oul words
and crafty simulation, but hast rather cleansed them from many
defilements, and thoroughly proven the error of the gods, as they be
wrongly called, and hast established the truth of the Christian faith.
I have been zealous to bring thee hither with me for two reasons; that
the king might not privily seize and punish thee, because thou spakest
not after his heart, and next that I might recompense thee for the
favour that thou hast done me to-day. And what is my recompense for
thee? To show thee how to turn from the evil and slippery road which
thou hast trodden until now, and to journey along the straight and
saving pathway which thou hast avoided, not in ignorance, but by wilful
wrongdoing, throwing thyself into depths and precipices of iniquity.
Understand then, Nachor, man of understanding as thou art, and be thou
zealous to gain Christ only, and the life that is hid with him, and
despise this fleeting and corruptible world. Thou shalt not live for
ever, but, being mortal, shalt depart hence ere long, even as all that
have been before thee. And wo betide thee, if, with the heavy load of
sin on thy shoulders, thou depart thither where there is righteous
judgement and recompense for thy works, and cast it not off, while it
is easy to rid thyself thereof!"

Pricked at heart by these words, spake Nachor, "Well said! Sir prince,
well said! I do know the true and very God, by whom all things were
made, and I wot of the judgement to come, having heard thereof from
many texts of the Scriptures. But evil habit and the insolence of the
ancient supplanter hath blinded the eyes of my heart, and shed a thick
darkness over my reason. But now, at thy word, I will cast away the
veil of gloom, and run unto the light of the countenance of the Lord.
May be, he will have mercy on me, and will open a door of repentance to
his wicked and rebellious servant, even if it seem impossible to me
that my sins, which are heavier than the sand, be forgiven; sins,
which, wittingly or unwittingly, I have sinned from childhood upwards
to this my hoary age."

When the king's son heard these words, immediately he arose, and his
heart waxed warm, and he began to try to raise Nachor's courage which
was drooping to despair, and to confirm it in the faith of Christ,
saying, "Let no doubt about this, Nachor, find place in thy mind. For
it is written, God is able of these very stones to raise up children
unto Abraham. What meaneth this (a