XXII.

After Barlaam was gone forth, Ioasaph gave himself unto prayer and bitter tears, and said, "O God, haste you to help me: O Lord, make speed to help me, because the poor has committed himself unto you; you are the helper of the orphan. Look upon me, and have mercy upon me; you who willest have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth, save me, and strengthen me, unworthy though I be, to walk the way of your holy commandments, for I am weak and miserable, and not able to do the thing that is good. But you are mighty to save me, who sustainest and holdest together all things visible and invisible. Suffer me not to walk after the evil will of the flesh, but teach me to do your will, and preserve me unto your eternal and blissful life. O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the consubstantial and undivided Godhead, I call upon you and glorify you. Thou art praised by all creation; you are glorified by the intelligent powers of the Angels for ever and ever. Amen."

From that time forth he kept himself with all vigilance, seeking to attain purity of soul and body, and living in continency and prayers and intercessions all night long. In the day-time he was often interrupted by the company of his fellows, and at times by a visit from the king, or a call to the king's presence, but the night would then make good the shortcomings of the day, whilst he stood, in prayer and weeping until daybreak, calling upon God. Whence in him was fulfilled the saying of the prophet, "In nights raise your hands unto holy things; and bless ye the Lord."

But Zardan observed Ioasaph's way of life, and was full of sorrow, and his soul was pierced with grievous anxieties; and he knew not what to do. At the last, worn down with pain, he withdrew to his own home, feigning sickness. When this had come to the knowledge of the king he appointed in his place another of his trusty men to minister unto his son, while he himself, being concerned for Zardan's health, sent a physician of reputation, and took great pains that he should be healed.

The physician, seeing that Zardan was in favour with the king, attended him diligently, and, having right well judged his ease, soon made this report to the king; "I have been unable to discover any root of disease in the man: wherefore I suppose that this weakness is to be ascribed to distress of spirit." But, on hearing his words, the king suspected that his son had been wroth with Zardan, and that this slight had caused his retirement. So, wishing to search the matter, he sent Zardan word, saying "To-morrow I shall come to see you, and judge of the malady that has befallen you."

But Zardan, on hearing this message, at daybreak wrapt his cloak around him and went to the king, and entered and fell in obeisance on the ground. The king spoke unto him, "Why hast you forced thyself to appear? I was minded to visit you myself, and so make known to all my friendship for you." He answered, "My sickness, O king, is no malady common to man; but pain of heart, arising from an anxious and careful mind, has caused my body to suffer in sympathy. It had been folly in me, being as I am, not to attend as a slave before your might, but to wait for your Majesty to be troubled to come to me your servant." Then the king enquired after the cause of his despondency; Zardan answered and said, "Mighty is my peril, and mighty are the penalties that I deserve, and many deaths do I merit, for that I have been guilty of neglect of your behests, and have brought on you such sorrow as never before."

Again said the king, "And of what neglect hast you been guilty? And what is the dread that encompasseth you?" "I have been guilty," said he, "of negligence in my close care of my lord your son. There came an evil man and a sorcerer, and communicated to him the precepts of the Christian religion." Then he related to the king, point by point, the words which the old man spoke with his son, and how gladly Ioasaph received his word, and how he had altogether become Christ's. Moreover he gave the old man's name, saying that it was Barlaam. Even before then the king had heard tell of Barlaam's ways and his extreme severity of life; but, when this came to the ears of the king, he was straightway astonied by the dismay that fell on him, and was filled with anger, and his blood well-nigh curdled at the tidings. Immediately he bade call one Araches, who held the second rank after the king, and was the chief in all his private councils: besides which the man was learned in star-lore. When he was come, with much despondency and dejection the king told him of that which had happened. He, seeing the king's trouble and confusion of mind, said, "O king, trouble and distress thyself no more. We are not without hope that the prince will yet change for the better: nay, I know for very certain that he will speedily renounce the teaching of this deceiver, and conform to your will."

