unto our monks1 and  
lay up for thyself1 for the time to     
come1 treasure that cannot be stolen1   
and by the orisons of these poor folk   
make ,god thine ally2 for thus shalt    
thou employ thy riches as an help toward

 noble things4  ,then also put on the   
whole armour of the ,spirit1 having thy 
loins girt about with truth1 and having 
on the breast-plate of righteousness1   
and wearing the helmet of salvation1 and
 having thy feet shod with the          
preparation of the gospel of peace1 and 
taking in thine hands the shield of     
faith1 and the sword of the spirit1     
which is the word of ,god4  ,and1 being 
thus excellently armed and guarded on   
every side1 in this confidence go forth 
to the warfare against ungodliness1     
until1 this put to flight1 and its      
prince1 the devil1 dashed headlong to   
the earth1 thou be adorned with the     
crowns of victory from the right hand of
 thy master1 the ,lord of life4         
,,xix4  ,with such like doctrines and   
saving words did ,barlaam instruct the  
king's son1 and fit him for holy        
,baptism1 charging him to fast and pray1
 according to custom1 several days3 and 
he ceased not to resort unto him1       
teaching him every article of the       

,catholick ,faith and expounding him the
 holy ,gospel4  ,moreover he interpreted
 the ,apostolick exhortations and the   
sayings of the ,prophets3 for1 taught of
 ,god1 ,barlaam had alway ready on his  
lips the ,old and ,new ,scripture2 and1 
being stirred by the ,spirit1 he        
enlightened his young disciple to see   
the true knowledge of ,god4 ,but on the 
day1 whereon the prince should be       
baptized1 he taught him1 saying1 ,behold
 thou art moved to receive the seal of  
,christ1 and be signed with the light of
 the countenance of the ,lord3 and thou 
becomest a son of ,god1 and temple of   
the ,holy ,ghost1 the giver of life4    
,believe thou therefore in the ,father1 
and in the ,son1 and in the ,holy       
,ghost1 the holy and life-giving        
,trinity1 glorified in three persons and
 one ,godhead1 different indeed in      
persons and personal properties1 but    
united in substance2 acknowledging one  
,god unbegotten1 the ,father2 and one   
begotten ,lord1 the ,son1 light of      

light1 very ,god of very ,god1 begotten 
before all worlds2 for of the good      
,father is begotten the good ,son1 and  
of the unbegotten light shone forth the 
everlasting light2 and from very life   
came forth the life-giving spring1 and  
from original might shone forth the     
might of the ,son1 who is the brightness
 of his glory and the ,word in          
personality1 who was in the beginning   
with ,god1 and ,god without beginning   
and without end1 by whom all things1    
visible and invisible1 were made3       
knowing also one ,holy ,ghost1 which    
proceedeth from the ,father1 perfect1   
life-giving and sanctifying ,god1 with  
the same will1 the same power1 coeternal
 and impersonate4  ,thus therefore      
worship thou the ,father1 and the ,son1 
and the ,holy ,ghost1 in three persons  
or properties and one ,godhead4  ,for   
the ,godhead is common of the three1 and
 one is their nature1 one their         
substance1 one their glory1 one their   
kingdom1 one their might1 one their     

authority2 but it is common of the ,son 
and of the ,holy ,ghost that they are of
 the ,father2 and it is proper of the   
,father that he is unbegotten1 and of   
the ,son that he is begotten1 and of the
 ,holy ,ghost that he proceedeth4  ,this
 therefore be thy belief2 but seek not  
to understand the manner of the         
generation or procession1 for it is     
incomprehensible4  ,in uprightness of   
heart and without question accept the   
truth that the ,father1 and the ,son1   
and the ,holy ,ghost1 are in all points 
one except in the being unbegotten1 and 
begotten1 and proceeding2 and that the  
only begotten ,son1 the ,word of ,god1  
and ,god1 for our salvation came down   
upon earth1 by the good pleasure of the 
,father1 and1 by the operation of the   
,holy ,ghost1 was conceived without seed
 in the womb of ,mary the holy ,virgin  
and ,mother of ,god1 by the ,holy       
,ghost1 and was born of her without     
defilement and was made perfect man and 
that he is perfect ,god and perfect man1

 being of two natures1 the ,godhead and 
the manhood1 and in two natures1 endowed
 with reason1 will1 activity1 and free  
will1 and in all points perfect         
according to the proper rule and law in 
either case1 that is in the ,godhead and
 the manhood1 and in one united person4 
,and do thou receive these things       
without question1 never seeking to know 
the manner1 how the ,son of ,god emptied
 himself1 and was made man of the blood 
of the ,virgin1 without seed and without
 defilement2 or what is this meeting in 
one person of two natures4  ,for by     
faith we are taught to hold fast those  
things that have been divinely taught us
 out of ,holy ,scripture2 but of the    
manner we are ignorant1 and cannot      
declare it4  ,believe thou that the ,son
 of ,god1 who1 of his tender mercy was  
made man1 took upon him all the         
affections that are natural to man1 and 
are blameless 7he hungered and thirsted 
and slept and was weary and endured     
agony in his human nature1 and for our  

transgressions was led to death1 was    
crucified and was buried1 and tasted of 
death1 his ,godhead continuing without  
suffering and without change2 for we    
attach no sufferings whatsoever to that 
nature which is free from suffering1 but
 we recognize him as suffering and      
buried in that nature which he assumed1 
and in his heavenly glory rising again  
from the dead1 and in immortality       
ascending into heaven72 and believe that
 he shall come again1 with glory1 to    
judge quick and dead1 and by the words  
which himself knoweth1 of that diviner  
body1 and to reward every man by his own
 just standards4  ,for the dead shall   
rise again1 and they that are in their  
graves shall awake3 and they that have  
kept the commandments of ,christ1 and   
have departed this life in the true     
faith shall inherit eternal life1 and   
they1 that have died in their sins1 and 
have turned aside from the right faith1 
shall go away into eternal punishment4  
,believe not that there is any true     

being or kingdom of evil1 nor suppose   
that it is without beginning1 or        
self-originate1 or born of ,god3 out on 
such an absurdity6  but believe rather  
that it is 'the work of us and the      
devil1 come upon us through our         
heedlessness1 because we were endowed   
with free-will1 and we make our choice1 
of deliberate purpose1 whether it be    
good or evil4  ,beside this1 acknowledge
 one ,baptism1 by water and the ,spirit1
 for the remission of sins4  ,receive   
also the ,communion of the spotless     
,mysteries of ,christ1 believing in     
truth that they are the ,body and ,blood
 of ,christ our ,god1 which he hath     
given unto the faithful for the         
remission of sins4  ,for in the same    
night in which he was betrayed he       
ordained a new testament with his holy  
disciples and ,apostles1 and through    
them for all that should believe on him1
 saying1 ',take1 eat3 this is my ,body1 
which is broken for you1 for the        
remission of sins4' ,after the same     

manner also he took the cup1 and gave   
unto them saying1 ',drink ye all of     
this3 this is my ,blood1 of the new     
testament1 which is shed for you for the
 remission of sins3 this do in          
remembrance of me4'  ,he then1 the ,word
 of ,god1 being quick and powerful1 and1
 working all things by his might1 maketh
 and transformeth1 through his divine   
operation1 the bread and wine of the    
oblation into his own ,body and ,blood1 
by the visitation of the ,holy ,ghost1  
for the sanctification and enlightenment
 of them that with desire partake       
thereof4  ,faithfully worship1 with     
honour and reverence1 the venerable     
likeness of the features of the ,lord1  
the ,word of ,god1 who for our sake was 
made man1 thinking to behold in the     
,image thy ,creator himself4  ',for the 
honour of the ,image1 saith one of the  
,saints1 passeth over to the original4' 
,the original is the thing imaged1 and  
from it cometh the derivation4  ,for    
when we see the drawing in the ,image1  

in our mind's eye we pass over to the   
true form of which it is an ,image1 and 
devoutly worship the form of him who for
 our sake was made flesh1 not making a  
god of it1 but saluting it as an image  
of ,god made flesh1 with desire and love
 of him who for us men emptied himself1 
and even took the form of a servant4    
,likewise also for this reason we salute
 the pictures of his undefiled ,mother1 
and of all the ,saints4  ,in the same   
spirit also faithfully worship and      
salute the emblem of the life-giving and
 venerable ,cross1 for the sake of him  
that hung thereon in the flesh1 for the 
salvation of our race1 ,christ the ,god 
and ,saviour of the world1 who gave it  
to us as the sign of victory over the   
devil2 for the devil trembleth and      
quaketh at the virtue thereof1 and      
endureth not to behold it4  ,in such    
doctrines and in such faith shalt thou  
be baptized1 keeping thy faith          
unwavering and pure of all heresy until 
thy latest breath4  ,but all teaching   

and every speech of doctrine contrary to
 this blameless faith abhor1 and        
consider it an alienation from ,god4    
,for1 as saith the ,apostle1 ',though   
we1 or an angel from heaven1 preach any 
other gospel unto you than that which we
 have preached unto you1 let him be     
accursed4'  ,for there is none other    
,gospel or none other ,faith than that  
which hath been preached by the         
,apostles1 and established by the       
inspired ,fathers at divers ,councils1  
and delivered to the ,catholick ,church4
  ,when ,barlaam had thus spoken1 and   
taught the king's son the ,creed which  
was set forth at the ,council of        
,nicaea1 he baptized him in the name of 
the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the
 ,holy ,ghost1 in the pool of water     
which was in his garden4  ,and there    
came upon him the grace of the ,holy    
,spirit4  ,then did ,barlaam come back  
to his chamber1 and offer the holy      
,mysteries of the unbloody ,sacrifice1  
and communicate him with the undefiled  

,mysteries of ,christ3 and ,ioasaph     
rejoiced in spirit1 giving thanks to    
,christ his ,god4  ,then said ,barlaam  
unto him1 ,blessed be the ,god and      
,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1    
which according to his abundant mercy   
hath begotten thee again unto a lively  
hope1 to an inheritance incorruptible   
and undefiled1 that fadeth not away1    
reserved in heaven in ,christ ,jesus our
 ,lord by the ,holy ,ghost2 for to-day  
thou hast been made free from sin1 and  
hast become the servant of ,god1 and    
hast received the earnest of everlasting
 life3 thou hast left darkness and put  
on light1 being enrolled in the glorious
 liberty of the children of ,god4  ,for 
he saith1 ',as many as received him1 to 
them gave he power to become the sons of
 ,god1 even to them that believe on his 
name4'  ,wherefore thou art no more a   
servant1 but a son and an heir of ,god  
through ,jesus ,christ in the ,holy     
,ghost4 ,wherefore1 beloved1 give       
diligence that thou mayest be found of  

him without spot and blameless1 working 
that which is good upon the foundation  
of faith3 for faith without works is    
dead1 as also are works without faith2  
even as ,i remember to have told thee   
afore4 ,put off therefore now all       
malice1 and hate all the works of the   
old man1 which are corrupt according to 
the deceitful lusts2 and1 as new-born   
babe1 desire to drink the reasonable and
 sincere milk of the virtues1 that thou 
mayest grow thereby1 and attain unto the
 knowledge of the commandments of the   
,son of ,god1 unto a perfect man1 unto  
the measure of the stature of the       
fulness of ,christ3 that thou mayest    
henceforth be no more a child in mind1  
tossed to and fro1 and carried about on 
the wild and raging waves of thy        
passions3 or rather in malice be a      
child1 but have thy mind settled and    
made steadfast toward that which is     
good1 and walk worthy of the vocation   
wherewith thou wast called1 in the      
keeping of the commandments of the      

,lord1 casting off and putting far from 
thee the vanity of thy former           
conversation1 henceforth walking not as 
the ,gentiles walk in the vanity of     
their mind1 having their understanding  
darkened1 alienated from the glory of   
,god1 in subjection to their lusts and  
unreasonable affections4  ,but as for   
thee1 even as thou hast approached the  
living and true ,god1 so walk thou as a 
child of light2 for the fruit of the    
,spirit is in all goodness and          
righteousness and truth2 and no longer  
destroy by the works of the old man the 
new man1 which thou hast to-day put on4 
,but day by day renew thyself in        
righteousness and holiness and truth3   
for this is possible with every man that
 willeth1 as thou hearest that unto them
 that believe on his name he hath given 
power to become the sons of ,god2 so    
that we can no longer say that the      
acquiring of virtues is impossible for  
us1 for the road is plain and easy4     
,for1 though with respect to the        

buffeting of the body1 it hath been     
called a strait and narrow way1 yet     
through the hope of future blessings is 
it desirable and divine for such as     
walk1 not as fools but circumspectly1   
understanding what the will of ,god is1 
clad in the whole armour of ,god to     
stand in battle against the wiles of the
 adversary1 and with all prayer and     
supplication watching thereunto1 in all 
patience and hope4 ,therefore1 even as  
thou hast heard from me1 and been       
instructed1 and hast laid a sure        
foundation1 do thou abound therein1     
increasing and advancing1 and warring   
the good warfare1 holding faith and a   
good conscience1 witnessed by good      
works1 following after righteousness1   
godliness1 faith1 charity1 patience1    
meekness1 laying hold on eternal life   
whereunto thou wast called4  ,but remove
 far from thee all pleasure and lust of 
the affections1 not only in act and     
operation1 but even in the thoughts of  
thine heart1 that thou mayest present   

thy soul without blemish to ,god4  ,for 
not our actions only1 but our thoughts  
also are recorded1 and procure us crowns
 or punishments3 and we know that       
,christ1 with the ,father and the ,holy 
,ghost1 dwelleth in pure hearts4 ,but1  
just as smoke driveth away bees1 so1 we 
learn1 do evil imaginations drive out of
 us the ,holy ,spirit's grace4          
,wherefore take good heed hereto1 that  
thou blot out every imagination of      
sinful passion from thy soul1 and plant 
good thoughts therein1 making thyself a 
temple of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,for from   
imaginations we come also to actual     
deeds1 and every work1 advancing from   
thought and reflection1 catcheth at     
small beginnings1 and then1 by small    
increases1 arriveth at great endings4   
,wherefore on no account suffer any evil
 habit to master thee2 but1 while it is 
yet young1 pluck the evil root out of   
thine heart1 lest it fasten on and      
strike root so deep that time and labour
 be required to uproot it4  ,and the    

reason that greater sins assault us and 
get the mastery of our souls is that    
those which appear to be less1 such as  
wicked thoughts1 unseemly words and evil
 communications1 fail to receive proper 
correction4  ,for as in the case of the 
body1 they that neglect small wounds    
often bring mortification and death upon
 themselves1 so too with the soul3 thus 
they that overlook little passions and  
sins bring on greater ones4  ,and the   
more those greater sins grow on them1   
the more cloth the soul become          
accustomed therto and think light of    
them4  ,for he saith1 ',when the wicked 
cometh to the depth of evil things1 he  
thinketh light of them'3 and finally1   
like the hog1 that delighteth to wallow 
in mire1 the soul1 that hath been buried
 in evil habits1 doth not even perceive 
the stink of her sin1 but rather        
delighteth and rejoiceth therein1       
cleaving to wickedness as it were good4 
,and even if at last she issue from the 
mire and come to herself again1 she is  

delivered only by much labour and sweat 
from the bondage of those sins1 to which
 she hath by evil custom enslaved       
herself4  ,wherefore with all thy might 
remove thyself far from every evil      
thought and fancy1 and every sinful     
custom2 and school thyself the rather in
 virtuous deeds1 and form the habit of  
practising them4  ,for if thou labour   
but a little therein1 and have strength 
to form the habit1 at the last1 ,god    
helping thee1 thou shalt advance without
 labour4  ,for the habit of virtue1     
taking its quality from the soul1 seeing
 that it hath some natural kinship      
therewith and claimeth ,god for an      
help-mate1 becometh hard to alter and   
exceeding strong2 as thou seest1 courage
 and prudence1 temperance and           
righteousness are hard to alter1 being  
deeply seated habits1 qualities and     
activities of the soul4  ,for if the    
evil affections1 not being natural to   
us1 but attacking us from without1 be   
hard to alter when they become habits1  

how much harder shall it be to shift    
virtue1 which hath been by nature       
planted in us by our ,maker1 and hath   
him for an help-mate1 if so be1 through 
our brief endeavour1 it shall have been 
rooted in habit in the soul8    ,,xx4   
,wherefore a practician of virtue once  
spake to me on this wise3 ',after ,i had
 made divine meditation my constant     
habit1 and through the practice of it my
 soul had received her right quality1 ,i
 once resolved to make trial of her1 and
 put a check upon her1 not allowing her 
to devote herself to her wonted         
exercises4  ,i felt that she was chafing
 and fretting1 and yearning for         
meditation with an ungovernable desire1 
and was utterly unable to incline to any
 contrary thought4  ,no sooner had ,i   
given her the reins than immediately she
 ran in hot haste to her own task1 as   
saith the ,prophet1 ',like as the hart  
desireth the water brooks1 so longeth my
 soul after the strong1 the living      
,god4' ,wherefore from all these proofs 

it is evident that the acquirement of   
virtue is within our reach1 and that we 
are lords over it1 whether we will      
embrace or else the rather choose sin4  
,they then1 that are in the thraldom of 
wickedness1 can hardly be torn away     
therefrom1 as ,i have already said4     
,but thou1 who hast been delivered      
therefrom1 through the tender mercy of  
our ,god1 and hast put on ,christ by the
 grace of the ,holy ,ghost1 now transfer
 thyself wholly to the ,lord's side1 and
 never open a door to thy passions1 but 
adorn thy soul with the sweet savour and
 splendour of virtue1 and make her a    
temple of the ,holy ,trinity1 and to his
 contemplation see thou devote all the  
powers of thy mind4  ,he that liveth and
 converseth with an earthly king is     
pointed out by all as a right happy man3
 what happiness then must be his who is 
privileged to converse and be in spirit 
with ,god6  ,behold thou then his       
likeness alway1 and converse with him4  
,how shalt thou converse with ,god8  ,by

 drawing near him in prayer and         
supplication4  ,he that prayeth with    
exceeding fervent desire and pure heart1
 his mind estranged from all that is    
earthly and grovelling1 and standeth    
before ,god1 eye to eye1 and presenteth 
his prayers to him in fear and          
trembling1 such an one hath converse and
 speaketh with him face to face4  ,our  
good ,master is present everywhere1     
hearkening to them that approach him in 
purity and truth1 as saith the ,prophet1
 ',the eyes of the ,lord are over the   
righteous1 and his ears are open unto   
their cry4' ,for this reason the        
,fathers define ,prayer as 'the union of
 man with ,god1' and call it ',angels'  
work1' and 'the prelude of gladness to  
come4'  ,for since they lay down before 
all things that 'the kingdom of heaven' 
consisteth in nearness to and           
contemplation of the ,holy ,trinity1 and
 since all the importunity of prayer    
leadeth the mind thither1 prayer is     
rightly called 'the prelude' and1 as it 

were1 the 'fore-glimpse' of that        
blessedness4 ,but not all prayer is of  
this nature1 but only such prayer as is 
worthy of the name1 which hath ,god for 
its teacher1 who giveth prayer to him   
that prayeth2 prayer which soareth above
 all things on earth and entreateth     
directly with ,god4  ,this acquire thou 
for thyself1 and strive to advance      
thereto1 for it is able to exalt thee   
from earth to heaven4  ,but without     
preparation and at hap-hazard thou shalt
 not advance therein4 ,but first purify 
thy soul from all passion1 and cleanse  
it like a bright and newly cleansed     
mirrour from every evil thought1 and    
banish far all remembrance of injury and
 anger1 which most of all hindereth our 
prayers from ascending to ,god-ward3 and
 from the heart forgive all those that  
have trespassed against thee1 and with  
alms and charities to the poor lend     
wings to thy prayer1 and so bring it    
before ,god with fervent tears4 ,thus   
praying thou shalt be able to say with  

blessed ,david1 who1 for all that he was
 king1 and distraught with ten thousand 
cares1 yet cleansed his soul from all   
passions1 and could say unto ,god1 ',as 
for iniquity1 ,i hate and abhor it1 but 
thy law do ,i love4  ,seven times a day 
do ,i praise thee1 because of thy       
righteous judgements4  ,my soul hath    
kept thy testimonies1 and loved them    
exceedingly4  ,let my complaint come    
before thee1 ,o ,lord3 give me          
understanding according to thy word4'   
,while thou art calling thus1 the ,lord 
hear thee3 while thou art yet speaking1 
he shall say1 ',behold ,i am here4'  ,if
 then thou attain to such prayer1       
blessed shalt thou be2 for it is        
impossible for a man praying and calling
 upon ,god with such purpose not to     
advance daily in that which is good1 and
 soar over all the snares of the enemy4 
,for1 as saith one of the ,saints1 ',he 
that hath made fervent his              
understanding1 and hath lift up his soul
 and migrated to heaven1 and hath thus  

called upon his ,master1 and remembered 
his own sins1 and spoken concerning the 
forgiveness of the same1 and with hot   
tears hath besought the ,lover of       
mankind to be merciful to him3 such an  
one1 ,i say1 by his continuance in such 
words and considerations1 layeth aside  
every care of this life1 and waxeth     
superior to human passions1 and meriteth
 to be called an associate of ,god4'    
,than which state what can be more      
blessed and higher8  ,may the ,lord     
vouchsafe thee to attain to this        
blessedness6  ,lo ,i have shown thee the
 way of the commandments of the ,lord1  
and have not shunned to declare unto    
thee all the counsel of ,god4 ,and now  
,i1 have fulfilled my ministry unto     
thee4  ,it remaineth that thou gird up  
the loins of thy mind1 obedient to the  
,holy ,one that hath called thee1 and be
 thou thyself holy in all manner of     
conversation3 for1 ',be ye holy3 for ,i 
am holy1' saith the ,lord4 ,and the     
chief prince of the ,apostles also      

writeth1 saying1 ',if ye call on the    
,father1 who without respect of persons 
judgeth according to every man's work1  
pass the time of your sojourning here in
 fear2 knowing that ye were not redeemed
 with corruptible things1 as silver and 
gold1 from your vain conversation       
received by tradition from your fathers1
 but with the precious blood of ,christ1
 as of a lamb without blemish and       
without spot4'  ,all these things       
therefore store thou up in thine heart1 
and remember them unceasingly1 ever     
keeping before thine eyes the fear of   
,god1 and his terrible judgement seat1  
and the splendour of the righteous which
 they shall receive in the world to     
come1 and the shame of sinners in the   
depths of darkness1 and the frailty and 
vanity of things present1 and the       
eternity of things hereafter2 for1 ',all
 flesh is grass1 and all the glory of   
man as the flower of grass4  ,the grass 
withereth1 and the flower thereof       
falleth away3 but the word of the ,lord 

endureth for ever4' ,meditate upon these
 things alway and the peace of ,god be  
with thee1 enlightening and informing   
thee1 and leading thee into the way of  
salvation1 chasing afar out of thy mind 
every evil wish1 and sealing thy soul   
with the sign of the ,cross1 that no    
stumbling block of the evil one come    
nigh thee1 but that thou mayest merit1  
in all fulness of virtue1 to obtain the 
kingdom that is to come1 without end or 
successor1 and be illumined with the    
light of the blessed life-giving        
,trinity1 which1 in the ,father1 and in 
the ,son1 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 is   
glorified4    ,,xxi4  ,with such moral  
words did the reverend elder exhort the 
king's son1 and then withdrew to his own
 hospice4  ,but the young prince's      
servants and tutors marvelled to see the
 frequency of ,barlaam's visits to the  
palace2 and one of the chiefest among   
them1 whom1 for his fidelity and        
prudence1 the king had set over his     
son's palace1 named ,zardan1 said to the

 prince1 ,thou knowest well1 sir1 how   
much ,i dread thy father1 and how great 
is my faith toward him3 wherefore he    
ordered me1 for my faithfulness1 to wait
 upon thee4  ,now1 when ,i see this     
stranger constantly conversing with     
thee1 ,i fear he may be of the          
,christian religion1 toward which thy   
father hath a deadly hate2 and ,i shall 
be found subject to the penalty of      
death4  ,either then make known to thy  
father this man's business1 or in future
 cease to converse with him4 ,else cast 
me forth from thy presence1 that ,i be  
not blameable1 and ask thy father to    
appoint another in my room4  ,the king's
 son said unto him1 ,this do1 ,zardan1  
first of all4 ,sit thou down behind the 
curtain1 and hear his communication with
 me3 and then thus will ,i tell thee    
what thou oughtest to do4  ,so when     
,barlaam was about to enter into his    
presence1 ,ioasaph hid ,zardan within   
the curtain1 and said to the elder1 ,sum
 me up the matter of thy divine         

teaching1 that it may the more firmly be
 implanted in my heart4  ,barlaam took  
up his parable and uttered many sayings 
touching ,god1 and righteousness toward 
him1 and how we must love him alone with
 all our heart1 and with all our soul1  
and with all our mind1 and keep his     
commandments with fear and love-and how 
he is the ,maker of all things visible  
and invisible4 ,thereon he called to    
remembrance the creation of the first   
man1 the command given unto him1 and his
 transgression thereof1 and the sentence
 pronounced by the ,creator for this    
transgression4 ,then he reckoned up in  
order the good things wherefrom we      
excluded ourselves by the disannulling  
of his commandment4 ,again he made      
mention of the many grievous misfortunes
 that unhappily overtook man1 after the 
loss of the blessings4  ,besides this he
 brought forward ,god's love toward     
mankind2 how our ,maker1 heedful of our 
salvation1 sent forth teachers and      
prophets proclaiming the ,incarnation of

 the ,only-begotten4  ,then he spake of 
the ,son1 his dwelling among men1 his   
deeds of kindness1 his miracles1 his    
sufferings for us thankless creatures1  
his ,cross1 his spear1 his voluntary    
death2 finally1 of our recovery and     
recall1 our return to our first good    
estate2 after this1 of the kingdom of   
heaven awaiting such as are worthy      
thereof2 of the torment in store for the
 wicked2 the fire that is not quenched1 
the never ending darkness1 the undying  
worm1 and all the other tortures which  
the slaves of sin have laid up in store 
for themselves4  ,when he had fully     
related these matters1 he ended his     
speech with moral instruction1 and dwelt
 much upon purity of life1 and utterly  
condemned the vanity of things present1 
and proved the utter misery of such as  
cleave thereto1 and finally made an end 
with prayer4 ,and therewith he prayed   
for the prince1 that he might hold fast 
the profession of the ,catholick ,faith 
without turning and without wavering1   

and keep his life blameless and his     
conversation pure1 and so ending with   
prayer again withdrew to his hospice4   
,but the king's son called ,zardan      
forth1 and1 to try his disposition1 said
 unto him1 ,thou hast heard what sort of
 discourses this babbler maketh me1     
endeavouring to be-jape me with his     
specious follies1 and rob me of this    
pleasing happiness and enjoyment1 to    
worship a strange ,god4 ,zardan         
answered1 ,why hath it pleased thee1 ,o 
prince1 to prove me that am thy servant8
 ,i wot that the words of that man have 
sunk deep into thine heart2 for1        
otherwise1 thou hadst not listened      
gladly and unceasingly to his words4    
,yea1 and we also are not ignorant of   
this preaching4 ,but from the time when 
thy father stirred up truceless warfare 
against the ,christians1 the men have   
been banished hence1 and their teaching 
is silenced4  ,but if now their doctrine
 commend itself unto thee1 and if thou  
have the strength to accept its         

austerity1 may thy wishes be guided     
straight toward the good6 ,but for      
myself1 what shall ,i do1 that am unable
 to bear the very sight of such         
austerity1 and through fear of the ,king
 am divided in soul with pain and       
anguish8 ,what excuse shall ,i make1 for
 neglecting his orders1 and giving this 
fellow access unto thee8  ,the ,king's  
son said unto him1 ,i knew full well    
that in none other wise could ,i requite
 thee worthily for thy much kindness1   
and therefore have ,i tasked myself to  
make known unto thee this more than     
human good1 which doth even exceed the  
worth of thy good service1 that thou    
mightest know to what end thou wast     
born1 and acknowledge thy ,creator1 and1
 leaving darkness1 run to the light4    
,and ,i hoped that when thou heardest   
thereof thou wouldst follow it with     
irresistible desire4  ,but1 as ,i       
perceive1 ,i am disappointed of my hope1
 seeing that thou art listless to that  
which hath been spoken4  ,but if thou   

reveal these secrets to the king my     
father1 thou shalt but distress his mind
 with sorrows and griefs4  ,if thou be  
well disposed to him1 on no account     
reveal this matter to him until a       
convenient season4  ,speaking thus1 he  
seemed to be only casting seed upon the 
water2 for wisdom shall not enter into a
 soul void of understanding4  ,upon the 
morrow came ,barlaam and spake of his   
departure3 but ,ioasaph1 unable to bear 
the separation1 was distressed at heart1
 and his eyes filled with tears4  ,the  
elder made a long discourse1 and adjured
 him to continue unshaken in good works1
 and with words of exhortation          
established his heart1 and begged him to
 send him cheerfully on his way2 and at 
the same time he foretold that they     
should shortly be at one1 never to be   
parted more4  ,but ,ioasaph1 unable to  
impose fresh labours on the elder1 and  
to restrain his desire to be on his way1
 and suspecting moreover that the man   
,zardan might make known his case to the

 ,king and subject him to punishment1   
said unto ,barlaam1 ,since it seemeth   
thee good1 my spiritual father1 best of 
teachers and minister of all good to me1
 to leave me to live in the vanity of   
the world1 while thou journeyest to thy 
place of spiritual rest1 ,i dare no     
longer let and hinder thee4  ,depart    
therefore1 with the peace of ,god for   
thy guardian1 and ever in thy worthy    
prayers1 for the ,lord's sake1 think    
upon my misery1 that ,i may be enabled  
to overtake thee1 and behold thine      
honoured face for ever4  ,but fulfil    
this my one request2 since thou couldest
 not receive aught for thy fellow monks1
 yet for thyself accept a little money  
for sustenance1 and a cloak to cover    
thee4  ,but ,barlaam answered and said  
unto him1 ,seeing that ,i would not     
receive aught for my brethren 7for they 
need not grasp at the world's chattels  
which they have chosen to forsake71 how 
shall ,i acquire for myself that which  
,i have denied them8  ,if the possession

 of money were a good thing1 ,i should  
have let them share it before me4  ,but1
 as ,i understand that the possession   
thereof is deadly1 ,i will hazard       
neither them nor myself in such snares4 
,but when ,ioasaph had failed once again
 to persuade ,barlaam1 'twas but a sign 
for a second petition1 and he made yet  
another request1 that ,barlaam should   
not altogether overlook his prayer1 nor 
plunge him in utter despair1 but should 
leave him that stiff shirt and rough    
mantle1 both to remind him of his       
teacher's austerities and to safe-guard 
him from all the workings of ,satan1 and
 should take from him another cloak     
instead1 in order that ,when thou seest 
my gift1 said he1 thou mayest bear my   
lowliness in remembrance4  ,but the     
elder said1 ,it is not lawful for me to 
give thee my old and worn out vestment1 
and take one that is new1 lest ,i be    
condemned to receive here the recompense
 of my slight labour4 ,but1 not to      
thwart thy willing mind1 let the        

garments given me by thee be old ones1  
nothing different from mine own4  ,so   
the king's son sought for old shirts of 
hair1 which he gave the aged man1       
rejoicing to receive his in exchange1   
deeming them beyond compare more        
precious than any regal purple4  ,now   
saintly ,barlaam1 all but ready for to  
start1 spake concerning his journey1 and
 delivered ,ioasaph his last lesson1    
saying1 ,brother beloved1 and dearest   
son1 whom ,i have begotten through the  
,gospel1 thou knowest of what ,king thou
 art the soldier1 and with whom thou    
hast made thy covenant4  ,this thou must
 keep steadfastly1 and readily perform  
the duties of thy service1 even as thou 
didst promise the ,lord of all in the   
script of thy covenant1 with the whole  
heavenly host present to attest it1 and 
record the terms2 which if thou keep1   
thou shalt be blessed4 ,esteem therefore
 nought in the present world above ,god 
and his blessings4  ,for what terror of 
this life can be so terrible as the     

