Page 16 - Book of Composition

know a certain man dwelling in the mountains of Jerusalem, to whom the
Lord God has revealed all wisdom; for he is judged most firm and
constant in his faith both of God and men. For on a certain day when we
conferred of many matters in his hermitage, it happened by chance, that
he told me that he could accomplish this Magistery which I had heard,
and for that I often tried his truth and verity, and had also seen him send
every year much gold and silver to Jerusalem: trusting therefore to his
speech, I conferred with myself that if I should come in your presence
you would enrich me with many great gifts and would never separate me
from your grace and favour.”

Then said the king: “What words are these which you use? Or what
foolish mind has persuaded you to come hither? Are you altogether
ignorant what and how many men have been by me deprived of their
lives for such like speeches? But if those words which you have spoken
are true, which I greatly doubt, then would I enrich you with many gifts,
and should never be separated from my grace and favor. But if they be
false, then assure yourself your torture and torments shall be extreme.”

Then said that man: “O king I am pleased with either of your promises.
And content yourself with my counsels.”

Then said the king: “Let us confer a little of the quality of that man and
of his habit, for many years past there came a certain man unto me, who
(to say the truth) effected this Magistery for me, and when he had
finished it, he left me, the thing effected, but not the knowledge and
science thereof, and secretly departed, and went his way.”

Then said the man: “That man is much worn in age, large of stature,
comely of face and countenance, and well mannered, whose life and
habit is pleasant in the sight of God. And he is a hermit in the mountains
of Jerusalem. And if you desire to know his name, he is called Morienus
Romanus the ancient hermit.”

Then the King, turning unto his servant Galip, said unto him: “surely this
is the man whose absence I have so greatly bewailed.”

And Galip said: “It is he as I think.” The king rejoiced much, and more
than may be credited. He entertained this man courteously, and
commanded many gifts to be given to him, and promised him diverse
greater.

This is the history of Morienus Romanus, how he obtained the Magistery
of Hermes.

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