of the field; nor shall I be found either stony or
thorny-hearted, as thou saidest, but I shall receive the word kindly,
and guard it wisely. So if thou knowest any such like thing, conceal
it not from me, but declare it. When I heard that thou were come from
a far country, my spirit rejoiced, and I had good hope of obtaining
through thee that which I desire. Wherefore I called thee straightway
into my presence, and received thee in friendly wise as one of my
companions and peers, if so be that I may not be disappointed of my
hope." Barlaam answered, "Fair are thy deeds, and worthy of thy royal
majesty; seeing that thou hast paid no heed to my mean show, but hast
devoted thyself to the hope that lieth within.

"There was once a great and famous king: and it came to pass, when he
was riding on a day in his golden chariot, with his royal guard, that
there met him two men, clad in filthy rags, with fallen-in faces, and
pale as death. Now the king knew that it was by buffetings of the body
and by the sweats of the monastic life that they had thus wasted their
miserable flesh. So, seeing them, he leapt anon from his chariot, fell
on the ground, and did obeisance. Then rising, he embraced and greeted
them tenderly. But his noblemen and counsellors took offence thereat,
deeming that their sovran had disgraced his kingly honour. But not
daring to reprove him to the face, they bade the king's own brother
tell the king not thus to insult the majesty of his crown. When he had
told the king thereof, and had upbraided him for his untimely humility,
the king gave his brother an answer which he failed to understand.

"It was the custom of that king, whenever he sentenced anyone to death,
to send a herald to his door, with a trumpet reserved for that purpose,
and at the sound of this trumpet all understood that that man was
liable to the penalty of death. So when evening was come, the king
sent the death-trumpet to sound at his brother's door; who, when he
heard its blast, despaired of his life, and all night long set his
house in order. At day-break, robed in black and garments of mourning,
with wife and children, he went to the palace gate, weeping and
lamenting. The king fetched him in, and seeing him in tears, said, 'O
fool, and slow of understanding, how didst thou, who hast had such
dread of the herald of thy peer and brother (against whom thy
conscience doth not accuse thee of having committed any trespass) blame
me