,gehenna of eternal fire1 that burneth  
and yet hath no light1 that punisheth   
and never ceaseth8  ,and which of the   
goodly things of this world can give    
such gladness as that which the great   
,god giveth to those that love him8     
,whose beauty is unspeakable1 and power 
invincible1 and glory everlasting2 whose
 good things1 prepared for his friends1 
exceed beyond comparison all that is    
seen2 which eye hath not seen1 nor ear  
heard1 neither have entered into the    
heart of man3 whereof mayest thou be    
shown an inheritor1 preserved by the    
mighty hand of ,god6  ,here the king's  
son burst into tears of pain and        
vexation1 unable to bear the parting    
from a loving father and excellent      
teacher4 ,and who1 quoth he1 shall fill 
thy place1 ,o my father8  ,and whom like
 unto thee shall ,i find to be shepherd 
and guide of my soul's salvation8  ,what
 consolation may ,i find in my loss of  
thee8  ,behold thou hast brought me1 the
 wicked and rebellious servant1 back to 

,god1 and set me in the place of son and
 heir6 ,thou hast sought me that was    
lost and astray on the mountain1 a prey 
for every evil beast1 and folded me     
amongst the sheep that had never        
wandered4  ,thou hast shown me the      
direct road to truth1 bringing me out of
 darkness and the shadow of death1 and1 
changing the course of my feet from the 
slippery1 deadly1 crooked and winding   
pathway1 hast ministered to me great and
 marvellous blessings1 whereof speech   
would fail to recount the exceeding     
excellence4  ,great be the gifts that   
thou receivest at ,god's hand1 on       
account of me who am small6  ,and may   
the ,lord1 who in the rewards of his    
gifts alone overpasseth them that love  
him1 supply that which is lacking to my 
gratitude6  ,here ,barlaam cut short his
 lamentation1 and rose and stood up to  
pray1 lifting up his either hand1 and   
saying1 ,o ,god and ,father of our ,lord
 ,jesu ,christ1 which didst illuminate  
the things that once were darkened1 and 

bring this visible and invisible        
creation out of nothing1 and didst turn 
again this thine handiwork1 and         
sufferedst us not to walk after our     
foolishness1 we give thanks to thee and 
to thy ,wisdom and ,might1 our ,lord    
,jesu ,christ1 by whom thou didst make  
the worlds1 didst raise us from our     
fall1 didst forgive us our trespasses1  
didst restore us from wandering1 didst  
ransom us from captivity1 didst quicken 
us from death by the precious blood of  
thy ,son our ,lord4  ,upon thee ,i call1
 and upon thine only begotten ,son1 and 
upon the ,holy ,ghost4  ,look upon this 
thy spiritual sheep that hath come to be
 a sacrifice unto thee through me thine 
unworthy servant1 and do thou sanctify  
his soul with thy might and grace4      
,visit this vine1 which was planted by  
thy ,holy ,spirit1 and grant it to bear 
fruit1 the fruit of righteousness4      
,strengthen him1 and confirm in him thy 
covenant1 and rescue him from the deceit
 of the devil4  ,with the wisdom of thy 

good ,spirit teach him to do thy will1  
and take not thy succour from him1 but  
grant unto him1 with me thine           
unprofitable servant1 to become an      
inheritor of thine everlasting bliss1   
because thou art blessed and glorified  
for ever1 ,amen4  ,when that he had     
ended his prayer1 he turned him round   
and embraced ,ioasaph1 now a son of his 
heavenly father1 wishing him eternal    
peace and salvation1 and he departed out
 of the palace1 and went his way1       
rejoicing and giving thanks to ,god1 who
 had well ordered his steps for good4   
,,xxii4  ,after ,barlaam was gone forth1
 ,ioasaph gave himself unto prayer and  
bitter tears1 and said1 ,o ,god1 haste  
thee to help me3 ,o ,lord1 make speed to
 help me1 because the poor hath         
committed himself unto thee2 thou art   
the helper of the orphan4  ,look upon   
me1 and have mercy upon me2 thou who    
willest have all men to be saved and to 
come unto the knowledge of the truth1   
save me1 and strengthen me1 unworthy    

though ,i be1 to walk the way of thy    
holy commandments1 for ,i am weak and   
miserable1 and not able to do the thing 
that is good4  ,but thou art mighty to  
save me1 who sustainest and holdest     
together all things visible and         
invisible4 ,suffer me not to walk after 
the evil will of the flesh1 but teach me
 to do thy will1 and preserve me unto   
thine eternal and blissful life4  ,o    
,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 the    
consubstantial and undivided ,godhead1  
,i call upon thee and glorify thee4     
,thou art praised by all creation2 thou 
art glorified by the intelligent powers 
of the ,angels for ever and ever4       
,amen4  ,from that time forth he kept   
himself with all vigilance1 seeking to  
attain purity of soul and body1 and     
living in continency and prayers and    
intercessions all night long4  ,in the  
day-time he was often interrupted by the
 company of his fellows1 and at times by
 a visit from the king1 or a call to the
 king's presence1 but the night would   

then make good the shortcomings of the  
day1 whilst he stood1 in prayer and     
weeping until daybreak1 calling upon    
,god4 ,whence in him was fulfilled the  
saying of the prophet1 ,in nights raise 
your hands unto holy things2 and bless  
ye the ,lord4  ,but ,zardan observed    
,ioasaph's way of life1 and was full of 
sorrow1 and his soul was pierced with   
grievous anxieties2 and he knew not what
 to do4  ,at the last1 worn down with   
pain1 he withdrew to his own home1      
feigning sickness4  ,when this had come 
to the knowledge of the king he         
appointed in his place another of his   
trusty men to minister unto his son1    
while he himself1 being concerned for   
,zardan's health1 sent a physician of   
reputation1 and took great pains that he
 should be healed4  ,the physician1     
seeing that ,zardan was in favour with  
the king1 attended him diligently1 and1 
having right well judged his ease1 soon 
made this report to the king2 ,i have   
been unable to discover any root of     

disease in the man3 wherefore ,i suppose
 that this weakness is to be ascribed to
 distress of spirit4  ,but1 on hearing  
his words1 the king suspected that his  
son had been wroth with ,zardan1 and    
that this slight had caused his         
retirement4  ,so1 wishing to search the 
matter1 he sent ,zardan word1 saying    
,to-morrow ,i shall come to see thee1   
and judge of the malady that hath       
befallen thee4  ,but ,zardan1 on hearing
 this message1 at daybreak wrapt his    
cloak around him and went to the king1  
and entered and fell in obeisance on the
 ground4  ,the king spake unto him1 ,why
 hast thou forced thyself to appear8  ,i
 was minded to visit thee myself1 and so
 make known to all my friendship for    
thee4  ,he answered1 ,my sickness1 ,o   
king1 is no malady common to man2 but   
pain of heart1 arising from an anxious  
and careful mind1 hath caused my body to
 suffer in sympathy4  ,it had been folly
 in me1 being as ,i am1 not to attend as
 a slave before thy might1 but to wait  

for thy ,majesty to be troubled to come 
to me thy servant4  ,then the king      
enquired after the cause of his         
despondency2 ,zardan answered and said1 
,mighty is my peril1 and mighty are the 
penalties that ,i deserve1 and many     
deaths do ,i merit1 for that ,i have    
been guilty of neglect of thy behests1  
and have brought on thee such sorrow as 
never before4  ,again said the king1    
,and of what neglect hast thou been     
guilty8 ,and what is the dread that     
encompasseth thee8  ,i have been guilty1
 said he1 of negligence in my close care
 of my lord thy son4  ,there came an    
evil man and a sorcerer1 and            
communicated to him the precepts of the 
,christian religion4  ,then he related  
to the king1 point by point1 the words  
which the old man spake with his son1   
and how gladly ,ioasaph received his    
word1 and how he had altogether become  
,christ's4  ,moreover he gave the old   
man's name1 saying that it was ,barlaam4
  ,even before then the king had heard  

tell of ,barlaam's ways and his extreme 
severity of life2 but1 when this came to
 the ears of the king1 he was           
straightway astonied by the dismay that 
fell on him1 and was filled with anger1 
and his blood well-nigh curdled at the  
tidings4 ,immediately he bade call one  
,araches1 who held the second rank after
 the king1 and was the chief in all his 
private councils3 besides which the man 
was learned in star-lore4  ,when he was 
come1 with much despondency and         
dejection the king told him of that     
which had happened4  ,he1 seeing the    
king's trouble and confusion of mind1   
said1 ,o king1 trouble and distress     
thyself no more4  ,we are not without   
hope that the prince will yet change for
 the better3 nay1 ,i know for very      
certain that he will speedily renounce  
the teaching of this deceiver1 and      
conform to thy will4  ,by these words   
then did ,araches set the king in       
happier frame of mind2 and they turned  
their thoughts to the thorough sifting  

of the matter4 ,this1 ,o king1 said     
,araches1 do we first of all4 ,make we  
haste to apprehend that infamous        
,barlaam4  ,if we take him1 ,i am       
assured that we shall not miss the mark1
 nor be cheated of our hope4 ,barlaam   
himself shall be persuaded1 either by   
persuasion or by divers engines of      
torture1 against his will to confess    
that he hath been talking falsely and at
 random1 and shall persuade my lord1 thy
 son1 to cleave to his father's creed4  
,but if we fail to take ,barlaam1 ,i    
know of an eremite1 ,nachor by name1 in 
every way like unto him3 it is          
impossible to distinguish the one from  
the other4  ,he is of our opinion1 and  
was my teacher in studies4  ,i will give
 him the hint1 and go by night1 and tell
 him the full tale4  ,then will we      
blazon it abroad that ,barlaam hath been
 caught2 but we shall exhibit ,nachor1  
who1 calling himself ,barlaam1 shall    
feign that he is pleading the cause of  
the ,christians and standing forth as   

their champion4  ,then1 after much      
disputation1 he shall be worsted and    
utterly discomfited4 ,the prince1 seeing
 ,barlaam worsted1 and our side         
victorious1 will doubtless join the     
victors2 the more so that he counteth it
 a great duty to reverence thy majesty1 
and do thy pleasure4  ,also the man who 
hath played the part of ,barlaam shall  
be converted1 and stoutly proclaim that 
he hath been in error4  ,tim king was   
delighted with his words1 and rocked    
himself on idle hopes1 and thought it   
excellent counsel4  ,thereupon1 learning
 that ,barlaam was but lately departed1 
he was zealous to take him prisoner4 ,he
 therefore occupied most of the passes  
with troops and captains1 and1 himself1 
mounting his chariot1 gave furious chase
 along the one road of which he was     
especially suspicious1 being minded to  
surprise ,barlaam at all costs4  ,but   
though he toiled by the space of six    
full days1 his labour was but spent in  
vain4  ,then he himself remained behind 

in one of his palaces situate in the    
country1 but sent forward ,araches1 with
 horsemen not a few1 as far as the      
wilderness of ,senaar1 in quest of      
,barlaam4  ,when ,araches arrived in    
that place1 he threw all the neighbour  
folk into commotion3 and when they      
constantly affirmed that they had never 
seen the man1 he went forth into the    
desert places1 for to hunt out the      
,faithful4  ,when he had gone through a 
great tract of desert1 and made the     
circuit of the fells around1 and        
journeyed a-foot over untrodden and     
pathless ravines1 he and his hosts      
arrived at a plateau4  ,standing        
thereon1 he descried at the foot of the 
mountain a company of hermits a-walking4
 ,straightway at their governor's word  
of command all his men ran upon them in 
breathless haste1 vying one with        
another1 who should arrive first4  ,when
 they arrived1 they came about the monks
 like so many dogs1 or evil beasts that 
plague mankind4  ,and they seized these 

men of reverend mien and mind1 that bore
 on their faces the hall-mark of their  
hermit life1 and haled them before the  
governor2 but the monks showed no sign  
of alarm1 no sign of meanness or        
sullenness1 and spake never a word4     
,their leader and captain bore a wallet 
of hair1 charged with the relics of some
 holy ,fathers departed this life4      
,when ,araches beheld them1 but saw no  
,barlaam--for he knew him by sight--he  
was overwhelmed with grief1 and said    
unto them1 ,where is that deceiver who  
hath led the king's son astray8  ,the   
bearer of the wallet answered1 ,he is   
not amongst us1 ,god forbid6 ,for1      
driven forth by the grace of ,christ1 he
 avoideth us2 but amongst you he hath   
his dwelling4  ,the governor said1 ,thou
 knowest him then8  ,yea1 said the      
hermit1 ,i know him that is called the  
deceiver1 which is the devil1 who       
dwelleth in your midst and is worshipped
 and served by you4 ,the governor said1 
,it is for ,barlaam that ,i make search1

 and ,i asked thee of him1 to learn     
where he is4  ,the monk answered1 ,and  
wherefore then spakest thou in this     
ambiguous manner1 asking about him that 
had deceived the king's son8  ,if thou  
wast seeking ,barlaam1 thou shouldest   
certainly have said1 ',where is he that 
hath turned from error and saved the    
king's son8'  ,barlaam is our brother   
and fellow-monk4  ,but now for many days
 past we have not seen his face4  ,said 
,araches1 ,show me his abode4  ,the monk
 answered1 ,had he wished to see you1 he
 would have come forth to meet you4 ,as 
for us1 it is not lawful to make known  
to you his hermitage4  ,thereupon the   
governor waxed full of indignation1 and1
 casting a haughty and savage glance    
upon him1 said1 ,ye shall die no        
ordinary death1 except ye immediately   
bring ,barlaam before me4 ,what1 said   
the monk1 seest thou in our case that   
should by its attractions cause us to   
cling to life1 and be afraid of death at
 thy hands8  ,whereas we should the     

rather feel grateful to thee for        
removing us from life in the close      
adherence to virtue4  ,for we dread1 not
 a little1 the uncertainty of the end1  
knowing not in what state death shall   
overtake us1 lest perchance a slip of   
the inclination1 or some despiteful     
dealing of the devil1 may alter the     
constancy of our choice1 and            
mis-persuade us to think or do contrary 
to our covenants with ,god4 ,wherefore  
abandon all hope of gaining the         
knowledge that ye desire1 and shrink not
 to work your will4  ,we shall neither  
reveal the dwelling-place of our        
brother1 whom ,god loveth1 although we  
know it1 nor shall we betray any other  
monasteries unbeknown to ye4  ,we will  
not endure to escape death by such      
cowardice4  ,nay1 liefer would we die   
honourably1 and offer unto ,god1 after  
the sweats of virtue1 the life-blood of 
courage4  ,that man of sin could not    
brook this boldness of speech1 and was  
moved to the keenest passion against    

this high and noble spirit1 and         
afflicted the monks with many stripes   
and tortures4  ,their courage and       
nobility won admiration even from that  
tyrant4  ,but1 when after many          
punishments he failed to persuade them1 
and none of them consented to discover  
,barlaam1 he took and ordered them to be
 led to the king1 bearing with them the 
wallet with the relics1 and to be beaten
 and shamefully entreated as they went4 
,,xxiii4  ,after many days ,araches     
brought them to the king1 and declared  
their case4  ,then he set them before   
the bitterly incensed king3 and he1 when
 he saw them1 boiled over with fury and 
was like to one mad4  ,he ordered them  
to be beaten without mercy1 and1 when he
 saw them cruelly mangled with scourges1
 could scarcely restrain his madness1   
and order the tormentors to cease4      
,then said he unto them1 ,why bear ye   
about these dead men's bones8 ,if ye    
carry these bones through affection for 
those men to whom they belong1 this very

 hour ,i will set you in their company1 
that ye may meet your lost friends and  
be duly grateful to me4  ,the captain   
and leader of that godly band1 setting  
at naught the king's threats1 showing no
 sign of the torment that he had        
undergone1 with free voice and radiant  
countenance that signified the grace    
that dwelt in his soul1 cried out1 ,we  
carry about these clean and holy bones1 
,o king1 because we attest in due form  
our love of those marvellous men to whom
 they belong3 and because we would bring
 ourselves to remember their wrestlings 
and lovely conversation1 to rouse up    
ourselves to the like zeal2 and because 
we would catch some vision of the rest  
and felicity wherein they now live1 and 
thus1 as we call them blessed1 and      
provoke one another to emulate them1    
strive to follow in their footsteps3    
because moreover1 we find thereby that  
the thought of death1 which is right    
profitable1 lendeth wings of zeal to our
 religious exercises2 and lastly1       

because we derive sanctification from   
their touch4  ,again said the king1 ,if 
the thought of death be profitable1 as  
ye say1 why should ye not reach that    
thought of death by the bones of the    
bodies that are now your own1 and are   
soon to perish1 rather than by the bones
 of other men which have already        
perished8  ,the monk said1 ,five reasons
 ,i gave thee1 why we carry about these 
relics2 and thou1 making answer to one  
only1 art like to be mocking us4 ,but   
know thou well that the bones of them1  
that have already departed this life1   
bring the thought of death more vividly 
before us than do the bones of the      
living4  ,but since thou judgest        
otherwise1 and since the bones of thine 
own body are to thee a type of death1   
why dost thou not recollect thy latter  
end so shortly to come1 and set thine   
house in order1 instead of giving up thy
 soul to all kinds of iniquities1 and   
violently and unmercifully murdering the
 servants of ,god and lovers of         

righteousness1 who have done thee no    
wrong1 and seek not to share with thee  
in present goods1 nor are ambitious to  
rob thee of them8  ,said the king1 ,i do
 well to punish you1 ye clever          
misleaders of the folk1 because ye      
deceive all men1 counselling them to    
abstain from the enjoyments of life2 and
 because1 instead of the sweets of life 
and the allures of appetite and         
pleasure1 ye constrain them to choose   
the rough1 filthy and squalid way1 and  
preach that they should render to ,jesus
 the honour due unto the gods4          
,accordingly1 in order that the people  
may not follow your deceits and leave   
the land desolate1 and1 forsaking the   
gods of their fathers1 serve another1 ,i
 think it just to subject you to        
punishment and death4  ,the monk        
answered1 ,if thou art eager that all   
should partake of the good things of    
life1 why dost thou not distribute      
dainties and riches equally amongst all8
  ,and why is it that the common herd   

are pinched with poverty1 while thou    
addest ever to thy store by seizing for 
thyself the goods of others8  ,nay1 thou
 carest not for the weal of the many1   
but fattenest thine own flesh1 to be    
meat for the worms to feed on4          
,wherefore also thou hast denied the    
,god of all1 and called them gods that  
are not1 the inventors of all           
wickedness1 in order that1 by wantonness
 and wickedness after their example1    
thou mayest gain the title of imitator  
of the gods4  ,for1 as your gods have   
done1 why should not also the men that  
follow them do8  ,great then is the     
error that thou hast erred1 ,o king4    
,thou fearest that we should persuade   
certain of the people to join with us1  
and revolt from thy hand1 and place     
themselves in that hand that holdeth all
 things1 for thou willest the ministers 
of thy covetousness to be many1 that    
they may be miserable while thou reapest
 profit from their toil2 just as a man1 
who keepeth hounds or falcons tamed for 

hunting1 before the hunt may be seen to 
pet them1 but1 when they have once      
seized the quarry1 taketh the game with 
violence out of their mouths4  ,so also 
thou1 willing that there should be many 
to pay thee tribute and toll from land  
and water1 pretendest to care for their 
welfare1 but in truth bringest on them  
and above all on thyself eternal ruin2  
and simply to pile up gold1 more        
worthless than dung or rottenness1 thou 
hast been deluded into taking darkness  
for light4  ,but recover thy wits from  
this earthly sleep3 open thy sealed     
eyes1 and behold the glory of ,god that 
shineth round about us all2 and come at 
length to thyself4 ,for saith the       
prophet1 ',take heed1 ye unwise among   
the people1 and1 ,o ye fools1 understand
 at last4'  ,understand thou that there 
is no ,god except our ,god1 and no      
salvation except in him4  ,but the king 
said1 ,cease this foolish babbling1 and 
anon discover to me ,barlaam3 else shalt
 thou taste instruments of torture such 

as thou hast never tasted before4  ,that
 noble-minded1 great-hearted monk1 that 
lover of the heavenly philosophy1 was   
not moved by the king's threats1 but    
stood unflinching1 and said1 ,we are not
 commanded to fulfil thy hest1 ,o king1 
but the orders of our ,lord and ,god who
 teacheth us temperance1 that we should 
be lords over all pleasures and         
passions1 and practise fortitude1 so as 
to endure all toil and all ill-treatment
 for righteousness' sake4  ,the more    
perils that thou subjectest us to for   
the sake of our religion1 the more shalt
 thou be our benefactor4 ,do therefore  
as thou wilt3 for we shall not consent  
to do aught outside our duty1 nor shall 
we surrender ourselves to sin4  ,deem   
not that it is a slight sin to betray a 
fellow-combatant and fellow-soldier into
 thy hands4 ,nay1 but thou shalt not    
have that scoff to make at us2 no1 not  
if thou put us to ten thousand deaths4  
,we be not such cowards as to betray our
 religion through dread of thy torments1

 or to disgrace the law divine4  ,so    
then1 if such be thy purpose1 make ready
 every weapon to defend thy claim2 for  
to us to live is ,christ1 and to die for
 him is the best gain4  ,incensed with  
anger thereat1 the monarch ordered the  
tongues of these ,confessors to be      
rooted out1 and their eyes digged out1  
and likewise their hands and feet lopped
 off4  ,sentence passed1 the henchmen   
and guards surrounded and mutilated     
them1 without pity and without ruth4    
,and they plucked out their tongues from
 their mouths with prongs1 and severed  
them with brutal severity1 and they     
digged out their eyes with iron claws1  
and stretched their arms and legs on the
 rack1 and lopped them off4  ,but those 
blessed1 shamefast1 noble-hearted men   
went bravely to torture like guests to a
 banquet1 exhorting one another to meet 
death for ,christ his sake undaunted4   
,in such divers tortures did these holy 
monks lay down their lives for the      
,lord4  ,they were in all seventeen4    

,by common consent1 the pious mind is   
superior to sufferings1 as hath been    
said by one1 but not of us1 when        
narrating the martydom of the aged      
priest1 and of the seven sons with their
 equally brave mother when contending   
for the law of their fathers3 whose     
bravery and lofty spirit1 however1 was  
equalled by these marvellous fathers and
 citizens and heirs of ,hierusalem that 
is above4    ,,xxiv4  ,after the monks  
had made this godly end1 the king bade  
,araches1 his chief councillor1 now that
 they had failed of their first plan1 to
 look to the second and summon the man  
,nachor4  ,at dead of night ,araches    
repaired to his cave 7he dwelt in the   
desert practising the arts of           
divination71 and told him of their      
plans1 and returned to the king at      
day-break4  ,again he demanded horsemen1
 and made as though he went in quest of 
,barlaam4  ,when he was gone forth1 and 
was walking the desert1 a man was seen  
to issue from a ravine4  ,araches gave  

command to his men to pursue him4  ,they
 took and brought him before their      
master4  ,when asked who he was1 what   
his religion and what his name1 the man 
declared himself a ,christian and gave  
his name as ,barlaam1 even as he had    
been instructed4  ,araches made great   
show of joy1 apprehended him and        
returned quickly to the king1 and told  
his tale and produced his man4 ,then    
said the king in the hearing of all     
present1 ,art thou the devil's workman1 
,barlaam8  ,but he denied it1 saying1 ,i
 am ,god's workman1 not the devil's4    
,revile me not2 for ,i am thy debtor to 
render me much thanks1 because ,i have  
taught thy son to serve ,god1 and have  
turned him from error to the true ,god1 
and have schooled him in all manner of  
virtue4  ,feigning anger1 again spake   
the king1 ,though ,i ought to allow thee
 never a word1 and give thee no room for
 defence1 but rather do thee to death   
without question1 yet such is my        
humanity that ,i will bear with thine   

effrontery until on a set day ,i try thy
 cause4  ,if thou be persuaded by me1   
thou shalt receive pardon3 if not1 thou 
shalt die the death4  ,with these words 
he delivered him to ,araches1 commanding
 that he should be most strictly        
guarded4  ,on the morrow the king       
removed thence1 and came back to his own
 palace1 and it was blazoned abroad that
 ,barlaam was captured1 so that the     
king's son heard thereof and was        
exceeding sad at heart1 and could in no 
wise refrain from weeping4  ,with groans
 and lamentations he importuned ,god1   
and called upon him to succour the aged 
man4  ,nor did the good ,god despise his
 complaint1 for he is loving with them  
that abide him in the day of trouble1   
and knoweth them that fear him4         
,wherefore in a night-vision he made    
known the whole plot to the young       
prince1 and strengthened and cheered him
 for the trial of his righteousness4    
,so1 when the prince awoke from sleep1  
he found that his heart1 erstwhile so   

sore and heavy1 was now full of         
joyaunce1 courage and pleasant light4   
,but the king rejoiced at that which he 
had done and planned1 imagining that he 
was well advised1 and showering thanks  
on ,araches4  ,but wickedness lied to   
itself1 to use the words of holy ,david1
 and righteousness overcame iniquity1   
completely overthrowing it1 and causing 
the memorial thereof to perish with     
sound1 as our tale in its sequel shall  
show4  ,after two days the king visited 
his son's palace4  ,when his son came   
forth for to meet him1 instead of       
kissing him1 as was his wont1 the father
 put on a show of distress and anger1   
and entered the royal chamber1 and there
 sat down frowning4  ,then calling to   
his son1 he said1 ,child1 what is this  
report that soundeth in mine ears1 and  
weareth away my soul with despondency8  
,never1 ,i ween1 was man more filled    
with gladness of heart at the birth of a
 son than was ,i at thine2 and1 ,i trow1
 never was man so distressed and cruelly

 treated by child as ,i have now been by
 thee4  ,thou hast dishonoured my grey  
hairs1 and taken away the light of mine 
eyes1 and loosed the strength of my     
sinews2 'for the thing which ,i greatly 
feared concerning thee is come upon me1 
and that which ,i was afraid of hath    
come unto me4'  ,thou art become a joy  
to mine enemies1 and a laughing-stock to
 mine adversaries4 ,with untutored mind 
and childish judgement thou hast        
followed the teaching of the deceivers  
and esteemed the counsel of the         
malicious above mine2 thou hast forsaken
 the worship of our gods and become the 
servant of a strange ,god4 ,child1      
wherefore hast thou done this8  ,i hoped
 to bring thee up in all safety1 and    
have thee for the staff and support of  
mine old age1 and leave thee1 as is most
 meet1 to succeed me in my kingdom1 but 
thou wast not ashamed to play against me
 the part of a relentless foe4  ,and    
shouldst thou not rather have listened  
to me1 and followed my injunctions1 than

 have obeyed the idle and foolish       
pratings of that crafty old knave1 who  
taught thee to choose a sour life       
instead of a sweet1 and abandon the     
charms of dalliance1 to tread the hard  
and rough road1 which the ,son of ,mary 
ordereth men to go8 ,dost thou not fear 
the displeasure of the most puissant    
gods1 lest they strike thee with        
lightning1 or quell thee with           
thunderbolt1 or overwhelm thee in the   
yawning earth1 because thou hast        
rejected and scorned those deities that 
have so richly blessed us1 and adorned  
our brow with the kingly diadem1 and    
made populous nations to be our         
servants1 that1 beyond my hope1 in      
answer to my prayer and supplication1   
allowed thee to be born1 and see the    
sweet life of day1 and hast joined      
thyself unto the ,crucified1 duped by   
the hopes of his servants who tell thee 
fables of worlds to come1 and drivel    
about the resurrection of dead bodies1  
and bring in a thousand more absurdities

 to catch fools8  ,but now1 dearest son1
 if thou hast any regard for me thy     
father1 bid a long farewell to these    
longwinded follies1 and come sacrifice  
to the gracious gods1 and let us        
propitiate them with hecatombs and      
drink-offerings1 that they may grant    
thee pardon for thy fall2 for they be   
able and strong to bless and to punish4 
,and wouldst thou have an example of    
that which ,i say8  ,behold us1 who by  
them have been advanced to this honour1 
repaying them for their kindness by     
honouring their worshippers and         
chastising the runagates4  ,now when the
 king had ended all this idle parleying1
 gainsaying and slandering of our       
religion1 and belauding and praising of 
his idolatry1 the saintly young prince  
saw that the matter needed no further to
 be hid in a corner1 but to be lighted  
and made plain to the eyes of all2 and1 
full of boldness and courage1 he said3  
,that which ,i have done1 sir1 ,i will  
not deny4  ,i have fled from darkness   

and run to the light3 ,i have left error
 and joined the household of truth3 ,i  
have deserted the service of devils1 and
 joined the service of ,christ1 the ,son
 and ,word of ,god the ,father1 at whose
 decree the world was brought out of    
nothing2 who1 after forming man out of  
clay1 breathed into him the breath of   
life1 and set him to live in a paradise 
of delight1 and1 when he had broken his 
commandment and was become subject unto 
death1 and had fallen into the power of 
the dread ruler of this world1 did not  
fail him1 but wrought diligently to     
bring him back to his former honour4    
,wherefore he1 the framer of all        
,creation and maker of our race1 became 
man for our sake1 and1 coming from a    
holy ,virgin's womb2 on earth conversed 
with men3 for us ungrateful servants did
 the master endure death1 even the death
 of the ,cross1 that the tyranny of sin 
might be destroyed1 that the former     
condemnation might be abolished1 that   
the gates of heaven might be open to us 

again4  ,thither he hath exalted our    
nature1 and set it on the throne of     
glory1 and granted to them that love him
 an everlasting kingdom and joys beyond 
all that tongue can tell1 or ear can    
hear4  ,he is the mighty and only       
potentate1 ,king of kings and ,lord of  
lords1 whose might is invincible1 and   
whose lordship is beyond compare1 who   
only is holy and dwelleth in holiness1  
who with the ,father and with the ,holy 
,ghost is glorified2 into this faith ,i 
have been baptized4  ,and ,i acknowledge
 and glorify and worship ,one ,god in   
,three persons1 of one substance1 and   
not to be confounded1 increate and      
immortal1 eternal1 infinite1 boundless1 
without body1 without passions1         
immutable1 unchangeable1 undefinable1   
the fountain of goodness1 righteousness 
and everlasting light1 maker of all     
things visible and invisible1 containing
 and sustaining all things1 provident   
for all1 ruler and ,king of all4        
,without him was there nothing made1 nor

 without his providence can aught       
subsist4  ,he is the life of all1 the   
support of all1 the light of all1 being 
wholly sweetness and insatiable desire1 
the summit of aspiration4  ,to leave    
,god1 then1 who is so good1 so wise1 so 
mighty1 and to serve impure devils1     
makers of all sinful lusts1 and to      
assign worship to deaf and dumb images1 
that are not1 and never shall be1 were  
not that the extreme of folly and       
madness8  ,when was there ever heard    
utterance or language from their lips8  
,when have they given even the smallest 
answer to their bedesmen8  ,when have   
they walked1 or received any impression 
of sense8  ,those of them that stand    
have never thought of sitting down2 and 
those that sit have never been seen to  
rise4  ,from an holy man have ,i learned
 the ugliness1 ill savour and           
insensibility of these idols1 and1      
moreover1 the rottenness and weakness of
 the devils that operate in them and by 
them deceive you2 and ,i loathe their   

wickednesses and1 hating them with a    
perfect hatred1 have joined myself to   
the living and true ,god1 and him will  
,i serve until my latest breath1 that my
 spirit also may return into his hands4 
,when these unspeakable blessings came  
in my path ,i rejoiced to be freed from 
the bondage of evil devils1 and to be   
reclaimed from dire captivity and to be 
illumined with the light of the         
countenance of the ,lord4  ,but my soul 
was distressed and divided asunder1 that
 thou1 my lord and father1 didst not    
share in my blessings4 ,yet ,i feared   
the stubbornness of thy mind1 and kept  
my grief to myself1 not wishing to anger
 thee2 but1 without ceasing1 ,i prayed  
,god to draw thee to himself1 and call  
thee back from the long exile that thou 
hast imposed upon thyself1 a runagate   
alas6  from righteousness1 and a servant
 of all sin and wickedness4  ,but sith  
thou thyself1 ,o my father1 hast brought
 mine affairs to light1 hear the sum of 
my resolve3 ,i will not be false to my  

