Now on his son's birth-day feast there came unto the king some five and
fifty chosen men, schooled in the star-lore of the Chaldaeans. These
the king called into his presence, and asked them, severally, to tell
him the future of the new-born babe. After long counsel held, they said
that he should be mighty in riches and power, and should surpass all
that had reigned before him. But one of the astrologers, the most
learned of all his fellows, spake thus: "From that which I learn from
the courses of the stars, O king, the advancement of the child, now
born unto thee, will not be in thy kingdom, but in another, a better
and a greater one beyond compare. Methinketh also that he will embrace
the Christian religion, which thou persecutest, and I trow that he will
not be disappointed of his aim and hope." Thus spake the astrologer,
like Balaam of old, not that his star-lore told him true, but because
God signifieth the truth by the mouth of his enemies, that all excuse
may be taken from the ungodly.
But when the king heard thereof, he received the tidings with a heavy
heart, and sorrow cut short his joy. Howsoever he built, in a city set
apart, an exceeding beautiful palace, with cunningly devised gorgeous
chambers, and there set his son to dwell, after he had ended his first
infancy; and he forbade any to approach him, appointing, for
instructors and servants, youths right seemly to behold. These he
charged to reveal to him none of the annoys of life, neither death, nor
old age, nor disease, nor poverty, nor anything else grievous that
might break his happiness: but to place before him everything pleasant
and enjoyable, that his heart, revelling in these delights, might not
gain strength to consider the future, nor ever hear the bare mention of
the tale of Christ and his doctrines. For he was heedful of the
astrologer's warning, and it was this most that he was minded to
conceal from his son. And if any of the attendants chanced to fall
sick, he commanded to have him speedily removed, and put another plump
and well-favoured servant in his place, that the boy's eyes might never
once behold anything to disquiet them. Such then was the intent and
doing of the king, for, 'seeing, he did not see, and hearing, he did
not understand.'
But, learning that some monks still remained, of whom he fondly
imagined that not a trace was left, he became angry above measure, and
his fury was hotly kindled against them. And he commanded heralds to
scour all the city and all the country, proclaiming that after three
days no monk whatsoever should be found therein. But and if any were
discovered after the set time, they should be delivered to destruction
by fire and sword. "For," said he, "these be they that persuade the
people to worship the Crucified as God." Meanwhile a thing befell,
that made the king still more angry and bitter against the monks.