of the Holy Confessors Barlaam and Josaphat.

high honor, it truly pained his heart, and he was highly troubled that he should lose such a good friend and servant. Against the monks, however, he became even more violently enraged and angered. He immediately sent out searchers and gave earnest orders that this counselor of his should be sought in all the dens and caves of the mountains to see if he could be brought to hand. When those who were appointed and sent to seek him learned that he had his dwelling in the mountains, they diligently searched every place and finally found him. They captured him and brought him before the king. Now when the king saw him—who previously had been clothed in precious garments as is the custom at royal courts and in the world, and who had been held in such honor, living in all the luxury and pleasure of this world—now in such a poor, miserable, and hard garment, living the strict life and conduct of a hermit: he was filled simultaneously with sadness and anger. He began his speech, mixing these two emotions, saying: O you fool and madman, why have you turned the honor and dignity you had into vice and unworthiness? You, who were the foremost and first in my council and a ruler of my power, have made yourself a laughingstock for children. You have completely forgotten our friendship and the good trust we placed in you; indeed, you have even opposed nature and shown no mercy to your own children. You have considered wealth and all worldly honor as nothing, preferring dishonor to the heartfelt glory of this world. What have you done now, that you have preferred this man called Jesus above all gods and men,