48 Jesu most high, voice arising from perfect mercy, Saviour of all, the
right hand of the light, overthrowing the evil one in his own nature, and
gathering all his nature into one place; thou of many forms, that art only
begotten, first-born of many brethren God of the Most High God, man despised
until now (Syr. and humble). Jesu Christ that neglectest us not when we call
upon thee, that art become an occasion of life unto all mankind, that for us
wast judged and shut up in prison, and loosest all that are in bonds, that wast
called a deceiver and redeemest thine own from error: I beseech thee for these
that stand here and believe on thee, for they entreat to obtain thy gifts,
having good hope in thy help, and having their refuge in thy greatness; they
hold their hearing ready to listen unto the words that are spoken by us. Let thy
peace come and tabernacle in them and renew them from their former deeds, and
let them put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new that now is
proclaimed unto them by me.
49 And he laid his hands on them and blessed
them, saying: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be upon you for ever. And
they said, Amen. And the woman besought him, saying: O apostle of the Most High,
give me the seal, that that enemy return not again unto me. Then he caused her
to come near unto him (Syr. went to a river which was close by there), and laid
his hands upon her and sealed her in the name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Ghost; and many others also were sealed with her. And the apostle bade his
minister (deacon) to set forth a table; and he set forth a stool which they
found there, and spread a linen cloth upon it and set on the bread of blessing;
and the apostle stood by it and said: Jesu, that hast accounted us worthy to
partake of the eucharist of thine holy body and blood, lo, we are bold to draw
near unto thine eucharist and to call upon thine holy name: come thou and
communicate unto us (Syr. adds more).
50 And he began to say: Come, O perfect
compassion, Come O communion of the male, Come, she that knoweth the mysteries
of him that is chosen, Come, she that hath part in all the combats of the noble
champion (athlete), Come, the silence that revealeth the great things of the
whole greatness, Come, she that manifesteth the hidden things and maketh the
unspeakable things plain, the holy dove that beareth the twin young, Come, the
hidden mother, Come, she that is manifest in her deeds and giveth joy and rest
unto them that are joined unto her: Come and communicate with us in this
eucharist which we celebrate in thy name and in the love-feast wherein we are
gathered together at thy calling. (Syr. has other clauses and not few variants.)
And having so said he marked out the cross upon the bread, and brake it, and
began to distribute it. And first he gave unto the woman, saying: This shall be
unto thee for remission of sins and eternal transgressions (Syr. and for the
everlasting resurrection). And after her he gave unto all the others also which
had received the seal (Syr. and said to them: Let this eucharist be unto you for
life and rest, and not for judgement and vengeance. And they said, Amen. Cf. 29
fin.).
The Sixth Act: of the youth that murdered the
Woman.
51 Now there was a certain youth who had wrought
an abominable deed, and he came near and received of the eucharist with his
mouth: but his two hands withered up, so that he could no more put them unto his
own mouth. And they that were there saw him and told the apostle what had
befallen; and the apostle called him and said unto him: Tell me, my child, and
be not ashamed, what was it that thou didst and camest hither? for the eucharist
of the Lord hath convicted thee. For this gift which passeth among many doth
rather heal them that with faith and love draw near thereto, but thee it hath
withered away; and that which is come to pass hath not befallen without some
effectual cause. And the Youth, being convicted by the eucharist of the Lord,
came and tell at the apostle's feet and besought him, saying: I have done an
evil deed, yet I thought to do somewhat good. I was enamoured of a woman that
dwelleth at an inn without the city, and she also loved me; and when I heard of
thee and believed, that thou proclaimest a living God, I came and received of
thee the seal with the rest; for thou saidst: Whosoever shall partake in the
polluted union, and especially in adultery, he shall not have life with the God
whom I preach. Whereas therefore I loved her much, I entreated her and would
have persuaded her to become my consort in chastity and pure conversation, which
thou also teachest: but she would not. When, therefore, she consented not, I
took a sword and slew her: for I could not endure to see her commit adultery
with another man.
52 When the apostle heard this he said: O insane
union how ruinest thou unto shamelessness! O unrestrained lust, how hast thou
stirred up this man to do this! O work of the serpent, how art thou enraged
against thine own! And the apostle bade water to be brought to him in a bason;
and when the water was brought, he said: Come, ye waters from the living waters,
that were sent unto us, the true from the true, the rest that was sent unto us
from the rest, the power of salvation that cometh from that power which
conquereth all things and subdueth them unto its own will: come and dwell in
these waters, that the gift of the Holy Ghost may be perfcctly consummated in
them. And he said unto the youth: Go, wash thy hands in these waters. And when
he had washed they were restored; and the apostle said unto him: Believest thou
in our Lord Jesus Christ that he is able to do all things? And he said: Though I
be the least, yet I believe. But I committed this deed thinking that I was doing
somewhat good: for I besought her as I told thee, but she would not obey me, to
keep herself chaste.
53 And the apostle said to him: Come, let us go
unto the inn where thou didst commit this deed. And the youth went before the
apostle in the way, and when they came to the inn they found her Iying dead. And
the apostle when he saw her was sorry, for she was a comely girl. And he
commanded her to be brought into the midst of the inn: and they laid her on a
bed and brought her forth and set her down in the midst of the court of the inn.
And the apostle laid his hand upon her and began to say: Jesu, who alway showest
thyself unto us; for this is thy will, that we should at all times seek thee,
and thyself hast given us this power, to ask and to receive, and hast not only
permitted this, but hast taught us to pray: who art not seen of our bodily eyes,
but art never hidden from the eyes of our soul, and in thine aspect art
concealed, but in thy works art manifested unto us: and in thy many acts we have
known thee so far as we are able, and thyself hast given us thy gifts without
measure, saying: Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find,
knock and it shall be opened unto you: we beseech thee, therefore, having the
fear (suspicion) of our sins; and we ask of thee, not riches, not gold, not
silver, not possessions, not aught else of the things which come of the earth
and return again unto the earth; but this we ask of thee and entreat, that in
thine holy name thou wouldest raise up the woman that lieth here, by thy power,
to the glory and faith of them that stand by.
54 And he said unto the youth (Syr. ' Stretch thy
mind towards our Lord,' and he signed him with the cross), having signed
(sealed) him: Go and take hold on her hand and say unto her: I with my hands
slew thee with iron, and with my hands in the faith of Jesus I raise thee up. So
the youth went to her and stood by her, saying: I have believed in thee, Christ
Jesu. And he looked unto Judas Thomas the apostle and said to him: Pray for me
that my Lord may come to my help, whom I also call upon. And he laid his hand
upon her hand and said: Come, Lord Jesu Christ: unto her grant thou life and
unto me the earnest of faith in thee. And straightway as he drew her hand she
sprang up and sat up, looking upon the great company that stood by. And she saw
the apostle also standing over against her, and leaving the bed she leapt forth
and fell at his feet and caught hold on his raiment, saying: I beseech thee, my
lord where is that other that was with thee, who left me not to remain in that
fearful and cruel place, but delivered me unto thee, saying: Take thou this
woman, that she may be made perfect, and hereafter be gathered into her place?
55 And the apostle said unto her: Relate unto us
where thou hast been. And she answered: Dost thou who wast with me and unto whom
I was delivered desire to hear? And she began to say: [This desciption of
hell-tourments is largely derived from the Apocalypse of Peter] A man took me
who was hateful to look upon altogether black, and his raiment exceedingly foul,
and took me away to a place wherein were many pits (chasms), and a great stench
and hateful odour issued thence. And he caused me to look into every pit, and I
saw in the (first) pit flaming fire, and wheels of fire ran round there, and
souls were hanged upon those wheels, and were dashed (broken) against each
other; and very great crying and howling was there, and there was none to
deliver. And that man said to me: These souls are of thy tribe, and when the
number of their days is accomplishcd (lit. in the days of the number) they are
(were) delivered unto torment and affliction, and then are others brought in in
their stead, and likewise these into another place. These are they that have
reversed the intercourse of male and female. And I looked and saw infants heaped
one upon another and struggling with each other as they lay on them. And he
answered and said to me: These are the children of those others, and therefore
are they set here for a testimony against them. (Syr. omits this clause of the
children, and lengthens and dilutes the preceding speech.)
56 And he took me unto another pit, and I stooped
and looked and saw mire and worms welling up, and souls wallowing there, and a
great gnashing of teeth was heard thence from them. And that man said unto me:
These are the souls of women which forsook their husbands and committed adultery
with others, and are brought into this torment. Another pit he showed me
whereinto I stooped and looked and saw souls hanging, some by the tongue, some
by the hair, some by the hands, and some head downward by the feet, and
tormented (smoked) with smoke and brimstone; concerning whom that man that was
with me answered me: The souls which are hanged by the tongue are slanderers,
that uttered Iying and shameful words, and were not ashamed, and they that are
hanged by the hair are unblushing ones which had no modesty and went about in
the world bareheaded; and they that are hanged by the hands, these are they that
took away and stole other men's goods, and never gave aught to the needy nor
helped the afflicted, but did so, desiring to take all, and had no thought at
all of justice or of the law; and they that hang upside down by the feet, these
are they that lightly and readily ran in evil ways and disorderly paths, not
visiting the sick nor escorting them that depart this life, and therefore each
and every soul receiveth that which was done by it. (Syr. omits almost the whole
section.)
57 Again he took me and showed me a cave
exceeding dark, breathing out a great stench, and many souls were looking out
desiring to get somewhat of the air, but their keepers suffered them not to look
forth. And he that was with me said: This is the prison of those souls which
thou sawest: for when they have fulfilled their torments for that which each
did, thereafter do others succeed them: and there be some that are wholly
consumed and (some, Syr.) that are delivered over unto other torments. And they
that kept the souls which were in the dark cave said unto the man that had taken
me: Give her unto us that we may bring her in unto the rest until the time
cometh for her to be delivered unto torment. But he answered them: I give her
not unto you, for I fear him that delivered her to me: for I was not charged to
leave her here, but I take her back with me until I shall receive order
concerning her. And he took me and brought me unto another place wherein were
men being sharply tormented (Syr. where men were). And he that was like unto
thee took me and delivered me to thee, saying thus to thee: Take her, for she is
one of the sheep that have gone astray. And I was taken by thee, and now am I
before thee. I beseech thee, therefore, and supplicate that I may not depart
unto those places of punishment which I have seen.
58 And the apostle said: Ye have heard what this
woman hath related: and there are not these torments only, but others also,
worse than these; and ye, if ye turn not unto this God whom I preach, and
abstain from your former works and the deeds which ye committed without
knowledge, shall have your end in those torments. Believe therefore on Christ
Jesus, and he will forgive you the sins ye have committed hitherto, and will
cleanse you from all your bodily lusts that abide on the earth, and will heal
you of all your trespasses which follow you and depart with you and are found
upon (before) you. Put off therefore every one of you the old man, and put on
the new, and forsake your former walk and conversation; and let them that stole
steal no more, but live by labouring and working; and let the adulterous no more
fornicate, lest they deliver themselves unto eternal torment; for adultery is
before God exceeding evil beyond other sins. And put away from you covetousness
and Iying and drunkenness and slandering, and render not evil for evil: for all
these things are strange and alien unto the God who is preached by me: but
rather walk ye in faith and meekness and holiness and hope, wherein God
delighteth, that ye may become his own, expecting of him the gifts which some
few only do receive.
59 All the people therefore believed and gave
their souls obediently unto the living God and Christ Jesus, rejoicing in the
blessed works of the Most High and in his holy service. And they brought much
money for the service of the widows: for the apostle had them gathered together
in the cities, and unto all of them he sent provision by his own ministers
(deacons), both clothes and nourishment. And he himself ceased not preaching and
speaking to them and showing that this is Jesus Christ whom the scriptures
proclaimed, who is come and was crucified, and raised the third day from the
dead. And next he showed them plainly, beginning from the prophets, the things
concerning the Christ, that it was necessary that he should come, and that in
him should be accomplished all things that were foretold of him. And the fame of
him went forth into all the cities and countries, and all that had sick or them
that were oppressed by unclean spirits brought them, and some they laid in the
way whereby he should pass, and he healed them all by the power of the Lord.
Then all that were healed by him said with one accord: Glory be to thee, Jesu,
who hast granted us all alike healing through thy servant and apostle Thomas.
And now being whole and rejoicing, we beseech thee that we may be of thy flock,
and be numbered among thy sheep; receive us therefore, Lord, and impute not unto
us our transgressions and our former faults which we committed being in
ignorance.
60 And the apostle said: Glory be to the
only-begotten of the Father! Glory be to the first-born of many brethren! Glory
be to thee, the defender and helper of them that come unto thy refuge! that
sleepest not, and awakest them that are asleep that livest and givest life to
them that lie in death! O God Jesu Christ, Son of the living God, redeemer and
helper, refuge and rest of all that are weary (labour) in thy work, giver of
healing to them that for thy name s sake bear the burden and heat of the day: we
give thanks for (to) the gifts that are given us of thee and granted us by thy
help and thy dispensation that cometh unto us from thee.
61 Perfect thou therefore these things in us unto
the end that we may have the boldness that is in thee: look upon us for for thy
sake have we forsaken our homes and our parents, and for thy sake have we gladly
and willingly become strangers: look upon us, Lord, for we have forsaken our own
possessions for thy sake, that we might gain thee the possession that cannot be
taken away: look upon us, Lord, for we have forsaken them that belong unto us by
race, that we might be joined unto thy kinship: look upon us, Lord, that have
forsaken our fathers and mothers and fosters, that we might behold thy Father,
and be satisfied with his divine food: look upon us, Lord, for for thy sake have
we forsaken our bodily consorts and our earthly fruits, that we might be
partakers in that enduring and true fellowship, and bring forth true fruits,
whose nature is from above, which no man can take from us, with whom we shall
abide and who shall abide with us.
The Seventh Act: of the Captain.
62 Now while the apostle Thomas was proclaiming
throughout all India the word of God, a certain captain of the king Misdaeus
(Mazdai, Syr.) came to him and said unto him: I have heard of thee that thou
takest no reward of any man, but even that thou hast thou givest to them that
need. For if thou didst receive rewards, I would have sent thee a great sum, and
would not have come myself, for the king doeth nought without me: for I have
much substance and am rich, even one of the rich men of India. And I have never
done wrong to any; but the contrary hath befallen me. I have a wife, and of her
I had a daughter and I am well affectioned toward her, as also nature requireth
and have never made trial of another wife. Now it chanced that there was a
wedding in our city, and they that made the marriage feast were well beloved of
me: they came in therefore and bade me to it, bidding also my mife and her
daughter. Forasmuch then as they were my good friends I could not refuse: I sent
her therefore, though she desired not to go, and with them I sent also many
servants: so they departed, both she and her daughter, decked with many
ornaments.
