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 ensues 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 you wilt plainly tell me this, of all you shalt stand first in my favour, and I will make with you 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 you might never hear of their teaching, and choose it before our religion, that the king has thus devised that none but a small company should dwell with you, and has commanded us to acquaint you 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 you, my lord the king, by reason of which continual grief and unceasing care consumes my soul." His father was grieved at heart at the very word, and said, "Tell me, darling child, what is the sadness that constrains you, 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 you barred me within walls and doors, never going forth and seen of none?" His father replied, "Because I will not, my son, that you shouldest behold anything to embitter your heart or mar your happiness. I intend that you shalt spend all your days in luxury unbroken, and in all manner joy and pleasure." "But," said the son unto his father, "know well, Sir, that thus I live not in joy and pleasure, 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 lies without these gates. If then you would 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 you your 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 his heart was grieved at the sight that he had witnessed, and the form of his visage was changed by the strangeness of the matter.

Not many days after, as he was again taking his walks abroad, he happened with an old man, well stricken in years, shrivelled in countenance, feeble-kneed, bent double, grey-haired, toothless, and with broken utterance. The prince was seized with astonishment, and, calling the old man near, desired to know the meaning of this strange sight. His companions answered, "This man is now well advanced in years, and his gradual decrease of strength, with increase of weakness, has brought him to the misery that you see." "And," said he, "what will be his end?" They answered, "Naught but death will relieve him." "But," said he, "is this the appointed doom of all mankind? Or doth it happen only to some?" They answered, "Unless death come before hand to remove him, no dweller on earth, but, as life advanceth, must make trial of this lot." Then the young prince asked in how many years this overtook a man, and whether the doom of death was without reprieve, and whether there was no way to escape it, and avoid coming to such misery. They answered him, "In eighty or an hundred years men arrive at this old age, and then they die, since there is none other way; for death is a debt due to nature, laid on man from the beginning, and its approach is inexorable."

When our wise and sagacious young prince saw and heard all this, he sighed from the bottom of his heart. "Bitter is this life," cried he, "and fulfilled of all pain and anguish, if this be so. And how can a body be careless in the expectation of an unknown death, whose approach (ye say) is as uncertain as it is inexorable?" So he went away, restlessly turning over all these things in his mind, pondering without end, and ever calling up remembrances of death. Wherefore trouble and despondency were his companions, and his grief knew no ease; for he said to himself, "And is it true that death shall one day overtake me? And who is he that shall make mention of me after death, when time delivereth all things to forgetfulness? When dead, shall I dissolve into nothingness? Or is there life beyond, and another world?" Ever fretting over these and the like considerations, he waxed pale and wasted away, but in the presence of his father, whenever he chanced to come to him, he made as though he were cheerful and without trouble, unwilling that his cares should come to his father's knowledge. But he longed with an unrestrainable yearning, to meet with the man that might accomplish his heart's desire, and fill his ears with the sound of good tidings.

Again he enquired of the tutor of whom we have spoken, whether he knew of anybody able to help him towards his desire, and to establish a mind, dazed and shuddering at its cogitations, and unable to throw off its burden. He, recollecting their former communications, said, "I have told you already how your father has dealt with the wise men and anchorets who spend their lives in such philosophies. Some has he slain, and others he has wrathfully persecuted, and I wot not whether any of this sort be in this country side." Thereat the prince was overwhelmed with woe, and grievously wounded in spirit. He was like unto a man that has lost a great treasure, whose whole heart is occupied in seeking after it. Thenceforth he lived in perpetual conflict and distress of mind, and all the pleasures and delights of this world were in his eyes an abomination and a curse. While the youth was in this way, and his soul was crying out to discover that which is good, the eye that beholdeth all things looked upon him, and he that willeth that 'all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth,' passed him not by, but showed this man also the tender love that he has toward mankind, and made known upon him the path whereon he needs must go. Befel it thus.

