Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/151

Rh shirt, they took him and brought him before the vizier, supposing him to be Baralam.

The vizier said to him: "Whence art thou?"

And he said: "I am one of the dwellers in the wilderness."

The vizier asked: "Of what faith art thou, a votary?"

Nachovr answered: "Of the faith of Christ."

The vizier said: "What is thy name?"

Nachovr said: "Baralam."

Then the vizier began to rejoice before the eyes of the soldiers. And he took and brought him before the king. But the king took him aside and said unto him all that he desired. And on the morrow the king took his seat on his throne, and had brought before him the wolf in sheep's clothing. And when Nachovr entered, the king said in the hearing of all the public: "Thou art Baralam, the worker of evil."

Nachovr said: "I am Baralam, servant of the true God, who have brought thy son to believe, and made him to worship God."

And the king in the eyes of the court shewed anger, and said: "I was resolved with many tortures to slay thee; but now will I keep thee safe, until I have asked thee questions before my wise men. And if they vanquish thee, then will I give thee honour according to thy merits." And having said this he gave him to the vizier to be cast into prison.

But Jovasaph, when he heard that Baralam was taken, began to weep and prayed God to come to his assistance. But the merciful God desired not the sorrow of Jovasaph; but by means of an angel in a dream by night revealed to him all, saying: "Thy sire hath taken Nachovr, and he is a sham offender. It is Nachovr the wizard and not Baralam. But he has disguised him as Baralam, in order to persuade thee."

Then Jovasaph arose and prayed and thanked God. And after two days the king came to Jovasaph; and he went to meet his father. But his father did not kiss him according to his custom, but passed him by as if in anger and sorrow and sat down, and then he said to his son: "What is this rumour which I hear about thee? For so much as I delighted in thy being born, so much the greater sorrow have I conceived. For thou hast dishonoured my grey hair, and art become a cause of rejoicing to mine enemies. And thou hast made me the laughing stock of my neighbours and of strangers.

Jovasaph said: "Hear, O my prince, and be not angry, because no ill is done; but I have escaped from darkness and followed the true light. I have renounced devils, and have believed in the true God." But the king was filled with wrath and knew not what to do; but in shame and sorrow he went out saying to his son: "It was better for me that thou shouldst never have been born at all."

When the king had gone out he called the vizier, and related to him the speech of his son. But by the advice of the vizier the king went back to his son, and said: "I have in chains thy crafty teacher Baralam; and now I will assemble a vast crowd of all races, in order that Baralam and my own sages