away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth
for ever.' Seeking, then, this good will of God, I have forsaken
everything, and joined myself to those who possess the same desire, and
seek after the same God. Amongst these there is no strife or envy,
sorrow or care, but all run the like race that they may obtain those
everlasting habitations which the Father of lights hath prepared for
them that love him. Them have I gained for my fathers, my brothers, my
friends and mine acquaintances. But from my former friends and
brethren 'I have got me away far off, and lodged in the wilderness'
waiting for the God, who saveth me from faintness of spirit, and from
the stormy tempest."

When the man of God had made answer thus gently and in good reason, the
king was stirred by anger, and was minded cruelly to torment the saint;
but again he hesitated and delayed, regarding his venerable and noble
mien. So he answered and said:

"Unhappy man, that hast contrived thine own utter ruin, driven thereto,
I ween, by fate, surely thou hast made thy tongue as sharp as thy wits.
Hence thou hast uttered these vain and ambiguous babblings. Had I not
promised, at the beginning of our converse, to 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