covenant with ,christ2 no1 ,i swear it  
by him that bought me out of slavery    
with his own precious blood2 even if ,i 
must needs die a thousand deaths for his
 sake1 die ,i will4  ,knowing then how  
matters now stand with me1 prithee1 no  
longer trouble thyself in endeavouring  
to persuade me to change my good        
confession4  ,for as it were a thankless
 and never ending task for thee to try  
to grasp the heavens with thy hand1 or  
to dry up the waters of the sea1 so hard
 were it for thee to change me4  ,either
 then now listen to my counsel1 and join
 the household of ,christ1 and so thou  
shalt gain blessings past man's         
understanding1 and we shall be fellows  
with one another by faith1 even as by   
nature2 or else1 be well assured1 ,i    
shall depart thy sonship1 and serve my  
,god with a clear conscience4  ,now when
 the king heard all these words1 he was 
furiously enraged3 and1 seized with     
ungovernable anger1 he cried out        
wrathfully against him1 and gnashed his 

teeth fiercely1 like any madman4  ,and  
who1 said he1 is blameable for all my   
misfortunes but myself1 who have dealt  
with thee so kindly1 and cared for thee 
as no father before8  ,hence the        
perversity and contrariness of thy mind1
 gathering strength by the licence that 
,i gave thee1 hath made thy madness to  
fall upon mine own pate4  ,rightly      
prophesied the astrologers in thy       
nativity that thou shouldest prove a    
knave and villain1 an impostor and      
rebellious son4 ,but now1 if thou wilt  
make void my counsel1 and cease to be my
 son1 ,i will become thine enemy1 and   
entreat thee worse than ever man yet    
entreated his foes4  ,again said        
,ioasaph1 ,why1 ,o king1 hast thou been 
kindled to wrath8  ,art thou grieved    
that ,i have gained such bliss8  ,why1  
what father was ever seen to be         
sorrowful in the prosperity of his son8 
,would not such an one be called an     
enemy rather than a father8  ,therefore 
will ,i no more call thee my father1 but

 will withdraw from thee1 as a man      
fleeth from a snake1 if ,i know that    
thou grudgest me my salvation1 and with 
violent hand forcest me to destruction4 
,if thou wilt force me1 and play the    
tyrant1 as thou hast threatened1 be     
assured that thou shalt gain nought     
thereby save to exchange the name of    
father for that of tyrant and murderer4 
,it were easier for thee to attain to   
the ways ,of the eagle1 and1 like him1  
cleave the air1 than to alter my loyalty
 to ,christ1 and that good confession   
that ,i have confessed in him4  ,but be 
wise1 ,o my father1 and shake off the   
rheum and mist from the eyes of thy     
mind1 lift them aloft and look upward to
 view the light of my ,god that         
enlighteneth all around1 and be thyself1
 at last1 enlightened with this light   
most sweet4  ,why art thou wholly given 
up to the passions and desires of the   
flesh1 and why is there no looking      
upward8  ,know thou that all flesh is   
grass and all the glory of man as the   

flower of grass4 ,the grass withereth1  
and the flower thereof falleth away2 but
 the word of my ,lord1 which by the     
gospel is preached unto all1 shall      
endure for ever4  ,why then dost thou   
thus madly cling to and embrace that    
glory1 which1 like spring flowers1      
fadeth and perisheth1 and to beastly    
unsavoury wantonness1 and to the        
abominable passions of the belly and the
 members thereunder1 which for a season 
please the senses of fools1 but         
afterwards make returns more bitter than
 gall1 when the shadows and dreams of   
this vain life are passed away1 and the 
lovers thereof1 and workers of iniquity 
are imprisoned in the perpetual pain of 
dark and unquenchable fire1 where the   
worm that sleepeth not gnaweth for ever1
 and where the fire burneth without     
ceasing and without quenching through   
endless ages8  ,and with these sinners  
alas6 thou too shalt be imprisoned and  
grievously tormented1 and shalt bitterly
 rue thy wicked counsels1 and bitterly  

regret thy days that now are1 and think 
upon my words1 but there shall be no    
advantage in repentance2 for in death   
there is no confession and repentance4  
,but the present is the set time for    
work3 the future for reward4  ,even if  
the pleasures of the present world were 
not evanescent and fleeting1 but were to
 endure for ever with their owners1 not 
even thus should any man choose them    
before the gifts of ,christ1 and the    
good things that pass man's             
understanding4 ,soothly1 as the sun     
surpasseth in radiance and brightness   
the dead of night1 even so1 and much    
more so1 doth the happiness promised to 
those that love ,god excel in glory and 
magnificence all earthly kinship and    
glory2 and there is utter need for a man
 to choose the more excellent before the
 more worthless4  ,and forasmuch as     
everything here is fleeting and subject 
to decay1 and passeth and vanisheth as a
 dream1 and as a shadow and vision of   
sleep2 and as one may sooner trust the  

unstable breezes1 or the tracks of a    
ship passing over the waves1 than the   
prosperity of men1 what simplicity1 nay1
 what folly and madness it is to choose 
the corruptible and perishable1 the weak
 things of no worth1 rather than the    
incorruptible and everlasting1 the      
imperishable and endless1 and1 by the   
temporal enjoyment of these things1 to  
forfeit the eternal fruition of the     
happiness to come6 ,wilt thou not       
understand this1 my father8  ,wilt thou 
not haste past the things which haste   
pass thee1 and attach thyself to that   
which endureth8  ,wilt thou not prefer a
 home land to a foreign land1 light to  
darkness1 the spirit to the flesh1      
eternal life to the shadow of death1 the
 indestructible to the fleeting8  ,wilt 
thou not escape from the grievous       
bondage of the cruel prince of this     
world1 ,i mean the evil one1 the devil1 
and become the servant of the good1     
tenderhearted1 and all merciful ,lord8  
,wilt thou not break away from serving  

thy many gods1 falsely so called1 and   
serve the one1 true and living ,god8    
,though thou hast sinned against him    
often times by blaspheming him1 and     
often times by slaying his servants with
 dread torments1 yet1 ,i know well1 that
 if thou turn again1 he shall in his    
kindness receive thee1 and no more      
remember thine offences3 because he     
willeth not the death of a sinner but   
rather that he may turn and live--he1   
who came down from the unspeakable      
heights1 to seek us that had gone       
astray3 who endured for us ,cross1      
scourge and death3 who bought with his  
precious blood us who had been sold in  
bondage under sin4  ,unto him be glory  
and praise for ever and ever6 ,amen4    
,the king was overwhelmed with          
astonishment and anger2 with            
astonishment1 at his son's wisdom and   
unanswerable words2 with anger1 at the  
persistence with which he denounced his 
father's gods1 and mocked and ridiculed 
the whole tenour of his life4  ,he could

 not admit the glory of his discourse   
because of the grossness of the darkness
 within1 but natural affection forbad   
him to punish his son1 or evilly to     
entreat him1 and he utterly despaired of
 moving him by threats4 ,fearing then   
that1 if he argued further with him1 his
 son's boldness and bitter satire of the
 gods might kindle him to hotter anger1 
and lead him to do him a mischief1 he   
arose in wrath and withdrew4  ,would    
that thou hadst never been born1 he     
cried1 nor hadst come to the light of   
day1 destined as thou weft to be such an
 one1 a blasphemer of the gods1 and a   
renegade from thy father's love and     
admonition4  ,but thou shalt not alway  
mock the invincible gods1 nor shall     
their enemies rejoice for long1 nor     
shall these knavish sorceries prevail4  
,for except thou become obedient unto   
me1 and right-minded toward the gods1 ,i
 will first deliver time to sundry      
tortures1 and then put thee to the      
cruellest death1 dealing with thee not  

as with a son1 but as with an enemy and 
rebel4    ,,xxv4  ,in such wise did the 
father threaten and wrathfully retire4  
,but the son entered his own bedchamber1
 and lifted up his eyes to the proper   
judge of his cause1 and cried out of the
 depth of his heart1 ,o ,lord my ,god1  
my sweet hope and unerring promise1 the 
sure refuge of them that are wholly     
given up to thee1 with gracious and     
kindly eye look upon the contrition of  
my heart1 and leave me not1 neither     
forsake me4  ,but1 according to thine   
unerring pledge1 be thou with me1 thine 
unworthy and sorry servant4  ,thee ,i   
acknowledge and confess1 the maker and  
provider of all creation4  ,therefore do
 thou thyself enable me to continue in  
this good confession1 until my dying    
breath3 look upon me1 and pity me2 and  
stand by and keep me unhurt by any      
working of ,satan4 ,look upon me1 ,o    
,king3 for my heart is enkindled with   
longing after thee1 and is parched as   
with burning thirst in the desert1      

desiring thee1 the well of immortality4 
,deliver not to the wild beasts my soul 
that confesseth thee3 forget not the    
soul of the poor for ever2 but grant me 
that am a sinner throughout my length of
 days to suffer all things for thy      
name's sake and in the confession of    
thee1 and to sacrifice my whole self    
unto thee4 ,for1 with thy might working 
in them1 even the feeble shall wax      
exceeding strong2 for thou only art the 
unconquerable ally and merciful ,god1   
whom all creation blesseth1 glorified   
for ever and ever4  ,amen4  ,when he had
 thus prayed1 he felt divine comfort    
stealing over his heart1 and1 fulfilled 
with courage1 he spent the whole night  
in prayer4 ,meanwhile the king communed 
with ,araches1 his friend1 as touching  
his son's matters1 and signified to him 
his son's sheer audacity and            
unchangeable resolution4  ,araches gave 
counsel that he should1 in his dealings 
with him1 show the utmost kindness and  
courtesy1 in the hope1 perchance1 of    

alluring him by flattering attentions4  
,the day following1 the king came to his
 son1 and sat down1 and called him to   
his side4  ,he embraced and kissed him  
affectionately1 coaxing him gently and  
tenderly1 and said1 ,o my darling and   
well-beloved son1 honour thou thy       
father's grey hairs3 listen to my       
entreaty1 and come1 do sacrifice to the 
gods2 thus shalt thou win their favour1 
and receive at their hands length of    
days1 and the enjoyment of all glory and
 of an undisputed kingdom1 and happiness
 of every sort4  ,thus shalt thou be    
well pleasing to me thy father          
throughout life and be honoured and     
lauded of all men4  ,it is a great count
 in the score of praise to be obedient  
to thy father1 especially in a good     
cause1 and to gain the goodwill of the  
gods4  ,what thinkest thou1 my son8  ,is
 it that ,i have willingly declined from
 the right1 and chosen to travel on the 
wrong road3 or that1 from ignorance and 
inexperience of the good1 ,i have given 

myself to destruction8 ,well1 if thou   
thinkest that ,i willingly prefer the   
evil to the profitable1 and choose death
 before life1 thou seemest to me1 son1  
completely to have missed the goal in   
judging4 ,dost thou not see to what     
discomfort and trouble ,i often expose  
myself in mine expeditions against my   
foes1 or when ,i am engaged in divers   
other business for the public good1 not 
sparing myself even hunger and thirst1  
if need be1 the march on foot1 or the   
couch on the ground8  ,as for riches and
 money1 such is my contempt and scorn   
thereof1 that ,i have at times          
ungrudgingly lavished all the stores of 
my palace1 to build mighty temples for  
the gods1 and to adorn them with all    
manner of splendour1 or else to         
distribute liberal largess to my        
soldiers4 ,possessing then1 as ,i also  
do1 this contempt of pleasure and this  
courage in danger1 what zeal would ,i   
not have devoted to contemning all else1
 and winning my salvation1 had ,i only  

found that the religion of the          
,galileans were better than mine own8   
,but1 if thou condemnest me for         
ignorance and inexperience of the good1 
consider how many sleepless nights ,i   
have spent1 with some problem before me1
 oft-times no very important one1 giving
 myself no rest until ,i had found the  
clear and most apt solution4  ,seeing   
then that ,i reckon that not even the   
least of these temporal concerns is     
unworthy of thought until all be fitly  
completed for the advantage of all and  
seeing that all 7,i ween7 bear me       
witness that no man under the sun can   
search out secrets with more diligence  
than ,i1 how then could ,i have         
considered divine things1 that call for 
worship and serious consideration1      
unworthy of thought1 and not rather have
 devoted all my zeal and might1 all my  
mind and soul to the investigation      
thereof1 to find out the right and the  
true8  ,aye1 and ,i have laboriously    
sought thereafter4  ,many nights and    

days have ,i spent thus3 many wise and  
learned men have ,i called to my        
council2 and with many of them that are 
called ,christians have ,i conversed4   
,by untiring enquiry and ardent search  
,i have discovered the pathway of truth1
 witnessed by wise men honoured for     
their intelligence and wit1--that there 
is none other faith than ours4  ,this is
 the path that we tread to-day1         
worshipping the most puissant gods1 and 
holding fast to that sweet and          
delightsome life1 given by them to all  
men1 fulfilled with all manner of       
pleasure and gladness of heart1 which   
the leaders and priests of the          
,galileans have in their folly rejected2
 so that1 in hope of some other         
uncertain life1 they have readily cast  
away this sweet light1 and all those    
pleasures which the gods have bestowed  
on us for enjoyment1 and all the while  
know not what they say1 nor whereof they
 confidently affirm4  ,but thou1 dearest
 son1 obey thy father1 who1 by diligent 

and honest search1 hath found the real  
good4  ,lo1 ,i have shown thee that1    
neither willingly1 ,i no1 nor by way of 
ignorance1 have ,i failed of the good1  
but rather that ,i have found and laid  
hold thereon4  ,and ,i earnestly desire 
that thou too shouldest not wander as a 
fool1 but shouldest follow me4  ,have   
respect then unto thy father4  ,dost    
thou not know how lovely a thing it is  
to obey one's father1 and please him in 
all ways8 ,contrariwise1 how deadly and 
cursed a thing it is to provoke a father
 and despise his commands8  ,as many as 
have done so1 have come to a miserable  
end4  ,but be not thou1 my son1 one of  
their number4  ,rather do that which is 
well pleasing to thy sire1 and so mayest
 thou obtain all happiness and inherit  
my blessing and my kingdom6  ,the       
high-minded and noble youth listened to 
his father's windy discourse and foolish
 opposition1 and recognized therein the 
devices of the crooked serpent1 and how 
standing at his right hand he had       

prepared a snare for his feet1 and was  
scheming how to overthrow his righteous 
soul1 and hinder him of the prize laid  
up in store4  ,therefore the prince set 
before his eyes the commandment of the  
,lord1 which saith1 ,i came not to send 
peace1 but strife and a sword4  ,for ,i 
am come to set a man at variance against
 his father1 and a daughter against her 
mother1 and so forth2 and ,he that      
loveth father or mother more than me is 
not worthy of me2 and ,whosoever shall  
deny me before men1 him will ,i also    
deny before my ,father which is in      
heaven4  ,when he had considered these  
things1 and fettered his soul with      
divine fear1 and strengthened it with   
longing desire and love1 right          
opportunely he remembered the saying of 
,solomon1 ,there is a time to love1 and 
a time to hate2 a time of war1 and a    
time of peace4 ,first of all he prayed  
in silence1 and said1 ,have mercy of me1
 ,lord ,god1 have mercy of me2 for my   
soul trusteth in thee2 and under the    

shadow of thy wings ,i shall hope till  
wickedness overpass4  ,i shall cry to   
the highest ,god2 to ,god that did well 
to me1 and the rest of the psalm4  ,then
 said ,ioasaph to the king1 ,to honour  
one's father1 and to obey his commands1 
and to serve him with good will and     
affection is taught us by the ,lord of  
us all1 who hath implanted in our hearts
 this natural affection4  ,but1 when    
loving devotion to our parents bringeth 
our soul into peril1 and separateth her 
from her ,maker1 then we are commanded1 
at all costs1 to cut it out1 and1 on no 
account1 to yield to them that would    
depart us from ,god1 but to hate and    
avoid them1 even if it be our father    
that issueth the abominable command1 or 
our mother1 or our king1 or the master  
of our very life4  ,wherefore it is     
impossible for me1 out of devotion to my
 father1 to forfeit ,god4  ,so1 prithee1
 trouble not thyself1 nor me3 but be    
persuaded1 and let us both serve the    
true and living ,god1 for the objects of

 thy present worship are idols1 the     
works of men's hands1 devoid of breath1 
and deaf1 and give nought but           
destruction and eternal punishment to   
their worshippers4  ,but if this be not 
thy pleasure1 deal with me even as thou 
wilt3 for ,i am a servant of ,christ1   
and neither flatteries nor torments     
shall separate me from his love1 as ,i  
told thee yesterday1 swearing it by my  
,master's name1 and confirming the word 
with surest oath4  ,but1 whereas thou   
saidest that thou didst neither wilfully
 do wrong1 nor didst fail of the mark   
through ignorance1 but after much       
laborious enquiry hadst ascertained that
 it was truly a good thing to worship   
idols and to be riveted to the pleasures
 of the passions--that thou art wilfully
 a wrong doer1 ,i may not say4  ,but    
this ,i know full well1 and would have  
thee know1 ,o my father1 that thou art  
surrounded with a dense mist of         
ignorance1 and1 walking in darkness that
 may be felt1 seest not even one small  

glimmer of light4  ,wherefore thou hast 
lost the right pathway1 and wanderest   
over terrible cliffs and chasms4        
,holding darkness for light1 and        
clinging to death as it were life1 thou 
deemest that thou art well advised1 and 
hast reflected to good effect3 but it is
 not so1 not so4  ,the objects of thy   
veneration are not gods but statues of  
devils1 charged with all their filthy   
power2 nor is the life1 which thou      
pronouncest sweet and pleasant1 and     
thinkest to be full of delight and      
gladness of heart1 such in kind3 but the
 same is abominable1 according to the   
word of truth1 and to be abhorred4  ,for
 for a time it sweeteneth and tickleth  
the gullet1 but afterwards it maketh the
 risings more bitter than gall 7as said 
my teacher71 and is sharper than any    
two-edged sword4  ,how shall ,i describe
 to thee the evils of this life8  ,i    
will tell them1 and they shall be more  
in number than the sand4  ,for such life
 is the fishhook of the devil1 baited   

with beastly pleasure1 whereby he       
deceiveth and draggeth his prey into the
 depth of hell4  ,whereas the good      
things1 promised by my ,master1 which   
thou callest 'the hope of some other    
uncertain life1' are true and           
unchangeable2 they know no end1 and are 
not subject to decay4  ,there is no     
language that can declare the greatness 
of yonder glory and delight1 of the joy 
unspeakable1 and the everlasting        
gladness4  ,as thou thyself seest1 we   
all die2 and there is no man that shall 
live and not see death4  ,but one day we
 shall all rise again1 when our ,lord   
,jesus ,christ shall come1 the ,son of  
,god1 in unspeakable glory and dread    
power1 the only ,king of kings1 and     
,lord of lords2 to whom every knee shall
 bow1 of things in heaven1 and things in
 earth1 and things under the earth4     
,such terror shall he then inspire that 
the very powers of heaven shall be      
shaken3 and before him there shall stand
 in fear thousand thousands1 and ten    

thousand times ten thousand of ,angels  
and ,archangels1 and the whole world    
shall be full of fear and terror4  ,for 
one of the ,archangels shall sound with 
the trump of ,god1 and immediately the  
heavens shall be rolled together as a   
scroll2 and the earth shall be rent1 and
 shall give up the dead bodies of all   
men that ever were since the first man  
,adam until that day4  ,and then shall  
all men that have died since the        
beginning of the world in the twinkling 
of an eye stand alive before the        
judgement seat of the immortal ,lord1   
and every man shall give account of his 
deeds4  ,then shall the righteous shine 
forth as the sun2 they that believed in 
the ,father1 ,son and ,holy ,ghost1 and 
ended this present life in good works4  
,and how can ,i describe to thee the    
glory that shall receive them at that   
day8 ,for though ,i compare their       
brightness and beauty to the light of   
the sun or to the brightest lightning   
flash1 yet should ,i fail to do justice 

to their brightness4 ,eye hath not seen1
 nor ear heard1 neither have entered    
into the heart of man1 the things which 
,god hath prepared for them that love   
him1 in the kingdom of heaven1 in the   
light which no man can approach unto1 in
 his unspeakable and unending glory4    
,such joys and such bliss shall the     
righteous obtain1 but they that have    
denied the only true ,god and not known 
their ,maker and ,creator1 but have     
worshipped foul devils1 and rendered    
homage to dumb idols1 and loved the     
pleasures of this vain world1 and1 like 
swine1 wallowed in the mire of sinful   
lusts1 and made their lives a           
headquarters for all wickedness1 shall  
stand naked and laid bare1 downright    
ashamed and downcast1 pitiable in       
appearance and in fact1 set forth for a 
reproach to all creation4  ,all their   
life in word1 deed and thought shall    
come before their faces4 ,then1 after   
this bitter disgrace and unbearable     
reproach1 shall they be sentenced to the

 unquenchable and light-less fire of    
,gehenna1 unto the outer darkness1 the  
gnashing of teeth and the venomous worm4
  ,this is their portion1 this their    
lot1 in the which they shall dwell      
together in punishment for endless ages1
 because they rejected the good things  
offered them in promise1 and1 for the   
sake of the pleasure of sin for a       
season1 made choice of eternal          
punishment4 ,for these reasons--to      
obtain that unspeakable bliss1 to enjoy 
that ineffable glory1 to equal the      
,angels in splendour1 and to stand with 
boldness before the good and most       
sweetest ,lord1 to escape those bitter  
and unending punishments and that       
galling shame--time after time1 were it 
not worth men's while to sacrifice their
 riches and bodies1 nay1 even their very
 lives8  ,who is so cowardly1 who so    
foolish1 as not to endure a thousand    
temporal deaths1 to escape eternal and  
everlasting death1 and to inherit life1 
blissful and imperishable1 and to shine 

in the light of the blessed and         
life-giving ,trinity8    ,,xxvi4  ,when 
the king heard these words1 and saw the 
steadfastness1 and unbuxomness of his   
son1 who yielded neither to flattery1   
nor persuasion1 nor threat1 he marvelled
 indeed at the persuasiveness of his    
speech and his irrefutable answers1 and 
was convicted by his own conscience     
secretly assuring him that ,ioasaph     
spake truly and aright4 ,but he was     
dragged back by his evil habit and      
passions1 which1 from long use1 had     
taken firm grip on him1 and held him in 
as with bit and bridle1 and suffered him
 not to behold the light of truth4  ,so 
he left no stone unturned1 as the saying
 is1 and adhered to his old purpose1    
determining to put into action the plot 
which he and ,araches had between them  
devised4  ,said he to his son1          
,although1 child1 thou oughtest in all  
points simply to give in to my commands1
 yet1 because thou art stubborn and     
disobedient1 and hast thus stiffly      

opposed me1 insisting that thine own    
opinion should prevail over all1 bid we 
now farewell to vain insistance1 and let
 persuasion be now our policy4 ,and1    
forasmuch as ,barlaam1 thy deceiver1 is 
here1 my prisoner in iron chains1 ,i    
will make a great assembly1 and summon  
all our people and your ,galileans1 to  
one place2 and ,i will charge heralds to
 proclaim expressly that none of the    
,christians shall fear1 but that all    
shall muster without dread2 and we will 
hold debate together4  ,if your side    
win1 then shall ye and your ,barlaam    
gain your desires2 but if ye lose1 then 
shall ye with right good will yield     
yourselves to my commands4  ,but this   
truly wise and prudent youth1           
forewarned1 by the heavenly vision sent 
him1 of his father's mischief1 replied1 
,the ,lord's will be done6  ,be it      
according to thy command6  ,may our good
 ,god and ,lord himself vouchsafe that  
we wander not from the right way1 for my
 soul trusteth in him1 and he shall be  

merciful unto me4  ,there and then did  
the king command all1 whether idolaters 
or ,christians1 to assemble4 ,letters   
were despatched in all quarters3 heralds
 proclaimed it in every village town    
that no ,christian need fear any secret 
surprise1 but all might come together   
without fear1 as friends and kindred1   
for the honest and unrestrained enquiry 
that should be held with their chief and
 captain1 ,barlaam4  ,in like manner    
also he summoned the initiate and the   
temple-keepers of his idols1 and wise   
men of the ,chaldeans and ,indians that 
were in all his kingdom1 beside certain 
augurs1 sorcerers and seers1 that they  
might get the better of the ,christians4
  ,then were there gathered together    
multitudes that held his loathly        
religion2 but of the ,christians was    
there found one only that came to the   
help of the supposed ,barlaam4  ,his    
name was ,barachias4  ,for of the       
,faithful1 some were dead1 having fallen
 victims to the fury of the governors of

 the cities2 and some were hiding in    
mountains and dens1 in dread of the     
terrors hanging over them2 while others 
had feared the threats of the king1 and 
durst not adventure themselves into the 
light of day1 but were worshippers by   
night1 serving ,christ in secret1 and in
 no wise boldly confessing him4  ,so    
noble-hearted ,barachias came alone to  
the contest1 to help and champion the   
truth4  ,the king sat down before all on
 a doom-stool high and exalted1 and bade
 his son sit beside him4  ,he1 in       
reverence and awe of his father1        
consented not thereto1 but sat near him 
on the ground4 ,there stood the learned 
in the wisdom which ,god hath made      
foolish1 whose unwise hearts had gone   
astray1 as saith the ,apostle2 for1     
professing themselves to be wise1 they  
became fools1 and changed the glory of  
the uncorruptible ,god into an image    
made like to corruptible man1 and       
four-footed beasts1 and creeping things4
  ,these were assembled for to join     

argument with the king's son and his    
fellows1 and on them was fulfilled the  
proverb1 ,gazelle against lion4  ,the   
one made the most ,high his house of    
defence1 and his hope was under the     
shadow of his wings2 while the others   
trusted in the princes of this world1   
who are made of none effect1 and in the 
ruler of the darkness of this world1 to 
whom they have subjected themselves     
miserably and wretchedly4  ,now came on 
,nachor1 in the disguise of ,barlaam2   
and the king's side were like to reach  
their goal2 but1 once again1 very       
different was the ordering of the wise  
providence of ,god4  ,when all the      
company was come1 thus spake the king to
 his orators and philosophers1 or rather
 to the deceivers of his people1 and    
fools at heart1 ,behold now1 there lieth
 before you a contest1 even the         
mightiest of contests2 for one of two   
things shall befall you4 ,if ye         
establish our cause1 and prove ,barlaam 
and his friends to be in error1 ye shall

 have your fill of glory and honour from
 us and all the senate1 and shall be    
crowned with crowns of victory4 ,but if 
ye be worsted1 in all ignominy ye shall 
pitiably perish1 and all your goods     
shall be given to the people1 that your 
memorial may be clean blotted out from  
off the earth4  ,your bodies will ,i    
give to be devoured by wild beasts and  
your children will ,i deliver to        
perpetual slavery4  ,when the king had  
thus spoken1 his son said1 ,a righteous 
doom hast thou judged this day1 ,o king4
  ,the ,lord establish this thy mind6   
,i too have the same bidding for my     
teacher4  ,and1 turning round to        
,nachor1 who was supposed to be         
,barlaam1 he said1 ,thou knowest1       
,barlaam1 in what splendour and luxury  
thou foundest me4 ,with many a speech   
thou persuadedst me to leave my father's
 laws and customs1 and to serve an      
unknown ,god1 drawn by the promise of   
some unspeakable and eternal blessings1 
to follow thy doctrines and to provoke  

to anger my father and lord4  ,now      
therefore consider that thou art weighed
 in the balance4 ,if thou overcome in   
the wrestling1 and prove that the       
doctrines1 which thou hast taught me1 be
 true1 and show that they1 that try a   
fall with us1 be in error1 thou shalt be
 magnified as no man heretofore1 and    
shalt be entitled 'herald of truth'2 and
 ,i will abide in thy doctrine and serve
 ,christ1 even as thou didst preach1    
until my dying breath4 ,but if thou be  
worsted1 by foul play or fair1 and thus 
bring shame on me to-day1 speedily will 
,i avenge me of mine injury2 with mine  
own hands will ,i quickly tear out thy  
heart and thy tongue1 and throw them    
with the residue of thy carcase to be   
meat for the dogs1 that others may be   
lessoned by thee not to cozen the sons  
of kings4  ,when ,nachor heard these    
words1 he was exceeding sorrowful and   
downcast1 seeing himself falling into   
the destruction that he had made for    
other1 and being drawn into the net that

 he had laid privily1 and feeling the   
sword entering into his own soul4  ,so  
he took counsel with himself1 and       
determined rather to take the side of   
the king's son1 and make it to prevail1 
that he might avoid the danger hanging  
over him1 because the prince was        
doubtless able to requite him1 should he
 be found to provoke him4  ,but this was
 all the work of divine providence that 
was wisely establishing our cause by the
 mouth of our adversaries4  ,for when   
these idol-priests and ,nachor crossed  
words1 like another ,barlaam1 who1 of   
old in the time of ,balak1 when         
purposing to curse ,israel1 loaded him  
with manifold blessings1 so did ,nachor 
mightily resist these unwise and        
unlearned wise men4  ,there sat the king
 upon his throne1 his son beside him1 as
 we have said4  ,there beside him stood 
these unwise orators who had whetted    
their tongues like a sharp sword1 to    
destroy truth1 and who 7as saith ,esay7 
conceive mischief and bring forth       

iniquity4 ,there were gathered          
innumerable multitudes1 come to view the
 contest and see which side should carry
 oft the victory4  ,then one of the     
orators1 the most eminent of all his    
fellows1 said unto ,nachor1 ,art thou   
that ,barlaam which hath so shamelessly 
and audaciously blasphemed our gods1 and
 hath enmeshed our king's well beloved  
son in the net of error1 and taught him 
to serve the ,crucified8  ,nachor       
answered1 ,i am he1 ,i am ,barlaam1     
that1 as thou sayest1 doth set your gods
 at nought3 but the king's son have ,i  
not enmeshed in error2 but rather from  
error have ,i delivered him1 and brought
 him to the true ,god4  ,the orator     
replied1 ,when the great and marvellous 
men1 who have discovered all knowledge  
of wisdom1 do call them high and        
immortal gods1 and when all the kings   
and honourable men upon earth do worship
 and adore them1 how waggest thou tongue
 against them1 and1 in brief1 how durst 
thou be so mighty brazen-faced8  ,what  

is the manner of thy proof that the     
,crucified is ,god1 and these be none8  
,then replied ,nachor1 disdaining even  
to answer the speaker4  ,he beckoned    
with his hand to the multitude to keep  
silence1 and opening his mouth1 like    
,balaam's ass1 spake that which he had  
not purposed to say1 and thus addressed 
the king4    ,,xxvii4  ,by the          
providence of ,god1 ,o king1 came ,i    
into the world2 and when ,i contemplated
 heaven and earth and sea1 the sun and  
moon1 and the other heavenly bodies1 ,i 
was led to marvel at their fair order4  
,and1 when ,i beheld the world and all  
that therein is1 how it is moved by law1
 ,i understood that he who moveth and   
sustaineth it is ,god4  ,that which     
moveth is ever stronger than that which 
is moved1 and that which sustaineth is  
stronger than that which is sustained4  
,him therefore ,i call ,god1 who        
constructed all things and sustaineth   
them1 without beginning1 without end1   
immortal1 without want1 above all       

passions1 and failings1 such as anger1  
forgetfulness1 ignorance1 and the like4 
,by him all things consist4  ,he hath no
 need of sacrifice1 or drink-offering1  
or of any of the things that we see1 but
 all men have need of him4  ,now that ,i
 have said thus much concerning ,god1   
according as he hath granted me to speak
 concerning himself1 come we now to the 
human race1 that we may know which of   
them partake of truth1 and which of     
error4 ,it is manifiest to us1 ,o king1 
that there are three races of men in    
this world3 those that are worshippers  
of them whom ye call gods1 and ,jews1   
and ,christians4  ,and again those who  
serve many gods are divided into three  
races1 ,chaldeans1 ,greeks and          
,egyptians1 for these are to the other  
nations the leaders and teachers of the 
service and worship of the gods whose   
name is legion4  ,let us therefore see  
which of these hold the truth1 and which
 error4  ,the ,chaldeans1 which knew not
 ,god1 went astray after the elements   

