yet had not saved her from banishment and loss of
glory. Moreover the devil secretly sowed in Ioasaph's heart thoughts
that he might recover her from idolatry, and make her a Christian.

But these were all stratagems of the wily serpent. For the king's son,
being in this frame of mind, could see in himself no unclean thought or
passionate affection for the damsel, but only sympathy and pity for her
misfortune, and the ruin of her soul, and knew not that this matter was
a device of the devil; for verily he is darkness, and feigneth to be
light. So he began to commune with the damsel, and talk with her over
the oracles of the knowledge of God, and said, "Lady, be thou
acquainted with the ever-living God, and perish not in the error of
these idols; but know thy Lord, and the Maker of all this world, and
thou shalt be happy, the bride of the immortal bridegroom." While he
exhorted her with many such-like words, immediately the evil spirit
whispered to the girl that she should spread under his feet the nets of
deceit to drag his blessed soul into the pit of lust, as he once did to
our first parent by means of Eve, thus miserably banishing him, alas!
from Paradise and God, and making him to become subject to death in
lieu of bliss and everlasting life.

When the damsel heard Ioasaph's words fulfilled with all wisdom, being
without understanding, she understood them not, but made answer thus,
becoming the tongue and mouth-piece of the evil one: "If, sir, thou
takest thought for my salvation, and desirest to bring me to thy God,
and to save my poor soul, do thou also thyself grant me one request,
and straightway I will bid good-bye to my fathers' gods, and join thy
God, serving him until my last breath; and thou shalt receive
recompense for my salvation, and for my turning to God-ward."

"Lady, and what is thy request?" said he. But she, setting her whole
self, figure, look and voice in a fashion to charm him, answered, "Be
thou joined with me in the bonds of wedlock, and I will joyfully follow
out thy behests."

"In vain, O Lady," said he, "hast thou made this hard request. For
though I earnestly care for thy salvation, and long to heave thee from
the depth of perdition, yet to pollute my body through unclean union is
grievous for me, and utterly impossible."

She, seeking to make the way straight and smooth for him, cried, "Why
dost thou, who are so wise, talk thus? Wherefore speakest thou of it
as of defilement a