ou his hermitage."

Thereupon the governor waxed full of indignation, and, casting a
haughty and savage glance upon him, said, "Ye shall die no ordinary
death, except ye immediately bring Barlaam before me." "What," said the
monk, "seest thou in our case that should by its attractions cause us
to cling to life, and be afraid of death at thy hands? Whereas we
should the rather feel grateful to thee for removing us from life in
the close adherence to virtue. For we dread, not a little, the
uncertainty of the end, knowing not in what state death shall overtake
us, lest perchance a slip of the inclination, or some despiteful
dealing of the devil, may alter the constancy of our choice, and
mis-persuade us to think or do contrary to our covenants with God.
Wherefore abandon all hope of gaining the knowledge that ye desire, and
shrink not to work your will. We shall neither reveal the
dwelling-place of our brother, whom God loveth, although we know it,
nor shall we betray any other monasteries unbeknown to ye. We will not
endure to escape death by such cowardice. Nay, liefer would we die
honourably, and offer unto God, after the sweats of virtue, the
life-blood of courage."

That man of sin could not brook this boldness of speech, and was moved
to the keenest passion against this high and noble spirit, and
afflicted the monks with many stripes and tortures. Their courage and
nobility won admiration even from that tyrant. But, when after many
punishments he failed to persuade them, and none of them consented to
discover Barlaam, he took and ordered them to be led to the king,
bearing with them the wallet with the relics, and to be beaten and
shamefully entreated as they went.

XXIII.

After many days Araches brought them to the king, and declared their
case. Then he set them before the bitterly incensed king: and he, when
he saw them, boiled over with fury and was like to one mad. He ordered
them to be beaten without mercy, and, when he saw them cruelly mangled
with scourges, could scarcely restrain his madness, and order the
tormentors to cease. Then said he unto them, "Why bear ye about these
dead men's bones? If ye carry these bones through affection for those
men to whom they belong, this very hour I will set you in their
company, that ye may meet your lost friends and be duly grateful to
me." The captain and leader of that godly band, setting at naught the
king's threats, showing no sign of the torment