By these words then did Araches set the king in happier frame of mind; and they turned their thoughts to the thorough sifting of the matter. "This, O king," said Araches, "do we first of all. Make we haste to apprehend that infamous Barlaam. If we take him, I am assured that we shall not miss the mark, nor be cheated of our hope. Barlaam himself shall be persuaded, either by persuasion or by divers engines of torture, against his will to confess that he has been talking falsely and at random, and shall persuade my lord, your son, to cleave to his father's creed. But if we fail to take Barlaam, I know of an eremite, Nachor by name, in every way like unto him: it is impossible to distinguish the one from the other. He is of our opinion, and was my teacher in studies. I will give him the hint, and go by night, and tell him the full tale. Then will we blazon it abroad that Barlaam has been caught; but we shall exhibit Nachor, who, calling himself Barlaam, shall feign that he is pleading the cause of the Christians and standing forth as their champion. Then, after much disputation, he shall be worsted and utterly discomfited. The prince, seeing Barlaam worsted, and our side victorious, will doubtless join the victors; the more so that he counteth it a great duty to reverence your majesty, and do your pleasure. Also the man who has played the part of Barlaam shall be converted, and stoutly proclaim that he has been in error."

Tim king was delighted with his words, and rocked himself on idle hopes, and thought it excellent counsel. Thereupon, learning that Barlaam was but lately departed, he was zealous to take him prisoner. He therefore occupied most of the passes with troops and captains, and, himself, mounting his chariot, gave furious chase along the one road of which he was especially suspicious, being minded to surprise Barlaam at all costs. But though he toiled by the space of six full days, his labour was but spent in vain. Then he himself remained behind in one of his palaces situate in the country, but sent forward Araches, with horsemen not a few, as far as the wilderness of Senaar, in quest of Barlaam. When Araches arrived in that place, he threw all the neighbour folk into commotion: and when they constantly affirmed that they had never seen the man, he went forth into the desert places, for to hunt out the Faithful. When he had gone through a great tract of desert, and made the circuit of the fells around, and journeyed a-foot over untrodden and pathless ravines, he and his hosts arrived at a plateau. Standing thereon, he descried at the foot of the mountain a company of hermits a-walking. Straightway at their governor's word of command all his men ran upon them in breathless haste, vying one with another, who should arrive first. When they arrived, they came about the monks like so many dogs, or evil beasts that plague mankind. And they seized these men of reverend mien and mind, that bore on their faces the hall-mark of their hermit life, and haled them before the governor; but the monks showed no sign of alarm, no sign of meanness or sullenness, and spoke never a word. Their leader and captain bore a wallet of hair, charged with the relics of some holy Fathers departed this life.

When Araches beheld them, but saw no Barlaam--for he knew him by sight--he was overwhelmed with grief, and said unto them, "Where is that deceiver who has led the king's son astray?" The bearer of the wallet answered, "He is not amongst us, God forbid! For, driven forth by the grace of Christ, he avoideth us; but amongst you he has his dwelling." The governor said, "Thou knowest him then?" "Yea," said the hermit, "I know him that is called the deceiver, which is the devil, who dwelleth in your midst and is worshipped and served by you." The governor said, "It is for Barlaam that I make search, and I asked you of him, to learn where he is." The monk answered, "And wherefore then spakest you in this ambiguous manner, asking about him that had deceived the king's son? If you wast seeking Barlaam, you shouldest certainly have said, 'Where is he that has turned from error and saved the king's son?' Barlaam is our brother and fellow-monk. But now for many days past we have not seen his face." Said Araches, "Show me his abode." The monk answered, "Had he wished to see you, he would have come forth to meet you. As for us, it is not lawful to make known to you his hermitage."

