Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/152

130 may converse before us. But if Baralam is vanquished, thou wilt know that he is a quack, and by false words perverted thee from our mighty gods."

But the God-loving and well-minded youth Jovasaph said to his father: "The will of my king be done; and may God do according to his good will and pleasure."

And on the morrow a multitude was gathered together of men in the king's court. There came also Jovasaph and sat down near his father. Then the king said to his wise men: "Behold and mark ye. If ye conquer Baralam, ye shall earn great gifts from us; but if ye are vanquished by him and put me to shame, no one shall rescue you from my hands."

But Jovasaph said: "Well and rightly hath the king spoken. I, then, will converse with my teacher." And, turning to Nachovr, who was disguised as Baralam—for he knew the truth, that he was not Baralam—he said to him:

"Whereas thou didst find me in glory and riches, yet full of understanding of thy speech, thou didst make me deny my country's gods and worship the unknown God. And thou didst promise that I should inherit the bliss which passes not, and by such words didst thou cajole me, and draw me after thy precepts, and anger the king my father against me.

"Now, therefore, set thy life in the balance. If thou vanquish the wise men, then I know that thy words which thou hast taught me are true, and then I will honour thee with great glory. But if thou art vanquished by them and puttest me to shame, believe me, I wall with mine own hands exact from thee the penalty of my disgrace. One by one I will cut off thy members, and give thee to eat of thy own flesh. I will pluck out thine eyes and cut out thy tongue, and then I will cast thee out to feed the dogs, in order that thou mayest be a warning to all charlatans not to dare to deceive the sons of kings."

When Nachovr heard this, he was seized with great fear; for he saw that he had fallen into the pit which he had dug for others, and he bethought him what he should do. And then he made up his mind to follow the wish of Jovasaph and escape his threats, for the king could not save him from the hands of his son. And (the more so) as it was meet for the adversary to become the vindicator of the truth, and for the dog to chase the wolves from the fold of Christ.

But when they began to dispute one with the other, Nachovr and the wise men, as of old Balaam the magus with Balak the king; who, instead of cursing, blessed the people of Israel. So then one of the philosophers rose and said to Nachovr: 'Thou art the senseless and folly-stricken Baralam."

Nachovr replied: "I am the true servant of God, Baralam, who taught to the son of the king the way of righteousness, to worship the living God and not devils. Hear, O mighty and autocratic king, and all the assembled multitude: Jesus Christ, he is God of all and maker of all creatures, and there is no other God but he. But the sons of men are deceived by the evil Satan. They have forsaken their creator and worship the works of their own hands. Now, therefore, will I tell thee, O king, concerning creation. If they declare