eril hanging over his own head。 But as he lay awake all the night long； there came to his remembrance the man with the crushed foot； so he had him brought before him； and said； 〃I remember thy saying that thou weft an healer of injured speech。〃 〃Yea；〃 quoth he； 〃and if thou wilt I will give thee proof of my skill。〃 The senator answered and told him of his aforetime friendship with the king； and of the confidence which he had enjoyed； and of the snare laid for him in his late converse with the king； how he had given a good answer； but the king had taken his words amiss； and by his change of countenance betrayed the anger lurking within his heart。
The sick beggar…man considered and said； 〃Be it known unto thee； most noble sir； that the king harboureth against thee the suspicion； that thou wouldest usurp his kingdom； and he spake； as he spake； to sound thee。 Arise therefore； and crop thy hair。 Doff these thy fine garments； and don an hair…shirt； and at daybreak present thyself before the king。 And when he asketh thee； ‘What meaneth this apparel？' answer him； ‘It hath to do with thy communing with me yesterday； O king。 Behold； I am ready to follow thee along the road that thou art eager to travel； for though luxury be desirable and passing sweet； God forbid that I embrace it after thou art gone！ Though the path of virtue； which thou art about to tread； be difficult and rough； yet in thy company I shall find it easy and pleasant； for as I have shared with thee this thy prosperity so now will I share thy distresses； that in the future； as in the past； I may be thy fellow。'〃 Our nobleman； approving of the sick man's saying； did as he said。 When the king saw and heard him； he was delighted； and beyond measure gratified by his devotion towards him。 He saw that the accusations against his senator were false； and promoted him to more honour and to a greater enjoyment of his confidence。 But against the monks he again raged above measure； declaring that this was of their teaching； that men should abstain from the pleasures of life； and rock themselves in visionary hopes。
Another day； when he was gone a…hunting； he espied two monks crossing the desert。 These he ordered to be apprehended and brought to his chariot。 Looking angrily upon them； and breathing fire； as they say； 〃Ye vagabonds and deceivers；〃 he cried； 〃have ye not heard the plain proclamation of the heralds； that if any of your execrable religion were found； after three days； in any city or country within my realm； he should be burned with fire？〃 The monks answered； 〃Lo！ obedient to thine order； we be coming out of thy cities and coasts。 But as the journey before us is long； to get us away to our brethren； being in want of victuals； we were making provision for the way； that we perish not with hunger。〃 Said the king； 〃He that dreadeth menace of death busieth not himself with the purveyante of victuals。〃 〃Well spoken； O king；〃 cried the monks。 〃They that dread death have concern how to escape it。 And who are these but such as cling to things temporary and are enamoured of them； who； having no good hopes yonder； find it hard to be wrenched from this present world； and therefore dread death？ But we； who have long since hated the world and the things of the world； and are walking along the narrow and strait road； for Christ his sake； neither dread death； nor desire the present world； but only long for the world to come。 Therefore； forasmuch the death that thou art bringing upon us proveth but the passage to that everlasting and better life； it is rather to be desired of us than feared。〃
Hereupon the king； wishing to entrap the monks； as I ween； shrewdly said； 〃How now？ Said ye not but this instant； that ye were withdrawing even as I commanded you？ And； if ye fear not death； how came ye to be fleeing？ Lo！ this is but another of your idle boasts and lies。〃 The monks answered； 〃Tis not because we dread the death wherewith thou dost threaten us that we flee； but because we pity thee。 ‘Twas in order that we might not bring on thee greater condemnation； that we were eager to escape。 Else for ourselves we are never a whit terrified by thy threats。〃 At this the king waxed wroth and bade burn them with fire。 So by fire were these servants of God made perfect； and received the Martyr's crown。 And the king published a decree that； should any be found leading a monk's life； he should be put to death without trial。 Thus was there left in that country none of the monastic order； save those that had hid them in mountains and caverns and holes of the earth。 So much then concerning this matter。
V。