and began to worship the creature rather
 than their ,creator1 and they made     
figures of these creatures and called   
them likenesses of heaven1 and earth and
 sea1 of sun and moon1 and of the other 
elements or luminaries4  ,and they      
enclose them in temples1 and worship    
them under the title of gods1 and guard 
them in safety lest they be stolen by   
robbers4  ,they have not understood how 
that which guardeth is ever greater than
 that which is guarded1 and that the    
maker is greater than the thing that is 
made2 for1 if the gods be unable to take
 care of themselves1 how can they take  
care of others8  ,great then is the     
error that the ,chaldeans have erred in 
worshipping lifeless and useless images4
  ,and ,i am moved to wonder1 ,o king1  
how they1 who are called philosophers   
among them1 fail to understand that even
 the very elements are corruptible4     
,but if the elements are corruptible and
 subject to necessity1 how are they     
gods8  ,and if the elements are not     

gods1 how are the images1 created to    
their honour1 gods8  ,come we then1 ,o  
king1 to the elements themselves1 that  
we may prove concerning them1 that they 
are not gods1 but corruptible and       
changeable things1 brought out of       
non-existence by the command of him who 
is ,god indeed1 who is incorruptible1   
and unchangeable1 and invisible1 but yet
 himself seeth all things1 and1 as he   
willeth1 changeth and altereth the same4
  ,what then must ,i say about the      
elements8  ,they1 who ween that the     
,heaven is a god1 are in error4  ,for we
 see it turning and mowing by law1 and  
consisting of many parts1 whence also it
 is called ,cosmos6  ,now a ',cosmos' is
 the handiwork of some artificer2 and   
that which is wrought by handiwork hath 
beginning and end4  ,and the firmament  
is moved by law together with its       
luminaries4  ,the stars are borne from  
,sign to ,sign1 each in his order and   
place3 some rise1 while others set3 and 
they run their journey according to     

fixed seasons1 to fulfil summer and     
winter1 as it hath been ordained for    
them by ,god1 nor do they transgress    
their proper bounds1 according to the   
inexorable law of nature1 in common with
 the heavenly firmament4  ,whence it is 
evident that the heaven is not a god1   
but only a work of ,god4  ,they again   
that think that the ,earth is a goddess 
have gone astray4 ,we behold it         
dishonoured1 mastered1 defiled and      
rendered useless by mankind4  ,if it be 
baked by the sun1 it becometh dead1 for 
nothing groweth from a potsherd4  ,and  
again1 if it be soaked overmuch1 it     
rotteth1 fruit and all4  ,it is trodden 
under foot of men and the residue of the
 beasts3 it is polluted with the blood  
of the murdered1 it is digged and made a
 grave for dead bodies4 ,this being so1 
,earth can in no wise be a goddess1 but 
only the work of ,god for the use of    
men4  ,they that think that ,water is a 
god have gone astray4  ,it also hath    
been made for the use of men4  ,it is   

under their lordship3 it is polluted1   
and perisheth3 it is altered by boiling1
 by dyeing1 by congealment1 or by being 
brought to the cleansing of all         
defilements4 ,wherefore ,water cannot be
 a god1 but only the work of ,god4      
,they that think that ,fire is a god are
 in error4  ,it too was made for the use
 of men4  ,it is subject to their       
lordship1 being carried about from place
 to place1 for the seething and roasting
 of all manner of meats1 yea1 and for   
the burning of dead corpses4 ,moreover1 
it perisheth in divers ways1 when it is 
quenched by mankind4  ,wherefore ,fire  
cannot be a god1 but only the work of   
,god4  ,they that think that the breath 
of the ,winds is a goddess are in error4
  ,this1 as is evident1 is subject to   
another1 and hath been prepared by ,god1
 for the sake of mankind1 for the       
carriage of ships1 and the conveyance of
 victuals1 and for other uses of men1 it
 riseth and falleth according to the    
ordinance of ,god4 ,wherefore it is not 

to be supposed that the breath of the   
,winds is a goddess1 but only the work  
of ,god4  ,they that think that the ,sun
 is a god are in error4  ,we see him    
moving and turning by law1 and passing  
from ,sign to ,sign1 setting and rising1
 to warm herbs and trees for the use of 
men1 sharing power with the other stars1
 being much less than the heaven1 and   
falling into eclipse and possessed of no
 sovranty of his own4 ,wherefore we may 
not consider that the ,sun is a god1 but
 only the work of ,god4  ,they that     
think that the ,moon is a goddess are in
 error4  ,we behold her moving and      
turning by law1 and passing from ,sign  
to ,sign1 setting and rising for the use
 of men1 lesser than the sun1 waxing and
 waning1 suffering eclipse4  ,wherefore 
we do not consider that the ,moon is a  
goddess1 but only the work of ,god4     
,they that think that ,man is a god are 
in error4  ,we see man moving by law1   
growing up1 and waxing old1 even against
 his will4 ,now he rejoiceth1 now he    

grieveth1 requiring meat and drink and  
raiment4 ,besides he is passionate1     
envious1 lustful1 fickle1 and full of   
failings3 and he perisheth in many a    
way1 by the elements1 by wild beasts1   
and by the death that ever awaiteth him4
  ,so ,man cannot be a god1 but only the
 work of ,god4  ,great then is the error
 that the ,chaldeans have erred in      
following their own lusts2 for they     
worship corruptible elements and dead   
images1 neither do they perceive that   
they are making gods of these4  ,now    
come we to the ,greeks that we may see  
whether they have any understanding     
concerning ,god4  ,the ,greeks1 then1   
professing themselves to be wise1 fell  
into greater folly than the ,chaldeans1 
alleging the existence of many gods1    
some male1 others female1 creators of   
all passions and sins of every kind4    
,wherefore the ,greeks1 ,o king1        
introduced an absurd1 foolish and       
ungodly fashion of talk1 calling them   
gods that were not1 according to their  

own evil passions2 that1 having these   
gods for advocates of their wickedness1 
they might commit adultery1 theft1      
murder and all manner of iniquity4  ,for
 if their gods did so1 how should they  
not themselves do the like8  ,therefore 
from these practices of error it came to
 pass that men suffered frequent wars   
and slaughters and cruel captivities4   
,but if now we choose to pass in review 
each one of these gods1 what a strange  
sight shalt thou see6  ,first and       
foremost they introduce the god whom    
they call ,kronos1 and to him they      
sacrifice their own children1 to him who
 had many sons by ,rhea1 and in a fit of
 madness ate his own children4  ,and    
they say that ,zeus cut off his privy   
parts1 and cast them into the sea1      
whence1 as fable telleth1 was born      
,aphrodite4  ,so ,zeus bound his own    
father1 and cast him into ,tartarus4    
,dost thou mark the delusion and        
lasciviousness that they allege against 
their gods8  ,is it possible then that  

one who was prisoner and mutilated      
should be a god8  ,what folly8  ,what   
man in his senses could admit it8  ,next
 they introduce ,zeus1 who1 they say1   
became king of the gods1 and would take 
the shape of animals1 that he might     
defile mortal women4 ,they show him     
transformed into a bull1 for ,europa2   
into gold1 for ,danae2 into a swan1 for 
,leda2 into a satyr1 for ,antiope2 and  
into a thunder-bolt1 for ,semele4  ,then
 of these were born many children1      
,dionysus1 ,zethus1 ,amphion1 ,herakles1
 ,apollo1 ,artemis1 ,perseus1 ,castor1  
,helen1 ,polydeukes1 ,minos1            
,rhadamanthos1 ,sarpedon1 and the nine  
daughters whom they call the ,muses4    
,in like manner they introduce the story
 of ,ganymede4  ,and so befel it1 ,o    
king1 that men imitated all these       
things1 and became adulterers1 and      
defilers of themselves with mankind1 and
 doers of other monstrous deeds1 in     
imitation of their god4  ,how then can  
an adulterer1 one that defileth himself 

by unnatural lust1 a slayer of his      
father be a god8  ,with ,zeus also they 
represent one ,hephaestus as a god1 and 
him lame1 holding hammer and fire-tongs1
 and working as a coppersmith for hire4 
,so it appeareth that he is needy4  ,but
 it is impossible for one who is lame   
and wanteth men's aid to be a ,god4     
,after him1 they represent as a god     
,hermes1 a lusty fellow1 a thief1 and a 
covetous1 a sorcerer1 bowlegged1 and an 
interpreter of speech4 ,it is impossible
 for such an one to be a ,god4  ,they   
also exhibit ,asklepius as god1 a       
physician1 a maker of medicines1 a      
compounder of plasters for his          
livelihood 7for he is a needy wight71   
and in the end1 they say that he was    
struck by ,zeus with a thunder-bolt1    
because of ,tyndareus1 son of           
,lakedaemon1 and thus perished4  ,now if
 ,asklepius1 though a god1 when struck  
by a thunder-bolt1 could not help       
himself1 how can he help others8  ,ares 
is represented as a warlike god1        

emulous1 and covetous of sheep and other
 things4  ,but in the end they say he   
was taken in adultery with ,aphrodite by
 the child ,eros and ,hephaestus and was
 bound by them4 ,how then can the       
covetous1 the warrior1 the bondman and  
adulterer be a god8  ,dionysus they show
 as a god1 who leadeth nightly orgies1  
and teacheth drunkenness1 and carrieth  
off his neighbours' wives1 a madman and 
an exile1 finally slain by the ,titans4 
,if then ,dionysus was slain and unable 
to help himself1 nay1 further was a     
madman1 a drunkard1 and vagabond1 how   
could he be a god8  ,herakles1 too1 is  
represented as drunken and mad1 as      
slaying his own children1 then consuming
 with fire and thus dying4  ,how then   
could a drunkard and slayer of his own  
children1 burnt to death by fire1 be a  
god8  ,or how can he help others who    
could not help himself8  ,apollo they   
represent as an emulous god1 holding bow
 and quiver1 and1 at times1 harp and    
flute1 and prophesying to men for pay4  

,soothly he is needy3 but one that is   
needy and emulous and a minstrel cannot 
be a god4  ,artemis1 his sister1 they   
represent as an huntress1 with bow and  
quiver1 ranging the mountains alone1    
with her hounds1 in chase of stag or    
boar4  ,how can such an one1 that is an 
huntress and a ranger with hounds1 be a 
goddess8  ,of ,aphrodite1 adulteress    
though she be1 they say that she is     
herself a goddess4  ,once she had for   
leman ,ares1 once ,anchises1 once       
,adonis1 whose death she lamenteth1     
seeking her lost lover4 ,they say that  
she even descended into ,hades to ransom
 ,adonis from ,persephone4  ,didst thou1
 ,o king1 ever see madness greater than 
this8  ,they represent this weeping and 
wailing adulteress as a goddess4        
,adonis they show as an hunter-god1     
violently killed by a boar-tusk1 and    
unable to help his own distress4  ,how  
then shall he take thought for mankind1 
he the adulterer1 the hunter who died a 
violent death8  ,all such tales1 and    

many like them1 and many wicked tales   
more shameful still1 have the ,greeks   
introduced1 ,o king1 concerning their   
gods2 tales1 whereof it is unlawful to  
speak1 or even to have them in          
remembrance4  ,hence men1 taking        
occasion from their gods1 wrought all   
lawlessness1 lasciviousness and         
ungodliness1 polluting earth and air    
with their horrible deeds4  ,but the    
,egyptians1 more fatuous and foolish    
than they1 have erred worse than any    
other nation4  ,they were not satisfied 
with the idols worshipped by the        
,chaldeans and ,greeks1 but further     
introduced as gods brute beasts of land 
and water1 and herbs and trees1 and were
 defiled in all madness and             
lasciviousness worse than all people    
upon earth4 ,from the beginning they    
worshipped ,isis1 which had for her     
brother and husband that ,osiris which  
was slain by his brother ,typhon4  ,and 
for this reason ,isis fled with ,horus  
her son to ,byblos in ,syria1 seeking   

,osiris and bitterly wailing1 until     
,horus was grown up and killed ,typhon4 
,isis then was not able to help her own 
brother and husband2 nor had ,osiris1   
who was slain by ,typhon1 power to      
succour himself2 nor had ,typhon1 who   
killed his brother and was himself      
destroyed by ,horus and ,isis1 any      
resource to save himself from death4    
,and yet1 although famous for all these 
misadventures1 these be they that were  
considered gods by the senseless        
,egyptians4  ,the same people1 not      
content therewith1 nor with the rest of 
the idols of the heathen1 also          
introduced brute beasts as gods4 ,some  
of them worshipped the sheep1 some the  
goat1 and others the calf and the hog2  
while certain of them worshipped the    
raven1 the kite1 the vulture1 and the   
eagle4  ,others again worshipped the    
crocodile1 and some the cat and dog1 the
 wolf and ape1 the dragon and serpent1  
and others the onion1 garlic and thorns1
 and every other creature4  ,and the    

poor fools do not perceive1 concerning  
these things1 that they have no power at
 all4 ,though they see their gods being 
devoured1 burnt and killed by other men1
 and rotting away1 they cannot grasp the
 fact that they are no gods4  ,great1   
then1 is the error that the ,egyptians1 
the ,chaldeans1 and the ,greeks have    
erred in introducing such gods as these1
 and making images thereof1 and deifying
 dumb and senseless idols4  ,i marvel   
how1 when they behold their gods being  
sawn and chiselled by workmen's axes1   
growing old and dissolving through lapse
 of time1 and molten in the pot1 they   
never reflected concerning them that    
they are no gods4  ,for when these skill
 not to work their own salvation1 how   
can they take care of mankind8  ,nay1   
even the poets and philosophers among   
the ,chaldeans1 ,greeks and ,egyptians1 
although by their poems and histories   
they desired to glorify their people's  
gods1 yet they rather revealed and      
exposed their shame before all men4  ,if

 the body of a man1 consisting of many  
parts1 loseth not any of its proper     
members1 but1 having an unbroken union  
with all its members1 is in harmony with
 itself1 how in the nature of ,god shall
 there be such warfare and discord8 ,for
 if the nature of the gods were one1    
then ought not one god to persecute1    
slay or injure another4  ,but if the    
gods were persecuted by other gods1 and 
slain and plundered and killed with     
thunder-stones1 then is their nature no 
longer one1 but their wills are divided1
 and are all mischievous1 so that not   
one among them is ,god4  ,so it is      
manifest1 ,o king1 that all this history
 of the nature of the gods is error4    
,furthermore1 how do the wise and       
eloquent among the ,greeks fail to      
perceive that law-givers themselves are 
judged by their own laws8  ,for if their
 laws are just1 then are their gods     
assuredly unjust1 in that they have     
offended against law by murders1        
sorceries1 adulteries1 thefts and       

unnatural crimes4  ,but1 if they did    
well in so doing1 then are their laws   
unjust1 seeing that they have been      
framed in condemnation of the gods4     
,but now the laws are good and just1    
because they encourage good and forbid  
evil2 whereas the deeds of their gods   
offend against law4  ,their gods then   
are offenders against law2 and all that 
introduce such gods as these are worthy 
of death and are ungodly4 ,if the       
stories of the gods be myths1 then are  
the gods mere words3 but if the stories 
be natural1 then are they that wrought  
or endured such things no longer gods3  
if the stories be allegorical1 then are 
the gods myths and nothing else4        
,therefore it hath been proven1 ,o king1
 that all these idols1 belonging to many
 gods1 are works of error and           
destruction4  ,so it is not meet to call
 those gods that are seen1 but cannot   
see3 but it is right to worship as ,god 
him who is unseen and is the ,maker of  
all mankind4  ,come we now1 ,o king1 to 

the ,jews1 that we may see what they    
also think concerning ,god4  ,the ,jews 
are the descendants of ,abraham1 ,isaac 
and ,jacob1 and went once to sojourn in 
,egypt4  ,from thence ,god brought them 
out with a mighty hand and stretched out
 arm by ,moses their lawgiver2 and with 
many miracles and signs made he known   
unto them his power4 ,but1 like the     
rest1 these proved ungrateful and       
unprofitable1 and often worshipped      
images of the heathen1 and killed the   
prophets and righteous men that were    
sent unto them4  ,then1 when it pleased 
the ,son of ,god to come on earth1 they 
did shamefully entreat him and deliver  
him to ,pilate the ,roman governor1 and 
condemn him to the ,cross1 regardless of
 his benefits and the countless miracles
 that he had worked amongst them4       
,wherefore by their own lawlessness they
 perished4 ,for though to this day they 
worship the ,one ,omnipotent ,god1 yet  
it is not according unto knowledge2 for 
they deny ,christ the ,son of ,god1 and 

are like the heathen1 although they seem
 to approach the truth from which they  
have estranged themselves4  ,so much for
 the ,jews4  ,as for the ,christians1   
they trace their line from the ,lord    
,jesus ,christ4  ,he is confessed to be 
the ,son of the most high ,god1 who came
 down from heaven1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 
for the salvation of mankind1 and was   
born of a pure ,virgin1 without seed of 
man1 and without defilement1 and took   
flesh1 and appeared among men1 that he  
might recall them from the error of     
worshipping many gods4 ,when he had     
accomplished his marvellous             
dispensation1 of his own free will by a 
mighty dispensation he tasted of death  
upon the ,cross4  ,but after three days 
he came to life again1 and ascended into
 the heavens1 the glory of whose coming 
thou mayest learn1 ,o king1 by the      
reading of the holy ,scripture1 which   
the ,christians call the ,gospel1       
shouldst thou meet therewith4  ,this    
,jesus had twelve disciples1 who1 after 

his ascent into the heavens1 went out   
into all the kingdoms of the world1     
telling of his greatness4 ,even so one  
of them visited our coasts1 preaching   
the doctrine of truth2 whence they who  
still serve the righteousness of his    
preaching are called ,christians4  ,and 
these are they who1 above all the       
nations of the earth1 have found the    
truth3 for they acknowledge ,god the    
,creator and ,maker of all things in the
 only begotten ,son1 and in the ,holy   
,ghost1 and other ,god than him they    
worship none4  ,they have the           
commandments of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ
 himself engraven on their hearts1 and  
these they observe1 looking for the     
resurrection of the dead and the life of
 the world to come4  ,they neither      
commit adultery nor fornication2 nor do 
they bear false witness1 nor covet other
 men's goods3 they honour father and    
mother1 and love their neighbours3 they 
give right judgement4  ,they do not unto
 other that which they would not have   

done unto themselves4  ,they comfort    
such as wrong them1 and make friends of 
them3 they labour to do good to their   
enemies3 they are meek and gentle4      
,they refrain themselves from all       
unlawful intercourse and all            
uncleanness4  ,they despise not the     
widow1 and grieve not the orphan4  ,he  
that hath distributeth liberally to him 
that hath not4  ,if they see a stranger1
 they bring him under their roof1 and   
rejoice over him1 as it were their own  
brother3 for they call themselves       
brethren1 not after the flesh1 but after
 the spirit4  ,for ,christ his sake they
 are ready to lay down their lives3 they
 keep his commandments faithfully1      
living righteous and holy lives1 as the 
,lord their ,god commanded them1 giving 
him thanks every hour1 for meat and     
drink and every blessing4  ,verily1     
then1 this is the way of truth which    
leadeth its wayfarers unto the eternal  
kingdom promised by ,christ in the life 
to come4  ,and that thou mayest know1 ,o

 king1 that ,i speak nought of myself1  
look thou into the writings of the      
,christians1 and thou shalt find that ,i
 speak nothing but the truth4  ,well1   
therefore1 hath thy son understood it1  
and rightly hath he been taught to serve
 the living ,god1 and to be saved for   
the world to come4 ,great and marvellous
 are the things spoken and wrought by   
the ,christians1 because they speak not 
the words of men but the words of ,god4 
,but all other nations are deceived1 and
 deceive themselves4  ,walking in       
darkness they stagger one against       
another like drunken men4  ,this is the 
end of my speech spoken unto thee1 ,o   
king1 prompted by the truth that is in  
my mind4  ,wherefore let thy foolish    
wise-acres refrain from babbling idly   
against the ,lord2 for it is profitable 
to you to worship ,god the ,creator1 and
 hearken to his incorruptible sayings1  
in order that ye may escape judgement   
and punishment1 and be found partakers  
of deathless life4    ,,xxviii4  ,when  

,nachor had fully delivered this        
oration1 the king changed countenance   
for very anger1 but his orators and     
temple-keepers stood speechless1 having 
nothing but a few weak and rotten shreds
 of argument in reply4  ,but the king's 
son rejoiced in spirit and with glad    
countenance magnified the ,lord1 who had
 made a path1 where no path was1 for    
them tat trusted in him1 who by the     
mouth of a foeman and enemy was         
establishing the truth2 and the leader  
of error had proved a defender of the   
right cause4  ,but the king1 although   
furiously enraged with ,nachor1 was     
nevertheless unable to do him any       
mischief1 because of the proclamation   
already read before all1 wherein he     
urged him to plead without fear in      
behalf of the ,christians4  ,so he      
himself made answer in many words1 and  
by dark speeches hinted that ,nachor    
should relax his resistance1 and be     
worsted by the argument of the orators4 
,but ,nachor the more mightily          

prevailed1 tearing to pieces all their  
propositions and conclusions and        
exposing the fallacy of their error4    
,after the debate had been prolonged    
till well-nigh eventide1 the king       
dismissed the assembly1 making as though
 he would renew the discussion on the   
morrow4  ,then said ,ioasaph to the king
 his father1 ,as at the beginning1 ,sir1
 thou commandedst that the trial should 
be just1 so too crown the end thereof   
with justice1 by doing one or other of  
these two things4 ,either allow my      
teacher to tarry with me to-night1 that 
we may take counsel together as touching
 those things which we must say unto our
 adversaries tomorrow3 and do thou in   
turn take thine advisers unto thee1 and 
duly practise yourselves as ye will4    
,or else deliver thy counsellors to me  
this night1 and take mine to thyself4   
,but if both sides be with thee1 mine   
advocate in tribulation and fear1 but   
thine in joy and refreshment1 me        
thinketh it is not a fair trial1 but a  

tyrannical misuse of power1 and a       
breaking of the covenants4  ,the king1  
compelled to yield by the gracefulness  
of this speech took his wise men and    
priests to himself1 and delivered       
,nachor to his son1 still having hopes  
of him and thinking fit to keep his     
agreement4  ,the king's son1 therefore1 
departed unto his own palace1 like a    
conqueror in the ,olympic games1 and    
with him went ,nachor4  ,when alone1 the
 prince called him and said1 ,think not 
that ,i am ignorant of thy tale1 for ,i 
wot1 of a surety1 that thou art not     
saintly ,barlaam1 but ,nachor the       
astrologer2 and ,i marvel how it seemed 
thee good to act this play1 and to think
 that thou couldst so dull my sight at  
mid-day1 that ,i should mistake a wolf  
for a sheep4  ,but well sung is the     
proverb1 ',the heart of a fool will     
conceive folly4'  ,so this your device  
and counsel was stale and utterly       
senseless2 but the work that thou hast  
accomplished is full of wisdom4         

,wherefore1 rejoice1 ,nachor1 and be    
exceeding glad4  ,i render thee many    
thanks1 that thou hast been to-day      
advocate of the truth1 and hast not     
polluted thy lips with foul words and   
crafty simulation1 but hast rather      
cleansed them from many defilements1 and
 thoroughly proven the error of the     
gods1 as they be wrongly called1 and    
hast established the truth of the       
,christian faith4 ,i have been zealous  
to bring thee hither with me for two    
reasons2 that the king might not privily
 seize and punish thee1 because thou    
spakest not after his heart1 and next   
that ,i might recompense thee for the   
favour that thou hast done me to-day4   
,and what is my recompense for thee8    
,to show thee how to turn from the evil 
and slippery road which thou hast       
trodden until now1 and to journey along 
the straight and saving pathway which   
thou hast avoided1 not in ignorance1 but
 by wilful wrongdoing1 throwing thyself 
into depths and precipices of iniquity4 

,understand then1 ,nachor1 man of       
understanding as thou art1 and be thou  
zealous to gain ,christ only1 and the   
life that is hid with him1 and despise  
this fleeting and corruptible world4    
,thou shalt not live for ever1 but1     
being mortal1 shalt depart hence ere    
long1 even as all that have been before 
thee4  ,and wo betide thee1 if1 with the
 heavy load of sin on thy shoulders1    
thou depart thither where there is      
righteous judgement and recompense for  
thy works1 and cast it not off1 while it
 is easy to rid thyself thereof6        
,pricked at heart by these words1 spake 
,nachor1 ,well said6  ,sir prince1 well 
said6  ,i do know the true and very     
,god1 by whom all things were made1 and 
,i wot of the judgement to come1 having 
heard thereof from many texts of the    
,scriptures4  ,but evil habit and the   
insolence of the ancient supplanter hath
 blinded the eyes of my heart1 and shed 
a thick darkness over my reason4  ,but  
now1 at thy word1 ,i will cast away the 

veil of gloom1 and run unto the light of
 the countenance of the ,lord4 ,may be1 
he will have mercy on me1 and will open 
a door of repentance to his wicked and  
rebellious servant1 even if it seem     
impossible to me that my sins1 which are
 heavier than the sand1 be forgiven2    
sins1 which1 wittingly or unwittingly1  
,i have sinned from childhood upwards to
 this my hoary age4  ,when the king's   
son heard these words1 immediately he   
arose1 and his heart waxed warm1 and he 
began to try to raise ,nachor's courage 
which was drooping to despair1 and to   
confirm it in the faith of ,christ1     
saying1 ,let no doubt about this1       
,nachor1 find place in thy mind4  ,for  
it is written1 ,god is able of these    
very stones to raise up children unto   
,abraham4  ,what meaneth this 7as father
 ,barlaam said7 except that men beyond  
hope1 stained with all manner of        
wickedness1 can be saved1 and become    
servants of ,christ1 who1 in the        
exceeding greatness of his love toward  

mankind1 hath opened the gates of heaven
 to all that turn1 barring the way of   
salvation to none1 and receiving with   
compassion them that repent8  ,wherefore
 to all that have entered the vineyard  
at the first1 third1 sixth1 ninth or    
eleventh hour there is apportioned equal
 pay1 as saith the holy ,gospel3 so that
 even if1 until this present time1 thou 
hast waxen old in thy sins1 yet if thou 
draw nigh with a fervent heart1 thou    
shalt gain the same rewards as they who 
have laboured from their youth upwards4 
,with these and many other words did    
that saintly youth speak of repentance  
to that aged sinner ,nachor1 promising  
him that ,christ was merciful1 and      
pledging him forgiveness1 and satisfying
 him that the good ,god is alway ready  
to receive the penitent1 and with these 
words1 as it were with ointments1 did he
 mollify that ailing soul and give it   
perfect health4  ,nachor at once said   
unto him1 ,o prince1 more noble in soul 
even than in outward show1 well         

instructed in these marvellous          
mysteries1 mayst thou continue in thy   
good confession until the end1 and may  
neither time nor tide ever pluck it out 
of thine heart6  ,for myself1 ,i will   
depart straightway in search of my      
salvation1 and will by penance pacify   
that ,god whom ,i have angered3 for1    
except thou will it1 ,i shall see the   
king's face no more4  ,then was the     
prince exceeding glad1 and joyfully     
heard his saying4  ,and he embraced and 
kissed him affectionately2 and1 when he 
had prayed earnestly to ,god1 he sent   
him forth from the palace4  ,so ,nachor 
stepped forth with a contrite heart1 and
 went bounding into the depths of the   
desert1 like as doth an hart1 and came  
to a den belonging to a monk that had   
attained to the dignity of the          
priesthood1 and was hiding there for    
fear of the pressing danger4 ,with a    
right warm heart knelt ,nachor down     
before him1 and washed his feet with his
 tears1 like the harlot of old1 and     

craved holy ,baptism4  ,the priest1 full
 of heavenly grace1 was passing glad1   
and did at once begin to instruct him1  
as the custom is1 and after many days1  
perfected him with baptism in the name  
of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of 
the ,holy ,ghost4  ,and ,nachor abode   
with him1 always repentant of his sins1 
and blessing that ,god who never willeth
 that ally should perish1 but receiveth 
all that turn again unto him1 and       
lovingly accepteth the penitent4  ,now  
on the morrow when the king heard what  
had befallen ,nachor1 he despaired of   
the hopes that he once had in him3 and1 
seeing those wise and foolish orators of
 his mightily discomfited1 he was at his
 wits' end4  ,them he visited with      
terrible outrage and dishonour1         
scourging some severely with whips of   
oxhide1 besmearing their eyes with soot1
 and casting them away from his         
presence4  ,he himself began to condemn 
the impotence of the gods falsely so    
called1 although as yet he refused to   

look fully at the light of ,christ1 for 
the dense cloud of darkness1 that       
enveloped him1 still bound the eyes of  
his heart4  ,howbeit he no longer       
honoured his temple-keepers1 nor would  
he keep feasts1 nor make drink offerings
 to his idols1 but his mind was tossed  
between two opinions4  ,on the one hand1
 he poured scorn on the impotence of his
 gods2 on the other1 he dreaded the     
strictness of the profession of the     
,gospel1 and was hardly to be torn from 
his evil ways1 being completely in      
slavery to the pleasures of the body1   
and like a captive drawn towards sinful 
lusts1 and being drunken1 as saith      
,esay1 but not with wine1 and led as it 
were with the bridle of evil habit4     
,while the king was thus wrestling with 
two opinions1 his noble and truly       
royal-hearted son dwelt at peace in his 
palace1 proving to all men by his deeds 
the nobility1 order and steadfastness of
 his nature4 ,theatres1 horse-races1    
riding to hounds1 and all the vain      

pleasures of youth1 the baits that take 
foolish souls1 were reckoned by him as  
nothing worth4  ,but he hung wholly on  
the commands of ,christ for whom he     
yearned1 his heart being wounded with   
love divine4  ,for him he longed1 who   
alone is to be longed for1 who is all   
sweetness and desire and aspiration     
insatiable4  ,now1 when he came to think
 upon his teacher ,barlaam1 and as in a 
mirror saw his life1 his soul was       
enchanted with love1 and he much        
occupied himself a-thinking how he might
 see him2 and ever carrying his sayings 
in his heart1 he was like the tree in   
the ,psalms planted by the river side1  
unceasingly watered1 and bringing forth 
unto the ,lords his fruits in due       
season4  ,many were the souls that he   
delivered from the snares of the devil1 
and brought safely unto ,christ2 for    
many resorted unto him1 and profited by 
his wholesome words4  ,and not a few    
left the way of error1 and ran toward   
the word of salvation2 while others bade

 a long farewell to the concerns of the 
world1 and came to the wrestling-school 
of the monastic life4  ,he himself spent
 his time in prayers and fastings1 and  
would often offer up this prayer1 ,o    
,lord1 my ,lord and ,king1 in whom ,i   
have trusted1 to whom ,i have fled and  
been delivered from my error1 render    
thou due recompense to ,barlaam thy     
servant1 because when ,i was in error he
 pointed thee to me1 who art the way of 
truth and life4  ,forbid me not to      
behold once more that angel in bodily   
shape1 of whom the world is not worthy1 
but grant me in his company to finish   
the residue of my life1 that1 treading  
in the footsteps of his conversation1 ,i
 may be well-pleasing to thee my ,god   
and ,lord4    ,,xxix4  ,now about the   
same time there was in that city a      
public assembly in honour of the false  
gods1 and the king must needs be present
 at the feast1 and grace it with lavish 
sacrifices4  ,but the temple-keepers1   
seeing that he was careless and lukewarm

 with regard to their worship1 feared   
that he might neglect to be present in  
their temple1 and that they might lose  
the royal largess1 and the rest of their
 revenues4  ,so they arose1 and withdrew
 to a cavern situate in the depth of the
 desert1 where dwelt a man who busied   
himself with magical arts1 and was a    
fervent champion of the error of        
idolatry4  ,theudas was his name4 ,him  
the king honoured exceedingly1 and      
counted him his friend and teacher1     
because1 he said1 it was by the guidance
 of his prophecies that his kingdom ever
 prospered4  ,so these idol-priests1    
that were no priests1 came to him1 and  
appealed to him for help1 and made known
 to him the evil opinion of their gods  
which was growing on their king1 and all
 that the king's son had done1 and all  
the eloquent discourse that ,nachor had 
held against them4  ,and they said1     
,except thou come thyself to our        
succour1 gone is all hope6  and lost is 
all the reverence of the gods4 ,thou    

only art left to be our comfort in this 
misfortune1 and upon thee we fix our    
hopes4  ,so forth marched ,theudas1 in  
company with his ,satanic host2 and he  
armed himself against the truth1        
invoking many of his evil spirits1 who  
knew how to lend ready aid for evil     
ends1 and whom he alway used for his    
ministers2 and with these allies he came
 to the king4  ,when his arrival had    
been announced to the king1 and he had  
entered in1 with a palm-staff in his    
hand and a sheep-skin girt about his    
loins1 the king arose from his throne1  
and met and welcomed him2 and1 fetching 
a seat1 he made him to sit down beside  
him4  ,then spake ,theudas unto the     
king1 ,o king1 live for ever under the  
shelter of the favour of the most       
puissant gods6 ,i have heard that thou  
hast foughten a mighty fight with the   
,galileans1 and hast been crowned with  
right glorious diadems of victory4      
,wherefore ,i am come1 that we may      
celebrate together a feast of           

thanksgiving1 and sacrifice to the      
immortal gods young men in the bloom of 
youth and well-favoured damsels1 and eke
 offer them an hecatomb of bullocks and 
herds of beasts1 that we may have them  
from henceforth for our allies          
invincible1 making plain our path of    
life before us4  ,hereto the king made  
answer1 ,we have not conquered1 aged    
sir1 we have not conquered3 nay1 rather 
have we been defeated in open fight4    
,they that were for us turned suddenly  
against us4  ,they found our host a     
wild1 half-drunken1 feeble folk1 and    
utterly overthrew it4  ,but now1 if     
there be with thee any power and        
strength to help our fallen religion and
 set it up again1 declare it4  ,theudas 
replied in this wise1 ,dread not1 ,o    
king1 the oppositions and vain babblings
 of the ,galileans3 for of what worth   
against reasonable and sensible men are 
the arguments that they use8 ,these     
methinks shall be more easily overthrown
 than a leaf shaken with the wind4      

