t known their Maker and Creator,
but have worshipped foul devils, and rendered homage to dumb idols, and
loved the pleasures of this vain world, and, like swine, wallowed in
the mire of sinful lusts, and made their lives a headquarters for all
wickedness, shall stand naked and laid bare, downright ashamed and
downcast, pitiable in appearance and in fact, set forth for a reproach
to all creation. All their life in word, deed and thought shall come
before their faces. Then, after this bitter disgrace and unbearable
reproach, shall they be sentenced to the unquenchable and light-less
fire of Gehenna, unto the outer darkness, the gnashing of teeth and the
venomous worm. This is their portion, this their lot, in the which
they shall dwell together in punishment for endless ages, because they
rejected the good things offered them in promise, and, for the sake of
the pleasure of sin for a season, made choice of eternal punishment.
For these reasons--to obtain that unspeakable bliss, to enjoy that
ineffable glory, to equal the Angels in splendour, and to stand with
boldness before the good and most sweetest Lord, to escape those bitter
and unending punishments and that galling shame--time after time, were
it not worth men's while to sacrifice their riches and bodies, nay,
even their very lives? Who is so cowardly, who so foolish, as not to
endure a thousand temporal deaths, to escape eternal and everlasting
death, and to inherit life, blissful and imperishable, and to shine in
the light of the blessed and life-giving Trinity?"

XXVI.

When the king heard these words, and saw the steadfastness, and
unbuxomness of his son, who yielded neither to flattery, nor
persuasion, nor threat, he marvelled indeed at the persuasiveness of
his speech and his irrefutable answers, and was convicted by his own
conscience secretly assuring him that Ioasaph spake truly and aright.
But he was dragged back by his evil habit and passions, which, from
long use, had taken firm grip on him, and held him in as with bit and
bridle, and suffered him not to behold the light of truth. So he left
no stone unturned, as the saying is, and adhered to his old purpose,
determining to put into action the plot which he and Araches had
between them devised. Said he to his son, "Although, child, thou
oughtest in all points simply to give in to my commands, yet, because
thou art stubborn and disobedient, and hast thus stiffly opposed me,
insisting that thine