ified as no man heretofore, and
shalt be entitled 'herald of truth'; and I will abide in thy doctrine
and serve Christ, even as thou didst preach, until my dying breath.
But if thou be worsted, by foul play or fair, and thus bring shame on
me to-day, speedily will I avenge me of mine injury; with mine own
hands will I quickly tear out thy heart and thy tongue, and throw them
with the residue of thy carcase to be meat for the dogs, that others
may be lessoned by thee not to cozen the sons of kings."

When Nachor heard these words, he was exceeding sorrowful and downcast,
seeing himself falling into the destruction that he had made for other,
and being drawn into the net that he had laid privily, and feeling the
sword entering into his own soul. So he took counsel with himself, and
determined rather to take the side of the king's son, and make it to
prevail, that he might avoid the danger hanging over him, because the
prince was doubtless able to requite him, should he be found to provoke
him. But this was all the work of divine providence that was wisely
establishing our cause by the mouth of our adversaries. For when these
idol-priests and Nachor crossed words, like another Barlaam, who, of
old in the time of Balak, when purposing to curse Israel, loaded him
with manifold blessings, so did Nachor mightily resist these unwise and
unlearned wise men.

There sat the king upon his throne, his son beside him, as we have
said. There beside him stood these unwise orators who had whetted
their tongues like a sharp sword, to destroy truth, and who (as saith
Esay) conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. There were gathered
innumerable multitudes, come to view the contest and see which side
should carry oft the victory. Then one of the orators, the most
eminent of all his fellows, said unto Nachor, "Art thou that Barlaam
which hath so shamelessly and audaciously blasphemed our gods, and hath
enmeshed our king's well beloved son in the net of error, and taught
him to serve the Crucified?" Nachor answered, "I am he, I am Barlaam,
that, as thou sayest, doth set your gods at nought: but the king's son
have I not enmeshed in error; but rather from error have I delivered
him, and brought him to the true God." The orator replied, "When the
great and marvellous men, who have discovered all knowledge of wisdom,
do call them high and immortal gods, and when all the kings and
honourable men upon earth do worship and adore them, h