63 And when it was evening and the time was come
to depart from the wedding I sent lamps and torches to meet them: and I stood in
the street to espy when she should come and I should see her with my daughter.
And as I stood I heard a sound of lamentation. Woe for her! vvas heard out of
every mouth. And my servants with their clothes rent came to me and told me what
was done. We saw, said they, a man and a boy with him. And the man laid his hand
upon thy wife, and the boy upon thy daughter: and they fled from them: and we
smote (wounded) them with our swords, but our swords fell to the ground. And the
same hour the womem fell down, gnashing their teeth and beating their heads upon
the earth and seeing this we came to tell it thee. And when I heard this of my
servants I rent my clothes and smote my face with my hands, and becoming like
one mad I ran along the street, and came and found them cast in the
market-place; and I took them and brought them to my house, and after a long
space they awaked and stood up, and sat down.
64 I began therefore to inquire of my wife: What
is it that hath befallen thee? And she said to me: Knowest thou not what thou
hast done unto me? for I prayed thee that I might not go to the wedding, because
I was not of even health in my body; and as I went on the way and came near to
the aqueduct wherein the water floweth, I saw a black man standing over against
me nodding at me with his head, and a boy like unto him standing by him; and I
said to my daughter: Look at those two hideous men, whose teeth are like milk
and their lips like soot. And we left them and went towards the aqueduct; and
when it was sunset and we departed from the wedding, as we passed by with the
young men and drew near the aqueduct, my daughter saw them first, and was
affrighted and fled towards me; and after her I also beheld them coming against
us: and the servants that were with us fled from them (Syr.) and they struck us,
and cast down both me and my daughter. And when she had told me these things,
the devils came upon them again and threw them down: and from that hour they are
not able to come forth, but are shut up in one room or a second (Syr. in a room
within another): and on their account I suffer much, and am distressed: for the
devils throw them down wheresoever they find them, and strip them naked. I
beseech and supplicate thee before God, help me and have pity on me, for it is
now three years that a table hath not been set in my house, and my wife and my
daughter have not sat at a table: and especially for mine unhappy daughter,
which hath not seen any good at all in this world.
65 And the apostle, hearing these things from the
captain, was greatly grieved for him, and said unto him: Believest thou that
Jesus will heal them? And the captain said: Yea. And the apostle said: Commit
thyself then unto Jesus, and he will heal them and procure them succour. And the
captain said: Show me him, that I may entreat him and believe in him. And the
apostle said: He appeareth not unto these bodily eyes, but is found by the eyes
of the mind. The captain therefore lifted up his voice and said: I believe thee,
Jesu, and entreat and supplicate thee, help my little faith which I have in
thee. And the apostle commanded Xenophon (Syr. Xanthippus) the deacon to
assemble all the brethren; and when the whole multitude was gathered, the
apostle stood in the midst and said:
66 Children and brethren that have believed on
the Lord, abide in this faith, preaching Jesus who was proclaimed unto you by
me, to bring you hope in him; and forsake not (be not forsaken of) him, and he
will not forsake you. While ye sleep in this slumber that weigheth down the
sleepers, he, sleeping not, keepeth watch over you; and when ye sail and are in
peril and none can help, he walking upon the waters supporteth and aideth. For I
am now departing from you, and it appeareth not if I shall again see you
according to the flesh. Be ye not therefore like unto the people of Israel, who
losing sight of their pastors for an hour, stumbled. But I leave unto you
Xenophon the deacon in my stead; for he also like myself proclaimeth Jesus: for
neither am I aught, nor he, but Jesus only; for I also am a man clothed with a
body, a son of man like one of you; for neither have I riches as it is found
with some, which also convict them that possess them, being wholly useless, and
left behind upon the earth, whence also they came, and they bear away with them
the transgressions and blemishes of sins which befall men by their means. And
scantly are rich men found in almsgivillg: but the merciful and lowly in heart,
these shall inherit the kingdom of God: for it is not beauty that endureth with
men, for they that trust in it, when age cometh upon them, shall suddenly be put
to shame: all things therefore have their time; in their season are they loved
and hated. Let your hope then be in Jesus Christ the Son of God, which is always
loved, and always desired: and be mindful of us, as we of you: for we too, if we
fulfil not the burden of the commandments are not worthy to be preachers of this
name, and hereafter shall we pay the price (punishment) of our own head.
67 And he prayed with them and continued with
them a long time in prayer and supplication, and committing them unto the Lord,
he said: O Lord that rulest over every soul that is in the body; Lord, Father of
the souls that have their hope in thee and expect thy mercies: that redeemest
from error the men that are thine own and settest free from bondage and
corruption thy subjects that come unto thy refuge: be thou in the flock of
Xenophon and anoint it with holy oil, and heal it of sores, and preserve it from
the ravening wolves. And he laid his hand on them and said: The peace of the
Lord shall be upon you and shall journey with us.
The Eighth Act: of the wild asses.
68 The apostle therefore went forth to depart on
the way: and they all escorted him, weeping and adjuring him to make remembrance
of them in his prayers and not to forget them. He went up then and sat upon the
chariot, leaving all the brethren, and the captain came and awaked the driver,
saying: I entreat and pray that I may become worthy to sit beneath his feet, and
I will be his driver upon this way, that he also may become my guide in that way
whereby few go.
69 And when they had journeyed about two miles,
the apostle begged of the captain and made him arise and caused him to sit by
him, suffering the driver to sit in his own place. And as they went along the
road, it came to pass that the beasts were wearied with the great heat and could
not be stirred at all. And the captain was greatly vexed and wholly cast down,
and thought to run on his own feet and bring other beasts for the use of the
chariot; but the apostle said: Let not thine heart be troubled nor affrighted,
but believe on Jesus Christ whom I have proclaimed unto thee, and thou shalt see
great wonders. And he looked and saw a herd of wild asses feeding by the
wayside, and said to the captain: If thou hast believed on Christ Jesus, go unto
that herd of wild asses and say: Judas Thomas the apostle of Christ the new God
saith unto you: Let four of you come, of whom we have need (or, of whom we may
have use).
70 And the captain went in fear, for they were
many; and as he went, they came to meet him; and when they were near, he said
unto them: Judas Thomas the apostle of the new God commandeth you: Let four of
you come, of whom I have need. And when the wild asses heard it, they ran with
one accord and came to him, and when they came they did him reverence. [Syr. has
a long prayer: And Judas Thomas the apostle of our Lord lifted up his voice in
praise and said: Glorious art thou, God of truth and Lord of all natures, for
thou didst will with thy will, and make all thy works and finish all thy
creatures, and bring them to the rule of their nature, and lay upon them all thy
fear that they might be subject to thy command. And thy will trod the path from
thy secrecy to manifestation, and was caring for every soul that thou didst
make, and was spoken of by the mouth of all the prophets, in all visions and
sounds and voices; but Israel did not obey because of their evil inclination.
And thou, because thou art Lord of all, hast a care for the creatures, so that
thou spreadest over us thy mercy in him who came by thy will and put on the
body, thy creature, which thou didst will and form according to thy glorious
wisdom. He whom thou didst appoint in thy secrecy and establish in thy
manifestation, to him thou hast given the name of Son, he who was thy will, the
power of thy thought; so that ye are by various names, the Father and the Son
and the Spirit, for the sake of the government of thy creatures, for the
nourishing of all natures, and ye are one in glory and power and will; and ye
are divided without being separated, and are one though divided, and all
subsists in thee and is subject to thee, because all is thine. And I rely upon
thee, Lord, and by thy command have subjected these dumb beasts, that thou
mightest show thy ministering power upon us and upon them because it is needful,
and that thy name might be glorilied in us and in the beasts that cannot speak.]
And the apostle said unto them: Peace be unto you. Yoke ye four of you in the
stead of these beasts that have come to a stand. And every one of them came and
pressed to be yoked: there were then four stronger than the rest, which also
were yoked. And the rest, some went before and some followed. And when they had
journeyed a little way he dismissed the colts, saying: I say unto you the
inhabiters of the desert, depart unto your pastures, for if I had had need of
all, ye would all have gone with me; but now go unto your place wherein ye
dwell. And they departed quietly until they were no more seen.
71 Now as the apostle and the captain and the
driver went on, the wild asses drew the chariot quietly and evenly, lest they
should disturb the apostle of God. And when they came near to the city gate they
turned aside and stood still before the doors of the captain's house. And the
captain said: It is not possible for me to relate what hath happened, but when I
see the end I will tell it. The whole city therefore came to see the wild asses
under the yoke; and they had heard also the report of the apostle that he was to
come and visit them. And the apostle asked the captain: Where is thy dwelling,
and whither dost thou bring us? And he said to him: Thou thyself knowest that we
stand before the doors, and these which by thy commandment are come with thee
know it better than I.
72 And having so said he came down from the
chariot. The apostle therefore began to say: Jesu Christ, that art blasphemed by
the ignorance of thee in this country; Jesu, the report of whom is strange in
this city; Jesu, that receivest all (Syr. sendest on before the apostles in
every country and in every city, and all thine that are worthy are glorified in
thee; Jesu, that didst take a form and become as a man, and wert seen of all us
that thou mightest not separate us from thine own love: thou, Lord, art he that
gavest thyself for us, and with thy blood hast purchased us and gained us as a
possession of great price: and what have we to give thee, Lord, in exchange for
thy life which thou gavest for us? for that which we would give, thou gavest us:
and this is, that we should entreat of thee and live.
73 And when he had so said, many assembled from
every quarter to see the apostle of the new God. And again the apostle said: Why
stand we idle? Jesu, Lord, the hour is come: what wilt thou have done? command
therefore that that be fulfilled which needeth to be done. Now the captain's
wife and her daughter were sore borne down by the devils, so that they of the
house thought they would rise up no more: for they suffered them not to partake
of aught, but cast them down upon their beds recognizing no man until that day
when the apostle came thither. And the apostle said unto one of the wild asses
that were yoked on the right hand: Enter thou within the gate, and stand there
and call the devils and say to them: Judas Thomas the apostle and disciple of
Jesus Christ saith unto you: Come forth hither: for on your account am I sent
and unto them that pertain to you by race, to destroy you and chase you unto
your place, until the time of the end come and ye go down into your own deep of
darkness.
74 And that wild ass went in, a great multitude
being with him, and said: Unto you I speak, the enemies of Jesus that is called
Christ: unto you I speak that shut your eyes lest ye see the light: unto you I
speak, children of Gehenna and of destruction, of him that ceaseth not from evil
until now, that alway reneweth his workings and the things that befit his being:
unto you I speak, most shameless, that shall perish by your own hands. And what
I shall say of your destruction and end, and what I shall tell, I know not. For
there are many things and innumerable to the hearing: and greater are your
doings than the torment that is reserved for you (Syr. however great your
bodies, they are too small for your retributions). But unto thee I speak, devil,
and to thy son that followeth with thee: for now am I sent against you. And
wherefore should I make many words concerning your nature and root, which
yourselves know and are not ashamed? but Judas Thomas the apostle of Christ
Jesus saith unto you, he that by much love and affection is sent hither: Before
all this multitude that standeth here, come forth and tell me of what race ye
are.
75 And straightway the woman came forth with her
daughter, both like dead persons and dishonoured in aspect: and the apostle
beholding them was grieved. especially for the girl, and saith unto the devils:
God forbid that for you there should be sparing or propitiation, for ye know not
to spare nor to have pity: but in the name of Jesus, depart from them and stand
by their side. And when the apostle had so said, the women fell down and became
as dead; for they neither had breath nor uttered speech: but the devil answered
with a loud voice and said: Art thou come hither again, thou that deridest our
nature and race? art thou come again, that blottest out our devices? and as I
take it, thou wouldest not suffer us to be upon the earth at all: but this at
this time thou canst not accomplish. And the apostle guessed that this devil was
he that had been driven out from that other woman.
76 And the devil said: I beseech thee, give me
leave to depart even whither thou wilt, and dwell there and take commandment
from thee, and I will not fear the ruler that hath authority over me. For like
as thou art come to preach good tidings, so I also am come to destroy; and like
as, if thou fulfil not the will of him that sent thee, he will bring punishment
upon thy head, so I also if I do not the will of him that sent me, before the
season and time appointed, shall be sent unto mine own nature; and like as thy
Christ helpeth thee in that thou doest, so also my father helpeth me in that I
do; and like as for thee he prepareth vessels worthy of thine inhabiting, so
also for me he seeketh out vessels whereby I may accomplish his deeds; and like
as he nourisheth and provideth for his subjects, so also for me he prepareth
chastisements and torments, with them that become my dwellingplaces (Syr. those
in whom I dwell); and like as for a recompense of thy working he giveth thee
eternal life, so also unto me he giveth for a reward of my works eternal
destruction; and like as thou art refreshed by thy prayer and thy good works and
spiritual thanksgivings, so I also am refreshed by murders and adulteries and
sacrifices made with wine upon altars (Syr. sacrifices and libations of wine),
and like as thou convertest men unto eternal life, so I also pervert them that
obey me unto eternal destruction and torment: and thou receivest thine own and I
mine.
77 And when the devil had said these things and
yet more the apostle said: Jesus commandeth thee and thy son by me to enter no
more into the habitation of man: but go ye forth and depart and dwell wholly
apart from the habitation of men. And the devils said unto him: Thou hast laid
on us a harsh commandment: but what wilt thou do unto them that now are
concealed from thee? for they that have wrought all the images rejoice in them
more than thee: and many of them do the more part worship, and perform their
will, sacrificing to them and bringing them food, by libations and by wine and
water and oflering with oblations. And the apostle said: They also shall now be
abolished, with their works. And suddenly the devils vanished away: but the
women lay cast upon the earth as if were dead, and without speech.
78 And the wild asses stood together and parted
not one from another; but he to whom speech was given by the power of the Lord
-while all men kept silence, and looked to see what they would do- the wild ass
said unto the apostle: Why standest thou idle, O apostle of Christ the Most
High, who looketh that thou shouldest ask of him the best of learning? Wherefore
then tarriest thou? (Syr. that thou shouldest ask him, and he would give thee?
Why delayest thou, good disciple?) for lo, thy teacher desireth to show by thy
hands his mighty works. Why standest thou still, O herald of the hidden one? for
thy (Lord) willeth to manifest through thee his unspeakable things, which he
reserveth for them that are worthy of him, to hear them. Why restest thou, O
doer of mighty works in the name of the Lord? for thy Lord encourageth thee and
engendereth boldness in thee. Fear not, therefore; for he will not forsake the
soul that belongeth unto thee by birth. Begin therefore to call upon him and he
will readily hearken to thee. Why standest thou marvelling at all his acts and
his workings? for these are small things which he hath shown by thy means. And
what wilt thou tell concerning his great gifts? for thou wilt not be sufficient
to declare them. And why marvellest thou at his cures of the body which he
worketh? (Syr. which come to an end) especially when thou knowest that healing
of his which is secure and lasting, which he bringeth forth by his own nature?
