s these." The king was astonished at the
saying of the boy, to think how masterful a thing the love of women is.
Therefore think not to subdue thy son in any other way than this."

The king heard this tale gladly; and there were brought before him some
chosen damsels, young and exceeding beautiful. These he bedizened with
dazzling ornaments and trained in all winsome ways: and then he turned
out of the palace all his son's squires and serving men, and set these
women in their stead. These flocked around the prince, embraced him,
and provoked him to filthy wantonness, by their walk and talk inviting
him to dalliaunce. Besides these, he had no man at whom to look, or
with whom to converse or break his fast, for these damsels were his
all. Thus did the king. But Theudas went home to his evil den, and,
dipping into his books that had virtue to work such magic, he called up
one of his wicked spirits and sent him forth, for to battle with the
soldier of the army of Christ. But the wretch little knew what
laughter he should create against himself, and to what shame he should
be put, with the whole devilish troop under him. So the evil spirit,
taking to him other spirits more wicked than himself, entered the
bed-chamber of this noble youth, and attacked him by kindling right
furiously the furnace of his flesh. The evil one plied the bellows
from within, while the damsels, fair of face, but uncomely of soul,
supplied the evil fuel from without.

But Ioasaph's pure soul was disturbed to feel the touch of evil, and to
see the warlike host of strange thoughts that was charging down upon
him. And he sought to find deliverance from this great mischief, and
to present himself pure unto Christ, and not defile in the mire of
sinful lust that holy apparel, wherein the grace of holy Baptism had
clothed him. Immediately he set love against love, the divine against
the lascivious; and he called to remembrance the beauty and unspeakable
glory of Christ, the immortal bridegroom of virgin souls, and of that
bride chamber and marriage, from whence they that have stained their
wedding-garment are piteously cast out, bound hand and foot, into outer
darkness. When he had thought thereon, and shed bitter tears, he smote
upon his breast, driving out evil thoughts, as good-for-nothing drones
from the hive. When he rose, and spread out his hands unto heaven,
with fervent tears and groans calling upon God to help him, and he
said, "Lord Al