,they shall not endure to face me1 far  
less join argument1 or come to          
propositions and oppositions with me4   
,but1 in order that the coming contest  
and all our wishes may prosper1 and that
 our matters may run smoothly with the  
stream1 adorn thou with thy presence    
this public festival1 and gird on for   
thy strong sword the favour of the gods1
 and well befall thee6  ,when the mighty
 in wickedness had thus boasted himself 
and thought of mischief all the day long
 7let ,david bear his part in our       
chorus71 and when1 as saith ,esay1 he   
had given his neighbour a drink of      
turbid dregs1 by the help of the evil   
spirits his comrades he made the king   
utterly to forget the thoughts that     
inclined him to salvation1 and caused   
him again to cleave to his wonted ways4 
,then the king despatched letters hither
 and thither1 that all men should gather
 together to this loathsome assembly4   
,then mightest thou have seen multitudes
 streaming in1 and bringing with them   

sheep and oxen and divers kinds of      
beasts4  ,so when all were assembled1   
the king arose1 with that deceiver      
,theudas1 and proceeded to the temple1  
bringing one hundred and twenty bullocks
 and many animals for sacrifice4  ,and  
they celebrated their accursed feast    
till the city resounded with the cry of 
the brute beasts and the very air was   
polluted with the reek of sacrifice4    
,this done1 when the spirits of         
wickedness had greatly vaunted them over
 ,theudas' victory1 and when the        
temple-keepers had rendered him thanks1 
the king went up again unto his palace1 
and said milo ,theudas1 ,behold now1 as 
thou badest us1 we have spared no pains 
over the splendour of this gathering and
 the lavishness of the sacrifice4  ,now1
 therefore1 it is time for thee to      
fulfil thy promises1 and to deliver from
 the error of the ,christians my son    
that hath rebelled against our religion1
 and to reconcile him to our gracious   
gods4  ,for1 though ,i have left no     

device and deed untried1 yet have ,i    
found no remedy for the mischief1 but ,i
 perceive that his will is stronger than
 all4 ,when ,i have dealt gently and    
kindly with him1 ,i have found that he  
payeth me no regard whatsoever4  ,when  
,i have treated him harshly and         
severely1 ,i have seen him driven the   
quicker to desperation4  ,to thy wisdom 
for the future ,i leave the care of this
 calamity that hath befallen me4  ,if   
then ,i be delivered from this trouble  
by thy means1 and once more behold my   
son worshipping my gods with me1 and    
enjoying the gratification of this life 
of pleasure1 and this royal estate1 ,i  
will set up unto thee a golden statue1  
and make thee to receive divine honours 
from all men for all time to come4      
,hereupon ,theudas1 bowing an attentive 
ear to the evil one1 and learning from  
him the secret of his evil and deadly   
counsel1 became himself the devil's     
tongue and mouthpiece1 and spake unto   
the king1 ,if thou wilt get the better  

of thy son1 and make his opposition     
vain1 ,i have discovered a plan1 which  
he shall in no wise be able to resist1  
but his hard and obdurate mind shall    
melt quicker than wax before the hottest
 fire4  ,the king1 seeing this foolish  
fellow swelling with empty pride1       
immediately grew merry and joyful1      
hoping that the unbridled and boastful  
tongue would get the mastery of that    
divinely instructed and philosophic     
soul4 ,and what is the plan8 he asked4  
,then began ,theudas to weave his web4  
,he made his villainy sharp as any razor
 and did cunningly prepare his drugs4   
,now behold this malicious device and   
suggestion of the evil one4 ,remove1 ,o 
king1 said he1 all thy son's waiting men
 and servants far from him1 and order   
that comely damsels1 of exceeding       
beauty1 and bedizened to be the more    
winsome1 be continually with him and    
minister to him1 and be his companions  
day and night4  ,for myself1 ,i will    
send him one of the spirits told off for

 such duties1 and ,i will thus kindle   
all the more fiercely the coals of      
sensual desire4  ,after that he hath    
once only had intercourse with but one  
of these women1 if all go not as thou   
wilt1 then disdain me for ever1 as      
unprofitable1 and worthy not of honour  
but of dire punishment4 ,for there is   
nothing like the sight of women to      
allure and enchant the minds of men4    
,listen to a story that beareth witness 
to my word4    ,,xxx4  ,a certain king  
was grieved and exceeding sad at heart1 
because that he had no male issue1      
deeming this no small misfortune4 ,while
 he was in this condition1 there was    
born to him a son1 and the king's soul  
was filled with joy thereat4  ,then they
 that were learned amongst his          
physicians told him that1 if for the    
first twelve years the boy saw the sun  
or fire1 he should entirely lose his    
sight1 for this was proved by the       
condition of his eyes4 ,hearing this1   
the king1 they say1 caused a little     

house1 full of dark chambers1 to be hewn
 out of the rock1 and therein enclosed  
his child together with the men that    
nursed him1 and1 until the twelve years 
were past1 never suffered him to see the
 least ray of light4  ,after the        
fulfilment of the twelve years1 the king
 brought forth from his little house his
 son that had never seen a single       
object1 and ordered his waiting men to  
show the boy everything after his kind2 
men in one place1 women in another2     
elsewhere gold and silver2 in another   
place1 pearls and precious stones1 fine 
and ornamental vestments1 splendid      
chariots with horses from the royal     
stables1 with golden bridles and purple 
caparisons1 mounted by armed soldiers2  
also droves of oxen and flocks of sheep4
  ,in brief1 row after row1 they showed 
the boy everything4  ,now1 as he asked  
what each ox these was called1 the      
king's esquires and guards made known   
unto him each by name3 but1 when he     
desired to learn what women were called1

 the king's spearman1 they say1 wittily 
replied that they were called1 ,devils  
that deceive men4  ,but the boy's heart 
was smitten with the love of these above
 all the rest4  ,so1 when they had gone 
round everywhere and brought him again  
unto the king1 the king asked1 which of 
all these sights had pleased him most4  
,what1 answered the boy1 but the ,devils
 that deceive men8  ,nothing that ,i    
have seen to-day hath fired my heart    
with such love as these4 ,the king was  
astonished at the saying of the boy1 to 
think how masterful a thing the love of 
women is4 ,therefore think not to subdue
 thy son in any other way than this4    
,the king heard this tale gladly2 and   
there were brought before him some      
chosen damsels1 young and exceeding     
beautiful4  ,these he bedizened with    
dazzling ornaments and trained in all   
winsome ways3 and then he turned out of 
the palace all his son's squires and    
serving men1 and set these women in     
their stead4  ,these flocked around the 

prince1 embraced him1 and provoked him  
to filthy wantonness1 by their walk and 
talk inviting him to dalliaunce4        
,besides these1 he had no man at whom to
 look1 or with whom to converse or break
 his fast1 for these damsels were his   
all4  ,thus did the king4  ,but ,theudas
 went home to his evil den1 and1 dipping
 into his books that had virtue to work 
such magic1 he called up one of his     
wicked spirits and sent him forth1 for  
to battle with the soldier of the army  
of ,christ4  ,but the wretch little knew
 what laughter he should create against 
himself1 and to what shame he should be 
put1 with the whole devilish troop under
 him4  ,so the evil spirit1 taking to   
him other spirits more wicked than      
himself1 entered the bed-chamber of this
 noble youth1 and attacked him by       
kindling right furiously the furnace of 
his flesh4  ,the evil one plied the     
bellows from within1 while the damsels1 
fair of face1 but uncomely of soul1     
supplied the evil fuel from without4    

,but ,ioasaph's pure soul was disturbed 
to feel the touch of evil1 and to see   
the warlike host of strange thoughts    
that was charging down upon him4  ,and  
he sought to find deliverance from this 
great mischief1 and to present himself  
pure unto ,christ1 and not defile in the
 mire of sinful lust that holy apparel1 
wherein the grace of holy ,baptism had  
clothed him4  ,immediately he set love  
against love1 the divine against the    
lascivious2 and he called to remembrance
 the beauty and unspeakable glory of    
,christ1 the immortal bridegroom of     
virgin souls1 and of that bride chamber 
and marriage1 from whence they that have
 stained their wedding-garment are      
piteously cast out1 bound hand and foot1
 into outer darkness4  ,when he had     
thought thereon1 and shed bitter tears1 
he smote upon his breast1 driving out   
evil thoughts1 as good-for-nothing      
drones from the hive4  ,when he rose1   
and spread out his hands unto heaven1   
with fervent tears and groans calling   

upon ,god to help him1 and he said1     
,lord ,almighty1 who alone art powerful 
and merciful1 the hope of the hopeless1 
and the help of the helpless1 remember  
me thine unprofitable servant at this   
hour1 and look upon me with a gracious  
countenance1 and deliver my soul from   
the sword of the devil1 and my darling  
from the paw of the dog3 suffer me not  
to fall into the hands of mine enemies1 
and let not them that hate me triumph   
over me4  ,leave me not to be destroyed 
in iniquities1 and to dishonour my body 
which ,i swore to present unto thee     
chaste4  ,for for thee ,i yearn2 thee ,i
 worship1 the ,father1 and the ,son1 and
 the ,holy ,ghost1 now and for evermore1
 and world without end4  ,when he had   
added the ,amen1 he felt heavenly       
comfort stealing over him from above1   
and the evil thoughts withdrew1 and he  
continued in prayer until early morn4   
,being ware of the devices of the crafty
 foe1 he began more and more to afflict 
his body by abstinence from meat and    

drink1 and by other severities1 standing
 in prayer all the night long1 and      
reminding himself of his covenants made 
with ,god1 and picturing in his mind the
 glory of the righteous yonder1 and     
recounting to himself the full terrors  
of the ,gehenna wherewith the wicked are
 threatened2 all this1 that the enemy   
might not find his soul lying fallow and
 untilled1 and thus easily sow therein  
the seeds of evil thoughts1 and befoul  
the cleanness of his mind4  ,so1 when   
the enemy was in great straits on every 
side1 and altogether in despair of      
taking this noble youth1 like a cunning 
knave1 he proceeded to another more     
subtil device1 he that is for ever      
wicked1 and never stinteth to contrive  
mischief and hurt4  ,for he made furious
 endeavour to carry out the orders that 
,theudas had given him1 and once more   
prepared his drugs1 and on this wise4   
,the devil entered into the heart of one
 of the young damsels4  ,of all she was 
the most seemly1 a king's daughter1     

carried away captive from her own       
country1 given to king ,abenner as a    
great prize1 and sent by him1 being of  
ripe beauty1 to his own son1 for to     
cause him to slip or to trip4  ,of her  
the deceiver took possession1 and       
whispered in her ear suggestions that   
plainly showed the wisdom and           
understanding of her mind2 for the evil 
one easily pursueth all devices that    
make for wickedness4  ,then the evil    
spirit attacked the king's son on the   
right hand1 and gave him a potion to    
make him love the maiden1 by reason--so 
he pretended--of her prudence and       
discretion and of her nobility and royal
 blood that yet had not saved her from  
banishment and loss of glory4  ,moreover
 the devil secretly sowed in ,ioasaph's 
heart thoughts that he might recover her
 from idolatry1 and make her a          
,christian4  ,but these were all        
stratagems of the wily serpent4  ,for   
the king's son1 being in this frame of  
mind1 could see in himself no unclean   

thought or passionate affection for the 
damsel1 but only sympathy and pity for  
her misfortune1 and the ruin of her     
soul1 and knew not that this matter was 
a device of the devil2 for verily he is 
darkness1 and feigneth to be light4  ,so
 he began to commune with the damsel1   
and talk with her over the oracles of   
the knowledge of ,god1 and said1 ,lady1 
be thou acquainted with the ever-living 
,god1 and perish not in the error of    
these idols2 but know thy ,lord1 and the
 ,maker of all this world1 and thou     
shalt be happy1 the bride of the        
immortal bridegroom4  ,while he exhorted
 her with many such-like words1         
immediately the evil spirit whispered to
 the girl that she should spread under  
his feet the nets of deceit to drag his 
blessed soul into the pit of lust1 as he
 once did to our first parent by means  
of ,eve1 thus miserably banishing him1  
alas6 from ,paradise and ,god1 and      
making him to become subject to death in
 lieu of bliss and everlasting life4    

,when the damsel heard ,ioasaph's words 
fulfilled with all wisdom1 being without
 understanding1 she understood them not1
 but made answer thus1 becoming the     
tongue and mouth-piece of the evil one3 
,if1 sir1 thou takest thought for my    
salvation1 and desirest to bring me to  
thy ,god1 and to save my poor soul1 do  
thou also thyself grant me one request1 
and straightway ,i will bid good-bye to 
my fathers' gods1 and join thy ,god1    
serving him until my last breath2 and   
thou shalt receive recompense for my    
salvation1 and for my turning to        
,god-ward4  ,lady1 and what is thy      
request8 said he4  ,but she1 setting her
 whole self1 figure1 look and voice in a
 fashion to charm him1 answered1 ,be    
thou joined with me in the bonds of     
wedlock1 and ,i will joyfully follow out
 thy behests4  ,in vain1 ,o ,lady1 said 
he1 hast thou made this hard request4   
,for though ,i earnestly care for thy   
salvation1 and long to heave thee from  
the depth of perdition1 yet to pollute  

my body through unclean union is        
grievous for me1 and utterly impossible4
  ,she1 seeking to make the way straight
 and smooth for him1 cried1 ,why dost   
thou1 who are so wise1 talk thus8       
,wherefore speakest thou of it as of    
defilement and shameful intercourse8  ,i
 am not unacquainted with the ,christian
 books3 nay1 ,i have met with many      
volumes in mine own country1 and have   
heard the discourses of many            
,christians4  ,what1 is it not written  
in one of your books1 ',marriage is     
honourable1 and the bed undefiled'8     
and1 ',it is better to marry than to    
burn'8 and again1 ',what ,god hath      
joined together1 let not man put        
asunder'8  ,do not your ,scriptures     
teach that all the righteous men of old1
 patriarchs and prophets1 were wedded8  
,is it not written that the mighty      
,peter1 whom ye call ,prince of the     
,apostles1 was a married man8  ,who1    
then1 hath persuaded thee to call this  
defilement8  ,methink1 sir1 thou        

strayest utterly away from the truth of 
your doctrines4  ,yea1 ,lady1 said he1  
all this is even as thou sayest4  ,it is
 permitted to all who will to live in   
wedlock1 but not to them that have once 
made promise to ,christ to be virgins4  
,for myself1 ever since ,i was cleansed 
in the laver of ,holy ,baptism from the 
sins of my youth and ignorance1 ,i have 
resolved to present myself pure to      
,christ1 and how shall ,i dare break my 
covenants with ,god8  ,again quoth the  
damsel1 ,let this also be thy pleasure1 
as thou wilt4 ,but fulfil me one other  
small and trivial desire of mine1 if    
thou art in very truth minded for to    
save my soul4  ,keep company with me    
this one night only1 and grant me to    
revel in thy beauty1 and do thou in turn
 take thy fill of my comeliness4  ,and  
,i give thee my word1 that1 with        
daybreak1 ,i will become a ,christian1  
and forsake all the worship of my gods4 
,not only shalt thou be pardoned for    
this dealing1 but thou shalt receive    

recompense from thy ,god because of my  
salvation1 for thy ,scripture saith1    
',there is joy in heaven over one sinner
 that repenteth4'  ,if1 therefore1 there
 is joy in heaven over the conversion of
 a sinner1 shall not great recompense be
 due to the causer of that conversion8  
,yea1 so it is3 and dispute it not4 ,did
 not even the ,apostles1 the leaders of 
your religion1 do many a thing by       
dispensation1 at times transgressing a  
commandment on account of a greater one8
  ,is not ,paul said to have circumcised
 ,timothy on account of a greater       
dispensation8  ,and yet circumcision    
hath been reckoned by ,christians as    
unlawful1 but yet he did not decline so 
to do4  ,and many other such things     
shalt thou find in thy ,scriptures4  ,if
 then in very sooth1 as thou sayest1    
thou seekest to save my soul1 fulfil me 
this my small desire4  ,and although ,i 
seek to be joined with thee in the full 
estate of matrimony1 yet1 sith this is  
contrary to thy mind1 ,i will never     

constrain thee again1 but will do       
everything that liketh thee4 ,for the   
rest1 do not thou utterly abhor me2 but 
hearken to me for the nonce1 and thou   
shalt deliver me from superstitious     
error1 and thou shalt do whatever       
seemeth thee good hereafter all the days
 of thy life4  ,thus spake she2 for     
indeed she had1 for her adviser1 one to 
whom she lent a privy ear1 and the      
pirate was well versed in ,scripture1   
being verily the creator and teacher of 
iniquity4 ,thus then she spake with     
fawning words entangling him1 right and 
left1 around with her toils and meshes1 
and she began to shake the citadel of   
his soul1 and to slacken his tension of 
purpose1 and to soften the temper of his
 mind4  ,then the sower of these evil   
tares1 and enemy of the righteous1 when 
he saw the young man's heart wavering1  
was full of joy1 and straightway called 
to the evil spirits that were with him1 
crying1 ,look you how yond damsel       
hasteth to bring to pass all that we    

were unable to accomplish6 ,hither6     
fall we now furiously upon him3 for we  
shall find none other season so         
favourable to perform the will of him   
that sent us4  ,thus spake this crafty  
spirit to his hounds3 and straightway   
they lept on that soldier of ,christ1   
disquieting all the powers of his soul1 
inspiring him with vehement love for the
 damsel1 and kindling within him the    
fiercest fire of lust4  ,when ,ioasaph  
saw that he was greatly inflamed1 and   
was being led captive into sin1 and     
perceived that his thoughts about the   
salvation of the damsel and her         
conversion to ,god had been set like    
bait on hook to hide the deed which she 
purposed1 and were troubling him with   
the suggestion of the enemy1 that1 for  
the salvation of a soul1 it was not sin 
for once to lie with a woman1 then in   
the agony of his soul he drew a deep and
 lamentable groan1 and nerved himself to
 pray1 and1 with streams of tears       
running down his cheeks1 he cried aloud 

to him that is able to save them that   
trust in him1 saying1 ,on thee1 ,o      
,lord1 have ,i set my trust3 let me not 
be confounded for ever2 neither let mine
 enemies triumph over me1 that hold by  
thy right hand4  ,but stand thou by me  
at this hour1 and according to thy will 
make straight my path1 that thy glorious
 and dreadful name may be glorified in  
me thy servant1 because thou art blessed
 for ever4  ,amen4  ,now when he had    
prayed in tears for many hours1 and     
often bent the knee1 he sunk down upon  
the pavement4  ,after he had slumbered  
awhile1 he saw himself carried off by   
certain dread men1 and passing through  
places which he had never heretofore    
beheld4  ,he stood in a mighty plain1   
all a-bloom with fresh and fragrant     
flowers1 where he descried all manner of
 plants of divers colours1 charged with 
strange and marvellous fruits1 pleasant 
to the eye and inviting to the touch4   
,the leaves of the trees rustled clearly
 in a gentle breeze1 and1 as they shook1

 sent forth a gracious perfume that     
cloyed not the sense4 ,thrones were set 
there1 fashioned of the purest gold and 
costly stones1 throwing out never so    
bright a lustre1 and radiant settles    
among wondrous couches too beautiful to 
be described4  ,and beside them there   
were running waters exceeding clear1 and
 delightful to the eye4  ,when these    
dread men had led him through this great
 and wondrous plain1 they brought him to
 a city that glistered with light       
unspeakable1 whose walls were of        
dazzling gold1 with high uprear'd       
parapets1 built of gems such as man hath
 never seen4 ,ah6  who could describe   
the beauty and brightness of that city8 
,light1 ever shooting from above1 filled
 all her streets with bright rays2 and  
winged squadrons1 each of them itself a 
light1 dwelt in this city1 making such  
melody as mortal ear ne'er heard4 ,and  
,ioasaph heard a voice crying1 ,this is 
the rest of the righteous3 this the     
gladness of them that have pleased the  

,lord4 ,when these dread men had carried
 him out from thence1 they spake of     
taking him back to earth4  ,but he1 that
 had lost his heart to that scene of    
joyaunce and heartsease1 exclaimed1     
,reave me not1 reave me not1 ,i pray    
you1 of this unspeakable joy1 but grant 
me also to dwell in one corner of this  
mighty city4  ,but they said1 ,it is    
impossible for thee to be there now2    
but1 with much toil and sweat1 thou     
shalt come hither1 if thou constrain    
thyself4  ,thus spake they2 and again   
they crossed that mighty plain1 and bare
 him to regions of darkness and utter   
woe1 where sorrow matched the brightness
 which he had seen above4  ,there was   
darkness without a ray of light1 and    
utter gloom1 and the whole place was    
full of tribulation and trouble4  ,there
 blazed a glowing furnace of fire1 and  
there crept the worm of torment4        
,revengeful powers were set over the    
furnace1 and there were some that were  
burning piteously in the fire1 and a    

voice was heard1 saying1 ,this is the   
place of sinners2 this the punishment   
for them that have defiled themselves by
 foul practices4  ,hereupon ,ioasaph was
 carried thence by his guides2 and1 when
 he came to himself1 immediately he     
trembled from head to foot1 and1 like a 
river1 his eyes dropped tears1 and all  
the comeliness of that wanton damsel and
 her fellows was grown more loathsome to
 him than filth and rottenness4  ,and as
 he mused in his heart on the memory of 
the visions1 in longing for the good and
 in terror of the evil1 he lay on his   
bed utterly unable to arise4  ,then was 
the king informed of his son's sickness2
 and he came and asked what ailed him4  
,and ,ioasaph told him his vision1 and  
said1 ,wherefore hast thou laid a net   
for my feet1 and bowed down my soul8    
,if the ,lord had not helped me1 my soul
 had well nigh dwelt in hell4  ,but how 
loving is ,god unto ,israel1 even unto  
such as are of a true heart6  ,he hath  
delivered me that am lowly from the     

midst of the dogs4  ,for ,i was sore    
troubled and ,i fell on sleep3 but ,god 
my ,saviour from on high hath visited   
me1 and showed me what joy they lose    
that provoke him and to what punishments
 they subject themselves4  ,and now1 ,o 
my father1 since thou hast stopped thine
 ears not to hear the voice that will   
charm thee to good1 at least forbid me  
not to walk the straight road4  ,for    
this ,i desire1 this ,i long for1 to    
forsake all1 and reach that place1 where
 ,barlaam the servant of ,christ hath   
his dwelling1 and with him to finish    
what remaineth of my life4  ,but if thou
 keep me back by force1 thou shalt      
quickly see me die of grief and despair1
 and thou shalt be no more called       
father1 nor have me to thy son4         
,,xxxi4  ,again therefore the king was  
seized with despondency1 and again he   
was like to abjure his whole way of     
life2 and with strange thoughts he went 
again unto his own palace4  ,but the    
evil spirits1 that had been sent out by 

,theudas for to attack the young saint1 
returned to him1 and1 lovers of leasing 
though they were1 confessed their       
shameful defeat1 for they bare visible  
tokens of their defeat1 upon their evil 
countenance4  ,said ,theudas1 ,and be ye
 so weak and puny that ye cannot get the
 better of one young stripling8  ,then  
did the evil spirits1 constrained1 to   
their sorrow1 by the might of ,god1     
bring to light the truth1 saying1 ,we   
cannot abide even the sight of the might
 of ,christ1 and the symbol of his      
,passion1 which they call the ,cross4   
,for1 when that sign is made1           
immediately all we1 the princes of the  
air1 and the rulers of the darkness of  
the world1 are utterly routed and       
discomfited1 even before the sign is    
completed4  ,when we first fell upon    
this youth1 we vexed him sore2 but when 
he called on ,christ for help1 and armed
 him with the sign of the ,cross1 he    
routed us in angry wise1 and stablished 
himself in safety4  ,so incontinent we  

found a weapon1 wherewith our chief did 
once confront the first-made man and    
prevailed against him4  ,and verily we  
should have made this young man's hope  
vain2 but again ,christ was called on   
for help1 and he consumed us in the fire
 of his wrath from above1 and put us to 
flight4  ,we have determined to approach
 the prince no more4 ,thus1 then1 did   
the evil spirits plainly make known unto
 ,theudas all that was come to pass4    
,but the king1 perplexed on every side1 
again summoned ,theudas1 and said1 ,most
 wisest of men1 all that seemed good to 
thee have we fulfilled1 but have found  
no help therein4  ,but now1 if thou hast
 any device left1 we will make trial    
thereof4  ,peradventure ,i shall find   
some escape from this evil4  ,then did  
,theudas ask for a meeting with his son2
 and on the morrow the king took him and
 went forth to visit the prince4  ,the  
king sat down and provoked debate1      
upbraiding and chiding him for his      
disobedience and stubbornness of mind4  

,when ,ioasaph again maintained his     
ease1 and loudly declared that he valued
 nothing so much as the love of ,christ1
 ,theudas came forward and said1        
,wherefore1 ,ioasaph1 dost thou despise 
our immortal gods1 that thou hast       
departed from their worship1 and1 thus  
incensing thy father the king1 art      
become hateful to all the people8  ,dost
 thou not owe thy life to the gods8     
,and did they not present thee to the   
king in answer to his prayer1 thus      
redeeming him from the bondage of       
childlessness8  ,while this ,theudas1   
waxen old in wickedness1 was putting    
forth these many vain arguments and     
useless propositions1 and weaving words 
about the preaching of the ,gospel1     
desiring to turn it into mockery1 and   
magnify idolatry1 ,ioasaph1 the son of  
the heavenly king1 and citizen of that  
city which the ,lord hath builded and   
not man1 waited a while and then said   
unto him1  ,give ear1 thou abyss of     
error1 blacker than the darkness that   

may be felt1 thou seed of ,babylon1     
child of the building of the tower of   
,chalane1 whereby the world was         
confounded1 foolish and pitiable dotard1
 whose sins out-weigh the iniquity of   
the five cities that were destroyed by  
fire and brimstone4  ,why wouldest thou 
mock at the preaching of salvation1     
whereby darkness hath been made light1  
the wanderers have found the way1 they  
that were lost in dire captivity have   
been recalled4  ,tell me whether is     
better8  ,to worship ,god ,almighty1    
with the only-begotten ,son and the     
,holy ,ghost1 ,god increate and         
immortal1 the beginning and well-spring 
of good1 whose power is beyond compare1 
and his glory incomprehensible1 before  
whom stand thousand thousands1 and ten  
thousand times ten thousand of ,angels  
and heavenly hosts1 and heaven and earth
 are full of his glow1 by whom all      
things were brought into being out of   
nothing1 by whom everything is upheld   
and sustained and ordered by his        

providence2 or to serve deadly devils   
and lifeless idols1 whose glory and     
boast is in adultery and the corrupting 
of boys1 and other works of iniquity    
that have been recorded concerning your 
gods in the books of your superstition8 
,have ye no modesty1 ye miserable men1  
fuel for unquenchable fire1 true copy of
 the ,chaldean race1 have ye no shame to
 worship dead images1 the works of men's
 hands8  ,ye have carved stone and      
graven wood and called it ,god4 ,next ye
 take the best bullock out of your      
folds1 or 7may be7 some other of your   
fairest beasts1 and in your folly make  
sacrifice to your dead divinity4  ,your 
sacrifice is of more value than your    
idol2 for the image was fashioned by    
man1 but the beast was created by ,god4 
,how much wiser is the unreasonable     
beast than thou the reasonable man8     
,for it knoweth the hand that feedeth   
it1 but thou knowest not that ,god by   
whom thou wast created out of nothing1  
by whom thou livest1 and art preserved2 

and thou callest ,god that which thou   
sawest1 but now1 smitten by steel1 and  
burnt and moulded in the fire1 and      
beaten with hammers1 which thou hast    
covered around with silver and gold1 and
 raised from the ground1 and set on     
high4  ,then1 falling upon the earth1   
thou liest baser than the base stone1   
worshipping not ,god but thine own dead 
and lifeless handiwork4  ,or rather1 the
 idol hath no right to be called even   
dead1 for how can that have died which  
never lived8  ,thou shouldest invent    
some new name worthy of such madness4   
,thy stone god is broken asunder2 thy   
potsherd god shattered2 thy brazen god  
rusteth2 thy gold or silver god is      
melted down4  ,aye1 and thy gods are    
sold1 some for a paltry1 others for a   
great price4  ,not their divinity but   
their material giveth them value4  ,but 
who buyeth ,god8  ,who offereth ,god for
 sale8  ,and how is that god that cannot
 move called ,god8  ,seest thou not that
 the god that standeth cannot sit1 and  

the god that sitteth cannot stand8  ,be 
ashamed1 thou fool1 and lay thine hand  
upon thy mouth1 thou victim of folly1   
that commendest such things as these4   
,estranged from the truth1 thou hast    
been led astray by false images1        
fashioning statues and attaching to the 
works of thine own hands the name of    
,god4  ,o wretched man1 return to thy   
senses1 and learn that thou art older   
than the god made by thee4  ,this is    
downright madness4  ,being a man1 thou  
hast persuaded thyself that thou canst  
make ,god4  ,how can this be8 ,thou     
makest not ,god1 but the likeness of a  
man1 or of some beast1 sans tongue1 sans
 throat1 sans brains1 sans inwards1 so  
that it is the similitude neither of a  
man1 nor of a beast1 but only a thing of
 no use and sheer vanity4  ,why         
therefore flatterest thou things that   
cannot feel8 ,why sittest thou at the   
feet of things that cannot move and help
 thee8  ,but for the skill of the mason1
 or timber-wright1 or hammer-smith1 thou