Thereupon the governor waxed full of indignation, and, casting a haughty and savage glance upon him, said, "Ye shall die no ordinary death, except ye immediately bring Barlaam before me." "What," said the monk, "see you in our case that should by its attractions cause us to cling to life, and be afraid of death at your hands? Whereas we should the rather feel grateful to you for removing us from life in the close adherence to virtue. For we dread, not a little, the uncertainty of the end, knowing not in what state death shall overtake us, lest perchance a slip of the inclination, or some despiteful dealing of the devil, may alter the constancy of our choice, and mis-persuade us to think or do contrary to our covenants with God. Wherefore abandon all hope of gaining the knowledge that ye desire, and shrink not to work your will. We shall neither reveal the dwelling-place of our brother, whom God loveth, although we know it, nor shall we betray any other monasteries unbeknown to ye. We will not endure to escape death by such cowardice. Nay, liefer would we die honourably, and offer unto God, after the sweats of virtue, the life-blood of courage."

That man of sin could not brook this boldness of speech, and was moved to the keenest passion against this high and noble spirit, and afflicted the monks with many stripes and tortures. Their courage and nobility won admiration even from that tyrant. But, when after many punishments he failed to persuade them, and none of them consented to discover Barlaam, he took and ordered them to be led to the king, bearing with them the wallet with the relics, and to be beaten and shamefully entreated as they went.

XXII

Ὁ Ἰωάσαφ δέ, μετὰ τὸ ἐξελθεῖν τὸν Βαρλαάμ, εὐχῇ ἑαυτὸν ἐδίδου καὶ δάκρυσι θερμοτάτοις, καὶ ἔλεγεν: Ὦ Θεός, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν μου πρόσχες. Κύριε, εἰς τὸ βοηθῆσαί μοι σπεῦσον, ὅτι σοι ἐγκαταλέλειπται ὁ πτωχός, ὀρφανῷ σὺ ἦσθα βοηθός: ἐπίβλεψον ἐπ' ἐμὲ καὶ ἐλέησόν με, ὁ πάντας θέλων σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν, σῶσόν με καὶ ἐνίσχυσόν με τὸν ἀνάξιον τοῦ πορευθῆναι τὴν ὁδὸν τῶν ἁγίων σου ἐντολῶν, ὅτι ἐγὼ μὲν ἀσθενὴς καὶ ταλαίπωρος καὶ ποιῆσαι τὸ ἀγαθὸν οὐχ ἱκανός: σὺ δὲ σώζειν με δυνατός, ὁ πάντα τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα συγκρατῶν καὶ συνέχων. μὴ ἐάσῃς με ὀπίσω τῶν θελημάτων τῆς σαρκὸς τῶν πονηρῶν πορεύεσθαι: ἀλλὰ τὸ σὸν δίδαξον ποιεῖν θέλημα, καὶ συντήρησόν με εἰς τὴν αἰώνιόν σου καὶ μακαρίαν ζωήν. ὦ Πάτερ, καὶ Υἱέ, καὶ θεῖον Πνεῦμα, ἡ ὁμοούσιος καὶ ἀδιαίρετος Θεότης, σὲ ἐπικαλοῦμαι καὶ σὲ δοξάζω: σὲ γὰρ ὑμνεῖ πᾶσα κτίσις, καὶ σὲ δοξολογοῦσιν αἱ νοεραὶ τῶν ἀσωμάτων δυνάμεις εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν.

Ἔκτοτε οὖν πάσῃ φυλακῇ ἐτήρει ἑαυτόν, καθαρότητα ψυχῆς τε καὶ σώματος ἑαυτῷ περιποιούμενος, ἐγκρατείᾳ τε συζῶν καὶ προσευχαῖς ὁλονύκτοις καὶ δεήσεσιν. ἡμέρας μὲν γὰρ πολλάκις περικοπτόμενος τῇ τε τῶν συνόντων αὐτῷ συναυλίᾳ, ἔσθ' ὅτε καὶ τῇ τοῦ βασιλέως πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπιδημίᾳ ἢ τῇ αὐτοῦ εἰς ἐκεῖνον μετακλήσει, ἡ νὺξ αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς ἡμέρας ἀνεπλήρου ὑστερήματα, ἐν εὐχαῖς καὶ δάκρυσι μέχρι διαφαύματος ἱσταμένου αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν Θεὸν ἐπικαλουμένου: ὅθεν τὸ προφητικὸν ἐκεῖνο ῥῆμα ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἐπληροῦτο: Ἐν ταῖς νυξὶν ἐπάρατε τὰς χεῖρας ὑμῶν εἰς τὰ ἅγια, καὶ εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Κύριον.

