Chapter 36

And in a few days, having completed this service and emptied out all the treasuries, so that, when he was about to enter the narrow gate, the weight of money might in no way hinder him, on the fortieth day after his father's death, holding a memorial for him, he called together all those in office and those girt with military rank and not a few of the common people.

And taking his seat, as was the custom, he said in the hearing of all: "Behold, as you see, Abenner my father and king has died like one of the poor, and neither his wealth nor his royal glory, nor even I, the son who loved his father, nor any of the rest of his friends and kinsmen, had power to help him and rescue him from the inexorable sentence. But he goes away to the tribunals beyond, to render an account of his conduct in this present life, bringing with him no helper of all, but only his own deeds, of whatever sort they may be. And this same thing naturally befalls all who have received mortal nature, and it cannot be otherwise. Now, then, hear me, friends and brothers, people of the Lord and holy heritage, whom Christ our God ransomed with his precious blood and delivered from the old error and the slavery of the adversary. You yourselves know my conduct among you, how, from the time I came to know Christ and was counted worthy to become his servant, hating all things, I longed for him alone, and this was the desire of my heart: that, having withdrawn from the storm of life and its vain tumult, I might be with him alone, alone, and in the untroubled calm of soul serve my God and Master. But the opposition of my father held me back, and the commandment that bids us honour our parents. Hence, by the grace and cooperation of God, I have not toiled in vain, nor spent these days for nothing;

but I both brought him near to Christ and taught all of you to know him alone as the true God and Lord of all—not that I did this, but his grace that is with me, which both rescued me from superstitious error and the worship of idols, and freed you, my people, from grievous captivity. It is time, then, now at last to fulfil the works I promised to God; time to go away wherever he himself may lead me, and to render the vows that I vowed to him. Now, then, consider for yourselves whom you wish to lead you and to reign over you; for you are already fitted for the will of the Lord, and none of his commandments is hidden from you. Walk in these; turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; and may the God of peace be with you all." When that people and populace heard these things, there was at once an uproar and clamour and the loudest outcry and confusion, all weeping and lamenting their orphaned state. Lamenting in this way, they confirmed with oaths, besides their laments, that they would by no means let him go, but would hold fast to him, and not grant him his withdrawal at all. As the populace and all those in office cried out thus, the king answered and quieted the crowd with a gesture, and bade them be silent. And saying that he yielded to their opposition, he sent them home, sorrowful nonetheless and bearing the marks of wailing on their cheeks. But he himself, taking aside one of the rulers, who was preferred by him

and admired for his piety and the gravity of his life, Barachias by name—whom the narrative made known above also, when Nachor, playing the part of Barlaam, disputed with the philosophers, and Barachias alone was prepared to stand by him and join in the contest, his heart kindled with divine zeal—taking him aside, the king spoke gently with him, and most earnestly begged him to take up the kingship, and to shepherd his people in the fear of God, so that he himself might go the road he longed for. But when he saw him refusing and altogether declining, and saying, "O king, how unjust is your judgment; how unlike a commandment is your word; for if you were taught to love your neighbour as yourself, by what reasoning do you hasten to lay upon me the very burden you are eager to cast off? For if it is good to reign, hold the good thing yourself; but if this is a stumbling-block to the soul and a snare, why do you set it before me and wish to trip me up?"—when, then, he saw him saying and firmly maintaining such things, he ceased from the conversation.

And so in the dead of night he wrote out a letter to the people, full of much wisdom and prompting all true religion: what opinion they ought to have concerning God, what manner of life to offer him, what hymns, what thanksgivings; then he commanded that they receive no other than Barachias into the royal rule. And leaving the paper on which the letter was written in his own chamber, he went out of the palace unnoticed by all. But he was not able to escape notice to the end. For at dawn, when this became known, it at once produced disturbance and lamentation in the people; and all went out with great speed to seek him, intending by every means to forestall his flight; whence their zeal did not turn out in vain for them. For when they had occupied all the roads beforehand, and were circling all the mountains and going round the untrodden ravines, they found him in a certain torrent-bed, with his hands stretched out to heaven, performing the prayer of the sixth hour. And seeing him, they crowded round, beseeching him with tears and reproaching him for his departure. But he said, "Why do you toil in vain? For no longer hope to have me for your king."

And yielding a little to their great insistence, he returns again to the palace. And gathering them all together, he made his resolve plain. Then he confirmed his word with oaths, that he would be with them no day longer. "For I," he said, "have fulfilled my service toward you and left nothing wanting, nor have I held back from declaring to you and teaching what is profitable, testifying to all the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and showing the roads of repentance. And now, behold, I go the road I have long longed for; and you shall all no longer see my face. Therefore I testify to you this day, with the divine Apostle, that I am clean from the blood of you all. For I did not hold back from declaring to you all the counsel of God." Hearing these things, and knowing the firmness of his resolve, that nothing could hinder his purpose, they lamented their orphaned state, but could not by any means persuade him. Then the king, taking that Barachias, whom the narrative made known before, said, "This man, brothers, I appoint as your king." And when he strongly refused the matter, against his will and unwilling he set him in the royal rule, and put the diadem upon his head, and gave the royal ring into his hand. And standing toward the east he made a prayer for king Barachias: that his faith in God might be kept unshaken for him, and that he might find an unswerving

