his might, for it is written, `He that seeketh shall find it.'
The enjoyment of the present life, though in seeming it give
delight and sweetness, is well thrust from us. At the very
moment of its being it ceaseth to be, and for our joy repayeth us
with sorrow sevenfold. Its happiness and its sorrow are more
frail than a shadow, and, like the traces of a ship passing over
the sea, or of a bird flying through the air, quickly disappear.
But the hope of the life to come which the Christians preach is
certain, and as surety sure; howbeit in this world it hath
tribulation, whereas our pleasures now are short-lived, and in
the beyond they only win us correction and everlasting punishment
without release. For the pleasures of such life are temporary,
but its pains eternal; while the Christians' labours are
temporary, but their pleasure and gain immortal. Therefore well
befall this good determination of the king! for right good it is
to exchange the corruptible for the eternal."

The king heard these words and waxed exceeding wroth:
nevertheless he restrained his anger, and for the season let no
word fall. But the other, being shrewd and quick of wit,
perceived that the king took his word ill, and was craftily
sounding him. So, on his coming home, he fell into much grief
and distress in his perplexity how to conciliate the king and to
escape the peril hanging over his own head. But as he lay awake
all the night long, there came to his remembrance the man with
the crushed foot; so he had him brought before him, and said, "I
remember thy saying that thou weft an healer of injured speech."
"Yea," quoth he, "and if thou wilt I will give thee proof of my
skill." The senator answered and told him of his aforetime
friendship with the king, and of the confidence which he had