st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul
st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul
st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul
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"<br />
DOUBTFUL WRITINGS.<br />
IQ ^<br />
but not daring to let their murmurs be openly heard<br />
by the king, applied to his brother and urged him to<br />
expo<strong>st</strong>ulate with their sovereign. The king s brother<br />
did so, and the king answered him ; but what the<br />
meaning <strong>of</strong> that answer was could not be under<strong>st</strong>ood<br />
t when evening was come the meaning <strong>of</strong> the<br />
answer seemed to be made but too plain.<br />
Uwas the<br />
cu<strong>st</strong>om <strong>of</strong> that country, when any man was sentenced<br />
death, for a messenger to be sent to blow a certain<br />
trumpet before his door, thence called the trumpet <strong>of</strong><br />
leath. When the fatal sound was heard, the inmates<br />
:new what was meant, and the victim ha<strong>st</strong>ened to<br />
make his la<strong>st</strong> preparation. On this night therefore<br />
the king sent a messenger to blow the trumpet before<br />
he door <strong>of</strong> his brother. He, pale and terrified<br />
thought that his hour was come, and at early morn<br />
ha<strong>st</strong>ened, with wife and children clad in<br />
mourning to<br />
sue for mercy at the hands <strong>of</strong> the king. The king<br />
set him free from his alarm, and reader him hf<br />
meaning <strong>of</strong> this riddle.<br />
If he, foolish suppliant, thus<br />
dreaded the messenger <strong>of</strong> an earthly king, one but<br />
ttle .higher m rank and honour than himself, how<br />
could he blame his brother for attending with awful<br />
reverence to any message that came to him from the<br />
<strong>st</strong>h humn ngS eVen th Ugh br Ught b * env y s "<br />
"* *"** th Se * Wh m he had take<br />
<strong>of</strong>fence ?<br />
Such was the parable by which Barlaam encouraged<br />
and rewarded the condescension <strong>of</strong> the young prince<br />
e<br />
lhrsSemal<br />
e C 0nVerSati0n f **<br />
"nd<br />
"<br />
Ltr!!ction<br />
related,-* mu<strong>st</strong> be admitted, M almrctln^nable<br />
o