Ὁ δὲ Ζαρδὰν ἐκεῖνος, τὴν τοιαύτην αὐτοῦ αἰσθόμενος διαγωγὴν καὶ λύπης πληρούμενος, μερίμναις τε δειναῖς τὴν ψυχὴν βαλλόμενος, οὐκ εἶχεν ὅ τι καὶ δράσειε: τέλος, τῇ ἀνίᾳ καταπονηθείς, εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἀπεδήμησεν οἶκον, ἀρρωστεῖν προσποιούμενος. ὡς δὲ εἰς γνῶσιν τῷ βασιλεῖ τοῦτο ἐληλύθει, ἄλλον μὲν ἀντ' αὐτοῦ τῶν πιστοτάτων καθυπηρετεῖν τῷ υἱῷ ἐξαπέστειλεν: αὐτὸς δέ, τῆς τοῦ Ζαρδὰν ἐπιμελούμενος ὑγείας, ἰατρὸν αὐτῷ πέμπει δοκιμώτατον καὶ φροντίδος ὅτι πολλῆς ἀξιοῖ θεραπευθῆναι.

Ὁ δὲ ἰατρός, ἐπεὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ οὗτος κεχαρισμένος ἦν, ἐπιμελῶς ἐπεσκέψατο, καί, ἄριστα διαγνοὺς τὰ κατ' αὐτόν, τῷ βασιλεῖ θᾶττον ἀναγγέλλει, ὡς Ἐγώ, φησί, οὐδενὸς νοσήματος αἴτιον ἐν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ εὑρεῖν δεδύνημαι: ἔνθεν τοι καὶ ὑπολαμβάνω, ἀθυμίᾳ τινὶ τὴν ψυχὴν βληθέντα, τοῦτον μαλακισθῆναι. ὁ δὲ βασιλεύς, τούτων ἀκούσας τῶν ῥημάτων, ὑπέλαβε βαρέως αὐτῷ τὸν υἱὸν διατεθῆναι, καὶ τούτου χάριν λυπηθέντα αὐτὸν ὑποχωρῆσαι. μαθεῖν δὲ τὸ πρᾶγμα ἀκολούθως βουλόμενος, δεδήλωκε τῷ Ζαρδάν, ὡς Αὔριον ἐλεύσομαι, φησί, θεωρῆσαί σε, καὶ τὰ τῆς ἐπισυμβάσης σοι διαγνῶναι ἀρρωστίας.

Ὁ Ζαρδὰν δέ, ταύτης ἀκούσας τῆς ἀγγελίας, ἅμα πρωὶ περιβαλλόμενος αὐτοῦ τὸ ἱμάτιον, πορεύεται πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα. καὶ εἰσελθὼν προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. ὁ δὲ βασιλεύς, Τί, φησί, παρεβιάσω ἑαυτὸν παραγενέσθαι; αὐτὸς γὰρ ἤθελον ἐπισκέψασθαί σε, καὶ πᾶσι γνωρίσαι τὴν πρὸς σέ μου φιλίαν. ὁ δὲ ἀντέφησεν: Ἡ ἐμή, βασιλεῦ, ἀσθένεια οὐκ ἔστι τῶν συνήθων ἀνθρώποις ἀρρωστιῶν: ἀλλ' ἐκ λυπηρᾶς καὶ ἐμμερίμνου ψυχῆς τῆς καρδίας ὀδυνωμένης συνωδυνήθη τὸ σῶμα. ἀφροσύνη δέ μοι ἦν οὕτως ἔχοντά με μὴ δουλικῶς πρὸς τὸ σὸν παραγενέσθαι κράτος, ἀλλὰ τὴν σὴν βασιλείαν προσμένειν ἕως ἐμοῦ τοῦ οἰκέτου σκυλῆναι. τοῦ βασιλέως οὖν πυνθανομένου τίς ἡ τῆς ἀθυμίας αὐτοῦ αἰτία, ὑπολαβὼν ὁ Ζαρδάν, Μέγας ἐμοὶ κίνδυνος, ἔφη: καὶ μεγάλων ἐγὼ τιμωριῶν ἄξιος, πολλῶν δὲ θανάτων ἔνοχος καθέστηκα, ὅτι σοῦ τοῖς προστάγμασιν ἀμελῶς διατεθεὶς ἀνίας σοι πολλῆς ὅσον οὐδέπω πρόξενος γέγονα.

