himself, why his father had condemned him never to go abroad, and
had forbidden access to all. He knew, without hearing it, that
this was his father's express command. Nevertheless he feared to
ask him; it was not to be believed that his father intended aught
but his good; and again, if it were so by his father's will, his
father would not reveal the true reason, for all his asking.
Wherefore he determined to learn the secret from some other
source. There was one of his tutors nearer and dearer to him
than the rest, whose devotion he won even further by handsome
gifts. To him he put the question what his father might mean by
thus enclosing him within those walls, adding, "If thou wilt
plainly tell me this, of all thou shalt stand first in my favour,
and I will make with thee a covenant of everlasting friendship."
The tutor, himself a prudent man, knowing how bright and mature
was the boy's wit and that he would not betray him, to his peril,
discovered to him the whole matter the persecution of the
Christians and especially of the anchorets decreed by the king,
and how they were driven forth and banished from the country
round about; also the prophecies of the astrologers at his birth.
"'Twas in order," said he, "that thou mightest never hear of
their teaching, and choose it before our religion, that the king
hath thus devised that none but a small company should dwell with
thee, and hath commanded us to acquaint thee with none of the
woes of life." When the young prince heard this he said never a
word more, but the word of salvation took hold of his heart, and
the grace of the Comforter began to open wide the eyes of his
understanding, leading him by the hand to the true God, as our
tale in its course shall tell.

Now the king his father came oftentimes to see his boy, for he