And why lookest thou unto this temporal life, and hast no thought of that which
is eternal (Syr. when thou canst every day think on that which is eternal)?
79 But unto you the multitudes that stand by and
look to see these that are cast down raised up, I say, believe in the apostle of
Jesus Christ: believe the teacher of truth, believe him that showeth vou the
truth, believe Jesus, believe on the Christ that was born, that the born may
live by his life: who also was raised up through infancy, that perfection might
appear by his manhood (man). He did teach his own disciples: for he is the
teacher of the truth and maketh wise men wise (Syr. who went to school that
through him perfect wisdom might be known: he taught his teacher because he was
the teacher of verity and the master of the wise). Who also offered the gift in
the temple that he might show that all the (every) offering was sanctified. This
is his apostle, the shewer-forth of truth: this is he that performeth the will
of him that sent him. But there shall come false apostles and prophets of
lawlessness, whose end shall be according to their deeds; preaching indeed and
ordaining to flee from ungodliness, but themselves at all times detected in
sins, clad indeed with sheep's clothing, but within, ravening wolves. Who
suffice not themselves with one wife but corrupt many women; who, saying that
they despise children, dcstroy many children (boys), for whom they vvill pay the
penalty; that content not themselves wiih their own possessions, but desire that
all useless things should minister unto them only; professing to be his
disciples; and with their mouth they utter one thing, but in their heart they
think another; charging other men to beware of evil, but they themselves perform
nought that is good; who are accounted temperate, and charge other men to
abstain from fornication theft, and covetousness, but in all these things do
they themselves walk secretly, teaching other men not to do them.
80 And when the wild ass had declared all these
things, all men gazed upon him. And when he ceased the apostle said: What I
shall think concerning thy beauty, O Jesu, and what I shall tell of thee, I know
not, or rather I am not able, for I have no power to declare it, O Christ that
art in rest, and only wise that only knowest the inward of the heart and
understandest the thought. Glory be to thee, merciful and tranquil. Glory to
thee, wise word. Glory to thy compassion that was born unto us. Glory to thy
mercy that was spread out over us. Glory to thy greatness that was made small
for us. Glory to thy most high kingship that was humbled for us. Glory to thy
might which was enfeebled for us. Glory to thy Godhead that for us was seen in
likeness of men. Glory to thy manhood that died for us that it might make us
live. Glory to thy resurrection from the dead; for thereby rising and rest
cometh unto our souls. Glory and praise (good report) to thine ascending into
the heavens; for thereby thou hast shewed us the path of the height, and
promised that we shall sit with thee on thy right hand and with thee judge the
twelve tribes of Israel. Thou art the heavenly word of the Father: thou art the
hidden light of the understanding, shewer of the way of truth, driver away of
darkness, and blotter-out of error.
81 Having thus spoken, the apostle stood over the
women, saying: My Lord and my God, I am not divided from thee (or doubt not
concerning thee), nor as one unbelieving do I call upon thee, who art always our
helper and succourer and raiser-up; who breathest thine own power into us and
encouragest us and givest confidence in love unto thine own servants. I beseech
thee, let these souls be healed and rise up and become such as they were before
they were smitten of the devils. And when he thus spake the women turned and sat
up. And the apostle bade the captain that his servants should take them and
bring them within (Syr. and give them food, for they had not eaten for many
days). And when they were gone in, the apostle said unto the wild asses, Follow
me. And they went after him until he had brought them without the gate. And when
they had gone out, he said to them: Depart in peace unto your pastures. The wild
asses therefore went away willingly; and the apostle stood and took heed to them
lest they should be hurt of any, until they had gone afar off and were no more
seen. And the apostle returned with the multitude into the house of the captain.
The Ninth Act: of the Wife of Charisius.
82 Now it chanced that a certain woman, the wife
of Charisius, that was next unto the king, whose name was Mygdonia, came to see
and behold the new name and the new God who was being proclaimed, and the new
apostle who had come to visit their country: and she was carried by her own
servants; and because of the great crowd and the narrow way they were not able
to bring her near unto him. And she sent unto her husband to send her more to
minister to her; and they came and approached her, pressing upon the people and
beating them. And the apostle saw it and said to them: Wherefore overthrow ye
them that come to hear the word, and are eager for it? and ye desire to be near
me but are far off, as it was said of the multitude that came unto the Lord:
Having eyes ye see not, and having ears ye hear not; and he said to the
multitudes: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear; and: Come unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
83 And looking upon them that carried her, he
said unto them: This blessing and this admonition [Here and elsewhere there is a
marked divergence between the texts of U and P, the Roman and Paris MSS.: Bonnet
prints them separately. P is on the whole much shorter. Syr. differs from both.
I follow U, but it is very corrupt.] which was promised unto them is for you
that are heavily burdened now. Ye are they that carry burdens grievous to be
borne, and are borne about by her command. And though ye are men, they lay on
you loads as on brute beasts, for they that have authority over you think that
ye are not men such as themselves, whether bond or free. For neither shall
possessions profit the rich, nor poverty save the poor from judgement; nor have
we received a commandment which we are not able to perform, nor hath he laid on
us burdens grievous to be borne nhich we are not able to carry; nor building
which men build; nor to hew stones and prepare houses, as your craftsmen do by
their own knowledge. But this commandment have we reccived of the Lord, that
that which pleaseth not us when it is done by another this we should not do to
any other man.
84 Abstain therefore first from adultery, for
this is the beginning of all evils, and next from theft, which enticed Judas
Iscariot, and brought him unto hanging; (and from covetousness,) for as manv as
yield unto covetousness see not that which they do; and from vainglory and from
all foul deeds, especially them of the body, whereby cometh eternal
condemnation. For this is the chief city of all evils; and likewise it bringeth
them that hold their heads (necks) high unto tyranny, and draweth them down unto
the deep, and subdueth them under its hands that they see not what they do;
wherefore the things done of them are hidden from them.
85 But do ye become well-pleasing unto God in all
good things, in meekness and quietness: for these doth God spare, and granteth
eternal life and setteth death at nought. And in gentleness which followeth on
all good things, and overcometh all enemies and alone receiveth the crown of
victory: with gentleness (Syr.), and stretching out of the hand to the poor, and
supplying the want of the needy, and distributing to them that are in necessity,
especially them that walk in holiness. For this is chosen before God and leadeth
unto eternal life: for this is before God the chief city of all good: for they
that strive not in the course (stadium) of Christ shall not obtain holiness. And
holiness did appear from God, doing away fornication, overthrowing the enemy,
well-pleasing unto God: for she is an invincible champion (athlete), having
honour from God, glorified of many: she is an ambassador of peace, announcing
peace: if any gain her he abideth without care, pleasing the Lord, expecting the
time of redemption: for she doeth nothing amiss, but giveth life and rest and
joy unto all that gain her. [P has nothing of this, and Syr. makes better sense,
but is not very interesting.]
86 But meekness hath overcome death and brought
him under authority, meekness hath enslaved the enemy (U and P and Syr. now
present the same text), meekness is the good yoke: meekness feareth not and
opposeth not the many: meekness is peace and joy and exaltation of rest. Abide
ye therefore in holiness and receive freedom from me, and be near unto meekness
for in these three heads is portrayed the Christ whom I proclaim unto you.
Holiness is the temple of Christ, and he that dwelleth in her getteth her for an
habitation
, because for forty days and forty nights he fasted, tasting nothing: and he
that keepeth her shall dwell in her as on a mountain. And meekness is his boast:
for he said unto Peter our fellow apostle: Turn back thy sword and put it again
into the sheath thereof: for if I had willed so to do, could I not have brought
more than twelve legions of angels from my Father?
87 And when the apostle had said these things in
the hearing of all the multitude, they trode and pressed upon one another: and
the wife of Charisius the king's kinsman Ieapt out of her chair and cast herself
on the earth before the apostle, and caught his feet and besought and said: O
disciple of the living God, thou art come into a desert country, for we live in
the desert; being like to brute beasts in our conversation, but now shall we be
saved by thy hands; I beseech thee, therefore, take thought of me, and pray for
me, that the compassion of the God whom thou preachest may come upon me, and I
may become his dwelling place and be joined in prayer and hope and faith in him,
and I also may receive the seal and become an holy temple and he may dwell in
me.
88 And the apostle said: I do pray and entreat
for you all, brethren, that believe on the Lord, and for you, sisters, that hope
in Christ, that in all of you the word of God may tabernacle and have his
tabernacle therein: for we have no power over them (Syr. because ye are given
power over your own souls). And he began to say unto the woman Mygdonia: Rise up
from the earth and compose thyself (take off thine ornaments, P; be mindful of
thyself, Syr.). For this attire that is put on shall not profit thee nor the
beauty of thy body, nor thine apparel, neither yet the fame of thy rank, nor the
authority of this world, nor the polluted intercourse with thine husband shall
avail thee if thou be bereaved of the true fellowship: for the appearance
(fantasy) of ornamenting cometh to nought, and the body waxeth old and changeth,
and raiment weareth out, and authority and lordship pass away (U corrupt; P
abridges; Syr. has: passeth away accompanied with punishment, according as each
person hath conducted himself in it), and the fellowship of procreation also
passeth away, and is as it were condemnation. Jesus only abideth ever, and they
that hope in him. Thus he spake, and said unto the woman: Depart in peace, and
the Lord shall make thee worthy of his own mysteries. But she said: I fear to go
away, lest thou forsake me and depart unto another nation. But the apostle said
to her: Even if I go, I shall not leave thee alone, but Jesus of his compassion
will be with thee. And she fell down and did him reverence and departed unto her
house.
89 Now Charisius, the kinsman of Misdaeus the
king, bathed himself and returned and laid him down to dine. And he inquired
concerning his wife, where she was; for she had not come out of her own chamber
to meet him as she was wont. And her handmaids said to him: She is not well. And
he entered quickly into the chamber and found her Iying on the bed and veiled:
and he unveiled her and kissed her, saying: Wherefore art thou sorrowful to-day?
And she said: I am not well. And he said unto her: Wherefore then didst thou not
keep the guise of thy freedom (Syr. pay proper respect to thy position as a free
woman) and remain in thy house, but didst go and listen unto vain speeches and
look upon works of sorcery? but rise up and dine with me, for I cannot dine
without thee. But she said to him: To-day I decline it, for I am greatly
afeared.
90 And when Charisius heard this of Mygdonia, he
would not go forth to dinner, but bade his servants bring her to dine with him
(Syr. bring food to him that he might sup in her presence): when then they
brought it in, he desired her to dine with him, but she excused herself; since
then she would not, he dined alone, saying unto her: On thine account I refused
to dine with Misdaeus the king, and thou, wast thou not willing to dine with me?
but she said: It is because I am not well. Charisius therefore rose up as he was
wont and would sleep with her, but she said: Did I not tell thee that for today
I refused it?
91 When he heard that he went to another bed and
slept; and awaking out of sleep he said: My lady Mygdonia, hearken to the dream
which I have seen. I saw myself lie at meat near to Misdaeus the king, and a
dish of all sorts was set before us: and I saw an eagle come down from heaven
and carry off from before me and the king two partridges, which he set against
his heart; and again he came over us and flew about above us, and the king bade
a bow to be brought to him; and the eagle again caught away from before us a
pigeon and a dove, and the king shot an arrow at him, and it passed through him
from one side to the other and hurt him not; and he being unscathed rose up into
his own nest. And I awoke, and I am full of fear and sore vexed, because I had
tasted of the partridge, and he suffered me not to put it to my mouth again. And
Mygdonia said unto him: Thy dream is good: for thou every day eatest partridges,
but this eagle had not tasted of a partridge until now.
92 And when it was morning Charisius went and
dressed himself and shod his right foot with his left shoe; and he stopped, and
said to Mygdonia: What then is this matter? for look, the dream and this action
of mine! But Mygdonia said to him: And this also is not evil, but seemeth to me
very good; for from an unlucky act there will be a change unto the better. And
he washed his hands and went to salute Misdaeus the king.
93 And likewise Mygdonia rose up early and went
to salute Judas Thomas the apostle, and she found him discoursing with the
captain and all the multitude, and he was advising them and speaking of the
woman which had received the Lord in her soul, whose wife she was; and the
captain said: She is the wife of Charisius the kinsman of Misdaeus the king.
And: Her husband is a hard man, and in every thing that he saith to the king he
obeyeth him: and he will not suffer her to continue in this mind which she hath
promised; for often-times hath he praised her before the king, saying that there
is none other like her in love: all things therefore that thou speakest unto her
are strange unto her. And the apostle said: If verily and surely the Lord hath
risen upon her soul and she hath received the seed that was cast on her, she
will have no care of this temporal life, nor fear death, neither will Charisius
be able to harm her at all: for greater is he whom she hath received into her
soul, if she have received him indeed.
94 And Mygdonia hearing this said unto the
apostle: In truth, my lord, I have received the seed of thy words, and I will
bear fruit like unto such seed. The apostle saith: Our souls give praise and
thanks unto thee, O Lord, for they are thine: our bodies give thanks unto thee,
which thou hast accounted worthy to become the dwelling-place of thy heavenly
gift. And he said also to them that stood by: Blessed are the holy, whose souls
have never condemned them, for they have gained them and are not divided against
themselves: blessed are the spirits of the pure, and they that have received the
heavenly crown whole from the world (age) which hath been appointed them:
blessed are the bodies of the holy, for they have been made worthy to become
temples of God, that Christ may dwell in them: blessed are ye, for ye have power
to forgive sins: blessed are ye if ye lose not that which is committed unto you,
but rejoicing and departing bear it away with you: blessed are ye the holy, for
unto you it is given to ask and receive: blessed are ye meek for you hath God
counted worthy to become heirs of the heavenly kingdom. Blessed are ye meek, for
ye are they that have overcome the enemy: blessed are ye meek, for ye shall see
the face of the Lord. Blessed are ye that hunger for the Lord's sake for for you
is rest laid up, and your souls rejoice from henceforth. Blessed are ye that are
quiet, (for ye have been counted worthy) to be set free from sin [and from the
exchange of clean and unclean beasts]. And when the apostle had said these
things in the hearing of all the multitude, Mygdonia was the more confirmed in
the faith and glory and greatness of Christ.
95 But Charisius the kinsman and friend of
Misdaeus the king came to his breakfast and found not his wife in the house; and
he inquired of all that were in his house: Whither is your mistress oone? And
one of them answered and said: She is gone unto that stranger. And when he heard
this of his servant, he was wroth with the other servants because they had not
straightway told him what was done: and he sat down and waited for her. And when
it was evening and she was come into the house he said to her: Where wast thou?