Αὖθις δὲ ὁ βασιλεύς, Καὶ τίνα σὺ ἀμέλειαν ἠμέληκας; ἤρετο: τί δὲ τὸ περιέχον σε δέος; Ἐν τῇ περὶ τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν υἱόν σου ἀκριβείᾳ ἠμέληκα, ἔφη. πονηρὸς γὰρ ἄνθρωπος καὶ γόης ἐλθὼν ὡμίλησεν αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς θρησκείας τῶν Χριστιανῶν. εἶτα διηγεῖται κατὰ μέρος τῷ βασιλεῖ τὰ λαληθέντα παρὰ τοῦ γέροντος πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ μεθ' ὅσης ἡδονῆς ἐκεῖνος τὸν λόγον ἐδέξατο, καὶ ὡς ὅλος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγεγόνει. πρὸς δὲ καὶ τὴν κλῆσιν ἐδήλου τοῦ γέροντος, Βαρλαὰμ τοῦτον καλεῖσθαι εἰπών. ἀκηκόει γὰρ καὶ πρότερον ὁ βασιλεὺς τὰ περὶ τοῦ Βαρλαὰμ καὶ τῆς ἀκροτάτης ἀσκήσεως αὐτοῦ. ὡς δ' εἰς ἀκοὰς ταῦτα ἦλθε τῷ βασιλεῖ, κλόνῳ εὐθὺς ἐκ τῆς περιπεσούσης αὐτῷ ἀθυμίας βάλλεται, καὶ θυμοῦ πληροῦται, μικροῦ καὶ ἀποπήγνυται τῷ ἀκούσματι. καὶ αὐτίκα προσκαλεῖται Ἀραχήν τινα οὕτω λεγόμενον, ὃς καὶ τῶν δευτερείων μετὰ τὸν βασιλέα ἠξιοῦτο, καὶ πρῶτος αὐτῷ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἀποκρύφοις συμβουλίαις ἐτύγχανεν: ἅμα δὲ καὶ τῆς ἀστρολογίας ἐπιστήμων ἦν ὁ ἀνήρ. πρὸς ὃν παραγενόμενον τὸ συμβὰν ὁ βασιλεὺς σὺν ἀθυμίᾳ πολλῇ καὶ ἀδημονίᾳ διηγεῖται. ὁ δέ, τὸν τάραχον αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν σύγχυσιν τῆς ψυχῆς θεασάμενος, Ἀτάραχά σοι, φησί, ἔστω καὶ ἄλυπα, Ὦ βασιλεῦ: οὐκ ἀνέλπιστον γὰρ ἡμῖν ἔτι τὸ μεταπεσεῖν αὐτόν: ἀλλὰ καὶ λίαν βεβαιότατα γινώσκω θᾶττον αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξαρνήσασθαι τὴν τοῦ πλάνου ἐκείνου διδασκαλίαν, καὶ τῷ σῷ συνθέσθαι θελήματι.