V

Ὁ δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως υἱός, περὶ οὗ ὁ λόγος ἀπ' ἀρχῆς εἰπεῖν ὥρμηται, ἐν τῷ κατασκευασθέντι αὐτῷ παλατίῳ ἀπρόϊτος ὤν, τῆς ἐφήβου ἥψατο ἡλικίας, πᾶσαν τὴν Αἰθιόπων καὶ Περσῶν μετελθὼν παιδείαν, οὐκ ἔλαττον τὴν ψυχὴν ἢ τὸ σῶμα εὐφυὴς ὢν καὶ ὡραῖος, νουνεχής τε καὶ φρόνιμος καὶ πᾶσι διαλάμπων ἀγαθοῖς πλεονεκτήμασι, ζητήματά τε φυσικὰ πρὸς τοὺς διδάσκοντας αὐτὸν προβαλλόμενος, ὡς κἀκείνους θαυμάζειν ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ παιδὸς ἀγχινοίᾳ καὶ συνέσει, ἐκπλήττεσθαι δὲ καὶ τὸν βασιλέα τό τε χαριέστατον τοῦ προσώπου καὶ τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς κατάστημα. ἐντολάς τε ἐδίδου τοῖς συνοῦσιν αὐτῷ, μηδὲν τὸ παράπαν τῶν τοῦ βίου ἀνιαρῶν αὐτῷ γνώριμον θεῖναι, μηδ' ὅτι ὅλως θάνατος τὰ παρόντα τερπνὰ διαδέχεται. κεναῖς δὲ ἐπηρείδετο ἐλπίσι, καί, τοῦτο δὴ τὸ τοῦ λόγου, εἰς οὐρανὸν τοξεύειν ἐπιχειρῶν. πῶς γὰρ ἂν καὶ διέλαθεν ἀνθρωπίνῃ φύσει ὁ θάνατος; οὐ μέντοι οὐδὲ τῷ παιδὶ διέλαθε. πάσῃ γὰρ συνέσει κατάκομον ἔχων ἐκεῖνος τὸν λογισμόν, ἐσκόπει καθ' ἑαυτὸν τίνι λόγῳ αὐτόν τε ἀπρόϊτον εἶναι ὁ πατὴρ κατεδίκασε καὶ παντὶ τῷ βουλομένῳ τὴν εἰς αὐτὸν οὐ συγχωρεῖ εἴσοδον. ἔγνω γὰρ καθ' ἑαυτὸν μὴ ἄνευ τῆς τοῦ πατρὸς προσταγῆς τοῦτο εἶναι. ὅμως ᾐδεῖτο ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτόν: τοῦτο μὲν ἀπίθανον εἶναι λέγων, μὴ τὰ συμφέροντα αὐτῷ τὸν πατέρα διανοεῖσθαι, τοῦτο δὲ σκοπῶν, ὡς, εἰ κατὰ γνώμην τοῦ πατρός ἐστι τὸ πρᾶγμα, κἂν ἐρωτήσῃ, οὐκ ἂν αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς ἀληθείας γνωριεῖ. ὅθεν παρ' ἄλλων, καὶ μὴ παρὰ τοῦ πατρός, ταῦτα μαθεῖν διέγνω. ἕνα δὲ τῶν παιδαγωγῶν προσφιλέστατον καὶ οἰκειότατον τῶν λοιπῶν κεκτημένος, ἐπὶ πλεῖον οἰκειωσάμενος καὶ δωρεαῖς φιλοτίμοις δεξιωσάμενος, ἐπυνθάνετο παρ' αὐτοῦ τί ἂν βούλοιτο τῷ βασιλεῖ ἡ ἐν τῷ περιτειχίσματι ἐκείνῳ τούτου κάθειρξις, καὶ ὡς Εἰ τοῦτο, φησί, σαφῶς διδάξεις με, πρόκριτος πάντων ἔσῃ μοι, καὶ διαθήκην φιλίας διηνεκοῦς διαθήσομαί σοι. ὁ δὲ παιδαγωγός, ἐχέφρων καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπάρχων, καὶ εἰδὼς τὴν τοῦ παιδὸς συνετὴν καὶ τελείαν φρόνησιν, καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἂν αὐτῷ γένοιτο κινδύνου πρόξενος, πάντα αὐτῷ κατὰ μέρος διηγήσατο, τὸν κατὰ τῶν Χριστιανῶν τεθέντα παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως διωγμὸν καὶ ἐξαιρέτως κατὰ τῶν ἀσκητῶν, ὅπως τε ἀπηλάθησαν καὶ ἐξεβλήθησαν τῆς περιχώρου ἐκείνης, οἷά τε γεννηθέντος αὐτοῦ οἱ ἀστρολόγοι προηγόρευσαν. Ἵν' οὖν, φησί, μή, ἀκούσας τῆς ἐκείνων διδαχῆς, ταύτην προκρίνῃς τῆς ἡμετέρας θρησκείας, μὴ προσομιλεῖν σοι πολλούς, ἀλλ' εὐαριθμήτους, ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπετηδεύσατο, ἐντολὰς ἡμῖν δοὺς μηδέν σοι τῶν τοῦ βίου ἀνιαρῶν γνωρίσαι. Ταῦτα ὡς ἤκουσεν ὁ νεανίας οὐδὲν ἕτερον προσέθετο λαλῆσαι: ἥψατο δὲ τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ λόγος σωτήριος, καὶ ἡ τοῦ Παρακλήτου χάρις τοὺς νοητοὺς αὐτοῦ ὀφθαλμοὺς διανοίγειν ἐπεχείρησε, πρὸς τὸν ἀψευδῆ χειραγωγοῦσα Θεόν, ὡς προϊὼν ὁ λόγος δηλώσειε.

