mained 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 spake 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 hath 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 hath 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
thee of him, to learn where he is." The monk answered, "And wherefore
then spakest thou in this ambiguous manner, asking about him that had
deceived the king's son? If thou wast seeking Barlaam, thou shouldest
certainly have said, 'Where is he that hath 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
y