feet rested on slippery, treacherous ground. Yea, he forgat,
without care, all those sights of awe and terror, and his whole
mind hung on the sweetness of that tiny drop of honey.

"This is the likeness of those who cleave to the deceitfulness of
this present life, -- the interpretation whereof I will declare
to thee anon. The unicorn is the type of death, ever in eager
pursuit to overtake the race of Adam. The pit is the world, full
of all manner of ills and deadly snares. The tree, which was
being continually fretted by the two mice, to which the man
clung, is the course of every man's life, that spendeth and
consuming itself hour by hour, day and night, and gradually
draweth nigh its severance. The fourfold asps signify the
structure of man's body upon four treacherous and unstable
elements which, being disordered and disturbed, bring that body
to destruction. Furthermore, the fiery cruel dragon betokeneth
the maw of hell that is hungry to receive those who choose
present pleasures rather than future blessings. The dropping of
honey denoteth the sweetness of the delights of the world,
whereby it deceiveth its own friends, nor suffereth them to take
timely thought for their salvation."


XIII.

Ioasaph received this parable with great joy and said, "How true
this story is, and most apt! Grudge not, then, to shew me other
such like figures, that I may know for certain what the manner of
our life is, and what it hath in store for its friends."