Τούτοις οὖν τοῖς ῥήμασι τὸν βασιλέα εἰς τὸ εὐθυμότερον ὁ Ἀραχὴς μεταβαλών, τῇ περὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα διασκέψει μελέτην ἐποιοῦντο. Καὶ τοῦτο, φησίν, ὦ βασιλεῦ, πρὸ πάντων ποιήσωμεν: καταλαβεῖν σπεύσωμεν τὸν δεινὸν Βαρλαάμ. καὶ εἰ τούτου ἐπιτύχωμεν, οὐκ ἀστοχήσομεν, εὖ οἶδα, τοῦ σκοποῦ, οὐδὲ ψευσθησόμεθα τῆς ἐλπίδος. ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνος αὐτός, ἢ ῥήμασι πιθανοῖς ἢ βασάνων ὀργάνοις πολυειδέσι πεισθείς, ἄκων ἂν ὁμολογήσειε ψευδῆ καὶ πεπλανημένα φάσκειν, καὶ τὸν κύριόν μου καὶ υἱόν σου τοῦ πατρῴου ἔχεσθαι μεταπείσειε δόγματος. εἰ δὲ ἐκεῖνον μὲν καταλαβεῖν οὐ δυνηθείημεν, ἕτερον ἐγὼ ἐπίσταμαι πρεσβύτην μονερημίτην, Ναχὼρ καλούμενον, ὅμοιον τῷ Βαρλαὰμ κατὰ πάντα, ὃν οὐκ ἔστι διαγνῶναι μὴ ἐκεῖνον ὑπάρχειν, τῆς ἡμετέρας δόξης ὄντα, καὶ διδάσκαλον ἐμὸν ἐν τοῖς μαθήμασι γενόμενον. τούτῳ ὑπαγορεύσας ἐγώ, νύκτωρ ἀπελθών, πάντα κατὰ μέρος ἀφηγήσομαι. εἶτα, κρατηθῆναι τὸν Βαρλαὰμ διαφημήσαντες, τοῦτον παραστησόμεθα: ὃς καὶ Βαρλαὰμ ἑαυτὸν ὀνομάσας, τὰ τῶν Χριστιανῶν πρεσβεύειν προσποιήσεται, καὶ τούτους διεκδικῶν φανήσεται. εἶτα, μετὰ πολλὴν διάλεξιν ἡττώμενος, κατὰ κράτος ἐκνικηθήσεται. καὶ ταῦτα ὁ τοῦ βασιλέως υἱὸς θεώμενος, ὡς ὁ Βαρλαὰμ μὲν ἡττήθη, τὰ δὲ ἡμέτερα ὑπερνικᾷ, τοῖς νικῶσι πάντως συνθήσεται: μέγα πρὸς τούτοις καὶ τὸ τὴν σὴν αἰδεῖσθαι βασιλείαν καὶ τὰ σοὶ κεχαρισμένα ποιεῖν τιθέμενος. ἐπιστραφήσεται γὰρ καὶ ὁ τὸ προσωπεῖον τοῦ Βαρλαὰμ ὑποδύς, καὶ πεπλανῆσθαι αὐτὸν διαβεβαιώσειε.

Ἥσθη ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ τοῖς λαληθεῖσι, καὶ ἄριστα βουλεύσασθαι ἔδοξε, κεναῖς ἐπερειδόμενος ἐλπίσιν. ἔνθεν τοι καὶ τὸν Βαρλαὰμ ἔναγχος μαθὼν ὑποχωρῆσαι, χειρώσασθαι ἔσπευδε. λόχοις οὖν καὶ λοχαγοῖς τῶν διεξόδων τὰς πλείους διειληφώς, μίαν δὲ τῶν ὁδῶν, ἣν πασῶν μᾶλλον ὑφωρᾶτο, αὐτός, ἵπποις ἐπιβάς, ἀνὰ κράτος ἐδίωκε, προκαταλαβεῖν αὐτὸν ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου διανοούμενος. ἐν ὅλαις δὲ ἓξ ἡμέραις κοπιάσας, μάτην τεταλαιπωρήκει. εἶτα, αὐτὸς μὲν ἔν τινι τῶν βασιλικῶν παλατίων ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς διακειμένῳ προσμείνας, τὸν Ἀραχὴν μετὰ ἱππέων οὐκ ὀλίγων ἕως αὐτῆς τῆς Σενααρίτιδος ἐρήμου ἐπὶ ζήτησιν ἀπέστειλε τοῦ Βαρλαάμ. καταλαβὼν δὲ ἐκεῖνος τὸν τόπον, πάντας τοὺς περιοίκους διετάραξε: καὶ τῶνδε μὴ ἑωρακέναι ποτὲ τὸν ἄνδρα βεβαιωσαμένων, ἐπὶ τὰς ἐρήμους ὁ ἄρχων τοὺς εὐσεβεῖς θηρεύσων ἐξῄει. πολύ τε τῆς ἐρήμου διοδεύσας διάστημα, ὄρη τε περικυκλώσας καὶ ἀτριβεῖς φάραγγας πεζεύσας καὶ δυσβάτους, μετὰ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ ὄχλων ἀκρώρειάν τινα καταλαβών, καὶ στὰς ἐπ' αὐτῆς, ὁρᾷ κατὰ τὴν ὑπώρειαν φάλαγγα ἐρημιτῶν περιπατοῦσαν. καὶ εὐθὺς τῷ τοῦ ἄρχοντος προστάγματι πάντες ἐπ' αὐτοὺς θέουσιν ἀπνευστί, ἄλλος ἄλλον τοῖς δρόμοις φθάσαι φιλονεικοῦντες: καὶ φθάσαντες, περιεχύθησαν αὐτοῖς κύνες ὡσεὶ πολλοὶ ἢ θηρία πονηρά τινα καὶ μισάνθρωπα: καὶ κρατοῦσι τοὺς ἄνδρας τῷ τε εἴδει καὶ τῇ καταστάσει σεμνοτάτους, καὶ τὰ σήμαντρα τῆς ἐρημικῆς καταστάσεως ἐπὶ τῶν προσώπων φέροντας: καὶ τούτους σύροντες τῷ ἄρχοντι παρέστησαν, οὐ θορυβηθέντας ὅλως, οὐκ ἀγεννές τι καὶ σκυθρωπὸν ἐνδειξαμένους ἢ φθεγξαμένους. ὁ δὲ προάγων αὐτῶν καὶ οἱονεὶ καθηγούμενος πήραν ἐβάσταζε τριχίνην, μεστὴν λειψάνων προεκδημησάντων τινῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων.

Κατανοήσας δὲ αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἀραχής, ὡς οὐκ εἶδε τὸν Βαρλαὰμ (ἐγίνωσκε γὰρ αὐτόν), συνεχύθη τῇ λύπῃ. λέγει δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς: Ποῦ ἔστιν ὁ ἀπατεὼν ἐκεῖνος, ὁ τὸν υἱὸν πλανήσας τοῦ βασιλέως; ὁ δὲ τὴν πήραν βαστάζων ἀπεκρίνατο: Οὐκ ἔστιν ἐκεῖνος ἐν ἡμῖν: μηδὲ γένοιτο: φεύγει γὰρ ἡμᾶς τῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διωκόμενος χάριτι. ἐν ὑμῖν δὲ τὰς οἰκήσεις ἔχει: ὁ ἄρχων ἔφη: Γινώσκεις οὖν αὐτόν; Ναί, φησὶν ὁ ἐρημίτης: οἶδα τὸν ἀπατεῶνα λεγόμενον, ὅς ἐστιν ὁ διάβολος, ὁ μέσον ὑμῶν κατοικῶν καὶ παρ' ὑμῶν λατρευόμενός τε καὶ θεραπευόμενος. ὁ ἄρχων λέγει: Περὶ τοῦ Βαρλαὰμ ἐγὼ τὴν ζήτησιν ἔχω, καὶ τοῦτον ἠρόμην σε μαθεῖν ποῦ ἔστιν: ὁ δὲ μοναχός: Καὶ ἵνα τί, φησίν, ἀλληνάλλως ἐλάλησας, περὶ τοῦ ἀπατήσαντος τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ βασιλέως τὴν πεῦσιν προσαγαγών; εἰ γὰρ τὸν Βαρλαὰμ ἐζήτεις, ἔδει σε πάντως εἰπεῖν: Ποῦ ἔστιν ὁ ἐκ τῆς πλάνης ἐπιστρέψας καὶ σώσας τὸν τοῦ βασιλέως υἱόν; ἐκεῖνος γὰρ ἀδελφὸς ἡμῶν ὑπάρχει καὶ συνασκητής: ἐκ πολλῶν δὲ ἤδη ἡμερῶν οὐ τεθεάμεθα αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ Ἀρχής: Τὸ οἴκημα αὐτοῦ, φησίν, ὑπόδειξον. ὁ ἀσκητὴς ἀπεκρίνατο: Εἰ θεάσασθαι ὑμᾶς ἤθελεν, ἐκεῖνος ἂν εἰς συνάντησιν ὑμῶν ἐξῆλθεν. ἡμῖν δ' οὖν οὐκ ἔξεστι τὸ δωμάτιον αὐτοῦ ὑμῖν γνωρίσαι.