Συχνῶς δὲ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ βασιλέως κατὰ θέαν τοῦ παιδὸς ἐρχομένου (ἀγάπῃ γὰρ ὑπερβαλλούσῃ ἐφίλει αὐτόν), ἐν μιᾷ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ υἱός: Μαθεῖν τι ἐπεθύμησα παρὰ σοῦ, ὦ δέσποτα καὶ βασιλεῦ, ἐφ' ᾧ λύπη διηνεκὴς καὶ μέριμνα ἀδιάπαυστος κατεσθίει μου τὴν ψυχήν. ὁ δὲ πατήρ, ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν ῥημάτων ἀλγήσας τὰ σπλάγχνα, ἔφη: Λέγε μοι, τέκνον ποθεινότατον, τίς ἡ συνέχουσά σε λύπη, καὶ θᾶττον αὐτὴν εἰς χαρὰν μεταμεῖψαι σπουδάσω. καὶ φησὶν ὁ παῖς: Τίς ὁ τρόπος τῆς ἐμῆς ἐνθάδε καθείρξεως, ὅτι ἐντὸς τειχέων καὶ πυλῶν συνέκλεισάς με, ἀπρόϊτον πάντη καὶ ἀθέατον πᾶσί με καταστήσας; καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἔφη: Οὐ βούλομαι, ὦ τέκνον, ἰδεῖν σέ τι τῶν ἀηδιζόντων τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ ἐγκοπτόντων σοι τὴν εὐφροσύνην. ἐν τρυφῇ γὰρ διηνεκεῖ καὶ χαρᾷ πάσῃ καὶ θυμηδίᾳ ζῆσαί σε τὸν ἅπαντα διανοοῦμαι αἰῶνα. Ἀλλ' εὖ ἴσθι, ὦ δέσποτα, φησὶν ὁ υἱὸς τῷ πατρί, τῷ τρόπῳ τούτῳ οὐκ ἐν χαρᾷ καὶ θυμηδίᾳ ζῶ, ἐν θλίψει δὲ μᾶλλον καὶ στενοχωρίᾳ πολλῇ, ὡς καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν βρῶσίν τε καὶ πόσιν ἀηδῆ μοι καταφαίνεσθαι καὶ πικράν. ποθῶ γὰρ ὁρᾶν πάντα τὰ ἔξω τῶν πυλῶν τούτων. εἰ οὖν βούλει ἐν ὀδύνῃ μὴ ζῆν με, κέλευσον προέρχεσθαι καθὼς βούλομαι, καὶ τέρπεσθαι τὴν ψυχὴν τῇ θέᾳ τῶν γενομένων τέως ἀθεάτων μοι.

