that so the evil spread no further." The devout man gave no
heed to his word, but on account of the commandment, ordered him to be
carried home, and grudged him not that tending which he required. But
the aforesaid envious and malignant persons, bringing forth to light
that ungodliness with which they had long been in travail, slandered
this good man to the king; that not only did he forget his friendship
with the king, and neglect the worship of the gods, and incline to
Christianity, but more, that he was grievously intriguing against the
kingly power, and was turning aside the common people, and stealing all
hearts for himself. "But," said they, "if thou wilt prove that our
charge is not ungrounded, call him to thee privately; and, to try him,
say that thou desirest to leave thy fathers' religion, and the glory of
thy kingship, and to become a Christian, and to put on the monkish
habit which formerly thou didst persecute, having, thou shalt tell him,
found thine old course evil." The authors of this villainous charge
against the Christian knew the tenderness of his heart, how that, if he
heard such speech from the king, he would advise him, who had made this
better choice, not to put off his good determinations, and so they
would be found just accusers.

But the king, not forgetful of his friend's great kindness toward him,
thought these accusations incredible and false; and because he might
not accept them without proof, he resolved to try the fact and the
charge. So he called the man apart and said, to prove him, "Friend,
thou knowest of all my past dealings with them that are called monks
and with all the Christians. But now, I have repented in this matter,
and, lightly esteeming the present world, would fain become partaker of
those hopes whereof I have heard them speak, of some immortal kingdom
in the life to come; for the present is of a surety cut short by death.
And in none other way, methinks, can I succeed herein and not miss the
mark except I become a Christian, and, bidding farewell to the glory of
my kingdom and all the pleasures and joys of life, go seek those
hermits and monks, wheresoever they be, whom I have banished, and join
myself to their number. Now what sayest thou thereto, and what is
thine advice? Say on; I adjure thee in the name of truth; for I know
thee to be true and wise above all men."

The worthy man, hearing this, but never guessing the hidden pitfall,
was pricked in spirit, an