 hadst not had a god4  ,had there been  
no warders nigh at hand1 thou hadst lost
 thy god4  ,he1 to whom many a populous 
city of fools prayeth as ,god to guard  
it1 the same hath suite of guards at    
hand to save him from being stolen4     
,and if he be of silver or gold1 he is  
carefully guarded2 but if of stone or   
clay or any other less costly ware1 he  
guardeth himself1 for with you1 no      
doubt1 a god of clay is stronger than   
one of gold4  ,do we not1 then1 well to 
laugh you to scorn1 or rather to weep   
over you1 as men blind and without      
understanding8  ,your deeds are deeds of
 madness and not of piety4  ,your man of
 war maketh to himself an image after   
the similitude of a warrior1 and calleth
 it ,ares4  ,and the lecher1 making a   
symbol of his own soul1 deifieth his    
vice and calleth it ,aphrodite4         
,another1 in honour of his own love of  
wine1 fashioneth an idol which he       
calleth ,dionysus4  ,likewise lovers of 
all other evil things set up idols of   

their own lusts2 for they name their    
lusts their gods4  ,and therefore1      
before their altars1 there are          
lascivious dances1 and strains of lewd  
songs and mad revelries4  ,who could    
recount in order their abominable       
doings8  ,who could endure to defile his
 lips by the repeating of their filthy  
communications8  ,but these are manifest
 to all1 even if we hold our peace4     
,these be thine objects of worship1 ,o  
,theudas1 who art more senseless than   
thine idols4  ,before these thou biddest
 me fall down and worship4  ,this verily
 is the counsel of thine iniquity and   
senseless mind4  ,but thou thyself shalt
 be like unto them1 and all such as put 
their trust in them4  ,as for me1 ,i    
will serve my ,god1 and to him will ,i  
wholly sacrifice myself1 to ,god1 the   
,creator and protector of all things    
through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 my    
hope1 by whom we have access unto the   
,father of lights1 in the ,holy ,ghost3 
by whom we have been redeemed from      

bitter slavery by his blood4  ,for if he
 had not humbled himself so far as to   
take the form of a servant1 we had not  
received the adoption of sons4 ,but he  
humbled himself for our sake1 not       
considering the ,godhead a thing to be  
grasped1 but he remained that which he  
was1 and took on himself that which he  
was not1 and conversed with men1 and    
mounted the ,cross in his flesh1 and was
 laid in the sepulchre by the space of  
three days2 he descended into hell1 and 
brought out from thence them whom the   
fierce prince of this world held        
prisoners1 sold into bondage by sin4    
,what harm then befell him thereby that 
thou thinkest to make mock of him8      
,seest thou not yonder sun1 into how    
many a barren and filthy place he       
darteth his rays8  ,upon how many a     
stinking corpse doth he cast his eye8   
,hath he therefore any stain of         
reproach8  ,doth he not dry and shrivel 
up filth and rottenness1 and give light 
to dark places1 himself the while       

unharmed and incapable of receiving any 
defilement8 ,and what of fire8  ,doth it
 not take iron1 which is black and cold 
in itself1 and work it into white heat  
and harden it8  ,doth it receive any of 
the properties of the iron8  ,when the  
iron is smitten and beaten with hammers 
is the fire any the worse1 or doth it in
 any way suffer harm8  ,if1 then1 these 
created and corruptible things take no  
hurt from contact with things commoner  
than themselves1 with what reason dost  
thou1 ,o foolish and stony-hearted man1 
presume to mock at me for saying that   
the ,son1 the ,word of ,god1 never      
departing from the ,father's glory1 but 
remaining the same ,god1 for the        
salvation of men hath taken upon him the
 flesh of man1 to the end that he may   
make men partakers of his divine and    
intelligent nature and may lead our     
substance out of the nether parts of    
hell1 and honour it with heavenly glory2
 to the end that by taking of our flesh 
he may ensnare and defeat the ruler of  

the darkness of this world1 and free our
 race from his tyranny4  ,wherefore1 ,i 
tell thee1 without suffering he met the 
suffering of the ,cross1 presenting     
therein his two natures4  ,for1 as man1 
he was crucified2 but1 as ,god1 he      
darkened the sun1 shook the earth1 and  
raised from their graves many bodies    
that had fallen asleep4 ,again1 as man1 
he died2 but1 as ,god1 after that he had
 harried hell1 he rose again4 ,wherefore
 also the prophet cried1 ,hell is in    
bitterness at having met thee below3 for
 it was put to bitter derision1         
supposing that it had received a mere   
man1 but finding ,god1 and being made   
suddenly empty and led captive4         
,therefore1 as ,god1 he rose again1 and 
ascended into heaven1 from whence he was
 never parted4  ,and our nature1 so     
worthless and senseless beyond          
everything1 so graceless and            
dishonoured1 hath he made higher than   
all things1 and established it upon a   
throne of honour1 with immortal honour  

shining round4  ,what harm therefore    
came to ,god1 the ,word1 that thou      
blasphemest without a blush8  ,go to6   
,better were it to make this confession1
 and to worship such a ,god1 who is good
 and a lover of mankind1 who commandeth 
righteousness1 enjoineth continency1    
ordaineth chastity1 teacheth mercy1     
giveth faith1 preacheth peace2 who is   
called and is himself the very truth1   
the very love1 the very goodness4  ,him 
were it not better to worship than thy  
gods of many evil passions1 of shameful 
names and shameful lives8  ,woe unto you
 that are more stony-hearted than the   
stones1 and more senseless than the     
senseless1 sons of perdition1 inheritors
 of darkness6 ,but blessed am ,i1 and   
all ,christian folk1 having a good ,god 
and a lover of mankind6  ,they that     
serve him1 though1 for a season in this 
life they endure evil1 yet shall they   
reap the immortal harvest of recompense 
in the kingdom of unending and divine   
felicity4    ,,xxxii4  ,theudas said    

unto him1 ,behold1 it is evident that   
our religion was instituted by many     
mighty wise men1 and interpreters1      
marvellous in virtue and learning2 and  
all the kings and rulers of the earth   
have received it as good and sure in    
every point4 ,but that of the ,galileans
 was preached by some country peasants1 
poor and common men1 a mere handful1 not
 exceeding twelve in number4  ,how then 
should one prefer the preaching of these
 few obscure countrymen to the ordinance
 of the many that are mighty and        
brilliantly wise8  ,what is the proof   
that your teachers be right and the     
others wrong8  ,again the king's son    
made answer1 ,belike1 ,theudas1 thou art
 the ass of the proverb1 that heard but 
heeded not the harp2 or rather the adder
 that stoppeth her ears1 that she may   
not hear the voice of the charmers4     
,well1 therefore1 spake the prophet     
concerning thee1 ,if the ,ethiopian can 
change his skin1 or the leopard his     
spots1 then mayest thou also do good1   

that hast been taught to do evil4  ,thou
 fool and blind1 why doth not the force 
of truth bring thee to thy senses8  ,the
 very fact that your foul idols are     
commended by many men of marvellous     
wisdom1 and established by kings1 while 
the ,gospel is preached by a few men of 
no mark1 sheweth the might of our       
religion and the weakness and deadliness
 of your wicked doctrines4  ,because    
your side1 despite its having wise      
advocates and mighty champions1 is dying
 down1 and waxing weak1 whilst our      
religion1 though possessed of no human  
help1 shineth from afar brighter than   
the sun1 and hath won the fulness of the
 world4 ,if it had been set up by       
orators and philosophers1 and had had   
kings for its succour1 thou that art    
evil wouldst have found occasion to     
declare that it was wholly of human     
power4 ,but now1 seeing1 as thou dost1  
that the holy ,gospel1 though composed  
but by common fishermen1 and persecuted 
by every tyrant1 hath after this won the

 whole world for its sound hath gone out
 into all lands1 and its words into the 
ends of the world--what canst thou say  
but that it is a divine and             
unconquerable power establishing its own
 cause for the salvation of mankind8    
,but what proof seekest thou1 ,o fool1  
that thy prophets are liars and ours    
true1 better than the truths ,i have    
told thee8  ,except thy cause had been  
vain talk and falsehood1 it could not1  
possessing such human support as it did1
 have suffered loss and decline4 ,for he
 saith1 ',i have seen the ungodly in    
great power1 and exalted like the cedars
 of ,libanus3 and ,i went by and lo1 he 
was gone3 and ,i sought him but his     
place could nowhere be found4'          
,concerning you1 the defenders of       
idolatry1 were these words spoken by the
 prophet4  ,for a very1 very little     
while and your place shall not be found3
 but1 like as the smoke vanisheth1 and  
like as wax melteth in face of the fire1
 so shall ye fail4  ,but1 as touching   

the divine wisdom of the ,gospel1 thus  
saith the ,lord1 ',heaven and earth     
shall pass away1 but my words shall not 
pass away4'  ,and again the ,psalmist   
saith1 ',thou1 ,lord1 in the beginning  
hast laid the foundation of the earth2  
and the heavens are the work of thy     
hands4  ,they shall perish1 but thou    
endurest2 and they all shall wax old as 
doth a garment1 and as a vesture shalt  
thou fold them up1 and they shall be    
changed1 but thou art the same1 and thy 
years shall not fail6'  ,and those      
divine preachers of the coming of       
,christ1 those wise fishers of the      
world1 whose nets drew all men from the 
depths of deceit1 whom thou1 in thy     
vileness and bondage to sin1 dost       
vilify1 did by signs and wonders and    
manifold powers shine as the sun in the 
world1 giving sight to the blind1       
hearing to the deaf1 motion to the lame1
 and life to the dead4 ,their shadows   
alone healed all the ailments of men4   
,the devils1 whom ye dread as gods1 they

 not only cast forth from men's bodies1 
but even drave out of the world itself  
by the sign of the cross1 whereby they  
destroyed all sorcery1 and rendered     
witchcraft powerless4  ,and these men1  
by curing every disease of man by the   
power of ,christ1 and renewing all      
creation1 are rightly admired as        
preachers of truth by all men of sound  
mind4  ,but what hast thou thyself to   
say of thy wise men and orators1 whose  
wisdom ,god hath made foolish1 the      
advocates of the devil8  ,what worthy   
memorial have they bequeathed to the    
world8  ,tell me4  ,and what canst thou 
tell of them but unreason and           
shamefulness1 and vain craft that with  
glosing words concealeth the mire of    
their unsavoury worship8  ,moreover such
 of your poets as have been able to soar
 a little above this great madness have 
said1 with more truth1 that they1 which 
are called gods1 were men2 and because  
certain of them had been rulers of      
regions and cities1 and others had done 

something of no great account in their  
lifetime1 men were so deceived as to    
call them gods4  ,it standeth on record 
that the man ,seruch was the first to   
bring in the use of images4  ,for it is 
said that in the old times he honoured  
those who had achieved some memorable   
deed of courage1 friendship1 or any     
other such virtue with statues and      
pillars4  ,but after generations forgat 
the intention of their ancestors3 and1  
whereas it was only for remembrance sake
 that they had set up statues and       
pillars to the doers of noble deeds1 now
 they were1 little by little1 led astray
 through the working of the prince of   
evil1 the devil1 and treated as immortal
 gods men of like passions and          
corruptible as themselves and further   
devised sacrifices and drink-offerings  
for them1--the devils1 thou mayest know1
 taking up their abode in these images  
and diverting to themselves these       
honours and sacrifices4 ,accordingly    
these devils persuade men1 who refuse to

 have ,god in their knowledge1 to       
consider them as gods for two reasons3  
first1 that they may be glorified by    
this title 7for they are puffed up with 
arrogance1 and delight to be honoured as
 gods7 next1 that they may drag their   
poor dupes into the unquenchable fire   
prepared for themselves4  ,hence they   
teach men all iniquity and filthiness1  
seeing that they have once subjected    
themselves to their deceit4  ,so when   
men had arrived at this pinnacle of     
evil1 they1 being darkened1 set up every
 man an idol of his own vice and his own
 lust1 and call it a god4  ,they were   
abominable in their error1 more         
abominable in the absurdity of the      
objects that they chose to worship1     
until the ,lord came1 and of his tender 
mercy redeemed us that trust in him from
 this wicked and deadly error1 and      
taught men the true knowledge of ,god4  
,for there is no salvation except in    
him1 and there is none other ,god1      
neither in heaven1 nor in earth1 except 

him only1 the ,maker of all1 who moveth 
all things by the word of his power3 for
 he saith1 ',by the word of the ,lord   
were the heavens made stedfast1 and all 
the power of them by the breath of his  
mouth1' and1 ',all things were made by  
him1 and without him was not anything   
made that was made4'  ,when ,theudas had
 heard these sayings1 and seen that the 
word was full of divine wisdom1 like one
 thunder-struck1 he was smitten dumb4   
,now late in time1 and with difficulty1 
came he to understand his own misery1   
for the word of salvation had touched   
the darkened vision of his heart1 and   
there fell upon him deep remorse for his
 past sins4  ,he renounced the error of 
his idols1 and ran towards the light of 
godliness1 and from henceforth departed 
from his miserable life1 and made       
himself as bitter an enemy of vile      
affections and sorceries as he before   
had pledged himself their devoted       
friend1 ,for at this season he stood up 
in the midst of the assembly1 and cried 

with a loud voice1 saying1 ,verily1 ,o  
king1 the ,spirit of ,god dwelleth in   
thy son4 ,verily1 we are defeated1 and  
have no further apology1 and have no    
strength to face the words that he hath 
uttered4  ,mighty therefore1 in sooth1  
is the ,god of the ,christians3 mighty  
is their faith3 mighty are their        
mysteries4  ,then he turned him round   
toward the king's son and said1 ,tell me
 now1 thou man1 whose soul is           
enlightened1 will ,christ accept me1 if 
,i forsake my evil deeds and turn to    
him8  ,yea1 said that preacher of truth2
 ,yea1 he receiveth thee and all that   
turn to him4  ,and he not only receiveth
 thee1 but he goeth out to meet thee    
returning out of the way of iniquity1 as
 though it were a son returning from a  
far country4 ,and he falleth on his neck
 and kisseth him1 and he strippeth him  
of the shameful robe of sin1 and putteth
 on him a cloak of brightest glory1     
making mystic gladness for the powers on
 high1 keeping feast for the return of  

the lost sheep4  ,the ,lord himself     
saith1 ',there is exceeding great joy in
 heaven over one sinner that repenteth'3
 and again1 ',i am not come to call the 
righteous but sinners to repentance4'   
,and he saith also by the ,prophet1 ',as
 ,i live1 saith the ,lord1 ,i have no   
pleasure in the death of the sinner1 and
 the ungodly1 but that he should turn   
from his way and live4  ,turn ye1 turn  
ye from your evil way4  ,and why will ye
 die1 ,o house of ,israel8'  ,for the   
wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt 
him in the day that he turneth from his 
wickedness1 if he do righteousness and  
walk in the statutes of life1 he shall  
surely live2 he shall not die4 ,none of 
his sins which he hath committed shall  
be remembered against him4  ,because he 
hath done the decree of righteousness1  
he shall live thereby4  ,and again he   
crieth by the mouth of another prophet1 
',wash you1 make you clean2 put away the
 evil of your doings from before mine   
eyes2 cease to do evil3 learn to do     

well4 ,come now1 and let us reason      
together3 though your sins be as        
scarlet1 ,i will make them white as     
snow2 though they be red like crimson1  
,i will make them white as wool4'  ,such
 therefore being the promises made by   
,god to them that turn to him1 tarry    
not1 ,o thou man1 nor make delay3 but   
draw nigh to ,christ1 our loving ,god1  
and be enlightened1 and thy face shall  
not be ashamed4  ,for as soon as thou   
goest down into the laver of ,holy      
,baptism1 all the defilement of the old 
man1 and all the burden of thy many     
sins1 is buried in the water1 and       
passeth into nothingness1 and thou      
comest up from thence a new man1 pure   
from all pollution1 with no spot or     
wrinkle of sin upon thee2 and           
thenceforward it is in thy power ever to
 keep for thyself the purity that thou  
gainest hereby through the tender mercy 
of our ,god4  ,when ,theudas had been   
thus instructed1 he went out immediately
 and gat him to his evil den1 and took  

his magical books1 and1 because they    
were the beginnings of all evil1 and the
 storehouses of devilish mysteries1     
burnt them with fire4  ,and he betook   
himself to the cave of that same holy   
man1 to whom ,nachor also had resorted1 
and told him that which had befallen    
him1 casting dust upon his head1 and    
groaning deeply1 and watering himself   
with his tears1 and telling the aged man
 the full tale of his loathly deeds4    
,he1 well skilled in the saving of a    
soul and the snatching it from the jaw  
of the wily serpent1 charmed away his   
sorrow with words of salvation1 and     
pledged him forgiveness and promised him
 a merciful ,judge4  ,then1 after he had
 instructed and charged him to fast many
 days1 he cleansed him in ,holy         
,baptism4  ,and all the days of his life
 ,theudas heartily repented him of his  
misdeeds1 with tears and sighs seeking  
the favour of ,god4    ,,xxxiii4  ,as   
for the king1 when things fortuned thus1
 he was completely bewildered1 and      

plainly showed his sore vexation and    
tumult of soul4 ,so again he called all 
his senators together1 and considered   
what means were still his to deal with  
his son4  ,many men put forward many    
counsels1 but that ,araches1 of whom we 
have spoken1 the most famous in his     
office1 and first of his councillors1   
spake unto the king1 saying1 ,what was  
there to be done with thy son1 ,o king1 
that we have not done1 to induce him to 
follow our doctrines and serve our gods8
  ,but1 as ,i perceive1 we aim at the   
impossible4  ,by nature1 or1 it may be1 
by chance1 he is contentious and        
implacable4  ,now1 if it be thy purpose 
to deliver him to torture and           
punishment1 thou shalt do contrary to   
nature1 and be no more called a father2 
and thou shalt lose thy son1 willing1 as
 he is1 to lay down his life for ,christ
 his sake4 ,this1 then1 alone remaineth3
 to divide thy kingdom with him1 and    
entrust him with the dominion of that   
part which falleth to his lot2 and if   

the course of events1 and the care of   
the business of life1 draw him to       
embrace our aim and way1 then the thing 
shall be according to our purpose2 for  
habits1 firmly established in the soul1 
are difficult to obliterate1 and yield  
quicker to persuasion than to violence4 
,but if he shall continue in the        
,christian religion1 yet shall it be    
some solace to time in thy distress1    
that thou hast not lost thy son4  ,thus 
spake ,araches1 and all bare witness    
that they welcomed his proposal4        
,therefore also the king agreed that    
this matter should thus be settled4 ,so 
at day-break he called his son1 and said
 unto him1 ,this is now my latest word  
with thee1 my son4  ,unless thou be     
obedient thereto1 and in this way heal  
my heart1 know thou well1 that ,i shall 
no longer spare thee4  ,when his son    
enquired the meaning of his word1 he    
said1 ,since1 after all my labours1 ,i  
find thee in all points unyielding to   
the persuasion of my words1 come now2 ,i

 will divide with thee my kingdom1 and  
make thee king over the half-part       
thereof2 and thou shalt be free1 from   
now1 to go whatsoever way thou wilt     
without fear4  ,he1 though his saintly  
soul perceived that the king was casting
 yet another snare to trip his purpose1 
resolved to obey1 in order that he might
 escape his hands1 and take the journey 
that he desired4  ,so he answered and   
said1 ,i have indeed been longing to go 
in quest of that man of ,god that       
pointed out to me the way of salvation1 
and1 bidding farewell to everything1 to 
pass the rest of my life in his company4
  ,but1 father1 since thou sufferest me 
not to fulfil my heart's desire1 ,i will
 obey thee herein3 for where there is no
 clear danger of perdition and          
estrangement from ,god1 it is right to  
obey one's father4  ,the king was filled
 with exceeding great joy1 and divided  
all the country under his sovranty into 
two parts1 and appointed his son king1  
and adorned him with the diadem1 and    

arrayed him in all the splendour of     
kingship1 and sent him forth with a     
magnificent body-guard into the kingdom 
set apart for him4  ,and he bade his    
rulers and governors and satraps1 every 
one that would1 to depart together with 
his son the king4  ,and he set apart a  
mighty and populous city for his        
kingdom1 and gave him everything that   
befitted a king4  ,thus then did        
,ioasaph receive the power of kingship2 
and when he had reached that city1 where
 royal state had been prepared for him1 
on every tower of his city he set up the
 sign of his ,lord's passion1 the       
venerable ,cross of ,christ4 ,and in    
person he besieged the idolatrous       
temples and altars1 and razed them to   
the ground1 and uncovered their         
foundations1 leaving no trace of their  
ungodliness4  ,and in the middle of the 
city he upreared for ,christ1 his ,lord1
 a temple mighty and passing fair1 and  
he bade the people there often to resort
 thither1 and offer their worship to    

,god by the veneration of the ,cross1   
himself standing in the midst in the    
presence of all1 and earnestly giving   
himself unto prayer4  ,and as many as   
were under his hand he admonished and   
exhorted1 and did everything to tear    
them away from superstitious error1 and 
to unite them to ,christ2 and he pointed
 out the deceits of idolatry1 and       
proclaimed the preaching of the ,gospel1
 and recounted the things concerning the
 condescension of ,god1 the ,word1 and  
preached the marvels of his coming1 and 
made known his sufferings on the ,cross 
whereby we were saved1 and the power of 
his ,resurrection1 and his ,ascension   
into heaven4  ,moreover he declared the 
terrible day of his dreadful second     
coming1 and the bliss laid up for the   
righteous1 and the punishments awaiting 
sinners4  ,all these truths he expounded
 with kindly mien and gentle words4     
,for he was not minded to be reverenced 
and feared for the grandeur of his power
 and kingly magnificence1 but rather for

 his humility and meekness4  ,hereby    
also he more easily drew all men unto   
himself1 being verily marvellous in his 
acts1 and equitable and modest in       
spirit4  ,wherefore his power1 being    
strongly reinforced by his gentleness   
and equity1 caused all men to yield     
themselves to his words4  ,what wonder1 
then1 if1 in a little while1 all his    
subjects1 in city or country1 were so   
well initiated into his inspired        
teachings1 that they renounced the      
errors of their many gods1 and broke    
away from idolatrous drink-offerings and
 abominations1 and were joined to the   
true faith and were created anew by his 
doctrine1 and added to the household of 
,christ8  ,and all1 who for fear of     
,ioasaph's father had been shut up in   
mountains and dens1 priests and monks1  
and some few bishops1 came forth from   
their hiding places and resorted to him 
gladly4  ,he himself would meet and     
receive with honour those who had fallen
 upon such tribulation and distress1 for

 ,christ his sake1 and bring them to his
 own palace1 washing their feet1 and    
cleansing their matted hair1 and        
ministering to them in every way4  ,then
 he dedicated his newly built church1   
and therein appointed for chief-priest  
one of the bishops that had suffered    
much1 and had lost his own see1 on      
account of his faith in ,christ1 an holy
 man1 and learned in the canons of the  
,church1 whose heart was fulfilled with 
heavenly zeal4  ,and forthwith1 when he 
had made ready a rude font1 he bade     
baptize them that were turning to       
,christ4  ,and so they were baptized1   
first the rulers and the men in         
authority2 next1 the soldiers on service
 and the rest of the multitude4  ,and   
they that were baptized not only        
received health in their souls1 but     
indeed as many as were afflicted with   
bodily ailments and imperfections cast  
off all their trouble1 and came up from 
the holy font pure in soul1 and sound in
 body1 reaping an harvest of health for 

soul and body alike4  ,wherefore also   
from all quarters multitudes flocked to 
,king ,ioasaph1 desirous to be          
instructed by him in godliness4  ,and   
all idolatrous images were utterly      
demolished1 and all their wealth and    
temple treasure was taken from them1 and
 in their stead holy courts were built  
for ,god4  ,for these ,king ,ioasaph    
dedicated the riches and costly         
vestments and treasures of the          
idolatrous temples1 thereby making this 
worthless and superfluous material fit  
for service1 and profitable4 ,and the   
foul fiends that dwelt in their altars  
and temples were rigorously chased away 
and put to flight2 and these1 in the    
hearing of many1 loudly lamented the    
misfortune that had overtaken them4     
,and all the region round about was     
freed from their dark deceit1 and       
illuminated with the light of the       
blameless ,christian faith4  ,and1      
soothly1 the king was a good example to 
all2 and he inflamed and kindled the    

hearts of many to be of the same mind   
with himself4  ,for such is the nature  
of authority4  ,its subjects alway      
conform to its likeness1 and are wont to
 love the same objects1 and to practise 
the pursuits which they perceive to be  
pleasing to their governor4  ,hence1    
,god helping1 religion grew and         
increased amongst them4  ,the king was  
wholly dependent on the commandments of 
,christ and on his love1 being a steward
 of the word of grace1 and pilot to the 
souls of many1 bringing them to safe    
anchorage in the haven of ,god4  ,for he
 knew that this1 afore all things1 is   
the work of a king1 to teach men to fear
 ,god and keep righteousness4  ,thus did
 he1 training himself to be king over   
his own passions1 and1 like a good      
pilot1 keeping a firm hold of the helm  
of good government for his subjects4    
,for this is the end of good kingship1  
to be king and lord over pleasure--which
 end also he achieved4  ,of the nobility
 of his ancestors1 or the royal         

splendour around him1 he was in no wise 
proud1 knowing that we all have one     
common forefather1 made of clay1 and    
that1 whether rich or poor1 we are all  
of the same moulding4  ,he ever abased  
his soul in deepest humility1 and       
thought on the blessedness of the world 
to come1 and considered himself a       
stranger and pilgrim in this world1 but 
realised that that was his real treasure
 which he should win after his departure
 hence4 ,now1 since all went well with  
him1 and since he had delivered all the 
people from their ancient and ancestral 
error1 and made them servants of him who
 redeemed us from evil servitude by his 
own precious blood1 he turned his       
thoughts to his next task1 the virtue of
 almsgiving4 ,temperance and            
righteousness he had already attained2  
he wore on his brow the crown of        
temperance1 and wrapped about him the   
purple of righteousness4  ,he called to 
mind the uncertainty of earthly riches1 
how they resemble the running of river  

waters4  ,therefore made he haste to lay
 up his treasure where neither 'moth nor
 rust doth corrupt and where thieves do 
not break through nor steal4'  ,so he   
began to distribute all his money to the
 poor1 sparing naught thereof4  ,he knew
 that the possessor of great authority  
is bound to imitate the giver of that   
authority1 according to his ability2 and
 herein he shall best imitate ,god1 if  
he hold nothing in higher honour than   
mercy4  ,before all gold and precious   
stone he stored up for himself the      
treasure of almsgiving2 treasure1 which 
here gladdeneth the heart by the hope of
 enjoyment to come1 and there delighteth
 it with the taste of the hoped-for     
bliss4  ,after this he searched the     
prisons1 and sought out the captives in 
mines1 or debtors in the grip of their  
creditors2 and by generous largesses to 
all he proved a father to all1 orphans1 
and widows1 and beggars1 a loving and   
good father1 for he deemed that by      
bestowing blessings on these he won a   

blessing for himself4 ,being endowed    
with spiritual riches1 and1 in sooth1 a 
perfect king1 he gave liberally to all  
that were in need1 for he hoped to      
receive infinitely more1 when the time  
should come for the recompense of his   
works4  ,now1 in little while1 the fame 
of ,ioasaph was blazoned abroad2 and    
led1 as it were by the scent of sweet   
ointment1 all men flocked to him daily1 
casting off their poverty of soul and   
body3 and his name was on every man's   
lips4  ,it was not fear and oppression  
that drew the people to him1 but desire 
and heart-felt love1 which by ,god's    
blessing and the king's fair life had   
been planted in their hearts4  ,then1   
too1 did his father's subjects begin to 
come to him1 and1 laying aside all      
error1 received the ,gospel of truth4   
,and the house of ,ioasaph grew and     
waxed strong1 but the house of ,abenner 
waned and grew weak1 even as the ,book  
of the ,kings declareth concerning      
,david and ,saul4    ,,xxxiv4  ,when    

king ,abenner saw this1 though late and 
loth1 he came to his senses1 and        
renounced his false gods with all their 
impotence and vain deceit4  ,again he   
called an assembly of his chief         
counsellors1 and brought to light the   
thoughts of his heart4  ,as they        
confirmed his words 7for the day-spring 
from on high had visited them1 the      
,saviour who had heard the prayer of his
 servant ,ioasaph71 it pleased the king 
to signify the same to his son4         
,therefore on the morrow he wrote a     
letter to ,ioasaph1 running thus3  ,king
 ,abenner to his well-beloved son       
,ioasaph1 greeting4  ,dearest son1 many 
thoughts have been stealing into my     
soul1 and rule it with a rod of iron4   
,i see our state vanishing1 like as     
smoke vanisheth1 but thy religion       
shining brighter than the sun2 and ,i   
have come to my senses1 and know that   
the words which thou hast ever spoken   
unto me are true1 and that a thick cloud
 of sin and wickedness did then cover   

us1 so that we were unable to discern   
the truth1 and recognize the ,creator of
 all4 ,nay1 but we shut our eyes1 and   
would not behold the light which thou   
didst enkindle more brightly for us4    
,much evil did we do unto thee1 and many
 of the ,christians1 alas6 did we       
destroy2 who1 strengthened by the power 
that aided them1 finally triumphed over 
our cruelty4  ,but now we have removed  
that dense mist from our eyes1 and see  
some small ray of truth1 and there      
cometh on us repentance of our misdeeds4
  ,but a new cloud of despair would     
overshadow it2 despair at the multitude 
of mine offences1 because ,i am now     
abominable and unacceptable to ,christ1 
being a rebel and a foeman unto him4    
,what1 then1 sayest thou1 dearest son1  
hereto8 ,make known to me thine answer1 
and teach me that am thy father what ,i 
should do1 and lead me to the knowledge 
of my true weal4  ,when ,ioasaph had    
received this letter1 and read the words
 therein1 his soul was filled with      

mingled joy and amazement4 ,forthwith he
 entered his closet1 and falling on his 
face before the image of his ,master1   
watered the ground with his tears1      
giving thanks to his ,lord and          
confessing him1 and tuning lips of      
exultation to sing an hymn of praise1   
saying3  ,i will magnify thee1 ,o ,god1 
my ,king1 and ,i will praise thy name   
for ever and ever4  ,great art thou ,o  
,lord1 and marvellous-worthy to be      
praised1 and of thy greatness there is  
no end4  ,who can express thy noble     
acts1 or show forth all thy praise1 who 
hast turned the hard rock into a        
standing water and the flint-stone into 
a springing well8  ,for behold this my  
father's flinty and more than granite   
heart is at thy will melted as wax2     
because thou art able of these stones to
 raise up children unto ,abraham4 ,i    
thank thee1 ,lord1 thou lover of men1   
and ,god of pity1 that thou hast been1  
and art1 long-suffering towards our     
offences1 and hast suffered us until now

 to go unpunished4  ,long have we       
deserved to be cast away from thy face1 
and made a by-word on earth1 as were the
 sinful inhabiters of the five cities1  
consumed with fire and brimstone2 but   
thy marvellous long-suffering hath dealt
 graciously with us4  ,i give thanks    
unto thee1 vile and unworthy though ,i  
be1 and insufficient of myself to       
glorify thy greatness4 ,and1 by thine   
infinite compassions1 ,i pray thee1     
,lord ,jesu ,christ1 ,son and ,word of  
the invisible ,father1 who madest all   
things by thy word1 and sustainest them 
by thy will2 who hast delivered us thine
 unworthy servants from the bondage of  
the arch-fiend our foe3 thou that wast  
stretched upon the ,rood1 and didst bind
 the strong man1 and award everlasting  
freedom to them that lay bound in his   
fetters3 do thou now also stretch forth 
thine invisible and almighty hand1 and1 
at the last1 free thy servant my father 
from that cruel bondage of the devil4   
,show him full clearly that thou art the

 ever living true ,god1 and only ,king1 
eternal and immortal4  ,behold1 ,o      
,lord1 with favourable and kindly eye1  
the contrition of my heart2 and1        
according to thine unerring promise1 be 
with me that acknowledge and confess    
thee the ,maker and protector of all    
creation4  ,let there be a well of water
 within me springing up1 and let        
utterance be given unto me that ,i may  
open my mouth1 and a mind well fixed in 
thee1 the chief corner-stone1 that ,i1  
thine unprofitable servant1 may be      
enabled to preach to my father1 as is   
right1 the mystery of thine             
,incarnation1 and by thy power deliver  
him from the vain deceit of wicked      
devils1 and bring him unto thee his ,god
 and ,lord1 who willest not the death of
 us sinners1 but waitest for us to      
return and repent1 because thou art     
glorified for ever and ever4  ,amen4    
,when he had thus prayed1 and received  
fulness of assurance that he should not 
miscarry in his desire1 he took courage 