And she answered and said: With the physician. And he said: Is that stranger a
physician? And she said: Yea, he is a physician of souls: for most physicians do
heal bodies that are dissolved, but he souls that are not destroyed. Charisius,
hearing this, was very angry in his mind with Mygdonia because of the apostle,
but he answered her nothing, for he was afraid; for she was above him both in
wealth and birth: but he departed to dinner, and she went into her chamber. And
he said to the servants: Call her to dinner. But she would not come.
96 And when he heard that she would not come out
of her chamber, he went in and said unto her: Wherefore wilt thou not dine with
me and perchance not sleep with me as the wont is? yea, concerning this I have
the greater suspicion, for I have heard that that sorcerer and deceiver teacheth
that a man should not live with his wife, and that which nature requireth and
the godhead hath ordained he overthroweth. When Charisius said these things,
Mygdonia kept silence. He saith to her again: My lady and consort Mygdonia, be
not led astray by deceitful and vain words, nor by the works of sorcery which I
have heard that this man performeth in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
for it was never yet heard in the world that any raised the dead, and, as I
hear, it is reported of this man that he raiseth dead men. And for that he
neither eateth nor drinketh, think not that for righteousness sake he neither
eateth nor drinketh but this he doth because he possesseth nought, for what
should he do which hath not even his daily bread? And he hath one garment
because he is poor, and as for his not receiving aught of any (he doth so, to be
sure, because he knoweth in himself that he doth not verily heal any man, Syr.).
97 And when Charisius so said, Mygdonia was
silent as any stone, but she prayed, asking when it should be day, that she
might go to the apostle of Christ. And he withdrew from her and went to dinner
heavy in mind, for he thought to sleep with her according to the wont. And when
he was gone out, she bowed her knees and praved, saying: Lord God and Master,
merciful Father, Savionr Christ, do thou give me strength to overcome thc
shamelessness of Charisius, and grant me to keep the holiness wherein thou
delightest, that I also may by it find eternal life. And when she had so prayed
she laid herself on her bed and veiled herself.
98 But Charisius having dined came upon her, and
she cried out, saying: Thou hast no more any room by me: for my Lord Jesus is
greater than thou, who is with me and resteth in me. And he laughed and said:
Well dost thou mock, saying this of that sorcerer, and well dost thou deride
him, who saith: Ye have no life with God unless ye purify yourselves. And when
he had so said he essayed to sleep with her, but she endured it not and cried
out bitterly and said: I call upon thee, Lord Jesu, forsake me not! for with
thee have I made my refuge; for when I learned that thou art he that seekest out
them that are veiled in ignorance and savest them that are held in error And now
I entreat thee whose report I have heard and believed, come thou to my help and
save me from the shamelessness of Charisius, that his foulness may not get the
upper hand of me. And she smote her hands together (tied his hands, Syr.) and
fled from him naked, and as she went forth she pulled down the curtain of the
bed-chamber and wrapped it about her; and went to her nurse, and slept there
with her.
99 But Charisius was in heaviness all night, and
smote his face with his hands, and he was minded to go that very hour and tell
the king concerning the violence that was done him, but he considered with
himself, saying: If the great heaviness which is upon me compelleth me to go now
unto the king, who will bring me in to him? for I know that my abuse hath
overthrown me from my high looks and my vainglory and majesty, and hath cast me
down into this vileness and separated my sister Mygonia from me. Yea, if the
king himself stood before the dools at this hour, I could not have gone out and
answered him. But I will wait until dawn, and I know that whatsoever I ask of
the king, he granteth it me: and I will tell him of the madness of this
stranger, how that it tyrannously casteth down the great and illustrious into
the depth. For it is not this that grieveth me, that I am deprived of her
companying, but for her am I grieved, because her greatness of soul is humbled:
being an honourable lady in whom none of her house ever found fault (condemned),
she hath fled away naked, running out of her own bedchamber, and I know not
whither she is gone; and it may be that she is gone mad by the means of that
sorcerer, and in her madness hath gone forth into the market-place to seek him;
for there is nothing that appealeth unto her lovable except him and the things
that are spoken by him.
100 And so saving he began to lament and say: Woe
to me, O my consort, and to thee besides! for I am too quickly bereaved of thee.
Woe is me, my most dear one, for thou excellest all my race: neither son nor
daughter have I had of thee that I might find rest in them; neither hast thou
yet dwelt with me a full year, and an evil eye hath caught thee from me. Would
that the violence of death had taken thee, and I should yet have reckoned myself
among kings and nobles: but that I should suffer this at the hands of a
stranger, and belike he is a slave that hath run away, to mine ill fortune and
the sorrow of mine unhappy soul! Let there be no impediment for me until I
destroy him and avenge this night, and may I not be well-pleasing before
Misdaeus the king if he avenge me not with the head of this stranger; (and I
will also tell him) of Siphor the captain vvho hath been the occasion of this.
For by his means did fhe stranger appear here, and lodgeth at his house: and
many there be that go in and come out whom he teacheth a new doctrine; saying
that none can live if he quit not all his substance and become a renouncer like
himself: and he striveth to make many partakers with him.
101 And as Charisius thought on these things, the
day dawned: and after the night (?) he put on a mean habit, and shod himself,
and went downcast and in heaviness to salute the king. And when the king saw him
he said: Wherefore art thou sorrowful, and comest in such garb? and I see that
thy countenance is changed. And Charisius said unto the king: I have a new thing
to tell thee and a new desolation which Siphor hath brought into India, even a
certain Hebrew, a sorcerer, whom he hath sitting in his house and who departeth
not from him: and many are there that go in to him: whom also he teacheth of a
new God, and layeth on them new laws such as never yet were heard, saving: It is
impossible for you to enter into that eternal life which I proclaim unto you,
unless ye rid you of your wives, and likewise the wives of their husbands. And
it chanced that mine unlucky wife also went to him and became a hearer of his
words, and she believed them, and in the night she forsook me and ran unto the
stranger. But send thou for both Siphor and that sorcerer that is hid with (in)
him, and visit it (?) on their head, lest all that are of our nation perish.
102 And when Misdaeus his friend heard this he
saith to him: Be not grieved nor heavy, for I will send for him and avenge thee,
and thou shalt have thy wife again, and the others that cannot I will avenge.
And the king went forth and sat on the judgement seat, and when he was set he
commanded Siphor the captain to be called. They went therefore unto his house
and found him sitting on the right hand of the apostle and Mygdonia at his feet,
hearkening to him with all the multitude. And they that were sent from the king
said unto Siphor: Sittest thou here listening to vain words, and Misdaeus the
king in his wrath thinketh to destroy thee because of this sorcerer and deceiver
whom thou hast brought into thine house? And Siphor hearing it was cast down,
not because of the king's threat against him, but for the apostle, because the
king was disposed contrary to him. And he said to the apostle: I am grieved
concerning thee: for I told thee at the first that that woman is the wife of
Charisius the king's friend and kinsman, and he will not suf'fer her to perform
that she hath promised, and all that he asketh of the king he granteth him. But
the apostle said unto Siphor: Fear nothing, but believe in Jesus that pleadeth
for us all, for unto his refuge are we gathered together. And Siphor, hearing
that, put his garment about him and went unto Misdaeus the king,
103 And the apostle inquired of Mygdonia: What
was the cause that thy husband was wroth with thee and devised this against us?
And she said: Because I gave not myself up unto his corruption (destruction):
for he desired last night to subdue me and subject me unto that passion which he
serveth: and he to whom I have committed my soul delivered me out of his hands;
and I fled away from him naked, and slept with my nurse: but that which befell
him I know not, wherefore he hath contrived this. The apostle saith: These
things will not hurt us; but believe thou on Jesus, and he shall overthrow the
wrath of Charisius and his madness and his impulse; and he shall be a companion
unto thee in the fearful way, and he shall guide thee into his kingdom, and
shall bring thee unto eternal life giving thee that confidence which passeth not
away nor changeth.
104 Now Siphor stood before the king, and he
inquired of him: Who is that sorcerer and whence, and what teacheth he whom thou
hast lurking in thine house? And Siphor answered the king: Thou art not
ignorant, O king, what trouble and grief I, with my friends had concerning my
wife, whom thou knowest and many others remember, and concerning my daughter,
whom I value more than all my possessions, what a time and trial I suffered; for
I became a laughing-stock and a curse in all our country. And I heard the report
of this man and went to him and entreated him, and took him and brought him
hither. And as I came by the way I saw wonderful and amazing things: and here
also many did hear the wild ass and concerning that devil whom he drove out, and
healed my wife and daughter, and now are they whole; and he asked no reward but
requireth faith and holiness, that men should become partakers with him in that
which he doeth: and this he teacheth to worship and fear one God, the ruler of
all things, and Jesus Christ his Son, that they may have eternal life. And that
which he eateth is bread and salt, and his drink is water from evening unto
evening, and he maketh many prayers; and whatsoever he asketh of his God, he
giveth him. And he teacheth that this God is holy and mighty, and that Christ is
living and maketh alive, wherefore also he chargeth them that are there present
to come unto him in holiness and purity and love and faith.
105 And when Misdaeus the king heard these things
of Siphor he sent many soldiers unto the house of Siphor the captain, to bring
Thomas the apostle and all that were found there. And they that were sent
entered in and found him teaching much people; and Mygdonia sat at his feet. And
when they beheld the great multitude that were about him, they feared, and
departed to their king and said: We durst not say aught unto him, for there was
a great multitude about him, and Mygdonia sitting at his feet was listening to
the things that were spoken by him. And when Misdaeus the king and Charisius
heard these things, Charisius leaped out from before the king and drew much
people with him and said: I will bring him, O king, and Mygdonia whose
understanding he hath taken away. And he came to the house of Siphor the
captain, greatly disturbed, and found him (Thomas) teaching: but Mygdonia he
found not, for she had withdrawn herself unto her house, having learnt that it
had been told her husband that she was there.
106 And Charisius said unto the apostle: Up, thou
wicked one and destroyer and enemy of mine house: for me thy sorcery harmeth
not, for I will visit thy sorcery on thine head. And when he so said, the
apostle looked upon him and said unto him: Thy threatenings shall return upon
thee, for me thou wilt not harm any whit: for greater than thee and thy king and
all your army is the Lord Jesus Christ in whom I have my trust. And Chalisius
took a kerchief (turban, Syr.) of one of his slaves and cast it about the neck
of the apostle, saying: Hale him and bring him away; let me see if his God is
able to deliver him out of my hands. And they haled him and led him away to
Misdaeus the king. And the apostle stood before the king, and the king said to
him: Tell me who thou art and by what power thou doest these things. But the
apostle kept silence. And the king commanded his officers (subjects) that he
should be scourged with an hundred and twenty-eight (hundred and fifty, Syr.)
blows, and bound, and be cast into the prison; and they bound him and led him
away. And the king and Charisius considered how they should put him to death,
for the multitude worshipped him as God. And they had it in mind to say: The
stranger hath reviled the king and is a deceiver.
107 But the apostle went unto the prison
rejoicing and exulting, and said: I praise thee, Jesu, for that thou hast not
only made me worthy of faith in thee, but also to endure much for thy sake. I
give thee thanks therefore, Lord, that thou hast taken thought for me and given
me patience: I thank thee Lord, that for thy sake I am called a sorcerer and a
wizard. Receive thou me therefore with the blessing (Syr. Iet me receive of the
blessing) of the poor, and of the rest of the weary, and of the blessings of
them whom men hate and persecute and revile, and speak evil words of them. For
lo, for thy sake I am hated: lo for thy sake I am cut off from the many, and for
thy sake they call me such an one as I am not.
108 And as he prayed, all the prisoners looked on
him, and besought him to pray for them: and when he had prayed and was set down,
he began to utter a psalm in this wise:
[Here follows the Hymn of the Soul: a most
remarkable composition, originally Syriac, and certainly older than the Acts,
with which it has no real connexion. We have it in Greek in one manuscript, the
Vallicellian, and in a paraphrase by Nicetas of Thessalonica, found and edited
by Bonnet.]
1 When I was an infant child in the palace of my Father
2 and resting in the wealth and luxury of my
nurturers, out of the East, our native country, my parents
provisioned me and sent me.
4 And of the wealth of those their treasures they
put together a load
5 both great and light, that I might carry it
alone.
6 Gold is the load, of them that are above (or of
the land of the Ellaeans or Gilaeans), and silver of the great treasures (or of Gazzak
the great)
7 and stones, chalcedonies from the Indians and pearls from
the Kosani (Kushan).
8 And they armed me with adamant
9 and they took off from me (Gr. put on me) the
garment set with gems, spangled with gold, which they had made for me because
they loved me
10 and the robe that was yellow in hue, made for
my stature.
11 And they made a covenant with me, and
inscribed it on mine understanding, that I should
forget it, and said:
12 If thou go down into Egypt, and bring back
thence the one pearl
13 which is there
girt about by the devouring serpent
14 thou shalt put on
the garment set with gems, and that robe whereupon it resteth (or which is
thereon)
15 and become with thy brother that is next unto
us (Gr. of the well- remembered) an heir (Gr. herald) in our kingdom.
109. 16 And I came out of the East by a road
difficult and fearful, with two guides
17 and I was untried in travelling by it.
18 And I passed by the borders of the Mosani
(Maishan) where is the resort of the merchants of the East,
19 and reached the land of the Babylonians
.
20 But when I entered into Egypt, the guides left
me which had journeyed with me.
21 And I set forth by the quickest way to the
serpent, and by his hole I abode
22 watching for him to slumber and sleep, that I
might take my pearl from him.
23 And forasmuch as I was alone I made mine
aspect strange, and appeared as an alien to my people.
24 And there I saw my kinsman from the East, the
free-born
25 a lad of grace and beauty, a son of princes
(or an anointed one).
26 He came unto me and dwelt with me,
27 and I had him for a companion, and made him my
friend and partaker in my journey (or merchandise).
28 And I charged him to beware of the Egyptians,
and of partaking of those unclean things (or consorting with those unclean men).
29 And I put on their raiment, lest I should seem
strange, as one that had come from without
30 to recover the pearl; and lest the Egyptians
should awake the serpent against me.
31 But, I know not by what occasion, they learned
that I was not of their country.
32 And with guile they mingled for me a deceit,
and I tasted of their food.
33 And I knew no more that I was a king's son,
and I became a servant unto their king.
34 And I forgat also the pearl for which my
fathers had sent me,
35 and by means of the heaviness of their food I
fell into a deep sleep.
36 But when this befell me, my fathers also
were ware of it, and grieved for me
37 and a proclamation was published in our
kingdom, that all should meet at our doors.
38 And then the kings of Parthia and they that
bare office and the great ones of the East
39 made a resolve concerning me, that I should
not be left in Egypt,
40 and the princes wrote unto me signifying thus
(and every noble signed his name to it, Syr.):
41 From the (thy) Father the King of kings, and
thy mother that ruleth the East,
42 and thy brother that is second unto us; unto
our son that is in Egypt, peace.
