VII.
The Prince then inquires why his father should have persecuted the followers of the true faith if their doctrines were so sound. Barlaam tells the parables—
VII. a. The Heathen King and the Believing Vizier.
(VII. a. i. The Swimmer and his Comrades.)
VII. b. The Rich Young Man and the Beggar's Daughter.
(VII. b. ii. Education by Love).
VII. c. The Man and the Bird.
The Prince asks Barlaam how old he is, and is told "twelve years old," for only during the time of hermithood had he truly lived.
[Arab. 39-117. Gr. 134-143. But Man and Bird in § vi. In Gr. Barlaam has lived 45 out of 70 years: in Georg. 18 out of 60, Heb. xvi.-xxii., adding in xxi. The Prophet and the Bird, The Language of Animals, and The Robbers' Nemesis.]
VIII.
The Prince's guardian, Zardan, overhears the conversation of Barlaam and Yudasaf, and threatens to tell the King, but is induced not to do so by the Prince.
[Arab. 117-23, Gr. 179-83 (before end of § ix.), Heb. xxiv. and portions of xxv., xxvi., but from henceforth pursues an original course till end of xxxv. (= § ix.). Georg. omits Christian dogmatics of Gr. 180-1.]
