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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: to embitter thy heart or mar thy happiness. I intend that thou
shalt spend all thy days in luxury unbroken, and in all manner
joy and pleasaunce." "But," said the son unto his father, "know
well, Sir, that thus I live not in joy and pleasaunce, but rather
in affliction and great straits, so that my very meat and drink
seem distasteful unto me and bitter. I yearn to see all that
lieth without these gates. If then thou wouldest not have me
live in anguish of mind, bid me go abroad as I desire, and let me
rejoice my soul with sights hitherto unseen by mine eyes."
Grieved was the king to hear these words, but, perceiving that to
deny this request would but increase his boy's pain and grief, he
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