43 Rise up and awake out of sleep, and hearken
unto the words of the letter
44 and remember that thou art a son of kings; lo,
thou hast come under the yoke of bondage.
45 Remember the pearl for the which thou wast
sent into Egypt (Gr. puts this after 46).
46 Remember thy garment spangled with gold,
47
Thy name is named in the book of life,
48 and with thy brother whom thou hast received
in our kingdom.
49
and the King [as ambassador] sealed it
50 because of the evil ones, even the children of
the Babylonians and the tyrannous demons of Labyrinthus (Sarbug, Syr.).
51
52 It flew and lighted down by me, and became all speech.>
53 And I at the voice of it and the feeling of it
started up out of sleep
54 and I took it up and kissed it
and read it.
55 And it was written concerning that which was
recorded in mine heart.
56 And I remembered forthwith that I was a son of
kings, and my freedom yearned (sought) after its kind.
57 I remembered also the pearl for the which I
was sent down into Egypt
58 and I began (or came) with charms against the
terrible serpent,
59 and I overcame him (or put him to sleep) by
naming the name of my Father upon him,
60
.
61 And I caught away the pearl and turned back to
bear it unto my fathers.
62 And I stripped off the filthy garment and left
it in their land,
63 and directed my way forthwith to the light of
my fatherland in the East.
64 And on the way I found my letter that had
awakened me,
65 and it, like as it had taken a voice and
raised me when I slept, so also guided me with the light that came from it.
66 For at times the royal garment of silk
before mine eyes,
67
68 and with love leading me and drawing me
onward,
69 I passed by Labyrinthus (Sarbug), and I left
Babylon upon my left hand
70 and I came unto Meson (Mesene; Maishan) the
great,
71 that lieth on the shore of the sea,
72
73 from the heights of Warkan (Hyrcania?) had my parents sent thither
74 by the hand of their treasurers, unto whom
they committed it because of their faithfulness>.
112. 75 But I remembered not the brightness of
it; for I was yet a child and very young when I had left it in the palace ot my
Father,
76 but suddenly, [when] I saw the garment made
like unto me as it had been in a mirror.
77 And I beheld upon it all myself (or saw it
wholly in myself) and I knew and saw myself through it,
78 that we were divided asunder, being of one;
and again were one in one shape.
79 Yea, the treasurers also which brought me the
garment
80 I beheld, that they were two, yet one shape
was upon both, one royal sign was set upon both of them.
81 The money and the wealth had they in their
hands, and paid me the due price,
82 and the lovely garment, which was variegated
with bright colours
83 with gold and precious stones and pearls of
comely hue
84 they were fastened above (or in the height)
85
.
86 And the likeness of the King of kings was all
in all of it.
87 Sapphire stones were fitly set in it above
(or, like the sapphire stone also were its manifold hues).
113. 88 And again I saw that throughout it
motions of knowledge were being sent forth,
89 and it was ready to utter speech.
90 And I heard it speak
:
91 I am of him that is more valiant than all men,
for whose sake I was reared up with the Father himself.
92 And I also perceived his stature (so Gr.- Syr.
I perceived in myself that my stature grew in accordance with his working).
93 And all its royal motions rested upon me as it
grew toward the impulse of it (And with its kingly motions it was spreading
itself toward me).
94 And it hastened, reaching out from the hand of
unto him that would receive it
95 and me also did yearning arouse to start forth
and meet it and receive it.
96 And I stretched forth and received it, and
adorned myself with the beauty of the colours thereof (mostly Syr.; Gr. corrupt)
97 and in my royal robe excelling in beauty I
arrayed myself wholly.
98 And when I had put it on, I was lifted up unto
the place of peace (sahltation) and homage
99 and I bowed my head and worshipped the
brightness of the Father which had sent it unto me.
100 for I had performed his commandments, and he
likewise that which he had promised,
101 and at the doors of his palace which was from
the beginning I mingled among
,
102 and he rejoiced over me and received me with
him into his palace,
103 and all his servants do praise him vvith
sweet voices.
104 And he promised me that with him I shall be
sent unto the gates of the king,
105 that with my gifts and my pearl we may appear
together before the king.
[Immediately on this, in the Syriac, follows a
Song of Praise of Thomas the apostle consisting of forty-two ascriptions of
praise and four final clauses (Wright, pp. 245-51). It has no bearing on the
Acts, and is not in itself so remarkable as to need to be inserted here.]
114 And Charisius went home glad, thinking that
his wife would be with him, and that she had become such as she was before, even
before she heard the divine word and believed on Jesus. And he went, and found
her with her hair dishevelled and her clothes rent, and when he saw it he said
unto her: My lady Mygdonia, why doth this cruel disease keep hold on thee? and
wherefore hast thou done this? I am thine husband from thy virginity, and both
the gods and the law grant me to have rule over thee, what is this great madness
of thine, that thou art bccome a derision in all our nation? but put thou away
the care that cometh of that sorcerer; and I will remove his face from among us,
that thou mayest see him no more.
115 But Mygdonia when she heard that gave herself
up unto grief, groaning and lamenting and Charisius said again; Have I then so
much wronged the gods that they have afflicted me with such a disease? what is
my great offence that they have cast me into such humiliation? I beseech thee.
Mvgdonia trangle my soul no more with the pitiful sight of thee and thy mean
appearance and afflict not mine heart with care for thee I am Charisius thine
husband, whom all the nation honoureth and feareth. What must I do? I know not
whither to turn. What am I to think? shall I keep silence and endure? yet who
can be patient when men take his treasure? and who can endure to lose thy sweet
ways? and what is there for me? (Syr. thy beauties which are ever before me) the
fragrance of thee is in my nostrils, and thy bright face is fixed in mine eyes.
They are taking away my soul, and the fair body which I rejoiced to see they are
destroying, and that sharpest of eyes they are blinding and cutting off my right
hand: my joy is turning to grief and my life to death, and the light of it is
being dyed (?) with darkness. Let no man of you my kindred henceforth look on
me; from you no help hath come to me, nor will I hereafter worship the gods of
the east that have enwrapped me in such calamities, nor pray to them any more
nor sacrifice to them, for I am bereaved of my spouse. And what else should I
ask of them? for all my glory is taken away, yet am I a prince and next unto the
king in power; but Mygdonia hath set me at nought, and taken away all these
things. (Would that some one would blind one of my eyes, and that thine eyes
would look upon me as they were wont, Syr. which has more clauses, to the same
effect.)
116 And while Charisius spake thus with tears,
Mygdonia sat silent and looking upon the ground; and again he came unto her and
said: My lady Mygdonia, most desired of me, remember that out of all the women
that are in India I chose and took thee as the most beautiful, though I might
have joined to myself in marriage many more beautiful: but yet I lie, Mygdonia,
for by the gods it would not have been possible to find another like thee in the
land of India; but woe is me alway, for thou wilt not even answer me a word: but
if thou wilt, revile me, so that I may only be vouchsafed a word from thee. Look
at me, for I am more comely than that sorcerer: but thou art my wealth and
honour: and all men know that there is none like me: and thou art my race and
kindred; and lo, he taketh thee away from me.
117 And when Charisius had so said, Mygdonia
saith unto him: He whom I love is better than thee and thy substance: for thy
substance is of earth and returneth unto the earth; but he whom I love is of
heaven and will take me with him unto heaven. Thy wealth shall pass awav, and
thy beauty shall vanish, and thy robes, and thy many works: and thou shalt be
alone, naked, with thy transgressions. Call not to my remembrance thy deeds
(unto me), for I pray the Lord that I may forget thee, so as to remember no more
those former pleasures and the custom of the body; which shall pass away as a
shadow, but Jesus only endureth for ever, and the souls which hope in him. Jesus
himself shall quit me of the shameful decds which I did with thee. And when
Charisius heard this, he turned him to sleep, vexed (dissolved) in soul, saying
to her: Consider it by thyself all this night: and if thou wilt be with me such
as thou wast before, and not see that sorcerer, I will do all according to thy
mind, and if thou wilt remove thine affection from him I will take him out of
the prison and let him go and remove into another country, and I will not vex
thee, for I know that thou makest much of the stranger. And not with thee first
did this matter come about, for many other women also hath he deceived with
thee; and they have awaked sober and returned to themselves: do not thou then
make nought of my words and cause me to be a reproach among the Indians.
118 And Charisius having thus spoken went to
sleep: but she took ten denarii (20 zuze, Syr.), and went secretly to give them
to the gaolers that she might enter in to the apostle. But on the way Judus
Thomas came and met her, and she saw him and was afraid, for she thought that he
was one of the rulers: for a great light went before him. And she said to
herself as she fled: have lost thee, O my unhappy soul! for thou wilt not again
see Judas the apostle of
the living
, and not yet hast thou received the holy seal. And she fled and ran into a
narrow place and there hid herself, saying: I would rather choose to be killed
(taken) by the poorer, whom it is possible to persuade, than to fall into the
hand of this mighty ruler, who will despise gifts.
The Tenth Act: wherein Mygdonia receiveth
baptism.
119 And while Mygdonia thought thus with herself,
Judas came and stood over her, and she saw him and was afraid, and fell down and
became lifeless with terror. But he stood by her and took her by the hand and
said unto her: Fear not, Mygdonia: Jesus will not leave thee, neither will the
Lord unto whom thou hast committed thy soul overlook thee. His compassionate
rest will not forsake thee: he that is kind will not forsake thee, for his
kindness' sake, nor he that is good for his goodness' sake. Rise up then from
the earth, thou that art become wholly above it: look on the light, for the Lord
leaveth not them that love him to walk in darkness: behold him that travelleth
with his servants, that he is unto them a defender in perils. And Mygdonia arose
and looked on him and said: Whither wentest thou, my lord? and who is he that
brought thee out of prison to behold the sun? Judas Thomas saith unto her: My
Lord Jesus is mightier than all powers and all kings and rulers.
120 And Mygdonia said: Give me the seal of Jesus
Christ and I shall ( Iet me) receive the gift at thy hands before thou departest
out of life. And she took him with her and entered into the court and awaked her
nurse, saying unto her: Narcia (Gr. Marcia), my mother and nurse, all thy
service and refreshment thou hast done for me from my childhood until my present
age are vain, and for them I owe thee thanks which are temporal; do for me now
also a ravour, that thou mayest for ever receive a recompense from him that
giveth great gifts. And Narcia in answer saith: What wilt thou, my daughter
Mygdonia, and what is to be done for thy pleasure? for the honours which thou
didst promise me before, the stranger hath not suffered thee to accomplish, and
thou hast made me a reproach among all the nation. And now what is this new
thing that thou commandest me? And Mygdonia saith: Become thou partaker with me
in eternal life, that I may receive of thee perfect nurture: take bread and
bring it me, and wine mingled with water, and spare my freedom (take pity on me
a free-born woman, Syr.). And the nurse said: I will bring thee many loaves, and
for water flagons of wine, and fulfil thy desire. But she saith to the nurse:
Flagons I desire not, nor the many loaves: but this only, bring wine mingled
with water and one loaf, and oil
.
121 And when Narcia had brought these things,
Mygdonia stood before the apostle with her head bare; and he took the oil and
poured it on her head, saying: Thou holy oil given unto us for sanctification,
sccret mystery whereby the cross was shown unto us, thou art the straightener of
the crooked limbs, thou art the humbler (softener) of hard things (works), thou
art it that showeth the hidden treasures, thou art the sprout of goodness; let
thy power come, let it be established upon thy servant Mygdonia, and heal thou
her by this freedom. And when the oil was poured upon her he hade her nurse
unclothe her and gird a linen cloth about her; and there was there a fountain of
water upon which the apostle went up, and baptized Mygdonia in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. And when she was baptized and clad, he
brake bread and took a cup of water and made her a partaker in the body of
Christ and the cup of the Son of God, and said: Thou hast received thy seal, get
for thyself eternal life. And immediately there was heard from above a voice
saying: Yea, amen. And when Narcia heard that voice, she was amazed, and
besought the apostle that she also might receive the seal; and the apostle gave
it her and said: Let the care of the Lord be about thee as about the rest.
122 And having done these things the apostle
returned unto the prison, and found the doors open and the guards still
sleeping. And Thomas said: Who is like thee, O God? who withholdest not thy
loving affection and care from any who is like thee, the merciful, who hast
delivered thy creatures out of evil. Life that hath subdued death, rest that
hath ended toil. Glory be to the only-begotten of the Father. Glory to the
compassionate that was sent forth of his heart. And when he had said thus, the
guards waked and beheld all the doors open, and the prisoners <+ asleep,
Syr.>, and said in themselves: Did not we fasten the doors? and how are they
now open, and the prisoners within?
123 But at the dawn Charisius went unto Mygdonia
, and found them praying and saying: O new God that by the stranger hast come
hither unto us, hidden God of the dwellers in India (Syr. who art hidden from);
God that hast shown thy glory by thine apostle Thomas, God whose report we have
heard and believed on thee; God, unto whom we are come to be saved; God, who for
love of man and for pity didst come down unto our littleness; God who didst seek
us out when we knew him (thee) not; God that dwellest in the heights and from
whom the depths are not hid: turn thou away from us the madness of Charisius.
And Charisius hearing that said to Mygdonia: Rightly callest thou me evil and
mad and foul I for if I had not borne with thy disobedience, and given thee
liberty, thou wouldest not have called on God against me and made mention of my
name before God. But believe me, Mygdonia that in that sorcerer there is no
profit, and what he promiseth to perform he cannot: but I will perform before
thy sight all that I promise, that thou mayest believe, and bear with my words
and be to me as thou wast beforetime.
124 And he came near and besought her again,
saying: If thou wilt be persuaded of me, I shall henceforth have no grief;
remember that day when thou didst meet me first; tell the truth: was I more
beautiful unto thee at that time, or Jesus at this? And Mygdonia said: That time
required its own, and this time also; that was the time of the beginning, but
this of the end; that was the time of temporal life, this of eternal; that of
pleasure that passeth away, but this of pleasure that abideth for ever; that, of
day and night, this of day without night. Thou sawest that marriage that was
passing, and here, and single but this marriage continueth for ever; that was a
partnership of corruption, but this of eternal life; those groomsmen (and maids)
were men and women of time, but these abide unto the end. That marriage upon
earth setteth up dropping dew of the love of men (Syr. That union was founded
upon the earth where there is an unceasing press: this is founded upon the
bridge of fire upon which is sprinkled grace: both corrupt); that bride-chamber
is taken down again, but this remaineth always; that bed was strown with
coverlets (that grow old), but this with love and faith. Thou art a bridegroom
that passest away and art dissolved (changed), but Jesus is a true bridegroom,
enduring for ever immortal, that dowry was of money and robes that grow old, but
this is of living words which never pass away.
125 And when Charisius heard these things he went
unto the king and told him all: and the king commanded Judas to be brought, that
he might judge him and destroy him. But Charisius said: Have patience a little,
O king, and first persuade the man making him afraid, that he may persuade
Mygdonia to be unto me as formerly. And Misdaeus sent and fetched the apostle of
Christ, and all the prisoners were grieved because the apostle departed from
them, for they yearned after him, saying: Even the comfort which we had have
they taken away from us.
126 And Misdaeus said unto Judas: Wherefore
teachest thou this new doctrine, which both gods and men hate, and which hath
nought of profit? And Judas said: What evil do I teach? And Misdaeus said: Thou
teachest, saying that men
with the God whom thou preachest. Judas saith: Thou sayest true, O king: thus do
I teach. For tell me, art thou not wroth with thy soldiers if they wait on thee
in filthy garments? if then thou, being a king of earth and returning unto
earth, request thy subjects to be reverend in their doings, are ye wroth and
said ye that I teach ill when I say that they who serve my king must be reverend
and pure and free from all grief and care of children and unprofitable riches
and vain trouble? For indeed thou wouldest have thy subjects follow thy
conversation and thy manners, and thou punishest them if they despise thy
commandments: how much more must they that believe on him serve my God with much
reverence and cleanness and security, and be quit of all pleasures of the body,
adultery and prodigality and theft and drunkenness and belly-service and foul
deeds?
127 And Misdaeus hearing these things said: Lo, I
let thee go: go then and persuade Mygdonia, the wife of Charisius, not to desire
to depart from him. Judas saith unto him: Delay not if thou hast aught to do:
for her, if she hath rightly received what she hath learned, neither iron nor
fire nor aught else stronger than these will avail to hurt or to root out him
that is held in her soul. Misdaeus saith unto Judas: Some poisons do dissolve
other poisons, and a theriac cureth the bites of the viper; and thou if thou
wilt canst give a solvent of those diseases, and make peace and concord betwixt
this couple: for by so doing thou wilt spare thyself, for not yet art thou sated
with life; and know thou that if thou do not persuade her, I will catch thee
away out of this life which is desirable unto all men. And Judas said: This life
hath been given as a loan, and this time is one that changeth, but that life
whereof I teach is incorruptible; and beauty and youth that are seen shall in a
little cease to be. The king saith to him: I have counselled thee for the best,
but thou knowest thine own alfairs.
128 And as the apostle went forth from before the
king, Charisius came to him and entreated him and said: I beseech thee, O man: I
have not sinned against thee or any other at any time, nor against the gods;
wherefore hast thou stirred up this great calamity against me? and for what
cause hast thou brought such disturbance upon mine house? and what profit hast
thou of it? but if thou thinkest to gain somewhat, tell me the gain, what it is,
and I will procure it for thee without labour. To what end dost thou make me
mad, and cast thyself into destruction? for if thou persuade her not, I will
both dispatch thee and finally take myself out of life. But if, as thou sayest,
after our departing hence there is there life and death, and also condemnation
and victory and a place of judgement, then will I also go in thither to be
judged with thee: and if that God whom thou preachest is just and awardeth
punishment justly, I know that I shall gain my cause against thee; for thou hast
injured me, having suffered no wrong at my hands: for indeed even here I am able
to avenge myself on thee and bring upon thee all that thou hast done unto me.
Therefore be thou persuaded, and come home with me and persuade Mygdonia to be
with me as she was at first, before she beheld thee. And Judas saith to him:
Believe me, my child that if men loved God as much as they love one another,
they would ask of him all things and receive them, and none would do them
violence (there would be nothing which would not obey them, Syr.).
129 And as Thomas said this, they came unto the
house of Charisius and found Mygdonia sitting and Narcia standing by her, and
her hand supporting her cheek; and she was saying: Let the remainder of the days
of my life, O mother, be cut off from me, and all the hours become as one hour,
and let me depart out of life that I may go the sooner and behold that beautiful
one, whose report I have heard, even that living one and giver of life unto them
that believe on him, where is not day and night, nor light and darkness, nor
good and evil, nor poor and rich, nor male and female, nor free and bond, nor
proud that subjecteth the humble. And as she spake the apostle stood by her, and
forthwith she rose up and did him reverence. Then Charisius said unto him: Seest
thou how she feareth and honoureth thee and all that thou shalt bid her she will
do willingly?
13O And as he so spake, Judas saith unto
Mygdonia: My daughter Mygdonia, obey that which thy brother Charisius saith. And
Mygdonia saith: If thou wast not able
the deed in word wilt thou compel me to endure the act? for I have heard of thee
that this life is of no profit, and this relief is for a time, and these
possessions are transitory. And again thou saidst that whoso renounceth this
life shall receive the life eternal, and whoso hateth the light of day and night
shall behold a light that is not overtaken, that whoso despiseth this money
shall find other and eternal money. But now
because thou art in fear. Who that hath done somewhat and is praised for the
work changeth it?
straightway overthroweth it from the foundation? who diggeth a spring water in a
thirsty land and straightway filleth it in? who findeth a treasure and useth it
not? And Charisius heard lt and said: I will not imitate you, neither will I
hasten to destroy you; nor though I may so do, will I put bonds about thee (but
thee I will bind, Syr.); and I will not suffer thee to speak with this sorcerer;
and if thou obey me, well, but if not, I know what I must do.
131 And Judas went out of Charisius' house and
departed unto the house of Siphor and lodged there with him. And Siphor said: I
will prepare for Judas a hall (triclinium) wherein he may teach (Syr. Siphor
said to Judas: Prepare thyself an apartment, &c.). And he did so; and Siphor
said : I and my wife and daughter will dwell henceforth in holiness, and in
chastity, and in one affection. I beseech thee that we mav receive of thee the
seal, and become worshippers of the true God and numbered among his sheep and
lambs. And Judas said: I am afraid to speak that which I think: yet I know
somewhat, and what I know it is not possible for me to utter.
132 And he began to say concerning baptism: This
baptism is remission of sins (the Greek MSS. U and P have divergent texts, both
obscure): this bringeth forth again light that is shed about us: this bringeth
to new birth the new man (this is the restorer of understandings Syr.): this
mingleth the spirit (with the body), raiseth up in threefoldwise a new man and
partaker of the remission of sins. Glory be to thee, hidden one, that art
communicated in baptism. Glory to thee the unseen power that is in baptism.
Glory to thee, renewal, whereby are renewed they that are baptized and with
affection take hold upon thee.
And having thus said, he poured oil over their
heads and said: Glory be to thee the love of compassion (bowels). Glory to thee
name of Christ. Glory to thee, power established in Christ. And he commanded a
vessel to be brought, and baptized them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Ghost.
133 And when they were baptized and clad, he set
bread on the table and blessed it, and said: Bread of life, the which who eat
abide incorruptible: Bread that filleth the hungry souls with the blessing
thereof: thou art he that vouchsafest to receive a gift, that thou mayest become
unto us remission of sins, and that they who eat thee may become immortal: we
invoke upon thee the name of the mother, of the unspeakable mystery of the
hidden powers and authorities (? we name the name of the unspeakable mystery,
that is hidden from all &c.): we invoke upon thee the name of [thy?] Jesus.
And he said: Let the powers of blessing come, and be established in this bread,
that all the souls which partake of it may be washed from their sins. And he
brake and gave unto Siphor and his wife and daughter.
The Eleventh Act: concerning the wife of
Misdaeus.
134 Now Misdaeus the king, when he had let Judas
go, dined and went home, and told his wife what had befallen Charisius their
kinsman, saying: See what hath come to pass to that unhappy man, and thou
thyself knowest, my sister Tertia, that a man hath nought better than his own
wife on whom he resteth; but it chanced that his wife went unto that sorcerer of
whom thou hast heard that he is come to the land of the Indians, and fell into
his charms and is parted from her own husband; and he knoweth not what he should
do. And when I would have destroyed the malefactor, he would not have it. But do
thou go and counsel her to incline unto her husband, and forsake the vain words
of the sorcerer.
135 And as soon as she arose Tertia went to the
house of Charisius her husband's
, and found Mygdonia Iying upon the earth in humiliation, and ashes and
sackcloth were spread under her, and she was praying that the Lord would forgive
her her former sins and she might soon depart out of life. And Tertia said unto
her: Mygdonia, my dear sister and companion what is this hand (Syr. this folly)?
what is the disease that hath overtaken thee? and why doest thou the deeds of
madmen? Know thyself and come back unto thine own way, come near unto thy many
kinsfolk, and spare thy true husband Charisius, and do not things unbefitting a
free-woman. Mygdonia saith unto her: O Tertia, thou hast not yet heard the
preacher of life: not yet hath he touched thine ears, not yet hast thou tasted
the medicine of life nor art freed from corruptible mourning. Thou standest in
the life of time, and the everlasting life and salvation thou knowest not, and
perceivest not the incorruptible fellowship. Thou standest clad in robes that
grow old and desirest not those that are eternal, and art proud of this beauty
which vanisheth and hast no thought of the holiness of thy soul; and art rich in
a multitude of servants, (and hast not freed thine own soul from servitude,
Syr.) and pridest thyself in the glory that cometh of many, but redeemest not
thyself from the condemnation of death.
136 And when Tertia heard this of Mygdonia she
said: I pray thee, sister, bring me unto that stranger that teacheth these great
things, that I also may go and hear him, and be taught to worship the God whom
he preacheth, and become partaker of his prayers, and a sharer in all that thou
hast told me of. And Mygdonia saith to her: He is in the house of Siphor the
captain; for he is become the occasion of life unto all them that are being
saved in India. And hearing that, Tertia went quickly to Siphor's house, that
she might see the new apostle that was come thither. And when she entered in,
Judas said unto her: What art thou come to see? a man that is a stranger and
poor and contemptible and needy, having neither riches nor substance; yet one
thing I possess which neither kings nor rulers can take away, that neither
perisheth nor ceaseth, which is Jesus the Saviour of all mankind, the Son of the
living God, who hath given life unto all that believe on him and take refuge
with him and are known to be of the number of his servants (sheep, Syr.). Unto
whom saith Tertia: May I become a partaker of this life which thou promisest
that all they shall receive who come together unto the assembly of God. And the
apostle said: The treasury of the holy king is opened wide, and they which
worthily partake of the good things that are therein do rest, and resting do
reign: but first, no man cometh unto him that is unclean and vile: for he
knoweth our inmost hearts and the depths of our thought, and it is not possible
for any to escape him. Thou, then, if verily thou believest in him, shalt be
made worthy of his mysteries; and he will magnify thee and enrich thee, and make
thee to be an heir of his hingdom.
137 And Tertia having heard this returned home
rejoicing, and found her husband awaiting her, not having dined, and when
Misdaeus saw her he said: Whence is it that thine entering in to-day is more
beautiful? and wherefore art thou come walking, which beseemeth not free-born
women like thee? And Tertia saith unto him: I owe thee the greatest of thanks
for that thou didst send me unto Mygdonia, for I went and heard of a new life,
and I saw the new apostle of the God that giveth life unto them that believe on
him and fulfil his commandments; I ought therefore myself to recompense thee for
this favour and admonition with good advice; for thou shalt be a great king in
heaven if thou obey me and fear the God that is preached by the strangrer, and
keep thyself holy unto the living God. For this kingdom passeth away, and thy
comfort will be turned into affliction: but go thou to that man, and believe
him, and thou shalt live unto the end. And when Misdaeus heard these things of
his wife, he smote his face with his hands and rent his clothes and said: May
the soul of Charisius find no rest, for he hath hurt me to the soul; and may he
have no hope, for he hath taken away my hope. And he went out greatly vexed.
138 And he found Charisius his friend in the
market-place, and said unto him: Why hast thou cast me into hell to be another
companion to thyself? why hast thou emptied and defrauded me to gain nought? why
hast thou hurt me and profited thyself not at all? why hast thou slain me and
thyself not lived? Why hast thou wronged me and thyself not got justice? why
didst thou not suffer me to destroy that sorcerer before he corrupted my house
with his wickedness? And he kept hold upon (was upbraiding, Syr.) Charisius. And
Charisius saith: Why, what hath befallen thee? Misdaeus said: He hath bewitched
Tertia. And they went both of them unto the house of Siphor the captain, and
found Judas sitting and teaching. And all they that were there rose up before
the king, but he arose not. And Misdaeus perceived that it was he, and took hold
of the seat and overset it, and took up the seat with both his hands and smote
his head so that he wounded it, and delivered him to his soldiers, saying: Take
him away, and hale him with violence and not gently, that his shame may be
manifest unto all men. And they haled him and took him to the place where
Misdaeus judged, and he stood there, held of the soldiers of Misdaeus.
The Twelfth Act: concerning Ouazanes (Iuzanes)
the son of Misdaeus.
139 And Ouazanes (Iuzanes, P; Vizan, Syr.) the
son of Misdaeus came unto the soldiers and said: Give me him that I may speak
with him until the king cometh. And they gave him up, and he brought him in
where the king gave judgement. And Iuzanes saith: Knowest thou not that I am the
son of Misdaeus the king, and I have power to say unto the king what I will, and
he will sufier thee to live? tell me then, who is thy God, and what power dost
thou claim and glory in it? for if it be some power or art of magic, tell it me
and teach me, and I will let thee go. Judas saith unto him: Thou art the son of
Misdacus the king who is king for a time, but I am the servant of Jesus Christ
the eternal king, and thou hast power to say to thy father to save whom thou
wilt in the temporal life wherein men continue not, which thou and thy father
grant, but I beseech my Lord and intercede for men, and he giveth them a new
life which is altogether enduring. And thou boastest thyself of possessions and
servants and robes and luxury and unclean chamberings, but I boast myself of
povertv and philosophy and humility and lasting and prayer and the fellowship of
the Holy Ghost and of my brethren that are worthy of God: and I boast myself of
eternal life. And thou reliest on (hast taken refuge with) a man like unto
thyself and not able to save his own soul from judgement and death, but I rely
upon the living God, upon the saviour of kings and princes, who is the judge of
all men. And ye indeed to-day perchance are, and to-morrow are no more, but I
have taken refuge with him that abideth for ever and knoweth all our seasons and
times. And if thou wilt become the servant of this God thou shalt soon do so;
but show that thou wilt be a servant worthy of him hereby: first by holiness
(puritv), which is the head of all good things, and then by fellowship with this
God whom I preach, and philosophy and simplicity and love and faith and
in him, and unity of pure food (simplicity of pure i e, Syr.).