by the tender mercy of ,christ1 and     
arose thence1 with his royal bodyguard1 
and arrived at his father's palace4     
,when it was told unto his father1 ,thy 
son is come1 he went forth straightway  
for to meet him1 and embraced and kissed
 him lovingly1 and made exceeding great 
joy1 and held a general feast in honour 
of the coming of his son4  ,and         
afterward1 they two were closeted       
together4  ,but how tell of all that the
 son spake with his father1 and of all  
the wisdom of his speech8  ,and what was
 that speech but the words put into his 
mouth by the ,holy ,ghost1 by whom the  
fishermen enclosed the whole world in   
their nets for ,christ and the unlearned
 are found wiser than the wise4  ,this  
,holy ,spirit's grace and wisdom taught 
,ioasaph to speak with the king his     
father1 enlightening him with the light 
of knowledge4 ,before now he had        
bestowed much labour to drag his father 
from superstitious error1 leaving       
nothing unsaid and nothing undone to win

 him over1 but he seemed to be twanging 
on a broken string1 and speaking to deaf
 ears4  ,but when the ,lord looked upon 
the lowliness of his servant ,ioasaph1  
and1 in answer to his prayer1 opened the
 closed gates of his father's heart 7for
 it is said1 he will fulfil the desire  
of them that fear him1 and will hear    
their cry71 then the king easily        
understood the things that were spoken2 
so that1 when a convenient season came1 
through the grace of ,christ1 this son  
triumphed over those evil spirits that  
had lorded it over the soul of his      
father1 and clean freed him from their  
error1 and made the word of salvation   
clearly known unto him1 and joined him  
to the living ,god on high4  ,ioasaph   
took up his tale from the beginning1 and
 expounded to his father great and      
marvellous things which he knew not1    
which he had never heard with the ears  
of his heart2 and he told him many      
weighty sayings concerning ,god1 and    
showed him righteousness3 to wit that   

there is no other ,god in heaven above1 
nor in the earth beneath1 except the one
 ,god1 revealed in the ,father1 the     
,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost4  ,and he    
made known unto him many mysteries of   
divine knowledge2 and amongst them he   
told him the history of creation1       
visible and invisible1 how the ,creator 
brought every thing out of nothing1 and 
how he formed man after his own image   
and likeness and endowed him with power 
of free-will1 and gave him ,paradise to 
his enjoyment1 charging him only to     
abstain from one thing1 the tree of     
knowledge2 and how1 when man had broken 
his commandment1 he banished him out of 
,paradise2 and how man1 fallen from     
union with ,god1 stumbled into these    
manifold errors1 becoming the slave of  
sins1 and subject unto death through the
 tyranny of the devil1 who1 having once 
taken men captive1 hath made them       
utterly forget their ,lord and ,god1 and
 hath persuaded them to serve him       
instead1 by the abominable worshipping  

of idols4  ,so our ,maker1 moved with   
compassion1 through the good-will of the
 ,father1 and the co-operation of the   
,holy ,ghost1 was pleased1 for our      
sakes1 to be born of an holy ,virgin1   
,mary1 the mother of ,god1 and he1 that 
cannot suffer1 was acquainted with      
sufferings4  ,on the third day he rose  
again from the dead1 and redeemed us    
from our first penalty1 and restored to 
us our first glory4  ,when he ascended  
into the heavens1 from whence he had    
descended1 he raised us up together with
 him2 and thence1 we believe that he    
shall come again1 to raise up his own   
handiwork2 and he will recompense every 
man according to his works4 ,moreover   
,ioasaph instructed his father          
concerning the kingdom of heaven that   
awaiteth them that are worthy thereof1  
and the joy unspeakable4  ,thereto he   
added the torment in store for the      
wicked1 the unquenchable fire1 the outer
 darkness1 the undying worm and         
whatsoever other punishment the servants

 of sin have laid up in store for       
themselves4  ,all these things set he   
forth in many words1 which bore witness 
that the grace of the ,spirit was       
dwelling richly within him4 ,then he    
described the uncharted sea of the love 
of ,god towards mankind1 and how he is  
ready to accept the repentance of them  
that turn to him2 and how there is no   
sin too great for his tender mercy1 if  
we will but repent4 ,and when he had    
confirmed these truths by many an       
example1 and testimony of ,scripture1 he
 made an end of speaking4    ,,xxxv4    
,king ,abenner was pricked to the heart 
by this inspired wisdom and with loud   
voice and fervent heart confessed       
,christ his ,saviour1 and forthwith     
forsook all superstitious error4  ,he   
venerated the sign of the life-giving   
,cross in the sight of all and1 in the  
hearing of all1 proclaimed our ,lord    
,jesus ,christ to be ,god4  ,by telling 
in full the tale of his former          
ungodliness1 and of his own cruelty and 

blood-thirstiness toward the            
,christians1 he proved himself a great  
power for religion4  ,so here was proved
 in fact1 the saying of ,paul2 that     
where sin abounded1 there did grace much
 more abound4  ,while then the learned  
,ioasaph was speaking of ,god1 and of   
piety towards him1 to the dukes and     
satraps and all the people there        
assembled1 and was as it were with a    
tongue of fire piping unto them a goodly
 ode1 the grace of the ,holy ,spirit    
descended upon them1 and moved them to  
give glory to ,god1 so that all the     
multitude cried aloud with one voice1   
,great is the ,god of the ,christians1  
and there is none other ,god but our    
,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who1 together with
 the ,father and ,holy ,ghost1 is       
glorified4  ,waxen full of heavenly     
zeal1 ,king ,abenner made a sturdy      
assault on the idols1 wrought of silver 
and gold1 that were within his palace1  
and tore them down to the ground4  ,then
 he brake them into small pieces1 and   

distributed them to the poor1 thus      
making that which had been useless      
useful4  ,furthermore he and his son    
besieged the idols' temples and altars  
and levelled them even to the ground1   
and in their stead1 and to the honour of
 ,god1 built holy courts4  ,and not only
 in the city but throughout all the     
country also1 thus did they in their    
zeal4  ,and the evil spirits that dwelt 
in those altars were driven forth with  
shrieks1 and cried out in terror at the 
invincible power of our ,god4 ,and all  
the region round about1 and the greater 
part of the neighbour nations1 were led1
 as by the hand1 to the true ,faith4    
,then came the holy ,bishop1 of whom we 
have spoken1 and ,king ,abenner was     
instructed1 and made perfect with ,holy 
,baptism1 in the name of the ,father1   
and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy       
,ghost4  ,and ,ioasaph received him as  
he came up from the ,holy ,font1 in this
 strange way appearing as the begetter  
of his own father1 and proving the      

spiritual father to him that begat him  
in the flesh3 for he was the son of his 
heavenly ,father1 and verily divine     
fruit of that divine ,branch1 which     
saith1 ,i am the vine1 ye are the       
branches4  ,thus ,king ,abenner1 being  
born again of water and of the spirit1  
rejoiced with joy unspeakable1 and with 
him all the city and the region round   
about received ,holy ,baptism1 and they 
that were before darkness now became    
children of light4  ,and every disease1 
and every assault of evil spirits was   
driven far from the believers1 and all  
were sane and sound in body and in soul4
  ,and many other miracles were wrought 
for the confirmation of the ,faith4     
,churches too were built1 and the       
bishops1 that had been hiding for fear1 
discovered themselves1 and received     
again their own churches1 whilst others 
were chosen from the priests and monks1 
to shepherd the flock of ,christ4  ,but 
,king ,abenner1 having thus forsaken his
 former disgraceful life1 and repented  

of his evil deeds1 handed over to his   
son the rule of all his kingdom4 ,he    
himself dwelt in solitude1 continually  
casting dust on his head1 and groaning  
for very heaviness1 and watering his    
face with his tears1 being alone1       
communing with him who is everywhere    
present and imploring him to forgive his
 sins4  ,and he abased himself to such a
 depth of contrition and humility1 that 
he refused to name the name of ,god with
 his own lips1 and was scarce brought by
 his son's admonitions to make so bold4 
,thus the king passed through the good  
change and entered the road that leadeth
 to virtue1 so that his righteousness   
now surpassed his former sins of        
ignorance4  ,for four years did he live 
thus in repentance and tears and        
virtuous acts1 and then fell into the   
sickness whereof he died4  ,but when the
 end drew nigh1 he began to fear and to 
be dismayed1 calling to remembrance the 
evil that he had wrought4  ,but with    
comfortable words ,ioasaph sought to    

ease the distress that had fallen on    
him1 saying1 ,why art thou so full of   
heaviness1 ,o my father1 and wily art   
thou so disquieted within time8  ,set   
thy hope on ,god1 and give him thanks1  
who is the hope of all the ends of the  
earth1 and of them that remain in the   
sea afar1 who crieth by the mouth of his
 prophet1 ',wash you1 make you clean3   
put away from before mine eyes the      
wickedness of your souls2 learn to do   
well'2 and ',though your sins be as     
scarlet1 ,i will make them white as     
snow2 though they be red like crimson1  
,i will make them as wool4'  ,fear not1 
therefore1 ,o my father1 neither be of  
doubtful mind3 for the sins of them that
 turn to ,god prevail not against his   
infinite goodness4  ,for these1 however 
many1 are subject to measure and number3
 but measure and number cannot limit his
 goodness4  ,it is impossible then for  
that which is subject to measure to     
exceed the unmeasurable4  ,with such    
comfortable words did ,ioasaph cheer his

 soul1 and bring him to a good courage4 
,then his father stretched out his      
hands1 and gave him thanks and prayed   
for him1 blessing the day whereon       
,ioasaph was born1 and said ,dearest    
child1 yet not child of me1 but of mine 
heavenly ,father1 with what gratitude   
can ,i repay thee8  ,with what words of 
blessings may ,i bless thee8  ,what     
thanks shall ,i offer ,god for thee8 ,i 
was lost1 and was found through thee3 ,i
 was dead in sin and am alive again3 an 
enemy1 and rebel against ,god1 and am   
reconciled with him4 ,what reward       
therefore shall ,i give thee for all    
these benefits8  ,god is he that shall  
make the due recompense4  ,thus saying1 
he pressed many kisses on his beloved   
son2 then1 when he had prayed1 and said1
 ,into thy hands1 ,o ,god1 thou lover of
 men1 do ,i commit my spirit1 he        
committed his soul unto the ,lord in    
penitence and peace4  ,now1 when        
,ioasaph had honoured with his tears his
 father that was dead1 and had          

reverently cared for his body1 he buried
 him in a sepulchre wherein devout men  
lay2 not indeed clad in royal raiment1  
but robed in the garment of penitence4  
,standing on the sepulchre1 and lifting 
up his hands to heaven1 the tears       
streaming in floods from his eyes1 he   
cried aloud unto ,god saying1  ,o ,god1 
,i thank thee1 ,king of glory1 alone    
mighty and immortal1 that thou hast not 
despised my petition1 and hast not held 
thy peace at my tears1 but hast been    
pleased to turn this thy servant1 my    
father1 from the way of wickedness1 and 
to draw him to thyself1 the ,saviour of 
all1 departing him from the             
deceitfulness of idolatry1 and granting 
him to acknowledge thee1 who art the    
very ,god and lover of souls4  ,and now1
 ,o my ,lord and ,god1 whose ocean of   
goodness is uncharted1 set him in that  
place where much grass is1 in a place of
 refreshment1 where shineth the light of
 thy countenance4  ,remember not his old
 offences2 but1 according to the        

multitude of thy mercies1 blot out the  
handwriting of his sins1 and destroy the
 tablets of his debts1 and set him at   
peace with thy ,saints whom he slew with
 fire and sword4  ,charge them not to be
 bitter against him4  ,for all things   
are possible with thee1 the ,lord of    
all1 save only to withhold pity from    
them that turn not unto thee2 this is   
impossible4  ,for thy pity is poured out
 upon all men1 and thou savest them that
 call upon thee1 ,lord ,jesu ,christ1   
because glory becometh thee for ever and
 ever4  ,amen4  ,such were the prayers  
and intercessions that he made unto     
,god1 by the space of seven full days1  
never leaving the grave1 and never      
thinking of meat or drink1 and taking no
 refreshment of sleep3 but he watered   
the ground with his tears1 and continued
 praying and moaning unceasingly4  ,but1
 on the eighth day1 he went back to his 
palace and distributed amongst the poor 
all his wealth and riches1 so that not  
one person was left in want4    ,,xxxvi4

  ,in a few days1 after he had ended    
this ministry1 and emptied all his      
coffers1 in order that the burden of his
 money might not hinder him from        
entering in at the narrow gate1 on the  
fortieth day after his father's decease1
 and in remembrance of him1 he called   
together all his officers1 and those who
 wore soldiers' attire1 and of the      
citizens not a few4  ,sitting in the    
front1 according to custom1 in the      
audience of all he said1 ,lo1 as ye see1
 ,abenner1 my father the king1 hath died
 like any beggar4 ,neither wealth nor   
kingly glory1 nor ,i his loving son1 nor
 any of his kith and kindred1 has       
availed to help him1 or to save him from
 the sentence without reprieve4  ,but he
 is gone to yonder judgement seat1 to   
give account of his life in this world1 
carrying with him no advocate           
whatsoever1 except his deeds1 good or   
bad4  ,and the same law is ordained by  
nature for every man born of woman1 and 
there is no escape4  ,now1 therefore1   

hearken unto me1 friends and brethren1  
people and holy heritage of the ,lord1  
whom ,christ our ,god hath purchased    
with his own precious blood1 and        
delivered from the ancient error1 and   
bondage of the adversary4  ,ye          
yourselves know my manner of life among 
you2 that ever since ,i knew ,christ1   
and was counted worthy to become his    
servant1 ,i have hated all things1 and  
loved him only1 and how this was my     
desire1 to escape from the tempest and  
vain tumult of the world1 and commune   
alone with him1 and in undisturbed peace
 of soul serve my ,god and ,master4     
,but my father's opposition held me     
back1 and the command that biddeth us to
 honour our fathers4 ,so1 by the grace  
and help of ,god1 ,i have not laboured  
in vain1 nor spent these days for       
naught1 ,i have brought my father nigh  
to ,christ1 and have taught you all to  
know the one true ,god1 the ,lord of    
all2 and yet not ,i1 but the grace of   
,god which was with me1 which rescued me

 also from superstitious error1 and from
 the worship of idols1 and freed you1 ,o
 my people1 from cruel captivity4  ,so  
now it is high time to fulfil the       
service that ,i promised to ,god2 high  
time to depart thitherward1 where he    
himself shall lead me1 where ,i may     
perform my vows which ,i made unto him4 
,now1 therefore1 look you out a man whom
 ye will1 to be your leader and king2   
for by this time ye have been conformed 
to the will of the ,lord1 and of his    
commandments nothing hath been hidden   
from you4  ,walk ye therein2 turn not   
aside1 neither to the right hand1 nor to
 the left1 and the ,god of peace be with
 you all6  ,when all that company and   
the common people heard thereof1 anon   
there arose a clamour1 an uproar1 and a 
mighty cry and confusion1 all weeping   
like orphans and bewailing their loss4  
,lamenting bitterly1 they protested with
 oaths and with tears1 that they would  
never let him go1 but would restrain him
 and not suffer in any wise his         

departure4  ,while the common people1   
and they in authority1 were thus crying 
aloud1 the king broke in1 and beckoned  
with his hand to the multitude and      
charged them to keep silence4  ,he      
declared that he gave in to their       
instancy1 and dismissed them still      
grieving1 and bearing on their cheeks   
the signs of sorrow4  ,and ,ioasaph did 
thus4  ,there was one of the senators   
first in favour with ,ioasaph1 a man    
honoured for his godliness and dignity1 
,barachias by name1 who1 as hath been   
already told1 when ,nachor1 feigning to 
be ,barlaam1 was disputing with the     
philosophers1 alone was ready to stand  
by ,nachor and fight for him1 for his   
heart was fired with heavenly love4     
,him the king took apart1 and spake     
gently with him1 and earnestly besought 
him to receive the kingdom1 and1 in the 
fear of ,god1 to shepherd his people2 in
 order that he himself might take the   
journey that he desired4  ,but          
,barachias would put aside and reject   

his offer1 saying1 ,o king1 how wrongful
 is thy judgement1 and thy word contrary
 to divine command6 ,if thou hast       
learned to love thy neighbour as        
thyself1 with what right art thou eager 
to shift the burden off thy back and lay
 it upon mine8 ,if it be good to be     
king1 keep the good to thy self3 but1 if
 it be a stone of stumbling and rock of 
offence to thy soul1 why put it in my   
pathway and seek to trip me up8  ,when  
,ioasaph perceived that he spake thus1  
and that his purpose was fixed1 he      
ceased from communing with him4  ,and   
now1 at about the dead of night1 he     
wrote his people a letter1 full of much 
wisdom1 expounding to them all          
godliness2 telling them what they should
 think concerning ,god1 what life1 what 
hymns and what thanksgiving they should 
offer unto him4  ,next1 he charged them 
to receive none other than ,barachias to
 be ruler of the kingdom4 ,then left he 
in his bed-chamber the roll containing  
his letter1 and1 unobserved of all1 went

 forth from his palace4  ,but he might  
not win through undetected1 for1 early  
on the morrow1 the tidings1 that he was 
departed1 anon made commotion and       
mourning among the people1 and1 in much 
haste1 forth went every man for to seek 
him2 they being minded by all means to  
cut off his flight4 ,and their zeal was 
not spent in vain2 for1 when they had   
occupied all the high-ways1 and         
encompassed all the mountains1 and      
surrounded the pathless ravines1 they   
discovered him in a watercourse1 his    
hands uplifted to heaven1 saying the    
prayer proper of the ,sixth ,hour4      
,when they beheld him1 they surrounded  
him1 and besought him with team1        
upbraiding him for departing from them4 
,but1 said he1 why labour ye in vain8   
,no longer hope to have me to your king4
 ,yet gave he way to their much         
opposition1 and turned again to his     
palace4 ,and1 when he had assembled all 
the folk1 he signified his will4 ,then  
with oath he confirmed his word1 that he

 would dwell with them not one day more4
 ,for1 said he1 ,i have fulfilled my    
ministry toward you1 and have omitted   
naught1 neither have ,i kept back       
anything that was profitable unto you1  
in failing to show or teach you1        
testifying to all the faith in our ,lord
 ,jesus ,christ1 and pointing out the   
paths of repentance4 ,and now behold ,i 
go the road that ,i have long time      
desired1 and all ye shall see my face no
 more4 ,wherefore ,i take you to record 
this day1 as saith the holy ,apostle1   
that ,i am pure from the blood of you   
all1 for ,i have not shunned to declare 
unto you all the counsel of ,god4  ,when
 they heard this1 and perceived the     
steadfastness of his purpose1 that      
nothing could hinder him from his       
resolve1 they wept like orphans over    
their bereavement1 but could in no wise 
over-persuade him4  ,then did the king  
take that ,barachias1 of whom we have   
already spoken1 saying1 ,this is he1    
brethren1 whom ,i appoint to be your    

king4  ,and though ,barachias stoutly   
resisted1 yet he established him1       
unwilling and reluctant1 upon the royal 
throne1 and placed the diadem on his    
head1 and gave the kingly ring into his 
hand4  ,then he stood facing the cast   
and made prayer for ,king ,barachias1   
that his faith toward ,god might be     
preserved unwavering1 and that he might 
keep without faltering the path of      
,christ's commandments4  ,therewith he  
prayed for the clergy and all the flock1
 asking of ,god succour for them and    
salvation1 and all that might fitly be  
asked for their welfare4  ,thus he      
prayed1 and then turning said unto      
,barachias1 ,behold1 brother1 ,i charge 
thee1 as the ,apostle once adjured his  
people1 ',take heed unto thyself1 and to
 all the flock1 over the which the ,holy
 ,ghost hath made thee king1 to feed the
 ,lord's people1 whom he hath purchased 
with his own blood4'  ,and even as thou 
wast before me in the knowledge of ,god1
 and didst serve him with a pure        

conscience1 so now also show the more   
zeal in pleasing him4 ,for1 as thou hast
 received of ,god a mighty sovereignty1 
thou owest him the greater repayment4   
,render therefore to thy ,benefactor the
 debt of thanksgiving1 by the keeping of
 his holy commandments and by turning   
aside from every path whose end is      
destruction4  ,for it is with kingdoms  
as with ships4  ,if one of the sailors  
blunder it bringeth but small damage to 
the crew4 ,but if the steersman err1 he 
causeth the whole ship to perish4 ,even 
so it is with sovranty3 if a subject    
err1 he harmeth himself more than the   
state4 ,but if the king err1 he causeth 
injury to the whole realm4  ,therefore1 
as one that shall render strict account1
 if thou neglect aught of thy duty1     
guard thyself with all diligence in that
 which is good4  ,hate all pleasure that
 draweth into sin3 for1 saith the       
,apostle1 ',follow peace with all men1  
and holiness1 without which no man shall
 see the ,lord4' ,consider the wheel of 

men's affairs1 how it runneth round and 
round1 turning and whirling them now up1
 now down3 and amid all its sudden      
changes1 keep thou unchanged a pious    
mind4  ,to change with every change of  
affairs betokeneth an unstable heart4   
,but be thou steadfast1 wholly          
established upon that which is good4 ,be
 not lifted and vainly puffed up because
 of temporal honour2 but1 with purified 
reason1 understand the nothingness of   
thine own nature1 and the span-length   
and swift flight of life here1 and death
 the yoke-fellow of the flesh4  ,if thou
 consider these things1 thou shalt not  
be cast into the pit of arrogance1 but  
shalt fear ,god1 the true and heavenly  
,king1 and verily thou shalt be blessed4
  ,for he saith1 ',blessed are all they 
that fear the ,lord1 and walk in his    
ways1' and ',blessed is the man that    
feareth the ,lord3 he shall have great  
delight in his commandments4'  ,and     
which commandments above all shouldest  
thou observe8  ',blessed are the        

merciful1 for they shall obtain mercy1' 
and ',be ye merciful1 as your heavenly  
,father is merciful4'  ,for the         
fulfilment of this commandment1 above   
all1 is required of them that are in    
high authority4  ,and1 soothly1 the     
holder of great authority ought to      
imitate the giver of that authority to  
the best of his ability4  ,and herein   
shall he best imitate ,god1 by          
considering that nothing is to be       
preferred before showing mercy4 ,nay1   
further1 nothing so surely draweth the  
subject to loyalty toward his ,sovereign
 as the grace of charity bestowed on    
such as need it4  ,for the service that 
cometh from fear is flattery in         
disguise1 with the pretence of respect  
cozening them that pay heed to it2 and  
the unwilling subject rebelleth when he 
findeth occasion4  ,whereas he that is  
held by the ties of loyalty is steadfast
 in his obedience to the ruling power4  
,wherefore be thou easy of access to all
 and open thine ears unto the poor1 that

 thou mayest find the ear of ,god open  
unto thee4  ,for as we are to our       
fellow-servants1 such shall we find our 
,master to us-ward4  ,and1 like as we do
 hear others1 so shall we be heard      
ourselves3 and1 as we see1 so shall we  
be seen by the divine all-seeing eye4   
,therefore pay we first mercy for mercy1
 that we may obtain like for like4  ,but
 hear yet another commandment1 the      
fellow of the former2 ',forgive1 and it 
shall be forgiven unto you2' and ',if ye
 forgive not men their trespasses1      
neither will your heavenly father       
forgive you your trespasses4'           
,wherefore bear no malice against them  
that offend against thee2 but1 when thou
 askest forgiveness of thy sins1 forgive
 thyself also them that injure thee1    
because forgiveness is repaid by        
forgiveness1 and by making peace with   
our fellow-servants we are ourselves    
delivered from the wrath of our ,master4
  ,again1 a lack of compassion towards  
them that trespass against us maketh our

 own trespasses unpardonable1 even as   
thou hast heard what befell the man that
 owed ten thousand talents1 how1 through
 his want of pity on his fellow-servant1
 he was again required to pay all that  
mighty debt4  ,so we must take good heed
 lest a like fate betide us4  ,but let  
us forgive every debt1 and cast all     
anger out of our hearts1 in order that  
our many debts1 too1 may be forgiven4   
,beside this1 and before all things1    
keep thou that good thing which is      
committed to thy trust1 the holy ,word  
of faith wherein thou hast been taught  
and instructed4  ,and let no tare of    
heresy grow up amongst you1 but preserve
 the heavenly seed pure and sincere1    
that it may yield a manifold harvest to 
the master1 when he cometh to demand    
account of our lives1 and to reward us  
according to our deeds1 when the        
righteous shall shine forth as the sun1 
but darkness and everlasting shame shall
 cover the sinners4  ,and now1 brethren1
 ,i commend you to ,god1 and to the word

 of his grace1 which is able to build   
you up1 and to give you an inheritance  
among all them which are sanctified4    
,and when he had thus spoken1 he kneeled
 down1 as it is written1 and prayed     
again in tears4  ,and he turned him     
round1 and kissed ,barachias1 whom he   
had chosen to their king1 and all the   
officers4  ,then came a scene fit1      
belike1 to make one weep4  ,they all    
crowded around him1 as though his       
presence meant life to them1 and his    
departure would reave them of their very
 souls2 and what piteous pleading1 what 
extravagance of grief did they omit8    
,they kissed him2 they hung about him2  
they were beside themselves for anguish 
of heart4 ,wo is us1 cried they1 for    
this grievous calamity6  ,they called   
him1 ,master1 ,father1 ,saviour1        
,benefactor4 ,through thine1 said they1 
we learned to know ,god1 and were       
redeemed from error1 and found rest from
 every ill4  ,what remaineth us after   
thou art gone8  ,what evils shall not   

befall us8 ,thus saying1 they smote upon
 their breasts1 and bewailed the        
misfortune that had overtaken them4     
,but he with words of comfort hushed    
their sobs1 and promised to be with them
 still in the spirit though he might no 
longer abide with them in the body4 ,and
 when he had thus spoken1 in the sight  
of all he went forth from the palace4   
,and immediately all the people followed
 him4 ,they despaired of his return2    
they ran from the city1 as from a sight 
that they could no longer endure4  ,but 
when they were outside the city1        
,ioasaph addressed them with sharp      
words1 and chode with them harshly2 and 
so they were parted from him1 and       
unwillingly went home1 often turning    
round to look on him1 and stumbling on  
their road4  ,and some of the hotter    
spirits also followed afar off weeping1 
until the shades of night parted them   
one from another4    ,,xxxvii4  ,thus   
this noble man went forth from his      
palace rejoicing1 as when after long    

exile a man returneth with joy to his   
own country4 ,outwardly he wore the     
robes that he was wont to wear1 but     
beneath was the hair-shirt which        
,barlaam had given him4  ,that night he 
halted at a poor man's cabin1 and       
stripped himself of his outer raiment1  
which1 as his last alms1 he bestowed    
upon his poor host1 and thus by the     
prayers of that poor man1 as well as of 
so many others1 he made ,god his ally1  
and put on his grace and help as a      
garment of salvation2 and1 clad in a    
coat of gladness1 thus went he off to   
his hermit-life1 carrying with him      
neither bread1 nor water1 nor any       
necessary food1 with no garment upon him
 save the aforesaid rough shirt4  ,for  
his heart was wounded with a marvellous 
longing and divine love for ,christ the 
immortal ,king2 he was beside himself   
with longing1 mad for ,god1 possessed by
 love of him2 ,for love1 he saith1 is   
strong as fire4  ,so drunken was he with
 this heavenly love1 so parched with    

thirst1 according to him that saith1    
,like as the hart desireth the          
water-brooks1 so longeth my soul after  
time1 ,o ,god4  ,my soul is athirst for 
the mighty and living ,god2 or1 as the  
soul that is sick of love crieth in the 
,song of ,songs1 ,thou hast ravished us1
 ravished us with the desire of thee2   
and1 ,let me see thy countenance1 and   
let me hear thy voice1 for thy voice is 
a sweet voice1 and thy countenance is   
comely4  ,it was the desire for this    
unspeakable comeliness of ,christ that  
fired the hearts of the ,apostolic      
,quire and of the ,martyr folk to       
despise the things that are seen1 and   
all this temporal life1 and the rather  
to choose ten thousand forms of death   
and torture1 being enamoured of his     
heavenly beauty1 and bearing in mind the
 charm that the divine ,word used for to
 win our love4  ,such was the fire that 
was kindled in the soul of this fair    
youth also1 noble in body1 but most     
noble and kingly in soul1 that led him  

to despise all earthly things alike1 to 
trample on all bodily pleasures1 and to 
contemn riches and glory and the praise 
of men1 to lay aside diadem and purple1 
as of less worth than cobwebs1 and to   
surrender himself to all the hard and   
irksome toils of the ascetic life1      
crying1 ,o my ,christ1 my soul is fixed 
upon thee1 and thy right hand hath      
upholden me4  ,thus1 without looking    
back1 he passed into the depth of the   
desert2 and1 laying aside1 like a heavy 
burden and clog1 the stress of          
transitory things1 he rejoiced in the   
,spirit1 and looked steadfastly on      
,christ1 whom he longed for1 and cried  
aloud to him1 as though he were there   
present to hear his voice1 saying1      
,lord1 let mine eyes never again see the
 good things of this present world4     
,never1 from this moment1 let my soul be
 excited by these present vanities1 but 
fill mine eyes with spiritual tears2    
direct my goings in thy way1 and show me
 thy servant ,barlaam4  ,show me him    

that was the means of my salvation1 that
 ,i may learn of him the exact rule of  
this lonely and austere life1 and may   
not be tripped up through ignorance of  
the wiles of the enemy4 ,grant me1 ,o   
,lord1 to discover the way whereby to   
attain unto thee1 for my soul is sick of
 love for thee1 and ,i am athirst for   
thee1 the well of salvation4  ,these    
were the thoughts of his heart          
continually1 and he communed with ,god1 
being made one with him by prayer and   
sublime meditation4  ,and thus eagerly  
he pursued the road1 hoping to arrive at
 the place where ,barlaam dwelt4  ,his  
meat was the herbs that grow in the     
desert2 for he carried nothing with him1
 as ,i have already said1 save his own  
bones1 and the ragged garment that was  
around him4  ,but whilst he found some  
food1 though scanty and insufficient1   
from the herbs1 of water he was quite   
destitute in that waterless and dry     
desert4  ,and so at noon-tide1 as he    
held on his way under the fierce blaze  

of the sun1 he was parched with thirst  
in the hot drought of that desert place1
 and he suffered the extreme of anguish4
  ,but desire of ,christ conquered      
nature1 and the thirst wherewith he     
thirsted for ,god bedewed the heat of   
thirst for water4  ,now the devil1 being
 envious and full of hate for that which
 is beautiful1 unable to endure the     
sight of such steadfastness of purpose1 
and glowing love towards ,god1 raised up
 against ,ioasaph many temptations in   
the wilderness4  ,he called to his      
remembrance his kingly glory1 and his   
magnificent body-guard1 his friends1    
kinsfolk and companions1 and how the    
lives of all had depended on his life1  
and he minded him of the other solaces  
of life4  ,then he would confront him   
with the hardness of virtue1 and the    
many sweats that she requireth1 with the
 weakness of his flesh1 with his lack of
 practice in such rigours1 the long     
years to come1 this present distress    
from thirst1 his want of any comfort1   

and the unendingness of his toils4  ,in 
a word1 he raised a great dust-cloud of 
reasonings in his mind1 exactly1 ,i     
ween1 as it hath been recorded of the   
mighty ,antony4  ,but1 when the enemy   
saw himself too weak to shake that      
purpose 7for ,ioasaph set ,christ before
 his mind1 and glowed with love of him1 
and was well strengthened by hope1 and  
steadfast in faith1 and recked nothing  
of the devil and his suggestions71 then 
was the adversary ashamed of having     
fallen in the first assault4  ,so he    
came by another road 7for many are his  
paths of wickedness71 and endeavoured to
 overthrow and terrify ,ioasaph by means
 of divers apparitions4 ,sometimes he   
appeared to him in black1 and such      
indeed he is3 sometimes with a drawn    
sword he leapt upon him1 and threatened 
to strike1 unless he speedily turned    
back4 ,at other times he assumed the    
shapes of all manner of beasts1 roaring 
and making a terrible din and bellowing2
 or again he became a dragon1 adder1 or 

basilisk4  ,but that fair and right     
noble athlete kept his soul in          
quietness1 for he had made the ,most    
,high his refuge3 and1 being sober in   
mind1 he laughed the evil one to scorn1 
and said1 ,i know thee1 deceiver1 who   
thou art1 which stiffest up this trouble
 for me2 which from the beginning didst 
devise mischief against mankind1 and art
 ever wicked1 and never stintest to do  
hurt4  ,how becoming and right proper is
 thy habit1 that thou shouldest take the
 shape of beasts and of creeping things1
 and thus display thy bestial and       
crooked nature1 and thy venomous and    
hurtful purpose6  ,wherefore1 wretch1   
attempt the impossible8  ,for ever since
 ,i discovered that these be the        
contrivances and bug-bears of thy       
malice1 ,i have now no more anxiety     
concerning thee4  ,the ,lord is on my   
side1 and ,i shall see my desire upon   
mine enemies4  ,i shall go upon the     
adder and basilisk1 the which thou dost 
resemble2 thee1 the lion and dragon ,i  

shall tread under my feet2 for ,i am    
strengthened with the might of ,christ4 
,let mine enemies be ashamed and turned 
backward3 let them be driven and put to 
shame suddenly4  ,thus speaking1 and    
girding on that invincible weapon1 the  
sign of the ,cross1 he made vain the    
devil's shows4  ,for straightway all the
 beasts and creeping things disappeared1
 like as the smoke vanisheth1 and like  
as wax melteth at the fire4  ,and he1   
strong in the might of ,christ1 went on 
his way rejoicing and giving thanks unto
 the ,lord4  ,but there dwelt in that   
desert many divers beasts1 and all kinds
 of serpents1 and dragon-shaped         
monsters1 and these met him1 not now as 
apparitions but in sober sooth1 so that 
his path was beset by fear and toil4    
,but he overcame both1 for love1 as     
saith the scripture1 cast out fear1 and 
longing made toil light4  ,thus he      
wrestled with many sundry misfortunes   
and hardships until1 after many days1 he
 arrived at that desert of the land of  

