the wisdom which God hath made foolish, whose unwise hearts
had gone astray, as saith the Apostle; for, "professing themselves to
be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image made like to corruptible man, and four-footed beasts,
and creeping things." These were assembled for to join argument with
the king's son and his fellows, and on them was fulfilled the proverb,
"Gazelle against lion." The one made the most High his house of
defence, and his hope was under the shadow of his wings; while the
others trusted in the princes of this world, who are made of none
effect, and in the ruler of the darkness of this world, to whom they
have subjected themselves miserably and wretchedly.

Now came on Nachor, in the disguise of Barlaam; and the king's side
were like to reach their goal; but, once again, very different was the
ordering of the wise providence of God. When all the company was come,
thus spake the king to his orators and philosophers, or rather to the
deceivers of his people, and fools at heart, "Behold now, there lieth
before you a contest, even the mightiest of contests; for one of two
things shall befall you. If ye establish our cause, and prove Barlaam
and his friends to be in error, ye shall have your fill of glory and
honour from us and all the senate, and shall be crowned with crowns of
victory. But if ye be worsted, in all ignominy ye shall pitiably
perish, and all your goods shall be given to the people, that your
memorial may be clean blotted out from off the earth. Your bodies will
I give to be devoured by wild beasts and your children will I deliver
to perpetual slavery."

When the king had thus spoken, his son said, "A righteous doom hast
thou judged this day, O king. The Lord establish this thy mind! I too
have the same bidding for my teacher." And, turning round to Nachor,
who was supposed to be Barlaam, he said, "Thou knowest, Barlaam, in
what splendour and luxury thou foundest me. With many a speech thou
persuadedst me to leave my father's laws and customs, and to serve an
unknown God, drawn by the promise of some unspeakable and eternal
blessings, to follow thy doctrines and to provoke to anger my father
and lord. Now therefore consider that thou art weighed in the balance.
If thou overcome in the wrestling, and prove that the doctrines, which
thou hast taught me, be true, and show that they, that try a fall with
us, be in error, thou shalt be magn