140 And the young man was persuaded by the Lord
and sought occasion how he might let Judas escape: but while he thought thereon,
the king came, and the soldiers took Judas and led him forth. And Iuzanes went
forth with him and stood beside him. And when the king was set he bade Judas be
brought in, with his hands bound behind him; and he was brought into the midst
and stood there. And the king saith: Tell me who thou art and by what power thou
doest these things. And Judas saith to him: I am a man like thee, and by the
power of Jesus Christ I do these things. And Misdaeus saith: Tell me the truth
before I destroy thee. And Judas saith: Thou hast no power against me, as thou
supposest, and thou wilt not hurt me at all. And the king was wroth at his
words, and commanded to heat iron plates and set him upon them barefoot; and as
the soldiers took off his shoes he said: The wisdom of God is better than the
wisdom of men. Thou Lord and King (do thou take counsel against them, Syr.) and
let thy goodness resist his wrath. And they brought the plates which were like
fire, and set the apostle upon them, and straightway water sprang up abundantly
from the earth, so that the plates were swallowed up in it, and they that held
him let him go and withdrew themselves.
141 And the king seeing the abundance of water
said to Judas: Ask thy God that he deliver me from this death, that I perish not
in the flood. And the apostle prayed and said: Thou that didst bind this element
(nature) and gather it into one place and send it forth into divers lands; that
didst bring disorder into order, that grantest mighty works and great wonders by
the hands of Judas thy servant; that hast mercy on my soul, that I may alway
receive thy brightness; that givest wages unto them that have laboured; thou
saviour of my soul, restoring it unto its own nature that it may have no
fellowship with hurtful things; that hast alway been the occasion of life: do
thou restrain this element that it lift not up itself to destroy; for there are
some of them that stand here who shall believe on thee and live. And when he had
prayed, the water was swallowed up by little and little, and the place became
dry. And when Misdaeus saw it he commanded him to be taken to the prison: Until
I shall consider how he must be used.
142 And as Judas was led away to the prison they
all followed him, and Iuzanes the king's son walked at his right hand, and
Siphor at the left. And he entered into the prison and sat down, and Iuzanes and
Siphor, and he persuaded his wife and his daughter to sit down, for they also
were come in to hear the word ot life. For they knew that Misdaeus would slay
him because of the excess of his anger. And Judas began to say: O liberator of
my soul from the bondage of the many, because I gave myself to be sold
; behold, I rejoice and exult, knowing that the times are fulfilled for me to
enter in and receive
. Lo, I am to be set free from the cares that are on the earth; lo, I fulfil
mine hope and reccive truth; lo, I am set free from sorrow and put on joy alone;
lo, I become careless and griefless and dwell in rest; lo, I am set free from
bondage and am called unto liberty; lo, I have served times and seasons, and I
am lifted up above times and seasons; lo, I receive my wages from my
recompenser, who giveth without reckoning (number) because his wealth sufficeth
for the gift;
and I shall not put it on again; lo, I sleep and awake, and I shall no more go
to sleep; lo, I die and live again, and I shall no more taste of death; lo, they
rejoice and expect me, that I may come and be with their kindred and be set as a
flower in their crown; Io, I reign in the kingdom whereon I set my hope, even
frorm hence; lo, the rebellious fall before me, for I have escaped them; lo,
(unto me) the peace hath come, whereunto all are gathered.
143 And as the apostle spake thus, all that were
there hearkened, supposing that in that hour he would depart out of life. And
again he said: Believe on the physician of all
, both seen and unseen, and on the saviour of the souls that need help from him.
This is the free-born
of kings, this the physician of his creatures; this is he that was reproached of
his own slaves; this is the Father of the height and the Lord of nature and the
Judge (? Father of nature and Lord of the height and supreme Judge, Syr.): he
came of the greatest, the only-begotten son of the deep; and he was called the
son of (became visible through, Syr.) Mary the virgin, and was termed the son of
Joseph the carpenter: he whose littleness (we beheld) with the eyes of our body,
but his greatness we received by faith, and saw it in his works whose human body
we felt also with our hands, and his aspect we saw transfigured (changed) with
our eyes, but his heavenly semblance on the mount we were not able to see: he
that made the rulers stumble and did violence unto death: he, the truth that
lieth not, that at the last paid the tribute for himself and his disciplcs: whom
the prince beholding feared and the powers that were with him were troubled; and
the prince bare witness (asked him, Syr.) who he was and from whence, and knew
not the truth, because he is alien from truth: he that having authority over the
world, and the pleasures therein, and the possessions and the comfort,
all these things and turneth away his subjects, that they should not use them.
144 Alld having fulfilled these sayings, he arose
and prayed thus: our Father, which art in heaven: hallowed be thy name: Thy
kingdom come: Thy will be done, as in heaven so upon earth:
and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
My Lord and God, hope and confidence and teacher,
thou hast taught me to pray thus, behold, I pray this prayer and fulfil thy
commandment: be thou with me unto the end; thou art he that from childhood hast
sown life in me and kept me from corruption; thou art he that hast brought me
unto the poverty of this world, and exhorted me unto the true riches; thou art
he that hast made me known unto myself and showed me that I am thine; and I have
kept myself pure from woman, that that which thou requirest be not found in
defilement.
[At the words 'My Lord and God' begins the double
text, represented on the one hand by the MS. U and on the other by the Paris MS.
P, and three (partly four) others. These insert the prayer after ch. 167. Their
text, I believe, may be the original Greek. I follow it here, repeating the
first paragraph.]
(144) My Lord and God, my hope and my confidence
and my teacher, that hast implanted courage in me, thou didst teach me to pray
thus; behold, I pray thy prayer and bring thy will to fulfilment: be thou with
me unto the end. Thou art he that from my youth up didst give me patience in
temptation and
me life and preserve me from corruption; thou art he that didst bring me into
the poverty of this world and fill me with the true riches; thou art he that
didst show me that I was thine: wherefore I was never joined unto a wife, that
the temple worthy of thee might not be found in pollution.
145 My mouth sufficeth not to praise thee,
neither am I able to conceive the care and providence (carefulness) which hath
been about me from thee which thou hast had for me). For I desired to gain
riches, but thou by a vision didst show me that they are full of loss and iniury
to them that gain them and I believed thy showing, and continued in the poverty
of the world until thou, the true riches wert revealed unto me, who didst fill
both me and the rest that were worthy of thee with thine own riches and set free
thine own from care and anxiety. I have therefore fulfilled thy commandments, O
Lord, and accomplished thy will, and become poor and needy and a stranger and a
bondman and set at nought and a prisoner and hungry and thirsty and nalied and
unshod, and I have toiled for thy sake, that my confidence might not perish and
my hope that is in thee might not be confounded and my much labour might not be
in vain and my weariness not be counted for nought: let not my prayers and rmy
continual fastings perish, and my great zeal toward thee; let not my seed of
wheat be changed for tares out of thy land, Iet not the enemy carry it away and
mingle his own tares therewith; for thy land verily receiveth not his tares,
neither indeed can they be laid up in thine houses.
146 I have planted thy vine in the earth, it hath
sent down its roots into the depth and its growth is spread out in the height,
and the fruits of it are stretched forth upon the earth, and they that are
worthy of thee are made glad by them, whom also thou hast gained. The money
which thou hast from me I laid down upon the table (bank); this, when thou
requirest it, restore unto me with usury, as thou hast promised. With thy one
mind have I traded and have made ten, thou hast added rnore to me beside that I
had, as thou didst covenant. I have forgiven my debtor the mine, require thou it
not at my hands. I was bidden to the supper and I came: and I refused the land
and the yoke of oxen and the wife, that I might not for their sake be rejected;
I was bidden to the wedding, and I put on white raiment, that I might be worthy
of it and not be bound hand and foot and cast into the outer darkness. My lamp
with its bright light expecteth the master coming from the marriage, that it may
receive him, and I may not (? he may not) see it dimmed because the oil is
spent. Mine eyes, O Christ, look upon thee, and mine heart exulteth with joy
because I have fulfilled thy will and perfected thy commandments; that I may be
likened unto that watchful and careful servant who in his eagerness neglecteth
not to keep vigil (other MSS.: I have not slumbered idly in keeping thy
commandments: in the first sleep and at midnight and at cockcrow, that mine eyes
may behold thee, &c.). All the night have I laboured to keep mine house from
robbers, lest it be broken through.
147 My loins have I girt close with truth and
bound my shoes on my feet, that I may never see them gaping: mine hands have I
put unto the yoked plough and have not turned away backward, lest my furrows go
crooked. The plough-land is become white and the harvest is come, that I may
receive my wages. My garment that groweth old I have worn out, and the labour
that hath brought me unto rest have I accomplished. I have kept the first watch
and the second and the third, that I may behold thy face and adore thine holy
brightness. I have rooted out the worst (pulled down my barns, Syr.) and left
thern desolate upon earth, that I may be filled full from thy treasures (Gr.
MSS. add: all my substance have I sold, that I may gain thee the pearl). The
moist spring that was in me have I dried up, that I may live and rest beside
thine inexhaustible spring (al. and Syr.: rest beside thy living spring). The
captive whom thou didst commit to me I have slain, that he which is set free in
me may not fall from his confidence. Him that was inward have I made outward and
the outward
, and all thy fullness hath been fulfilled in me. I have not returned unto the
things that are behind, but have gone forward unto the things that are before,
that I become not a reproach. The dead man have I quickened, and the living one
have I overcome, and that which was lacking have I filled up (Syr. Wright, not
the older one, inserts negatives, ' not quickened ', &c.), that I may
receive the crown of victory, and the power of Christ may be accomplished in me.
I have received reproach upon earth, but give thou me the return and the
recompense in the heavens. (U omits practically all this chapter.)
148 Let not the powers and the officers perceive
me, and let them not have any thought concerning me; let not the publicans and
exactors ply their calling upon me; let not the weak and the evil cry out
against me that am valiant and humble, and when I am borne upward let them not
rise up to stand before me, by thy power, O Jesu, which surroundeth me as a
crown: for they do flee and hide themselves, they cannot look on thee: but (for)
suddenly do they fall upon them that are subject to them, and the portion of
tile sons of the evil one doth itself cry out and convict them; and it is not
hid from them, nor their nature is made known: the children of the evil one are
separated off. Do thou then grant me, Lord, that I may pass by in quietness and
joy and peace, and pass over and stand before the judge, and let not the devil
(or slanderer) look upon me; let his eyes be blinded by thy light which thou
hast made to dwell in me, close thou up (muzzle) his mouth: for he hath found
nought against me.
[We revert to U.]
149 And he said again unto them that were about
him:
believe in the Saviour of them that have laboured in his service: for my soul
already flourisheth because my time is near to receive him; for he being
beautiful draweth me on always to speak concerning his beauty, what it is though
I be not able and suffice not to speak it worthily: thou that art the light
(feeder, Syr.) of my poverty and the supplier of my defects and nurturer of my
need: be thou with me until I come and receive thee for evermore.
The Thirteenth Act: wherein Iuzanes receiveth
baptism with the rest.
150 And Iuzanes the youth besought the apostle,
saying: I pray thee, O man, apostle of God, suffer me to go, and I will persuade
the gaoler to permit thee to come home with me, that by thee I may receive the
seal, and become thy minister and a keeper of the commandments of the God whom
thou preachest. For indeed, formerly I walked in those things which thou
teachest, until my father compelled me and joined me unto a wife by name
Mnesara; for I am in my one-and-twentieth year, and have now been seven years
married, and before I was joined in marriage I knew no other woman, wherefore
also I was accounted useless of my father, nor have I ever had son or daughter
of this wife and also my wife herself hath lived with me in chastity all this
time, and to-day, if she had been in health, and had listened to thee, I know
well that both I should have been at rest and she would have received eternal
life; but she is in peril and afflicted with much illness; I will therefore
persuade the keeper that he promise to come with me, for I live by myself: and
thou shalt also heal that unhappy one. And Judas the apostle of the Most High,
hearing this, said to Iuzanes: If thou believest, thou shalt see the marvels of
God, and how he saveth his servants.
151 And as they spake thus together, Tertia and
Mvgdonia and Narcia stood at the door of the prison, and they gave the gaoler
363 staters of silver and entered in to Judas; and found Iuzanes and Siphor and
his wife and daughter, and all the prisoners sitting and hearing the word. And
when they stood by him he said to them: Who hath suffered you to come unto us?
and who opened unto you the sealed door that ye came forth? Tertia saith unto
him: Didst not thou open the door for us and tell us to come into the prison
that we might take our brethren that were there, and then should the Lord show
forth his glory in us? And when we came near the door, I know not how, thou wast
parted from us and hid thyself and camest hither before us where also we heard
the noise of the door, when thou didst shut us out. We gave money therefore to
the keepers and came in and lo, we are here praying thee that we may persuade
thee and let thee escape until the king's wrath against thee shall cease. Unto
whom Judas said: Tell us first of all how ye were shut up.
152 And she saith to him: Thou wast with us, and
didst never leave us for one hour, and askest thou how we were shut up? but if
thou desirest to hear, hear. The king Misdaeus sent for me and said unto me: Not
yet hath that sorcercr prevailed over thee, for, as I hear, he bewitcheth men
with oil and water and bread, and hath not yet bewitched thee; but obey thou me,
for if not, I will imprison thee and wear thee out, and him I will destroy; for
I know that if he hath not yet given thee oil and water and bread, he hath not
prevailed to get power over thee. And I said unto him: Over my body thou hast
authority, and do thou all that thou wilt; but my soul I will not let perish
with thee. And hearing that he shut me up in a chamber (beneath his dining-hall,
Syr.): and Charisius brought Mygdonia and shut her up with me: and thou
broughtest us out and didst bring us even hither; but give thou us the seal
quickly, that the hope of Misdacus who counselleth thus may be cut off.
153 And when the apostle heard this, he said:
Glory be to thee, O Jesu of many forms, glory to thee that appearest in the
guise of our poor manhood: glory to thee that encouragest us and makest us
strong and givest grace and consolest and standest by us in all perils, and
strengthenest our weakness. And as he thus spake, the gaoler came and said: Put
out the lamps, lest any accuse you unto the king. And then they extinguished the
lamps, and turned to sleep; but the apostle spake unto the Lord: It is the time
now, O Jesu, for thee to make haste; for, lo the children of darkness sit (make
us to sit, Syr.) in their own darkness, do thou therefore enlighten us with the
light of thy nature. And on a sudden the whole prison was light as the day: and
while all they that were in the prison slept a deep sleep, they only that had
believed in the Lord continued waking.
154 Judas therefore saith to Iuzanes: Go thou
before and make ready the things for our need. Iuzanes thererore saith: And who
will open me the doors of the prison? for the gaolers shut them and are gone to
sleep. And Judas saith: Believe in Jesus, and thou shalt find the doors open.
And when he went forth and departed from them, all the rest followed after him.
And as Iuzanes was gone on before, Mnesara his wife met him coming unto the
prison. And she knew him and said: My brother Iuzanes, is it thou? and he saith,
Yea, and art thou Mnesara? and she saith Yea. Iuzanes said unto her; Whither
walkest thou, especialiy at so untimely an hour? and how wast thou able to rise
up? And she said: This youth laid his hand on me and raised me up, and in a
dream I say that I should go where the stranger sitteth, and become perfectly
whole. Iuzanes saith to her: What youth is with thee? And she said: Seest thou
not him that is on my right hand, leading me by the hand?
155 And while they spake together thus, Judas,
with Siphor and his wife and daughter and Tertia and Mygdonia and Narcia came
unto Iuzanes' house. And Mnesara the wife of Iuzanes seeing him did reverence
and said: Art thou come that savedst us from the sore disease? thou art he whom
I saw in the night delivering unto me this youth to bring me to the prison. But
thy goodness suffered me not to grow weary, but thou thyself art come unto me.
And so saying she turned about and saw the youth no more; and finding him not,
she saith to the apostle: I am not able to walk alone: for the youth whom thou
gavest me is not here. And Judas said: Jesus will henceforth lead thee. And
thereafter she came running unto him. And when they entered into the house of
Iuzanes the son of Misdaeus the king though it was yet night, a great light
shined and was shed about them.
156 And then Judas began to pray and to speak
thus: O companion and defender (ally) and hope of the weak and confidence of the
poor: refuge and lodging of the weary: voice that came forth of the height
(sleep, Gr.): comforter dwelling in the midst: port and harbour of them that
pass through the regions of the rulers: physician that healest without payment:
who among men wast crucified for many: who didst go down into hell with great
might: the sight of whom the princes of death endured not; and thou camest up
with great glory, and gathering all them that fled unto thee didst prepare a
way, and in thy footsteps all they journeyed whom thou didst redeem; and thou
broughtest them into thine own fold and didst join them with thy sheep: son of
mercy, the son that for love of man wast sent unto us from the perfect country
(fatherland) that is above, the Lord of all possessions (undefiled possessions,
Syr.): that servest thy servants that they may live: that fillest creation with
thine own riches: the poor, that wast in need and didst hunger forty days: that
satisfiest thirsty souls with thine own good things; be thou with Iuzanes the
son of Misdaeus and with Tertia and Mnesara, and gather them into thy fold and
mingle them with thy number; Be unto them a guide in the land of error: be unto
them a physician in the land of sickness: be unto them a rest in the land of the
weary: sanctify them in a polluted land: be their physician both of bodies and
souls: make them holy temples of thee, and let thine holy spirit dwell in them.
157 Having thus prayed over them, the apostle
said unto Mygdonia: Unclothe thy sisters. And she took off their clothes and
girded them with girdles and brought them: but Iuzanes had first gone before,
and they came after him; and the apostle took oil in a cup of silver and spake
thus over it: Fruit more beautifull than all other fruits, unto which none other
whatsoever may be compared: altogether merciful: fervent with the force of the
word: power of the tree which men putting upon them overcome their adversaries:
crowner of the conquerors: help (symbol) and joy of the sick: that didst
announce unto men their salvation that showest light to them that are in
darkness; whose leaf is bitter, but in thy most sweet fruit thou art fair, that
art rough to the sight but soft to the taste; seeming to be weak, but in the
greatness of thy strength able to bear the power that beholdeth all things.
Having thus said [a corrupt word follows]: Jesu: let his victorious might come
and be established in this oil, like as it was established in the tree (wood)
that was its kin, even his might at that time, whereof they that crucified thee
could not endure the word: let the gift also come whereby breathing upon his
(thine) enemies thou didst cause them to go backward and fall headlong and let
it rest on this oil, whereupon we invoke thine holy name. And having thus said,
he poured it first upon the head ol Iuzanes and then upon the women's heads,
saying: In thy name, O Jesu Christ, let it be unto these souls for remission of
sins and for turning back of the adversary and for salvation of their souls. And
he commanded Mygdonia to anoint them but he himself anointed Iuzanes. And having
anointed them he led them down into the water in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Ghost.
158 And when they were come up, he took bread and
a cup, and blessed it and said: Thine holy body w}lich was crucified for us do
we eat, and thy blood that was shed for us unto salvation do we drink; let
therefore thy body be unto us salvation and thy blood for remission of sins. And
for the gall which thou didst drink for our sakes let the gall of the devil be
removed from us: and for the vinegar which thou hast drunk for us, let our
weakness be made strong: and for the spitting which thou didst receive for us,
let us receive the dew of thy goodness: and by (or for) the reed wherewith they
smote thee for us, let us receive the perfect house: and whereas thou receivedst
a crown of thorns for our sake, let us that have loved thee put on a crown that
fadeth not away; and for the linen cloth wherein thou wast Wrapped, let us also
be girt about with thy power that is not vanquished and for the new tomb and the
burial let us receive renewing of soul and body: and for that thou didst rise up
and revive, let us revive and live and stand before thee in righteous judgement.
And he brake and gave the eucharist unto Iuzanes and Tertia and Mnesara and the
wife and daughter of Siphor and said: Let this eucharist be unto you for
salvation and joy and health of your souls. And they said: Amen. And a voice was
heard, saying: Amen: fear ye not, but only believe.
[THE MARTYRDOM]
Here we revert to the text of P and its
companions.
159 And after these things Judas departed to be
imprisoned.
And Tertia with Mygdonia and Narcia also went to
be imprisoned. And the apostle Thomas said unto them -the multitude of them that
had believed being present: Daughters and sisters and fellow-servants which have
believed in my Lord and God, ministers of my Jesus, hearken to me this day: for
I do deliver my word unto you, and I shall no more speak with you in this flesh
nor in this world; for I go up unto my Lord and God Jesus Christ, unto him that
sold me, unto that Lord that humbled himself even unto me the little, and
brought me up unto eternal greatness, that vouchsafed to me to become his
servant in truth and steadfastness: unto him do I depart, knowing that the time
is fulfilled, and the day appointed hath drawn near for me to go and receive my
recompense from my Lord and God: for my recompenser is righteous, who knoweth
me, how I ought to receive my reward; for he is not grudging nor envious, but is
rich in his gifts, he is not a lover of craft (OT sparing) in that he giveth,
for he hath confidence in his possessions which cannot fail.
160 I am not Jesus, but I am his servant: I am
not Christ, but I am his minister; I am not the Son of God, but I pray to become
worthy of God. Continue ye in the faith of Christ: continue in the hope of the
Son of God: faint not at affliction, neither be divided in mind if ye see me
mocked or that I am shut up in prison
; for I do accomplish his will. For if I had willed not to die, I know in Christ
that I am able thereto: but this which is called death, is not death, but a
setting free from the body; wherefore I receive gladly this setting free from
the body, that I may depart and see him that is beautiful and full of mercy, him
that is to be loved: for I have endured much toil in his service, and have
laboured for his grace that is come upon me, which departeth not from me. Let
not Satan, then, enter you by stealth and catch away your thoughts: let there be
in you no place for him: for he is mighty whom ye have received. Look for the
coming of Christ, for he shall come and receive you, and this is he whom ye
shall see when he cometh.
161 When the apostle had ended these sayings,
they went into the house, and the apostle Thomas said: Saviour that didst suffer
many things for us, let these doors be as they were and let seals be set on
them. And he left them and went to be imprisoned: and they wept and were in
heaviness, for they knew that Misdaeus would slay him (not knowing that, M.
would release him, P.).
162 And the apostle found the keepers wrangling
and saying: Wherein have we sinned against this wizard? for by his art magic he
hath opened the doors and would have had all the prisoners escape: but let us go
and report it unto the king, and tell him concerning his wife and his son. And
as they disputed thus, Thomas held his peace. They rose up early, therefore, and
went unto the king and said unto him: Our lord and king, do thou take away that
sorcerer and cause him to be shut up elsewhere, for we are not able to keep him;
for except thy good fortune had kept the prison, all the condemned persons would
have escaped for now this second time have we found the doors open: and also thy
wife, O king, and thy son and the rest depart not from him. And the king,
hearing that, went, and found the seals that were set on the doors whole; and he
took note of the doors also, and said to the keepers: Wherefore lie ye? for the
seals are whole. How said ye that Tertia and Mygdonia come unto him into the
prison? And the keepers said: We have told thee the truth.
163 And Misdaeus went to the prison and took his
seat, and sent for the apostle Thomas and stripped him (and girded him with a
girdle) and set him before him and saith unto him: Art thou bond or free? Thomas
said: I am the bondsman of one only, over whom thou hast no authority. And
Misdaeus saith to him: How didst thou run away and come into this country? And
Thomas said: I was sold hither by my master, that I might save many, and by thy
hands depart out of this world. And Misdaeus said: Who is thy lord? and what is
his name? and of what country is he? And Thomas said: My Lord is thy master and
he is Lord of heaven and earth. And Misdaeus saith: What is his name? Thomas
saith: Thou canst not hear his true name at this time: but the name that was
given unto him is Jesus Christ. And Misdaeus saith unto him: I have not made
haste to destroy thee, but have had long patience with thee: but thou hast added
unto thine evil deeds, and thy sorceries are dispersed abroad and heard of
throughout all the country: but this I do that thy sorceries may depart with
thee, and our land be cleansed from them. Thomas saith unto him; These sorceries
depart
with me when I set forth hence, and know thou this that I
shall never forsake them that are here.
164 When the apostle had said these things,
Misdaeus considered how he should put him to death; for he was afraid because of
the much people that were subject unto him, for many also of the nobles and of
them that were in authority believed on him. He took him therefore and went
forth out of the city; and armed soldiers also went with him. And the people
supposed that the king desired to learn somewhat of him, and they stood still
and gave heed. And when they had walked one mile, he delivered him unto four
soldiers and an offlcer, and commanded them to take him into the mountain and
there pierce him with spears and put an end to him, and return again to the
city. And saying thus unto the soldiers, he himself also returned unto the city.
165 But the men ran after Thomas, desiring to
deliver him from death. And two soldiers went at the right hand of the apostle
and two on his left, holding spears, and the officer held his hand and supported
him. And the apostle Thomas said: O the hidden mysteries which even until our
departure are accomplished in us! O riches of his glory, who will not suffer us
to be swallowed up in this passion of the body! Four are they that cast me down,
for of four am I made; and one is he that draweth me, for of one I am, and unto
him I go. And this I now understand, that my Lord and God Jesus Christ being of
one was pierced by one, but I, which am of four, am pierced by four.
166 And being come up into the mountain unto the
place where he was to be slain, he said unto them that held him, and to the
rest: Brethren, hearken unto me now at the last; for I am come to my departure
out of the body. Let not then the eyes of your heart be blinded, nor your ears
be made deaf. Believe on the God whom I preach, and be not guides unto
yourselves in the hardness of your heart, but walk in all your liberty, and in
the glory that is toward men, and the life that is toward God.
167 And he said unto Iuzanes: Thou son (to the
son, P) of the (earthly) king Misdaeus and minister (to the minister) of our
Lord Jesus Christ: give unto the servants of Misdaeus their price that they may
suffer me to go and pray. And Iuzanes persuaded the soldiers to let him pray.
And the blessed Thomas went to pray, and kneeled down, and rose up and stretched
forth his hands unto heaven, and spake thus:
[Here P and the rest give -rightly- the prayer of
cc. 144-8. U and its companions give the foilowing: He turned to his prayer; and
it was this: My Lord and my God, and hope and redeemer and leader and guide in
all countries, be thou with all them that serve thee, and guide me this day as I
come unto thee. Let not any take my soul which I have committed unto thee: let
not the publicans see me, and let not the exactors accuse me falsely (play the
sycophant with me). Let not the serpent see me, and let not the children of the
dragon hiss at me. Behold, Lord, I have accomplished thy work and perfected thy
commandment. I have become a bondman; therefore to-day do I receive freedom. Do
thou therefore give me this and perfect me: and this I sav, not for that I
doubt, but that they may hear for whom it is needful to hear.]
168 And when he had thus prayed he said unto the
soldiers: Come hither and accomplish the commandments of him that sent you. And
the four came and pierced him with their spears, and he fell down and died.
And all the brethren wept; and they brought
beautiful robes and much and fair linen, and buried him in a royal sepulchre
wherein the former (first) kings were laid.
169 But Siphor and Iuzanes would not go down to
the city, but continued sitting by him all the day. And the apostle Thomas
appeared unto them and said: Why sit ye here and keep watch over me? I am not
here, but I have gone up and received all that I was promised. But rise up and
go down hence; for after a little time ye also shall be gathered unto me.
But Misdaeus and Charisius took away Mygdonia and
Tertia and afflicted them sorely: howbeit they consented not unto their will.
And the apostle appeared unto them and said: Be not deceived: Jesus the holy,
the living one, shall quickly send help unto you. And Misdaeus and Charisius,
when they perceived that Mygdonia and Tertia obeyed them not, suffered them to
live according to their own desire.
And the brethren gathered together and rejoiced
in the grace of the Holy Ghost: now the apostle Thomas when he departed out of
the world made Siphor a presbyter and Iuzanes a deacon, when he went up into the
mountain to die. And the Lord wrought with them, and many were added unto the
faith.
170 Now it came to pass after a long time that
one of the children of Misdaeus the king was smitten by a devil, and no man
could cure him, for the devil was exceeding fierce. And Misdaeus the king took
thought and sad: I will go and open the sepulchre, and take a bone of the
apostle of God and hang it upon my son and he shall be healed. But while
Misdaeus thought upon this, the apostle Thomas appeared to him and said unto
him: Thou believedst not on a living man, and wilt thou believe on the dead? yet
fear not, for my Lord Jesus Christ hath compassion on thee and pitieth thee of
his goodness.
And he went and opened the scpulchre, but found
not the apostle there, for one of the brethren had stolen him away and taken him
unto Mesopotamia; but from that place where the bones of the apostle had lain
Misdaeus took dust and put it about his son's neck, saying: I believe on thee,
Jesu Christ, now that he hath left me which troubleth men and opposeth them lest
they should see thee. And when he had hung it upon his son, the Iad became
whole.
Misdaeus the king therefore was also gathered
among the brethren, and bowed his head under the hands of Siphor the priest; and
Siphor said unto the bretbren: Pray ye for Misdaeus the king, that he may obtain
mercy of Jesus Christ, and that he may no more remember evil against him. They
all therefore, with one accord rejoicing, rmade prayer for him; and the Lord
that loveth men, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, granted Misdaeus also to
have hope in him; and he was gathered with the multitude of them that had
believed in Christ, glorifying the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, whose
is power and adoration, now and for ever and world without end. Amen.
[U (and Syr.) ends: The acts of Judas Thomas the
apostle are completed, which he did in India, fulfilling the commandment of him
that sent him. Unto whom be glory, world without end. Amen.]