,senaar1 wherein ,barlaam dwelt4  ,there
 also he found water and quenched the   
burning of his thirst4    ,,xxxviii4    
,now two full years spent ,ioasaph      
wandering about the ocean of that       
desert1 without finding ,barlaam2 for   
here also ,god was proving the          
steadfastness of his purpose1 and the   
nobility of his soul4  ,he lived thus in
 the open air1 scorched with heat or    
frozen with cold1 and1 as one in search 
of precious treasure1 continually       
looking everywhere for his treasured    
friend1 the aged ,barlaam4  ,frequent   
were the temptations and assaults of the
 evil spirits that he encountered1 and  
many the hardships that he endured      
through the lack of herbs that he needed
 for meat1 because the desert1 being    
dry1 yielded even these in but scant    
supply4  ,but1 being kindled by love of 
her ,master1 this adamantine and        
indomitable soul bore these annoyances  
more easily than other men bear their   
pleasures4  ,wherefore he failed not of 

the succour that is from above1 but1    
many as were the sorrows and toils ,chat
 he endured1 comfort came to him from   
,christ1 and1 asleep or awake1 refreshed
 his soul4  ,by the space of those two  
years ,ioasaph went about continually1  
seeking him for whom he yearned1 and    
rivers of waters ran from his eyes1 as  
he implored ,god1 crying aloud and      
saying1 ,show me1 ,o ,lord1 show me the 
man that was the means of my knowledge  
of thee1 and the cause of my many       
blessings4  ,because of the multitude of
 mine offences1 deprive me not of this  
good thing2 but grant me to see him1 and
 fight with him the ascetic fight4  ,by 
the grace of ,god1 he found a cave1 by  
following footsteps that led thither4   
,there he met a monk pursuing a hermit  
life4  ,him he embraced and saluted     
tenderly4  ,he asked where to find      
,barlaam's dwelling1 and told him his   
own tale1 laying all bare4  ,of him then
 he learned the abode of the man whom he
 sought1 and thither went foot-hot1 as  

when a cunning hunter happeneth on the  
tracks of his game4  ,and when he had   
met with certain signs1 pointed out to  
him by this other old hermit1 he went on
 rejoicing1 strong in hope1 like a child
 hoping after long absence to see his   
father4 ,for when divine love hath      
broken into a soul1 it proveth hotter   
and stronger than the natural4  ,so he  
stood before the door of the cave1 and  
knocked1 saying ,benedic1 father1       
benedic6  ,when ,barlaam heard his      
voice1 he came forth from the cave1 and 
by the spirit knew him1 who by outward  
appearance could not easily be known1   
because of the marvellous change and    
alteration that had changed and altered 
his face from its former bloom of youth2
 for ,ioasaph was black with the sun's  
heat1 and overgrown with hair1 and his  
cheeks were fallen in1 and his eyes deep
 sunken1 and his eyelids seared with    
floods of tears1 and much distress of   
hunger4  ,and ,ioasaph recognised his   
spiritual father1 for his features were1

 for the more part1 the same4  ,so the  
old man stood1 and1 facing the ,east1   
offered up to ,god a prayer of          
thanksgiving2 and1 after the prayer1    
when they had said the ,amen1 they      
embraced and kissed each other          
affectionately1 taking their full fill  
of long deferred desire4  ,but1 when    
they had done with embracing and        
greeting1 they sat them down and        
conversed4  ,barlaam began1 saying1     
,welcome art thou1 son well beloved son 
of ,god1 and inheritor of the heavenly  
kingdom through ,jesus ,christ our      
,lord1 whom thou lovest1 whom thou      
rightly desirest above the things that  
are temporal and corruptible6  ,like a  
prudent and wise merchant1 thou hast    
sold all1 and bought the pearl that is  
beyond price1 and hast found the        
treasure that cannot be stolen1 hidden  
in the field of the commandments of the 
,lord2 thou hast parted with all1 and   
spared naught of the things that so soon
 pass away1 that thou mightest purchase 

that field for thyself4  ,the ,lord give
 thee the eternal for the temporal1 the 
things that are incorruptible and wax   
not old for the corruptible6  ,but tell 
me1 dearly beloved1 how thou camest     
hither8  ,how did thy matters speed     
after my departure8  ,and hath thy      
father learned to know ,god1 or is he   
still carried away with his former      
foolishness1 still under the bondage of 
devilish deceits8  ,thus questioned     
,barlaam1 and ,ioasaph answered1 telling
 him piece by piece all that had        
befallen him since he went away2 and in 
how many ways the ,lord had prospered   
him1 until they were come together      
again4  ,the old man listened with      
pleasure and amazement1 and with hot    
tears said1 ,glory to thee1 our ,god1   
that ever standest by and succourest    
them that love thee6  ,glory to thee1 ,o
 ,christ1 ,king of all and ,god         
all-good1 that it was thy pleasure that 
the seed1 which ,i sowed in the heart of
 ,ioasaph1 thy servant1 should thus     

bring forth fruit an hundredfold worthy 
of the husbandman and ,master of our    
souls6  ,glory to thee1 good ,paraclete1
 the all-holy ,spirit1 because thou     
didst vouchsafe unto this man to partake
 of that grace which thou gavest thine  
holy ,apostles1 and by his hand hast    
delivered multitudes of people from     
superstitious error1 and enlightened    
them with the true knowledge of ,god6   
,thus was ,god blessed by both1 and thus
 were they conversing and rejoicing in  
the grace of ,god until evenfall4  ,then
 stood they up for to pray and to       
perform the sacred services4  ,then also
 remembered they that it was meal-time1 
and ,barlaam spread his lavish table1   
laden with spiritual dainties1 but with 
little to attract the palate of sense4  
,these were uncooked worts1 and a few   
dates1 planted and tended by ,barlaam's 
own hands1 such as are found in the same
 desert1 and wild herbs4  ,so they gave 
thanks and partook of the victuals set  
before them1 and drank water from the   

neighbour springing well1 and again gave
 thanks to ,god1 who openeth his hand   
and filleth all things living4 ,then    
they arose again1 and1 when they had    
ended their ,night ,hours1 after prayer1
 they joined in spiritual converse      
again1 discoursing wholesome words1 and 
full of heavenly wisdom1 all the night  
long until daybreak bade them once more 
remember the hour of prayer4  ,so       
,ioasaph abode with ,barlaam for some   
many years1 pursuing this marvellous and
 more than human life1 dwelling with him
 as with a father and tutor1 in all     
obedience and lowliness1 exercising     
himself in every kind of virtue1 and    
learning well from practice how to      
wrestle with the invisible spirits of   
evil4  ,from that time forward he       
mortified all his sinful passions1 and  
made the will of the flesh as subject to
 the spirit as slave is to his master4  
,he was altogether forgetful of comforts
 or repose1 and tyrannized over sleep as
 over a wicked servant4 ,and1 in brief1 

such was his practice of the religious  
life1 that ,barlaam1 who had spent many 
years therein1 marvelled at him1 and    
failed to equal the earnestness of his  
life4  ,for he took only so much of that
 coarse and cheerless food as would keep
 him alive2 else had he died afore his  
time1 and forfeited the reward of his   
well-doing4 ,he subdued himself to      
watchings1 as though he were without    
flesh and body4  ,in prayer and mental  
exercise his work was unceasing1 and all
 the time of his life was spent in      
spiritual and heavenly contemplation1 so
 that not an hour1 nor even a single    
moment was wasted1 from the day that he 
came to dwell in the desert4  ,for this 
is the end of monastic life1 never to be
 found idle in spiritual employment3 and
 well herein did this noble and active  
runner of the heavenly race order his   
way4 ,and he kept his ardour unquenched 
from beginning to end1 ever ascending in
 his heart1 and going from strength to  
strength1 and continually adding desire 

to desire1 and zeal to zeal1 until he   
arrived at the bliss that he had hoped  
and longed for4    ,,xxxix4  ,thus did  
,barlaam and ,ioasaph dwell together1   
rivals in the good rivalry1 apart from  
all anxious care and all the turmoils of
 life1 possessing their minds           
undisturbed and clear of all confusion4 
,after their many labours after         
godliness1 one day ,barlaam called to   
him his spiritual son1 whom he had      
begotten through the ,gospel1 and opened
 his mouth to discourse of spiritual    
things1 saying1 ,long ago1 dearly       
beloved ,ioasaph1 was it destined that  
thou shouldest dwell in this wilderness2
 and1 in answer to my prayer for thee1  
,christ promised me that ,i should see  
it before the ending of my life4  ,i    
have seen my desire3 ,i have seen thee  
severed from the world and the concerns 
of the world1 united to ,christ1 thy    
mind never wavering1 and come to the    
measure of the perfection of his        
fulness4  ,now therefore as the time of 

my departure is at the door1 and seeing 
that my desire1 that hath grown with my 
growth and aged with my years1 to be for
 ever with ,christ1 is even now being   
fulfilled1 thou must bury my body in the
 earth and restore dust to dust1 but    
thyself abide for the time to come in   
this place1 holding fast to thy         
spiritual life1 and making remembrance  
of me1 poor as ,i am4  ,for ,i fear lest
 perchance the darksome army of fiends  
may stand in the way of my soul1 by     
reason of the multitude of mine         
ignorances4  ,so do thou1 my son1 think 
no scorn of the laboriousness of thy    
religious life1 neither dread the length
 of the time1 nor the tricks of devils4 
,but1 strong in the grace of ,christ1   
confidently laugh at the weakness of    
these thy foes2 and1 as for the hardness
 of thy toils1 and the long duration of 
the time1 be as one that daily expecteth
 his departure hence1 and as if the same
 day were the beginning and the end of  
thy religious life4 ,thus1 always       

forgetting the things which are behind1 
and reaching forth unto those things    
which are before1 press toward the mark 
for the prize of the high calling of    
,god in ,christ ,jesus1 according to the
 exhortation of the holy ,apostle1 who  
saith1 ',let us not faint2 but though   
our outward man perish1 yet the inward  
man is renewed day by day4  ,for our    
light affliction1 which is but for a    
moment1 worketh for us a far more       
exceeding eternal weight of glory2 while
 we look not at the things which are    
seen1 but at the things which are not   
seen3 for the things which are seen are 
temporal2 but the things which are not  
seen are eternal4  ,ponder thou over    
these things1 beloved3 quit thee like a 
man2 yea1 be strong2 and1 as a good     
soldier1 do thy diligence to please him 
who hath called thee to be a soldier4   
,and1 even if the evil one stir in thee 
thoughts of neglecting duty1 and thou   
art minded to slacken the string of thy 
purpose1 fear not his devices1 but      

remember the ,lord's command1 which     
saith1 ',in the world ye shall have     
tribulation1 but be of good cheer2 ,i   
have overcome the world4'  ,wherefore1  
rejoice in the ,lord alway2 for he hath 
chosen and separated thee out of the    
world1 and set thee1 as it were before  
his countenance4  ,the ,master1 who hath
 called thee with a holy calling1 is    
alway near4  ,be careful for nothing1   
but in everything1 by prayer and        
supplication with thanksgiving let thy  
requests be made known unto ,god4  ,for 
he himself hath said1 ,i will never     
leave thee1 nor forsake thee4  ,so1 by  
the hardness of thy life1 and by scorn  
of its rigours1 win such thoughts as    
these1 and rejoice1 remembering our     
,lord ,god1 for he saith1 ',i remembered
 ,god and was glad4'  ,but when the     
adversary1 seeking another fashion of   
war1 proposeth high and arrogant        
thoughts1 and suggesteth the glory of   
the kingdom of this world1 which thou   
hast forsaken1 and all its lures1 hold  

out1 as a shield before thee1 the saving
 word that saith1 ',when ye shall have  
done all those things which are         
commanded you1 say1 ,we are unprofitable
 servants1 for we have done that which  
was our duty to do4'  ,and1 indeed1     
which of us is able to repay the debt   
that we owe our ,master1 for that he1   
though he was rich1 yet for our sakes   
became poor1 that we through his poverty
 might become rich1 and1 being without  
suffering1 yet suffered1 that we might  
be delivered from suffering8 ,what      
thanks hath the servant if he suffer    
like as his ,master8  ,but we fall far  
short of his sufferings4  ,meditate upon
 these things1 casting down             
imaginations1 and every high thing that 
exalteth itself against the knowledge of
 ,god1 and bringing into captivity every
 thought to the obedience of ,christ4   
,and the peace of ,god which passeth all
 understanding shall keep thy heart and 
thoughts in ,christ ,jesus4  ,when      
blessed ,barlaam had so said1 ,ioasaph's

 tears knew no measure1 but1 like water 
from the brimming fountain1 bedewed him 
and the ground whereon he sat4  ,he     
mourned over the parting1 and earnestly 
implored that he might be his companion 
on his last journey1 and might remain no
 longer in this world after ,barlaam's  
decease1 saying1 ,wherefore1 father1    
seekest thou only thine own1 and not thy
 neighbour's welfare8 ,how fulfillest   
thou perfect love in this1 according to 
him that said1 ',thou shalt love thy    
neighbour as thyself1' in departing     
thyself to rest and life1 and leaving me
 to tribulation and distress8  ,and1    
before ,i have been well exercised in   
the conflicts of the religious life1    
before ,i have learned the wily attacks 
of the enemy1 why expose me to fight    
singlehanded against their marshalled   
host8  ,and for what purpose but to see 
me overthrown by their mischievous      
machinations1 and to see me die1 alas6  
the true spiritual and eternal death8   
,that is the fate which must befall     

inexperienced and cowardly monks4  ,but1
 ,i beseech thee1 pray the ,lord to take
 me also together with thee from life4  
,yea1 by the very hope that thou hast of
 receiving the reward of thy labour1    
pray that1 after thy departure1 ,i may  
not live one day more in the world1 nor 
wander into the ocean depths of this    
desert4  ,while ,ioasaph spake thus in  
tears1 the old man cheeked him gently   
and calmly1 saying1 ,son1 we ought not  
to resist the judgements of ,god1 which 
are beyond our reach4  ,for though ,i   
have oftentimes prayed concerning this  
matter1 and constrained the ,master1    
that cannot be constrained1 not to part 
us one from the other1 yet have ,i been 
taught by his goodness that it is not   
expedient for thee now to lay aside the 
burden of the flesh3 but thou must      
remain behind in the practice of virtue1
 until the crown1 which thou art        
weaving1 be more glorious4  ,as yet1    
thou hast not striven enough after the  
recompense in store for thee1 but must  

toil yet a little longer1 that thou     
mayest joyfully enter into the joy of   
thy ,lord4  ,for myself1 ,i am1 as ,i   
reckon1 well-nigh an hundred winters    
old1 and have now spent seventy and five
 years in this desert place4  ,but for  
thee1 even if thy days be not so far    
lengthened as mine1 yet must thou       
approach thereto1 as the ,lord ordereth1
 that thou mayest prove no unworthy     
match for them that have borne the      
burden and heat of the day4  ,therefore1
 beloved1 gladly accept the decrees of  
,god4  ,what ,god hath ordered1 who1 of 
men1 can scatter8  ,endure1 then1 under 
the protection of his grace4  ,but be   
thou ever sober against thoughts other  
than these2 and1 like a right precious  
treasure1 keep safely from robbers thy  
purity of heart1 stepping up day by day 
to higher work and contemplation1 that  
that may be fulfilled in thee1 which the
 ,saviour promised to his friends1 when 
he said1 ',if any man love me1 he will  
keep my word3 and my father will love   

him1 and we will come unto him1 and make
 our abode with him4'  ,with these      
words1 and many others1 full worthy of  
that sanctified soul and inspired       
tongue1 did the old man comfort         
,ioasaph's anguished soul4 ,then he sent
 him unto certain brethren1 which abode 
a long way off1 for to fetch the things 
fitting for the ,holy ,sacrifice4  ,and 
,ioasaph girded up his loins1 and with  
all speed fulfilled his errand3 for he  
dreaded lest peradventure1 in his       
absence1 ,barlaam might pay the debt of 
nature1 and1 yielding up the ghost to   
,god1 might inflict on him the loss of  
missing his departing words and         
utterances1 his last orisons and        
blessings4  ,so when ,ioasaph had       
manfully finished his long journey1 and 
had brought the things required for the 
,holy ,sacrifice1 saintly ,barlaam      
offered up to ,god the unbloody         
,sacrifice4  ,when he had communicated  
himself1 and also given to ,ioasaph of  
the undefiled ,mysteries of ,christ1 he 

rejoiced in the ,spirit4  ,and when they
 had taken together of their ordinary   
food1 ,barlaam again fed ,ioasaph's soul
 with edifying words1 saying1           
,well-beloved son1 no longer in this    
world shall we share one common hearth  
and board2 for now ,i go my last        
journey1 even the way of my fathers4    
,needs must thou1 therefore1 prove thy  
loving affection for me by thy keeping  
of ,god's commandments1 and by thy      
continuance in this place even to the   
end1 living as thou hast learned and    
been instructed1 and alway remembering  
my poor and slothful soul4 ,rejoice1    
therefore1 with great joy1 and make     
merry with the gladness that is in      
,christ1 because thou hast exchanged the
 earthly and corruptible for the eternal
 and incorruptible2 and because there   
draweth nigh the reward of thy works1   
and thy rewarder is already at hand1 who
 shall come to see the vineyard which   
thou hast dressed1 and shall richly pay 
thee the wages of thine husbandry4      

',faithful is the saying1 and worthy of 
all acceptation1' as proclaimed by ,paul
 the divine1 ',for if we be dead with   
him1 we shall also live with him2 if we 
endure1 we shall also reign with him in 
his eternal and everlasting kingdom1    
being illuminated with the light        
unapproachable1 and guerdoned with the  
effulgence of the blessed and           
life-giving ,trinity4'  ,thus until     
even-tide and all night long did        
,barlaam converse with ,ioasaph1 who    
wept tears that could not be stayed1 and
 could not bear the parting4  ,but just 
as day began to dawn1 ,barlaam ended his
 discourse1 lifted up his hands and eyes
 to heaven1 and offered his thanks to   
,god1 thus saying1 ,o ,lord1 my ,god1   
who art everywhere present1 and fillest 
all things1 ,i thank thee1 for that thou
 hast looked upon my lowliness1 and hast
 granted me to fulfil the course of this
 mine earthly pilgrimage in thy true    
,faith1 and in the way of thy           
commandments4  ,and now1 thou lover of  

good1 all-merciful ,master1 receive me  
into thine everlasting habitations2 and 
remember not all the sins that ,i have  
committed against thee1 in knowledge or 
in ignorance4 ,defend also this thy     
faithful servant1 before whom thou hast 
granted to me1 thine unprofitable       
servant1 to stand4  ,deliver him from   
all vanity1 and all despiteful treatment
 of the adversary1 and set him clear of 
the many-meshed nets which the wicked   
one spreadeth abroad for to trip all    
them that would full fain be saved4     
,destroy1 ,almighty ,lord1 all the might
 of the deceiver from before the face of
 thy servant1 and grant him authority to
 trample on the baneful head of the     
enemy of our souls4 ,send down from on  
high the grace of thy ,holy ,spirit2 and
 strengthen him against the invisible   
hosts1 that he may receive at thy hands 
the crown of victory1 and that in him   
thy name may be glorified1 the ,father1 
the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 for to  
thee belongeth glory and praise for ever

 and ever4  ,amen4  ,thus prayed he1 and
 in fatherly wise embraced ,ioasaph1 and
 saluted him with an holy kiss4  ,then  
he sealed himself with the sign of the  
,cross1 and gathered up his feet1 and1  
with exceeding great joy1 as at the     
home-coming of friends1 departed on that
 blessed journey1 to receive his reward 
yonder1 an old man and full of days in  
the ,spirit4    ,,xl4  ,then did        
,ioasaph embrace the good father1 with  
all the devotion and sorrow that can be 
told1 and washed his corpse with his    
tears4  ,then he wrapped it in the      
hair-shirt1 which ,barlaam had given him
 in his palace2 and over him he recited 
the proper psalms1 chanting all the day 
long1 and throughout the night1 and     
watering the venerable body of the      
,saint with his tears4  ,on the morrow1 
he made a grave hard by the cave1 and   
thither reverently bore the sacred body1
 and there1 like a good and honourable  
son1 laid his spiritual father in his   
sepulchre4  ,and then1 the fire of grief

 kindling all the hotter within his     
soul1 he set himself to pray the more   
earnestly1 saying3  ,o ,lord my ,god1   
hearken unto my voice1 when ,i cry unto 
thee4 ,have mercy upon me1 and hear me1 
for ,i seek thee with all my heart4  ,my
 soul hath sought for thee3 ,o hide not 
thy face from me1 and turn not away in  
anger from thy servant4  ,be thou my    
helper2 cast me not utterly away1 and   
forsake me not1 ,o ,god my ,saviour1    
because my father and mother forsake me2
 but do thou1 ,o ,lord1 take me up4     
,teach me thy way1 ,o ,lord1 and lead me
 in the right way because of mine       
enemies4  ,deliver me not over unto the 
souls of them that afflict me2 for ,i   
have been cast upon thee ever since ,i  
was born2 thou art my ,god even from my 
mother's womb4 ,o go not from me1       
because1 except thee1 there is none to  
help me4  ,for lo1 ,i set the hope of my
 soul upon the ocean of thy mercies4    
,be thou the pilot of my soul1 thou that
 steerest all creation with the         

unspeakable forethought of thy wisdom2  
and shew thou me the way that ,i should 
walk in2 and1 as thou art a good ,god   
and a lover of men1 save me by the      
prayers and intercessions of ,barlaam   
thy servant1 for thou art my ,god1 and  
thee ,i glorify1 the ,father1 the ,son1 
and the ,holy ,ghost1 world without end4
 ,amen4  ,thus prayed he1 and sat him   
down nigh the sepulchre1 a-weeping4 ,and
 as he sat1 he fell asleep1 and saw     
those dread men1 whom he had seen       
before1 coming to him1 and carrying him 
away to the great and marvellous plain1 
and bringing him to that glorious and   
exceeding bright city4  ,when he had    
passed within the gate1 there met him   
others1 gloriously apparelled with much 
light1 having in their hands crowns     
radiant with unspeakable beauty1 such as
 mortal eye hath never seen4 ,and1 when 
,ioasaph enquired1 ,whose are these     
exceeding bright crowns of glory1 which 
,i see8 ,thine1 said they1 is the one1  
prepared for thee1 because of the many  

souls which thou hast saved1 and now    
made still more beautiful because of the
 religious life that thou leadest1 if   
thou continue therein bravely until the 
end4  ,and this other crown is thine    
also2 but it must thou give unto thy    
father1 who1 by thy means1 turned from  
his evil way unto the ,lord1 and was    
truly penitent4 ,but ,ioasaph was as one
 sore vexed1 and said1 ,how is it       
possible that1 for his repentance alone1
 my father should receive reward equal  
to mine1 that have laboured so much8    
,thus spake he1 and straightway thought 
that he saw ,barlaam1 as it were1       
chiding him and saying1 ,these are my   
words1 ,ioasaph1 which ,i once spake    
unto thee1 saying1 ',when thou waxest   
passing rich1 thou wilt not be glad to  
distribute1' and thou understoodest not 
my saying4  ,but now1 why art thou      
displeased at thy father's equality with
 thee in honour1 and art not rather glad
 at heart that thine orisons in his     
behalf have been heard8  ,then ,ioasaph 

said unto him1 as he was ever wont to   
say1 ,pardon6 father1 pardon6  ,but shew
 me where thou dwellest8  ,barlaam      
answered1 ,in this mighty and exceeding 
fair city4  ,it is my lot to dwell in   
the mid-most street of the city1 a      
street that flasheth with light         
supernal4  ,again ,ioasaph thought he   
asked ,barlaam to bring him to his own  
habitation1 and1 in friendly wise1 to   
shew him the sights thereof4  ,but      
,barlaam said that his time was not yet 
come to win those habitations1 while he 
was under the burden of the flesh4      
,but1 said he1 if thou persevere        
bravely1 even as ,i charged thee1 in a  
little while thou shalt come hither1 and
 gain the same habitations1 and obtain  
the same joy and glory1 and be my       
companion for ever4  ,hereupon ,ioasaph 
awoke out of sleep1 but his soul was    
still full of that light and ineffable  
glory2 and greatly wondering1 he raised 
to his ,lord a song of thanksgiving4    
,and he continued to the end1 verily    

leading on earth the life of an angel1  
and after the death of his aged friend  
using himself to severer austerity4     
,twenty and five years old was he when  
he left his earthly kingdom1 and adopted
 the monastic life2 and thirty and five 
years in this vast desert did he1 like  
one dis-fleshed1 endure rigours above   
the endurance of man1 but not before he 
had delivered the souls of many men from
 the soul-devouring dragon1 and         
presented them to ,god1 saved for aye2  
winning herewith the ,apostolic grace4  
,in will he had proved a martyr1 and had
 with boldness confessed ,christ before 
kings and tyrants1 and had proved       
himself the mighty-voiced preacher of   
his greatness1 and had overthrown many  
spirits of wickedness in the desert1 and
 had overcome all in the strength of    
,christ4  ,partaking richly of the gift 
of grace from above1 he kept his mind's 
eye purified from every earth-born      
cloud1 and looked forward to the things 
that are to come1 as though they were   

already come4  ,christ was his          
recompense for all3 ,christ was his     
desire3 ,christ he ever saw as present  
with him3 ,christ and his fair beauty   
everywhere met his sight1 according to  
the saying of the prophet1 ,i have set  
,god always before me2 for he is on my  
right hand1 therefore ,i shall not fall4
  ,and again1 ,my soul cleaveth to thee2
 thy right hand hath upholden me4  ,for 
verily ,ioasaph's soul clave to ,christ1
 being knit to him in indissoluble      
union4  ,from this marvellous work he   
never swerved1 never altered the rule of
 his ascetic life1 from beginning to    
end1 but maintained his zeal from his   
youth even until old age2 or rather1 he 
daily advanced higher in virtue1 and    
daily gained purer power of vision4     
,thus did ,ioasaph spend his days1 and  
render unto him that called him labour  
worthy of his calling1 having crucified 
the world to himself1 and himself unto  
the world1 and1 at the last1 departed in
 peace unto the ,god of peace1 and      

passed to that ,master whom he had alway
 longed for4  ,there he appeared in the 
immediate presence of the ,lord1 and was
 crowned with the crown of glory already
 prepared for him3 there it is granted  
to him to behold ,christ1 to be with    
,christ1 to rejoice for ever in the fair
 beauty of ,christ1 into whose hands he 
commended his spirit1 when he departed  
to walk in the land of the living1 where
 is the song of them that feast1 the    
dwelling-place of them that rejoice4    
,as for his venerable body1 it befell   
thus2 about the very hour of ,ioasaph's 
death1 there came by divine revelation1 
from one of the neighbouring cells1 a   
certain holy man4  ,it was the same that
 once pointed out to ,ioasaph his way to
 ,barlaam4  ,this man honoured the      
corpse with sacred hymns1 and shed      
tears1 the token of affection1 over him1
 and performed all the last ,christian  
rites1 and laid him in the sepulchre of 
his father ,barlaam2 for it was only    
meet that their bodies should rest side 

by side1 since their souls were to dwell
 through eternity together4  ,in        
obedience to the strict command of a    
dread ,angel that appeared to him in a  
dream1 this hermit1 who had performed   
the last rites1 journeyed to the kingdom
 of ,india1 and1 entering in to ,king   
,barachias1 made known unto him all that
 had befallen ,barlaam1 and this blessed
 ,ioasaph4  ,barachias1 making no delay1
 set forth with a mighty host1 and      
arrived at the cave1 and beheld their   
sepulchre1 and wept bitterly over it1   
and raised the gravestone4 ,there he    
descried ,barlaam and ,ioasaph lying1 as
 they had been in life4  ,their bodies  
had not lost their former hue1 but were 
whole and uncorrupt1 together with their
 garments4 ,these1 the consecrated      
tabernacles of two holy souls1 that sent
 forth full sweet savour1 and showed    
naught distressful1 were placed by ,king
 ,barachias in costly tombs and conveyed
 by him into his own country4  ,now when
 the people heard tell of that which had

 come to pass1 there assembled a        
countless multitude out of all the      
cities and regions round about1 to      
venerate and view the bodies of these   
,saints4  ,thereupon1 sooth to say1 they
 chanted the sacred hymns over them1 and
 vied one with another to light lamps   
lavishly1 and rightly and fitly1 might  
one say1 in honour of these children and
 inheritors of light4  ,and with        
splendour and much solemnity they laid  
their bodies in the ,church which       
,ioasaph had built from the very        
foundation4  ,and many miracles and     
cures1 during the translation and       
deposition of their relics1 as also in  
later times1 did the ,lord work by his  
holy servants4  ,and ,king ,barachias   
and all the people beheld the mighty    
virtues that were shown by them2 and    
many of the nations round about1 that   
were sick of unbelief and ignorance of  
,god1 believed through the miracles that
 were wrought at their sepulchre4  ,and 
all they that saw and heard of the      

,angelic life of ,ioasaph1 and of his   
love of ,god from his childhood upward1 
marvelled1 and in all things glorified  
,god that alway worketh together with   
them that love him1 and granteth them   
exceeding great reward4  ,here endeth   
this history1 which ,i have written1 to 
the best of my ability1 even as ,i heard
 it from the truthful lips of worthy men
 who delivered it unto me4  ,and may    
,god grant that all we that read or hear
 this edifying story may obtain the     
heritage of such as have pleased the    
,lord1 by the prayers and intercessions 
of blessed ,barlaam and ,ioasaph1 of    
whom this story telleth1 in ,christ     
,jesu our ,lord2 to whom belongeth      
worship1 might1 majesty and glory1 with 
the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost1 now   
and for evermore1 world without end4    
,amen4