Θυμοῦ ἐπὶ τούτῳ ἐμπίμπλαται ὁ ἄρχων, καί φησι πρὸς αὐτόν, ὀργίλον ἅμα καὶ θηριῶδες ἐμβλέψας: Ξένῳ νυνὶ θανάτῳ ὑμᾶς θανατώσω, εἰ ἐξ αὐτῆς τὸν Βαρλαὰμ οὐ παραστήσετέ μοι: Καὶ τί, φησὶν ὁ ἀσκητής, ὁρᾷς ἐν ἡμῖν, οὗπερ ἀντεχόμενοι δυσαποσπάστως τῆς παρούσης διακεισόμεθα ζωῆς, καὶ τὸν παρὰ σοῦ ἐπαχθησόμενον φοβηθῶμεν θάνατον; χάριν γάρ σοι μᾶλλον ὁμολογήσομεν, ὅτι τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐχομένους τοῦ βίου ἐξήγαγες. δεδοίκαμεν γὰρ οὐ μικρῶς τὸ τοῦ τέλους ἄδηλον, μὴ εἰδότες πῶς ἔχοντας ἡμᾶς καταλήψεται, μή που γνώμης ὄλισθος ἢ ἐπήρειά τις δαιμονικὴ τῆς προαιρέσεως τὴν ἔνστασιν μεταστρέψῃ, καὶ ἕτερα φρονεῖν ἢ ποιεῖν παρὰ τὰ τῷ Θεῷ ὡμολογημένα μεταπείσειεν. ὅθεν τυχεῖν ὧν ἐλπίζετε ὅλως ἀπειπόντες, μὴ ὀκνήσητε ποιεῖν ὅπερ βούλεσθε. οὔτε γὰρ τὸ τοῦ θεοφιλοῦς ἡμῶν ἀδελφοῦ οἰκητήριον, καίτοι γε εἰδότες, ὑποδείξομεν, οὔτε ἄλλα τινὰ ὑμῖν λανθάνοντα μοναστήρια προδώσομεν, ταύτῃ τὸν θάνατον ἐκφυγεῖν κακῶς ἀνεχόμενοι: ἀλλὰ καλῶς μᾶλλον θανούμεθα, ἱδρῶτας ἀρετῆς πρότερον, καὶ νῦν ἀνδραγαθίας αἷμα, τῷ Θεῷ προσενέγκαντες.

Οὕτω παρρησιασαμένους οὐκ ἐνεγκὼν ὁ ἀλιτήριος, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ γενναῖον τοῦ φρονήματος ὀξύτατα κινηθείς, πολλαῖς αὐτοὺς περιέβαλε πληγαῖς καὶ βασάνοις: ὧν τὸ μεγαλόψυχον καὶ γενναῖον καὶ τῷ τυράννῳ ἄξιον θαύματος ἐνομίσθη. ὡς δὲ μετὰ πολλὰς τιμωρίας πείθειν οὐκ εἶχεν, οὔτε ὑποδεῖξαί τις αὐτῷ τὸν Βαρλαὰμ ἠνείχετο, λαβὼν τούτους, ἐπὶ τὸν βασιλέα κελεύει τυπτομένους καὶ προπηλακιζομένους ἄγεσθαι, βαστάζοντας καὶ τὴν πήραν τῶν λειψάνων.