o banish Anger from mid court； I had now given thy body to be burned。 But since thou hast prevented and tied me down fast by my words； I bear with thine effrontery； by reason of my former friendship with thee。 Now； arise； and flee for ever from my sight； lest I see thee again and miserably destroy thee。〃
So the man of God went out and withdrew to the desert； grieved to have lost the crown of martyrdom； but daily a martyr in his conscience； and ‘wrestling against principalities and powers； against the rulers of the darkness of this world； against spiritual wickedness'； as saith Blessed Paul。 But after his departure； the king waxed yet more wroth； and devised a yet fiercer persecution of the monastic order； while treating with greater honour the ministers and temple…keepers of his idols。
While the king was under this terrible delusion and error； there was born unto him a son； a right goodly child； whose beauty from his very birth was prophetic of his future fortunes。 Nowhere in that land； they said； had there ever been seen so charming and lovely a babe。 Full of the keenest joy at the birth of the child； the king called him Ioasaph； and in his folly went in person to the temples of his idols； for to do sacrifice and offer hymns of praise to his still more foolish gods； unaware of the real giver of all good things； to whom he should have offered the spiritual sacrifice。 He then； ascribing the cause Of his son's birth to things lifeless and dumb； sent out into all quarters to gather the people together to celebrate his son's birth…day： and thou mightest have seen all the folk running together for fear of the king； and bringing their offerings ready for the sacrifice； according to the store at each man's hand； and his favour toward his lord。 But chiefly the king stirred them up to emulation。 He brought full many oxen； of goodly size； for sacrifice； and thus； making a feast for all his people； he bestowed largesses on all his counsellors and officers； and on all his soldiers； and all the poor； and men of low degree。
III。
Now on his son's birth…day feast there came unto the king some five and fifty chosen men； schooled in the star…lore of the Chaldaeans。 These the king called into his presence； and asked them； severally； to tell him the future of the new…born babe。 After long counsel held； they said that he should be mighty in riches and power； and should surpass all that had reigned before him。 But one of the astrologers； the most learned of all his fellows； spake thus： 〃From that which I learn from the courses of the stars； O king； the advancement of the child； now born unto thee； will not be in thy kingdom； but in another； a better and a greater one beyond compare。 Methinketh also that he will embrace the Christian religion； which thou persecutest； and I trow that he will not be disappointed of his aim and hope。〃 Thus spake the astrologer； like Balaam of old； not that his star…lore told him true； but because God signifieth the truth by the mouth of his enemies； that all excuse may be taken from the ungodly。
But when the king heard thereof； he received the tidings with a heavy heart； and sorrow cut short his joy。 Howsoever he built； in a city set apart； an exceeding beautiful palace； with cunningly devised gorgeous chambers； and there set his son to dwell； after he had ended his first infancy； and he forbade any to approach him； appointing； for instructors and servants； youths right seemly to behold。 These he charged to reveal to him none of the annoys of life； neither death； nor old age； nor disease； nor poverty； nor anything else grievous that might break his happiness： but to place before him everything pleasant and enjoyable； that his heart； revelling in these delights； might not gain strength to consider the future； nor ever hear the bare mention of the tale of Christ and his doctrines。 For he was heedful of the astrologer's warning； and it was this most that he was minded to conceal from his son。 And if any of the attendants chanced to fall sick； he commanded to have him speedily removed； and put another plump and well…favoured servant in his place； that the boy's eyes might never once behold anything to disquiet them。 Such then was the intent and doing of the king； for； 'seeing； he did not see； and hearing； he did not understand。'
But； learning that some monks still remained； of whom he fondly imagined that not a trace was left； he became angry above measure； and his fury was hotly kindled against them。 And he commanded heralds to scour all the city and all the country； proclaiming that after three days no monk whatsoever should be found therein。 But and if any were discovered after the set time； they should be delivered to destruction by fire and sword。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃these be they that persuade the people to worship the Crucified as God。〃 Meanwhile a thing befell； that made the king still more angry and bitter against the monks。
IV。
There was at court a man pre…eminent among the rulers； of virtuous life and devout in religion。 But while working out his own salvation； as best he might； he kept it secret for fear of the king。 Wherefore certain men； looking enviously on his free converse with the king； studied how they might slander him； and this was all their thought。 On a day； when the king went forth a…hunting with his bodyguard； as was his wont； this good man was of the hunting party。 While he was walking alone； by divine providence； as I believe； he found a man in a covert； cast to the ground； his foot grievously crushed by a wild…beast。 Seeing him passing by； the wounded man importuned him not to go his way； but to pity his misfortune； and take him to his own home； adding thereto： 〃I hope that I shall not be found unprofitable； nor altogether useless unto thee。〃 Our nobleman said unto him； 〃For very charity I will take thee up； and render thee such service as I may。 But what is this profit which thou saidest that I should
receive of thee？〃 The poor sick man answered；〃I am a physician of words。 If ever in speech or converse any wound or damage be found； I will heal it with befitting medicines； that so the evil spread no further。〃 The devout man gave no heed to his word； but on account of the commandment； ordered him to be carried home； and grudged him not that tending which he required。 But the aforesaid envious and malignant persons； bringing forth to light that ungodliness with which they had long been in travail； slandered this good man to the king； that not only did he forget his friendship with the king； and neglect the worship of the gods； and incline to Christianity； but more； that he was grievously intriguing against the kingly power； and was turning aside the common people； and stealing all hearts for himself。 〃But；〃 said they； 〃if thou wilt prove that our charge is not ungrounded； call him to thee privately； and； to try him； say that thou desirest to leave thy fathers' religion； and the glory of thy kingship； and to become a Christian； and to put on the monkish habit which formerly thou didst persecute； having； thou shalt tell him； found thine old course evil。〃 The authors of this villainous charge against the Christian knew the tenderness of his heart； how that； if he heard such speech from the king； he would advise him； who had made this better choice； not to put off his good determinations； and so they would be found just accusers。
But the king； not forgetful of his friend's great kindness toward him； thought these accusations incredible and false； and because he might not accept them without proof； he resolved to try the fact and the charge。 So he called the man apart and said； to prove him； 〃Friend； thou knowest of all my past dealings with them that are called monks and with all the Christians。 But now； I have repented in this matter； and； lightly esteeming the present world； would fain become partaker of those hopes whereof I have heard them speak； of some immortal kingdom in the life to come； for the present is of a surety cut short by death。 And in none other way； methinks； can I succeed herein and not miss the mark except I become a Christian； and； bidding farewell to the glory of my kingdom and all the pleasures and joys of life； go seek those hermits and monks； wheresoever they be； whom I have banished； and join myself to their number。 Now what sayest thou thereto； and what is thine advice？ Say on； I adjure thee in the name of truth； for I know thee to be true and wise above all men。〃
The worthy man； hearing this； but never guessing the hidden pitfall； was pricked in spirit； and； melting into tears； answered in his simplicity； 〃O king； live for ever！ Good and sound is the determination that thou hast determined； for though the kingdom of heaven be difficult to find； yet must a man seek it with all his might； for it is written； ‘He that seeketh shall find it。' The enjoyment of the present life； though in seeming it give delight and sweetness； is well thrust from us。 At the very moment of its being it ceaseth to be； and for our joy repayeth us with sorrow sevenfold。 Its happiness and its sorrow are more frail than a shadow； and； like the traces of a ship passing over the sea； or of a bird flying through the air； quickly disappear。 But the hope of the life to come which the Christians preach is certain； and as surety sure； howbeit in this world it hath tribulation； whereas our pleasures now are short…lived； and in the beyond they only win us correction and everlasting punishment without release。 For the pleasures of such life are temporary； but its pains eternal； while the Christians' labours are temporary； but their pleasure and gain immortal。 Therefore well befall this good determination of the king！ for right good it is to exchange the corruptible for the eternal。〃
The king heard these words and waxed exceeding wroth： nevertheless he restrained his anger； and for the season let no word fall。 But the other； being shrewd and quick of wit； perceived that the king took his word ill； and was craftily sounding him。 So； on his coming home； he fell into much grief and distress in his perplexity how to conciliate the king and to escape the peril hanging over his own head。 But as he lay awake all the night long； there came to his remembran