Page 18 - Book of Composition

And when I had beheld him diligently I presently knew him. And then I
saluted him on the behalf of King Calid, whose name being heard, the
good old man smiled, and willed us to come nearer unto him. We
therefore rejoiced and being joyful we sat down with him. And the man
of God demanded of us concerning the state of our king and kingdom. To
which demands when I had answered him fully, I likewise declared to
him the cause of our journey, and he turning unto us said “I rejoice much
my son, that you have found me out, for I will go with you, that King
Calid may see me once again as he has long desired. And that I may
reveal to him the miraculous power of the creator.”

Therefore after we had recreated our wearied limbs for a certain space,
being tired with the tiresomeness of travel, we began our journey back
again, and returned into our own country.

And when we came before the king, the king espied the holy man and he
presently knew him, and taking me by hand, he said: “O my good servant
Galip, truly this is the man, for whose loss I have so much lamented,
therefore declare to me all those things which have happened to you in
your journey.”

And so I showed to him the whole matter from the beginning. Then the
king called the man of God who came with us, and willed him to sit
down by him.

And said unto him: “Father tell me your name and declare to me the
manner of your profession: for I will not defer it to a farther time for as
yet I have had mistrust of your words.”

Then the man of God answered: “I am called Morienus Romanus : and
my profession is of the Christian faith. My religion and habit is a
hermit.”

Then said the king: “O Morienus how many years have passed, since the
first time you took unto yourself the life and habit of a hermit?”

And he answered: “After four winters from the death of Heraclius the
king I became a hermit.” The king was much pleased and delighted with
the wisdom, humility, patience, and comeliness of this old man, for he
was neither full of words, not haughty of mind, but humble, prudent, and
courteous, as was mete for a man of his age.

Then said the king: “Morienus were it not better for you to remain in the
church with convents, who pray to God, than to dwell alone in the

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