st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

1
For the striking resemblance between this and what is
DOUBTFUL WRITINGS.
decrepitude, or old age, was to be most carefully kept
away from the prince s gaze. But as time went on,
and Josaphat was becoming learned in all the wisdom
of the Ethiopians and Persians, the feeling of
seclusion began to grow upon his mind.
Calling
him the most to
favoured and trusted of his attendants,
he urged him to make known for what cause he was
kept so confined. The man, conscious of the pene
trating intellect of his young master, and fearing to
offend the heir-apparent, made known to him the
whole history. The prince said no more for the
moment, but when the king next visited him, as he
Dften did, he besought him to let him have freedom
to go abroad. This request gave the king great un
easiness, but he could not refuse it ; only his redoubling
precautions against the occurrence of anything that
might divert his son s thoughts to serious concerns.
One day, however, as the prince and his suite were
out hunting, he unexpectedly came upon two miser
able objects, whose presence had not been observed.
One was a blind man, the other maimed. Full of
sorrowful concern and curiosity, Joasaph enquired
into the causes of their sad state. The like befell
not long afterwards, when an infirm old man came
under his notice. And when he learnt that old age
and disease were common to the human race, and
that he too must expect, unless his days were cut
short, to become a decrepit old man, he was filled
with gloom, and longed for some one to throw light
on these dark problems.
1
related in the Life of Buddha, see the Appendix.