Ἐλυπήθη ὁ βασιλεὺς ὡς ἤκουσε ταῦτα, καὶ διεσκόπει ὡς, εἰ κωλύσει τῆς αἰτήσεως, πλείονος αὐτῷ ἀνίας καὶ μερίμνης πρόξενος ἔσται. καὶ Ἐγώ σου, τέκνον, εἰπών, τὰ καταθύμια ποιήσω. ἵππους αὐτίκα ἐκλεκτοὺς καὶ δορυφορίαν τὴν βασιλεῖ πρέπουσαν εὐτρεπισθῆναι κελεύσας, προέρχεσθαι αὐτὸν ὅτε βούλοιτο διωρίσατο, ἐπισκήψας τοῖς συνοῦσιν αὐτῷ μηδὲν ἀηδὲς εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ ἄγειν, ἀλλὰ πᾶν ὅ τι καλὸν καὶ τέρψιν ἐμποιοῦν, τοῦτο ὑποδεικνύειν τῷ παιδί, χορούς τε συγκροτεῖν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς παναρμονίους κροτούντων ᾠδὰς καὶ ποικίλα θέατρα συνιστώντων, ὥστε τούτοις τὸν νοῦν αὐτοῦ ἀπασχολεῖσθαι καὶ ἐνηδύνεσθαι.

Ἀμέλει οὑτωσὶ συχνάζων ἐν ταῖς προόδοις ὁ τοῦ βασιλέως υἱὸς εἶδεν ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν, κατὰ λήθην τῶν ὑπηρετῶν, ἄνδρας δύο, ὧν ὁ μὲν λελωβημένος, τυφλὸς δὲ ὁ ἕτερος ἦν: οὓς ἰδών, καὶ ἀηδισθεὶς τὴν ψυχήν, λέγει τοῖς μετ' αὐτοῦ: Τίνες οὗτοι, καὶ ποταπὴ ἡ δυσχερὴς αὐτῶν θέα; οἱ δέ, μὴ δυνάμενοι τὸ εἰς ὅρασιν αὐτοῦ ἐλθὸν ἀποκρύψαι, ἔφησαν: Πάθη ταῦτά εἰσιν ἀνθρώπινα, ἅτινα ἐξ ὕλης διεφθαρμένης καὶ σώματος κακοχύμου τοῖς βροτοῖς συμβαίνειν εἴωθε. καί φησιν ὁ παῖς: Πᾶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ταῦτα εἴθισται συμβαίνειν; λέγουσιν ἐκεῖνοι: Οὐ πᾶσιν, ἀλλ' οἷς ἂν ἐκτραπείη τὸ ὑγιεινὸν ἐκ τῆς τῶν χυμῶν μοχθηρίας. αὖθις οὖν ἐπυνθάνετο ὁ παῖς Εἰ οὐ πᾶσι, φησί, τοῦτο τοῖς ἀνθρώποις συμβαίνειν εἴωθεν, ἀλλά τισιν, ἆρα γνωστοὶ καθεστήκασιν, οὓς μέλλει ταῦτα καταλήψεσθαι τὰ δεινά; ἢ ἀδιορίστως καὶ ἀπροόπτως ὑφίσταται; λέγουσιν ἐκεῖνοι: Καὶ τίς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰ μέλλοντα συνιδεῖν δύναται καὶ ἀκριβῶς ἐπιγνῶναι; κρεῖττον γὰρ ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεως τοῦτο, καὶ μόνοις ἀποκληρωθὲν τοῖς ἀθανάτοις θεοῖς. καὶ ἐπαύσατο μὲν ὁ τοῦ βασιλέως υἱὸς ἐπερωτῶν, ὠδυνήθη δὲ τὴν καρδίαν ἐπὶ τῷ ὁραθέντι, καὶ ἠλλοιώθη ἡ μορφὴ τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀσυνήθει τοῦ πράγματος.