course according to the commandments of Christ. And along with this he prayed for the clergy and all the flock, asking from the Lord help and salvation for them, and whatever might be for them a request ordered toward their benefit. Having prayed thus, he turned and said to Barachias: "Behold, brother, I charge you as the Apostle once testified: 'Take heed to yourself and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has set you as king, to shepherd the people of the Lord which he purchased through his own blood.' And as before me you came to know God and served him in a pure conscience, so now too show greater zeal to please him. For inasmuch as you have been counted worthy of great rule by God, by so much are you a debtor for a greater recompense. Repay, then, to your benefactor the debt of thanksgiving, keeping his holy commandments and turning aside from every road that leads to ruin. For as with those who sail, when a sailor goes wrong, he brings small harm to the passengers, but when the pilot does, he works the ruin of the whole ship; so too in kingdoms, if one of the subjects sins, he wrongs not so much the common body as himself,

but if the king himself does, he works harm to the whole state. As one, then, who will render great accounts if you overlook anything of your duty, guard yourself with much exactness in the good. Hate every pleasure that draws toward sin; for the Apostle says: 'Pursue peace with all, and the sanctification without which no one shall see the Lord.' Mark the circle that runs round the affairs of men, bearing them now this way, now that, and carrying them about; and in their swift-turning change keep your pious reasoning unchanged. For to change along with the changes of affairs is a sign of an unstable mind. But be steadfast, wholly fixed in the good. Be not lifted up through this temporary glory to vain swelling; but with cleansed reasoning understand the worthlessness of your own nature, the brevity and swift passing of life here, and the death joined to the flesh. And reckoning these things, you will not be cast into the pit of disdain, but will fear God, the true and heavenly King, and you will be truly blessed. For 'Blessed,' it says, 'are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways'; and, 'Blessed is the man who fears the Lord; in his commandments he shall delight greatly.' And what commandments above all ought you

to keep? 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy'; and, 'Be compassionate, as your heavenly Father is compassionate.' For this commandment above all is required of those who are in the greatest rule. And truly one who has laid hold of great authority ought to imitate the giver of authority as far as he is able; and in this above all he will imitate God: in considering nothing more to be preferred than showing mercy. But also nothing so draws the subject to goodwill as the grace of well-doing given to those in need; for the service done through fear is a disguised flattery, deceiving with a counterfeit name of honour those who attend to it; and what is subjected unwillingly rebels when it gets the chance; but what is held by the bonds of goodwill has firm obedience toward the one who holds it. Therefore be easy of access to those who beg, and open your ears to the poor, that you may find the ear of God open to you; for such as we become to our fellow-servants, such shall we find the Master toward us, and as we hear we shall be heard, as we see we shall be seen by the divine and all-seeing eye. Let us, then, offer mercy beforehand for mercy, that we may receive like for like. But hear also another commandment, the yoke-fellow of the former: 'Forgive, and you shall be forgiven'; and,

'If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses.' Therefore bear no grudge against those who offend; but, asking forgiveness for your sins, forgive also yourself those who offend against you, because forgiveness is repaid with forgiveness, and by reconciliation with our fellow-servants comes release from the Master's wrath. And again, our lack of compassion toward those who offend makes our own offences unforgivable; just as you hear what the debtor of the ten thousand talents suffered, when by his lack of pity toward his fellow-servant he renewed against himself the exaction of so great a debt. Therefore we must attend carefully, lest we too suffer the like; but let us forgive every debt, and cast out all wrath from the heart, that to us too our many debts may be forgiven. And in all things and above all things, guard the good deposit, the pious word of the faith, which you have learned and been taught; and let no tare of heresy spring up among you; but keep the divine seed pure and undefiled, that you may show fruit many-fold to the Master, when he comes demanding an account from each of how they have lived, and repaying according to what we have done, when the righteous shall shine as the sun, and darkness shall cover the sinners

and everlasting shame. And now, brothers, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." And having said these things, bending his knees, as it is written, he again prayed with tears. And turning, he kissed Barachias whom he had appointed king, and all those in office. Then indeed there came about a thing truly worthy of tears. For all, standing round him, as though living only by being with him and about to have their very souls taken away with the parting, what did they not say to move pity? What excess of laments did they leave untried? They kissed him, they embraced him; the grief made them beside themselves. "Woe to us," they cried, "for this grievous misfortune;

" and they called upon him as master, father, saviour, benefactor: "Through you," they said, "we came to know God; we were ransomed from error; we found rest from all evils. What shall be left to us after your departure? What evils shall not overtake us?" Saying such things, they beat their breasts and bewailed the calamity that had seized them. But he, having quieted the many wailings with words of comfort, and having promised to be with them in spirit—since in body this could now no longer be—saying such things, went out of the palace in the sight of all. And at once all followed him. They refused to return; they fled the city, as though no longer able to see it with their own eyes. And when they had gotten outside the city, at last, scarcely, as he urged them with the sharpness of his word and laid on a somewhat keener rebuke, they were torn from him, and unwillingly turned back, their eyes constantly turning round toward him, and their feet halting the march. And some of the more fervent, lamenting, followed him from afar,

until the coming of night separated them from one another"