Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/436

424 they viewed with contempt. Then said the king, I presumed what would be your determination: for ye look with the eyes of sense. But to discern baseness or value which are hid within, we must look with the eyes of the mind. He then ordered the golden chests to be opened, which exhaled an intolerable stench, and filled the beholders with horror .'

"In the, written about the year 1300, these chests are called four fates, that is, four vats or vessels."—.

The historian goes on to observe, that the romantic legend of Barlaam and Josaphat, contains strong traces of oriental composition; and that it possibly originated with the monk whose name it bears; or at least, with "some devout and learned ascetic of the Greek church, and probably before the tenth century."

There is a surprising similarity in the marvellous conversion here spoken of, to that which is on record relative to Colonel Gardiner.