Page:Barlaam and Josaphat. English lives of Buddha.djvu/154

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16
LẎF OF SAẎNT BALLAM.

where is the body ordeyned by the foure elementes / by whiche the ioynture of the membrys is corupte in bodyes dyſhordynate/ The orrible dragon is the mouthe of helle whiche deſyreth to deuoure al creatures / The ſwetenes of the hony in the bowes of the tree / is the falſe deceyuable delectacyon of the world by whiche man is deceyued / ſo that he taketh no hede of the perylle that he is in / and yet he ſayd that they that loue the worlde ben ſemblable to a man that had thre frendes / of whiche he loued the fyrſte as moche as hym ſelf/ and he louyd the ſecond leſſe thenne hym ſelf/ & louyd the thyrd a lytel or nought/ and it happed ſo that this man was in grete perylle of his lyf/ and was ſomoned tofore the kynge / thenne he ranne to hp fyrſte frende/ and demaunded of hym hys helpe/ and tolde to hym how he had alweye louyd hym / to whome he ſayde / I haue other frendes with whom I muſt be this day/ and I wote not who thou arte/ therfore I may not helpe the / yet neuertheleſſe I ſhal gyue to the two ſloppes wyth whyche thou mayſt couer the / and thenne he wente aweye moche ſorowful/ and wente to that other frende/ and requyred alſo his ayde/ and he ſayd to hym I may not attende to goo wyth the to thys debate/ for I haue grete charge/ but I ſhal yet felau-

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