Μετ' οὐ πολλὰς δὲ ἡμέρας αὖθις διερχόμενος ἐντυγχάνει γέροντι πεπαλαιωμένῳ ἐν ἡμέραις πολλαῖς, ἐρρικνωμένῳ μὲν τὸ πρόσωπον, παρειμένῳ δὲ τὰς κνήμας, συγκεκυφότι, καὶ ὅλως πεπολιωμένῳ, ἐστερημένῳ τοὺς ὀδόντας, καὶ ἐγκεκομμένα λαλοῦντι. ἔκπληξις οὖν αὐτὸν λαμβάνει: καὶ δὴ πλησίον τοῦτον ἀγαγὼν ἐπηρώτα μαθεῖν τὸ τῆς θέας παράδοξον. οἱ δὲ συμπαρόντες εἶπον: Οὗτος χρόνων ἤδη πλείστων ὑπάρχει, καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν μειουμένης αὐτῷ τῆς ἰσχύος, ἐξασθενούντων δὲ τῶν μελῶν, εἰς ἣν ὁρᾷς ἔφθασε ταλαιπωρίαν. Καὶ τί, φησί, τούτου τὸ τέλος; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ: Οὐδὲν ἄλλο ἢ θάνατος αὐτὸν διαδέξεται. Ἀλλὰ καὶ πᾶσιν, ἔφη, τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τοῦτο πρόκειται; ἢ καὶ τοῦτο ἐνίοις αὐτῶν συμβαίνει; ἀπεκρίθησαν ἐκεῖνοι: Εἰ μὴ προλαβὼν ὁ θάνατος μεταστήσει τινὰ τῶν ἐντεῦθεν, ἀδύνατον, τῶν χρόνων προβαινόντων, μὴ εἰς ταύτης ἐλθεῖν τὴν πεῖραν τῆς τάξεως. καί φησιν ὁ παῖς: ἐν πόσοις οὖν ἔτεσι τοῦτο ἐπέρχεταί τινι; καὶ εἰ πάντως πρόκειται ὁ θάνατος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι μέθοδος τοῦτον παραδραμεῖν, καὶ μηδὲ εἰς ταύτην ἐλθεῖν τὴν ταλαιπωρίαν; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ: Ἐν ὀγδοήκοντα μὲν ἢ καὶ ἑκατὸν ἔτεσιν εἰς τοῦτο τὸ γῆρας καταντῶσιν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, εἶτα ἀποθνήσκουσι, μὴ ἄλλως ἐνδεχομένου. χρέος γὰρ φυσικὸν ὁ θάνατός ἐστιν, ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐπιτεθὲν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, καὶ ἀπαραίτητος ἡ τούτου ἐπέλευσις.