But meanwhile； the king's son； of whom our tale began to tell； never departing from the palace prepared for him； attained to the age of manhood。 He had pursued all the learning of the Ethiopians and Persians； and was as fair and well favoured in mind as in body； intelligent and prudent； and shining in all excellencies。 To his teachers he would propound such questions of natural history that even they marvelled at the boy's quickness and understanding； while the king was astounded at the charm of his countenance and the disposition of his soul。 He charged the attendants of the young prince on no account to make known unto him any of the annoys of life； least of all to tell him that death ensueth on the pleasures of this world。 But vain was the hope whereon he stayed； and he was like the archer in the tale that would shoot at the sky。 For how could death have remained unknown to any human creature？ Nor did it to this boy； for his mind was fertile of wit； and he would reason within himself； why his father had condemned him never to go abroad； and had forbidden access to all。 He knew； without hearing it； that this was his father's express command。 Nevertheless he feared to ask him； it was not to be believed that his father intended aught but his good； and again； if it were so by his father's will； his father would not reveal the true reason； for all his asking。 Wherefore he determined to learn the secret from some other source。 There was one of his tutors nearer and dearer to him than the rest； whose devotion he won even further by handsome gifts。 To him he put the question what his father might mean by thus enclosing him within those walls； adding； 〃If thou wilt plainly tell me this； of all thou shalt stand first in my favour； and I will make with thee a covenant of everlasting friendship。〃 The tutor； himself a prudent man； knowing how bright and mature was the boy's wit and that he would not betray him； to his peril； discovered to him the whole matter the persecution of the Christians and especially of the anchorets decreed by the king； and how they were driven forth and banished from the country round about； also the prophecies of the astrologers at his birth。 〃'Twas in order；〃 said he； 〃that thou mightest never hear of their teaching； and choose it before our religion； that the king hath thus devised that none but a small company should dwell with thee； and hath commanded us to acquaint thee with none of the woes of life。〃 When the young prince heard this he said never a word more； but the word of salvation took hold of his heart； and the grace of the Comforter began to open wide the eyes of his understanding； leading him by the hand to the true God； as our tale in its course shall tell。
Now the king his father came oftentimes to see his boy； for he loved him passing well。 On a day his son said unto him； 〃There is something that I long to learn from thee； my lord the king； by reason of which continual grief and unceasing care consumeth my
soul。〃 His father was grieved at heart at the very word； and said； 〃Tell me； darling child； what is the sadness that constraineth thee； and straightway I will do my diligence to turn it into gladness。〃 The boy said； 〃What is the reason of mine imprisonment here？ Wily hast thou barred me within walls and doors； never going forth and seen of none？〃 His father replied； 〃Because I will not； my son； that thou shouldest behold anything to embitter thy heart or mar thy happiness。 I intend that thou shalt spend all thy days in luxury unbroken； and in all manner joy and pleasaunce。〃 〃But；〃 said the son unto his father； 〃know well； Sir； that thus I live not in joy and pleasaunce； but rather in affliction and great straits； so that my very meat and drink seem distasteful unto me and bitter。 I yearn to see all that lieth without these gates。 If then thou wouldest not have me live in anguish of mind； bid me go abroad as I desire； and let me rejoice my soul with sights hitherto unseen by mine eyes。〃
Grieved was the king to hear these words； but； perceiving that to deny this request would but increase his boy's pain and grief； he answered； 〃My son； I will grant thee thy heart's desire。〃 And immediately he ordered that choice steeds； and an escort fit for a king； be made ready； and gave him license to go abroad whensoever he would； charging his companions to suffer nothing unpleasant to come in his way； but to show him all that was beautiful and gladsome。 He bade them muster in the way troops of folk intuning melodies in every mode； and presenting divers mimic shows； that these might occupy and delight his mind。
So thus it came to pass that the king's son often went abroad。 One day； through the negligence of his attendants； he descried two men； the one maimed； and the other blind。 In abhorrence of the sight； he cried to his esquires； 〃Who are these； and what is this distressing spectacle？〃 They； unable to conceal what he had with his own eyes seen； answered； 〃These be human sufferings； which spring from corrupt matter； and from a body full of evil humours。〃 The young prince asked； 〃Are these the fortune of all men？〃 They answered； 〃Not of all； but of those in whom the principle of health is turned away by the badness of the humours。〃 Again the youth asked； 〃If then this is wont to happen not to all； but only to some； can they be known on whom this terrible calamity shall fall？ or is it undefined and unforeseeable？〃 〃What man；〃 said they； 〃can discern the future； and accurately ascertain it？ This is beyond human nature； and is reserved for the immortal gods alone。〃 The young prince ceased from his questioning； but hi