Ταῦτα πάντα ὡς εἶδέ τε καὶ ἤκουσεν ὁ συνετὸς ἐκεῖνος καὶ φρόνιμος νεανίας, στενάξας ἐκ βάθους καρδίας, ἔφη: Πικρὸς ὁ βίος οὗτος καὶ πάσης ὀδύνης καὶ ἀηδίας ἀνάπλεως, εἰ ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει. καὶ πῶς ἀμεριμνήσει τις τῇ προσδοκίᾳ τοῦ ἀδήλου θανάτου, οὗ ἡ ἔλευσις οὐ μόνον ἀπαραίτητος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄδηλος, καθὼς εἴπατε, ὑπάρχει; καὶ ἀπῆλθε ταῦτα στρέφων ἐν ἑαυτῷ, καὶ ἀπαύστως διαλογιζόμενος, καὶ πυκνὰς ποιούμενος περὶ τοῦ θανάτου τὰς ὑπομνήσεις, πόνοις τε καὶ ἀθυμίαις ἐκ τούτου συζῶν καὶ ἄπαυστον ἔχων τὴν λύπην. ἔλεγε γὰρ ἐν ἑαυτῷ: Ἆρά ποτέ με ὁ θάνατος καταλήψεται; καὶ τίς ἔσται ὁ μνήμην μου ποιούμενος μετὰ θάνατον, τοῦ χρόνου πάντα τῇ λήθῃ παραδιδόντος; καὶ εἰ ἀποθανὼν εἰς τὸ μὴ ὂν διαλυθήσομαι; ἢ ἔστι τις ἄλλη βιοτὴ καὶ ἕτερος κόσμος; ταῦτα καὶ τὰ τούτοις ὅμοια ἀπαύστως διενθυμούμενος ὠχριῶν κατετήκετο, κατ' ὄψιν δὲ τοῦ πατρός, ὅτε συνέβη τοῦτον ἀφικέσθαι, προσεποιεῖτο τὸ ἱλαρὸν καὶ ἄλυπον, μὴ βουλόμενος εἰς γνῶσιν τῷ πατρὶ τὰ αὐτῷ μελετώμενα ἐλθεῖν. ἐπόθει δὲ ἀκατασχέτῳ τινὶ πόθῳ καὶ ἐγλίχετο ἐντυχεῖν τινι τῷ δυναμένῳ τὴν αὐτοῦ πληροφορῆσαι καρδίαν, καὶ λόγον ἀγαθὸν ταῖς αὐτοῦ ἀκοαῖς ἐνηχῆσαι.

Τὸν προμνημονευθέντα δὲ παιδαγωγὸν αὖθις ἐπηρώτα, εἴ πού τινα γινώσκει τὸν δυνάμενον αὐτῷ συμβαλέσθαι πρὸς τὸ ποθούμενον, καὶ τὸν νοῦν αὐτοῦ βεβαιῶσαι, δεινῶς ἰλιγγιῶντα ἐν τοῖς λογισμοῖς, καὶ μὴ δυνάμενον ἀποβαλέσθαι τὴν περὶ τούτων φροντίδα. ὁ δέ, τῶν προειρημένων πάλιν ἐπιμνησθείς, ἔλεγεν: Εἶπόν σοι καὶ πρότερον ὅπως ὁ πατήρ σου τοὺς σοφοὺς ἐκείνους καὶ ἀσκητὰς ἀεὶ περὶ τῶν τοιούτων φιλοσοφοῦντας, οὓς μὲν ἀνεῖλεν, οὓς δὲ μετ' ὀργῆς ἐδίωξε, καὶ οὐ γινώσκω νυνί τινα τοιοῦτον ἐν τῇ περιχώρῳ ταύτῃ. πολλοῦ δὲ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἄχθους ἐκεῖνος πληρωθείς, καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν δεινῶς κατατρωθείς, ἐῴκει ἀνδρὶ θησαυρὸν ἀπολέσαντι μέγαν καὶ εἰς τὴν αὐτοῦ ζήτησιν ὅλον αὐτοῦ τὸν νοῦν ἀσχολουμένῳ. ἐντεῦθεν ἀγῶνι διηνεκεῖ καὶ μερίμνῃ συνέζη, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἡδέα καὶ τερπνὰ τοῦ κόσμου ἦν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ ὡς ἄγος τι καὶ βδέλυγμα. οὕτως οὖν ἔχοντι τῷ νέῳ καὶ ποτνιωμένῳ κατὰ ψυχὴν τὸ ἀγαθὸν εὑρεῖν, εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πάντα βλέπων ὀφθαλμός, καὶ οὐ παρεῖδεν ὁ θέλων πάντας σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλά, τὴν συνήθη αὐτῷ φιλανθρωπίαν καὶ ἐπὶ τούτῳ δείξας, ἐγνώρισεν ὁδὸν ἣν ἔδει πορεύεσθαι τρόπῳ τοιῷδε: