Introduction (from M. R. James)
This is the only one of the five primary romances which we possess in its
entirety. It is of great length and considerable interest. The Stichometry
(see p. 24) gives it only 1,600 lines: this is far too little: it may probably
apply only to a portion of the Acts, single episodes of which, in addition
to the Martyrdom, may have been current separately. We do, in fact, find some
separate miracles in some of the oriental versions.
There is a consensus of opinion among Syriac scholars that our Greek text
of these Acts is a version from Syriac. The Syriac original was edited and
translated by Wright in his Apocryphal Acts, and older fragments have since
been published by Mrs. Lewis (Horae Semiticae IV, 1904. Mythological Acts
of the Apostles).
Certain hymns occur in the Syriac which were undoubtedly composed in that
language: most notable is the Hymn of the Soul (edited separately by A. A.
Bevan, and others) which is not relevant to the context. It has been ascribed
to Bardaisan the famous Syrian heretic. Only one Greek MS. of the Acts (the
Vallicellian, at Rome, Bonnet's MS. U, of the eleventh century) contains it;
it is paraphrased by Nicetas of Thessalonica in his Greek rechauffe of the
Acts.
There is, in fact, no room to doubt that the whole text of the Acts, as preserved
complete in MS. U and partially in other manuscripts, is a translation from
the Syriac. But in the Martyrdom four manuscripts (including a very important
Paris copy-Gr. 1510, of eleventh century, and another of ninth century) present
a quite different, and superior. text, indubitably superior in one striking
point: that whereas Syr. places the great prayer of Thomas in the twelfth
Act, some little time before the Martyrdom (ch. 144 sqq.), the four manuscripts
place it immediately before, after ch. 167, and this is certainly the proper
place for it.
It is, I believe, still arguable (though denied by the Syriacists) that here
is a relic of the original Greek text: in other words, the Acts were composed
in Greek, and early rendered into Syriac. Becoming scarce or being wholly
lost in Greek they were retranslated out of Syriac into Greek. But meanwhile
the original Greek of the Martyrdom had survived separately, and we have it
here. This was M. Bonnet's view, and it is one which I should like to adopt.
At the very least, we have a better text of the Martyrdom preserved in these
four manuscripts than in U and its congeners.
As to other versions. The Latin Passions-one probably by Gregory of Tours-
have been much adulterated. We have also Ethiopic versions of some episodes,
and there is also an Armenian one of which little use has been made. However,
versions are of little account in this case, where we have such comparatively
good authorities as the Greek and Syriac for the whole book.
My version is made from the Greek text, (Bonnet, 1903) with an eye on the
Syriac as rendered by Wright and by Mrs. Lewis and Bevan.
Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas
The First Act: When he went into India with Abbanes the merchant.
At that season all we the apostles were at Jerusalem, Simon which is called
Peter and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother,
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, James the son of
Alphaeus and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas the brother of James: and we divided
the regions of the world, that every one of us should go unto the region that
fell to him and unto the nation whereunto the Lord sent him.
According to the lot, therefore, India fell unto Judas Thomas, which is also
the twin: but he would not go, saying that by reason of the weakness of the
flesh he could not travel, and 'I am an Hebrew man; how can I go amongst the
Indians and preach the truth?' And as he thus reasoned and spake, the Saviour
appeared unto him by night and saith to him: Fear not, Thomas, go thou unto
India and preach the word there, for my grace is with thee. But he would not
obey, saying: Whither thou wouldest send me, send me, but elsewhere, for unto
the Indians I will not go.
2 And while he thus spake and thought, it chanced that there was there a
certain merchant come from India whose name was Abbanes, sent from the King
Gundaphorus [Gundaphorus is a historical personage who reigned over a part
of India in the first century after Christ. His coins bear his name in Greek,
as Hyndopheres], and having commandment from him to buy a carpenter and bring
him unto him.
Now the Lord seeing him walking in the market-place at noon said unto him:
Wouldest thou buy a carpenter? And he said to him: Yea. And the Lord said
to him: I have a slave that is a carpenter and I desire to sell him. And so
saying he showed him Thomas afar off, and agreed with him for three litrae
of silver unstamped, and wrote a deed of sale, saying: I, Jesus, the son of
Joseph the carpenter, acknowledge that I have sold my slave, Judas by name,
unto thee Abbanes, a merchant of Gundaphorus, king of the Indians. And when
the deed was finished, the Saviour took Judas Thomas and led him away to Abbanes
the merchant, and when Abbanes saw him he said unto him: Is this thy master?
And the apostle said: Yea, he is my Lord. And he said: I have bought thee
of him. And thy apostle held his peace.
3 And on the day following the apostle arose early, and having prayed and
besought the Lord he said: I will go whither thou wilt, Lord Jesus: thy will
be done. And he departed unto Abbanes the merchant, taking with him nothing
at all save only his price. For the Lord had given it unto him, saying: Let
thy price also be with thee, together with my grace, wheresoever thou goest.
And the apostle found Abbanes carrying his baggage on board the ship; so
he also began to carry it aboard with him. And when they were embarked in
the ship and were set down Abbanes questioned the apostle, saying: What craftsmanship
knowest thou? And he said: In wood I can make ploughs and yokes and augers
(ox-goads, Syr.), and boats and oars for boats and masts and pulleys; and
in stone, pillars and temples and court-houses for kings. And Abbanes the
merchant said to him: Yea, it is of such a workman that we have need. They
began then to sail homeward; and they had a favourable wind, and sailed prosperously
till they reached Andrapolis, a royal city.
4 And they left the ship and entered into the city, and lo, there were noises
of flutes and water-organs, and trumpets sounded about them; and the apostle
inquired, saying: What is this festival that is in this city? And they that
were there said to him: Thee also have the gods brought to make merry in this
city. For the king hath an only daughter, and now he giveth her in marriage
unto an husband: this rejoicing, therefore, and assembly of the wedding to-day
is the festival which thou hast seen. And the king hath sent heralds to proclaim
everywhere that all should come to the marriage, rich and poor, bond and free,
strangers and citizens: and if any refuse and come not to the marriage he
shall answer for it unto the king. And Abbanes hearing that, said to the apostle:
Let us also go, lest we offend the king, especially seeing we are strangers.
And he said: Let us go.
And after they had put up in the inn and rested a little space they went
to the marriage; and the apostle seeing them all set down (reclining), laid
himself, he also, in the midst, and all looked upon him, as upon a stranger
and one come from a foreign land: but Abbanes the merchant, being his master,
laid himself in another place.
5 And as they dined and drank, the apostle tasted nothing; so they that were
about him said unto him: Wherefore art thou come here, neither eating nor
drinking? but he answered them, saying: I am come here for somewhat greater
than the food or the drink, and that I may fulfil the king's will. For the
heralds proclaim the king's message, and whoso hearkeneth not to the heralds
shall be subject to the king's judgement.
So when they had dined and drunken, and garlands and unguents were brought
to them, every man took of the unguent, and one anointed his face and another
his beard and another other parts of his body; but the apostle anointed the
top of his head and smeared a little upon his nostrils, and dropped it into
his ears and touched his teeth with it, and carefully anointed the parts about
his heart: and the wreath that was brought to him, woven of myrtle and other
flowers, he took, and set it on his head, and took a branch of calamus and
held it in his hand.
Now the flute-girl, holding her flute in her hand, went about to them all
and played, but when she came to the place where the apostle was, she stood
over him and played at his head for a long space: now this flute-girl was
by race an Hebrew.
6 And as the apostle continued looking on the ground, one of the cup-bearers
stretched forth his hand and gave him a buffet; and the apostle lifted up
his eyes and looked upon him that smote him and said: My God will forgive
thee in the life to come this iniquity, but in this world thou shalt show
forth his wonders and even now shall I behold this hand that hath smitten
me dragged by dogs. And having so said, he began to sing and to say this song:
The damsel is the daughter of light, in whom consisteth and dwelleth the
proud brightness of kings, and the sight of her is delightful, she shineth
with beauty and cheer. Her garments are like the flowers of spring, and from
them a waft of fragrance is borne; and in the crown of her head the king is
established which with his immortal food (ambrosia) nourisheth them that are
founded upon him; and in her head is set truth, and with her feet she showeth
forth joy. And her mouth is opened, and it becometh her well: thirty and two
are they that sing praises to her. Her tongue is like the curtain of the door,
which waveth to and fro for them that enter in: her neck is set in the fashion
of steps which the first maker hath wrought, and her two hands signify and
show, proclaiming the dance of the happy ages, and her fingers point out the
gates of the city. Her chamber is bright with light and breatheth forth the
odour of balsam and all spices, and giveth out a sweet smell of myrrh and
Indian leaf, and within are myrtles strown on the floor, and of
all manner of odorous flowers, and the door-posts(?) are adorned with freedst.
7 And surrounding her her groomsmen keep her, the number of whom is seven,
whom she herself hath chosen. And her bridesmaids are seven, and they dance
before her. And twelve in number are they that serve before her and are subject
unto her, which have their aim and their look toward the bridegroom, that
by the sight of him they may be enlightened; and for ever shall they be with
her in that eternal joy, and shall be at that marriage whereto the princes
are gathered together and shall attend at that banquet whereof the eternal
ones are accounted worthy, and shall put on royal raiment and be clad in bright
robes; and in joy and exultation shall they both be and shall glorify the
Father of all, whose proud light they have received, and are enlightened by
the sight of their lord; whose immortal food they have received, that hath
no failing (excrementum, Syr.), and have drunk of the wine that giveth then
neither thirst nor desire. And they have glorified and praised with the living
spirit, the Father of truth and the mother of wisdom.
8 And when he had sung and ended this song, all that were there present gazed
upon him; and he kept silence, and they saw that his likeness was changed,
but that which was spoken by him they understood not, forasmuch as he was
an Hebrew and that which he spake was said in the Hebrew tongue. But the flute-girl
alone heard all of it, for she was by race an Hebrew and she went away from
him and played to the rest, but for the most part she gazed and looked upon
him, for she loved him well, as a man of her own nation; moreover he was comely
to look upon beyond all that were there. And when the flute-girl had played
to them all and ended, she sat down over against him, gazing and looking earnestly
upon him. But he looked upon no man at all, neither took heed of any but only
kept his eyes looking toward the ground, waiting the time when he might depart
thence.
But the cup-bearer that had buffeted him went down to the well to draw water;
and there chanced to be a lion there, and it slew him and left him Lying in
that place, having torn his limbs in pieces, and forthwith dogs seized his
members, and among them one black dog holding his right hand in his mouth
bare it into the place of the banquet.
9 And all when they saw it were amazed and inquired which of them it was
that was missing. And when it became manifest that it was the hand of the
cup-bearer which had smitten the apostle, the flute-girl brake her flute and
cast it away and went and sat down at the apostle's feet, saying: This is
either a god or an apostle of God, for I heard him say in the Hebrew tongue:
' I shall now see the hand that hath smitten me dragged by dogs', which thing
ye also have now beheld; for as he said, so hath it come about. And some believed
her, and some not.
But when the king heard of it, he came and said to the apostle: Rise up and
come with me, and pray for my daughter: for she is mine only-begotten, and
to-day I give her in marriage. But the apostle was not willing to go with
him, for the Lord was not yet revealed unto him in that place. But the king
led him away against his will unto the bride-chamber that he might pray for
them.
10 And the apostle stood, and began to pray and to speak thus: My Lord and
MY God, that travellest with thy servants, that guidest and correctest them
that believe in thee, the refuge and rest of the oppressed, the hope of the
poor and ransomer of captives, the physician of the souls that lie sick and
saviour of all creation, that givest life unto the world and strengthenest
souls; thou knowest things to come, and by our means accomplishest them: thou
Lord art he that revealeth hidden mysteries and maketh manifest words that
are secret: thou Lord art the planter of the good tree, and of thine hands
are all good works engendered: thou Lord art he that art in all things and
passest through all, and art set in all thy works and manifested in the working
of them all. Jesus Christ, Son of compassion and perfect saviour, Christ,
Son of the living God, the undaunted power that hast overthrown the enemy,
and the voice that was heard of the rulers, and made all their powers to quake,
the ambassador that wast sent from the height and camest down even unto hell,
who didst open the doors and bring up thence them that for many ages were
shut up in the treasury of darkness, and showedst them the way that leadeth
up unto the height: l beseech thee, Lord Jesu, and offer unto thee supplication
for these young persons, that thou wouldest do for them the things that shall
help them and be expedient and profitable for them. And he laid his hands
on them and said: The Lord shall be with you, and left them in that place
and departed.
11 And the king desired the groomsmen to depart out of the bride-chamber;
and when all were gone out and the doors were shut, the bridegrroom lifted
up the curtain of the bride-chamber to fetch the bride unto him. And he saw
the Lord Jesus bearing the likeness of Judas Thomas and speaking with the
bride; even of him that but now had blessed them and gone out from them, the
apostle; and he saith unto him: Wentest thou not out in the sight of all?
how then art thou found here? But the Lord said to him: I am not Judas which
is also called Thomas but I am his brother. And the Lord sat down upon the
bed and bade them also sit upon chairs, and began to say unto them:
12 Remember, my children, what my brother spake unto you and what he delivered
before you: and know this, that if ye abstain from this foul intercourse,
ye become holy temples, pure, being quit of impulses and pains, seen and unseen,
and ye will acquire no cares of life or of children, whose end is destruction:
and if indeed ye get many children, for their sakes ye become grasping and
covetous, stripping orphans and overreaching widows, and by so doing subject
yourselves to grievous punishments. For the more part of children become useless
oppressed of devils, some openly and some invisibly, for they become either
lunatic or half withered or blind or deaf or dumb or paralytic or foolish;
and if they be sound, again they will be vain, doing useless or abominable
acts, for they will be caught either in adultery or murder or theft or fornication,
and by all these will ye be afflicted.
But if ye be persuaded and keep your souls chaste before God, there will
come unto you living children whom these blemishes touch not, and ye shall
be without care, leading a tranquil life without grief or anxiety, looking
to receive that incorruptible and true marriage, and ye shall be therein groomsmen
entering into that bride-chamber which is full of immortality and light.
13 And when the young people heard these things, they believed the Lord and
gave themselves up unto him, and abstained from foul desire and continued
so, passing the night in that place. And the Lord departed from before them,
saying thus: The grace of the Lord shall be with you.
And when the morning was come the king came to meet them and furnished a
table and brought it in before the bridegroom and the bride. And he found
them sitting over against each other and the face of the bride he found unveiled,
and the bridegroom was right joyful.
And the mother came unto the bride and said: Why sittest thou so, child,
and art not ashamed, but art as if thou hadst lived with thine husband a long
season? And her father said: Because of thy great love toward thine husband
dost thou not even veil thyself?
14 And the bride answered and said: Verily, father, I am in great love, and
I pray my Lord that the love which I have perceived this night may abide with
me, and I will ask for that husband of whom I have learned to-day: and therefore
I will no more veil myself, because the mirror (veil) of shame is removed
from me; and therefore am I no more ashamed or abashed, because the deed of
shame and confusion is departed far from me; and that I am not confounded,
it is because my astonishment hath not continued with me; and that I am in
cheerfulness and joy, it is because the day of my joy hath not been troubled;
and that I have set at nought this husband and this marriage that passeth
away from before mine eyes, it is because I am joined in another marriage;
and that I have had no intercourse with a husband that is temporal, whereof
the end is with lasciviousness and bitterness of soul, it is because I am
yoked unto a true husband.
15 And while the bride was saying yet more than this, the bridegroom answered
and said: I give thee thanks, O Lord, that hast been proclaimed by the stranger,
and found in us; who hast removed me far from corruption and sown life in
me; who hast rid me of this disease that is hard to be healed and cured and
abideth for ever, and hast implanted sober health in me; who hast shown me
thyself and revealed unto me all my state wherein I am; who hast redeemed
me from falling and led me to that which is better, and set me free from temporal
things and made me worthy of those that are immortal and everlasting; that
hast made thyself lowly even down to me and my littleness, that thou mayest
present me unto thy greatness and unite me unto thyself; who hast not withheld
thine own bowels from me that was ready to perish, but hast shown me how to
seek myself and know who I was, and who and in what manner I now am, that
I may again become that which I was: whom I knew not, but thyself didst seek
me out: of whom I was not aware, but thyself hast taken me to thee: whom I
have perceived, and now am not able to be unmindful of him: whose love burneth
within me, and I cannot speak it as is fit, but that which I am able to say
of it is little and scanty, and not fitly proportioned unto his glory: yet
he blameth me not that presume to say unto him even that which I know not:
for it is because of his love that I say even this much.
16 Now when the king heard these things from the bridegroom and the bride,
he rent his clothes and said unto them that stood by him: Go forth quickly
and go about the whole city, and take and bring me that man that is a sorcerer
who by ill fortune came unto this city; for with mine own hands I brought
him into this house, and I told him to pray over this mine ill-starred daughter;
and whoso findeth and bringeth him to me, I will give him whatsoever he asketh
of me. They went, therefore and went about seeking him, and found him not;
for he had set sail. They went also unto the inn where he had lodged and found
there the flute-girl weeping and afflicted because he had not taken her with
him. And when they told her the matter that had befallen with the young people
she was exceeding glad at hearing it, and put away her grief and said: Now
have I also found rest here. And she rose up and went unto them, and was with
them a long time, until they had instructed the king also. And many of the
brethren also gathered there until they heard the report of the apostle, that
he was come unto the cities of India and was teaching there: and they departed
and joined themselves unto him.
The Second Act: Concerning his coming unto the king Gundaphorus.
17 Now when the apostle was come into the cities of India with Abbanes the
merchant, Abbanes went to salute the king Gundaphorus, and reported to him
of the carpenter whom he had brought with him. And the king was glad, and
commanded him to come in to him. So when he was come in the king said unto
him: What craft understandest thou? The apostle said unto him: The craft of
carpentering and of building. The king saith unto him: What craftsmanship,
then, knowest thou in wood, and what in stone? The apostle saith: In wood:
ploughs, yokes, goads, pulleys, and boats and oars and masts; and in stone:
pillars, temples, and court-houses for kings. And the king said: Canst thou
build me a palace? And he answered: Yea, I can both build and furnish it;
for to this end am I come, to build and to do the work of a carpenter.
18 And the king took him and went out of the city gates and began to speak
with him on the way concerning the building of the court-house, and of the
foundations, how they should be laid, until they came to the place wherein
he desired that the building should be; and he said: Here will I that the
building should be. And the apostle said: Yea, for this place is suitable
for the building. But the place was woody and there was much water there.
So the king said: Begin to build. But he said: I cannot begin to build now
at this season. And the king said: When canst thou begin? And he said: I will
begin in the month Dius and finish in Xanthicus. But the king marvelled and
said: Every building is builded in summer, and canst thou in this very winter
build and make ready a palace? And the apostle said: Thus it must be, and
no otherwise is it possible. And the king said: If, then, this seem good to
thee, draw me a plan, how the work shall be, because I shall return hither
after some long time. And the apostle took a reed and drew, measuring the
place; and the doors he set toward the sunrising to look toward the light,
and the windows toward the west to the breezes, and the bakehouse he appointed
to be toward the south and the aqueduct for the service toward the north.
And the king saw it and said to the apostle: Verily thou art a craftsman and
it belitteth thee to be a servant of kings. And he left much money with him
and departed from him.
19 And from time to time he sent money and provision, and victual for him
and the rest of the workmen. But Thomas receiving it all dispensed it, going
about the cities and the villages round about, distributing and giving alms
to the poor and afflicted, and relieving them, saying: The king knoweth how
to obtain recompense fit for kings, but at this time it is needful that the
poor should have refreshment.
After these things the king sent an ambassador unto the apostle, and wrote
thus: Signify unto me what thou hast done or what I shall send thee, or of
what thou hast need. And the apostle sent unto him, saying: The palace (praetorium)
is builded and only the roof remaineth. And the king hearing it sent him again
gold and silver (lit. unstamped), and wrote unto him: Let the palace be roofed,
if it is done. And the apostle said unto the Lord: I thank thee O Lord in
all things, that thou didst die for a little space that I might live for ever
in thee, and that thou hast sold me that by me thou mightest set free many.
And he ceased not to teach and to refresh the afflicted, saying: This hath
the Lord dispensed unto you, and he giveth unto every man his food: for he
is the nourisher of orphans and steward of the widows, and unto all that are
afflicted he is relief and rest.
20 Now when the king came to the city he inquired of his friends concerning
the palace which Judas that is called Thomas was building for him. And they
told him: Neither hath he built a palace nor done aught else of that he promised
to perform, but he goeth about the cities and countries, and whatsoever he
hath he giveth unto the poor, and teacheth of a new God, and healeth the sick,
and driveth out devils, and doeth many other wonderful things; and we think
him to be a sorcerer. Yet his compassions and his cures which are done of
him freely, and moreover the simplicity and kindness of him and his faith,
do declare that he is a righteous man or an apostle of the new God whom he
preacheth; for he fasteth continually and prayeth, and eateth bread only,
with salt, and his drink is water, and he weareth but one garment alike in
fair weather and in winter, and receiveth nought of any man, and that he hath
he giveth unto others. And when the king heard that, he rubbed his face with
his hands, and shook his head for a long space.
21 And he sent for the merchant which had brought him, and for the apostle,
and said unto him: Hast thou built me the palace? And he said: Yea. And the
king said: When, then, shall we go and see it? but he answered him and said:
Thou canst not see it now, but when thou departest this life, then thou shalt
see it. And the king was exceeding wroth, and commanded both the merchant
and Judas which is called Thomas to be put in bonds and cast into prison until
he should inquire and learn unto whom the king's money had been given, and
so destroy both him and the merchant.
And the apostle went unto the prison rejoicing, and said to the merchant:
Fear thou nothing, only believe in the God that is preached by me, and thou
shalt indeed be set free from this world, but from the world to come thou
shalt receive life. And the king took thought with what death he should destroy
them. And when he had determined to flay them alive and burn them with fire,
in the same night Gad the king's brother fell sick, and by reason of his vexation
and the deceit which the king had suffered he was greatly oppressed; and sent
for the king and said unto him: O king my brother, I commit unto thee mine
house and my children; for I am vexed by reason of the provocation that hath
befallen thee, and lo, I die; and if thou visit not with vengeance upon the
head of that sorcerer, thou wilt give my soul no rest in hell. And the king
said to his brother: All this night have I considered how I should put him
to death and this hath seemed good to me, to flay him and burn him with fire,
both him and the merchant which brought him (Syr. Then the brother of the
king said to him: And if there be anything else that is worse than this, do
it to him; and I give thee charge of my house and my children).
22 And as they talked together, the soul of his brother Gad departed. And
the king mourned sore for Gad, for he loved him much, and commanded that he
should be buried in royal and precious apparel (Syr. sepulchre). Now after
this angels took the soul of Gad the king's brother and bore it up into heaven,
showing unto him the places and dwellings that were there, and inquired of
him: In which place wouldest thou dwell? And when they drew near unto the
building of Thomas the apostle which he had built for the king, Gad saw it
and said unto the angels: I beseech you, my lords, suffer me to dwell in one
of the lowest rooms of these. And they said to him: Thou canst not dwell in
this building. And he said: Wherefore ? And they say unto him: This is that
palace which that Christian builded for thy brother. And he said: I beseech
you, my lords, suffer me to go to my brother, that I may buy this palace of
him, for my brother knoweth not of what sort it is, and he will sell it unto
me.
23 Then the angels let the soul of Gad go. And as they were putting his grave
clothes upon him, his soul entered into him and he said to them that stood
about him: Call my brother unto me, that I may ask one petition of him. Straightway
therefore they told the king, saying: Thy brother is revived. And the king
ran forth with a great company and came unto his brother and entered in and
stood by his bed as one amazed, not being able to speak to him. And his brother
said: I know and am persuaded, my brother, that if any man had asked of thee
the half of thy kingdom, thou wouldest have given it him for my sake; therefore
I beg of thee to grant me one favour which I ask of thee, that thou wouldest
sell me that which I ask of thee. And the king answered and said: And what
is it which thou askest me to sell thee? And he said: Convince me by an oath
that thou wilt grant it me. And the king sware unto him: One of my possessions,
whatsoever thou shalt ask, I will give thee. And he saith to him: Sell me
that palace which thou hast in the heavens ? And the king said: Whence should
I have a palace in the heavens? And he said: Even that which that Christian
built for thee which is now in the prison, whom the merchant brought unto
thee, having purchased him of one Jesus: I mean that Hebrew slave whom thou
desiredst to punish as having suffered deceit at his hand: whereat I was grieved
and died, and am now revived.
24 Then the king considering the matter, understood it of those eternal benefits
which should come to him and which concerned him, and said: That palace I
cannot sell thee, but I pray to enter into it and dwell therein and to be
accounted worthy of the inhabiters of it, but if thou indeed desirest to buy
such a palace, lo, the man liveth and shall build thee one better than it.
And forthwith he sent and brought out of prison the apostle and the merchant
that was shut up with him, saying: I entreat thee, as a man that entreateth
the minister of God, that thou wouldest pray for me and beseech him whose
minister thou art to forgive me and overlook that which I have done unto thee
or thought to do, and that I may become a worthy inhabiter of that dwelling
for the which I took no pains, but thou hast builded it for me, labouring
alone, the grace of thy God working with thee, and that I also may become
a servant and serve this God whom thou preachest. And his brother also fell
down before the apostle and said: I entreat and supplicate thee before thy
God that I may become worthy of his ministry and service, and that it may
fall to me to be worthy of the things that were shown unto me by his angels.
25 And the apostle, filled with joy, said: I praise thee, O Lord Jesu, that
thou hast revealed thy truth in these men; for thou only art the God of truth,
and none other, and thou art he that knoweth all things that are unknown to
the most; thou, Lord, art he that in all things showest compassion and sparest
men. For men by reason of the error that is in them have overlooked thee but
thou hast not overlooked them. And now at mv supplication and request do thou
receive the king and his brother and join them unto thy fold, cleansing them
with thy washing and anointing them with thine oil from the error that encompasseth
them: and keep them also from the wolves, bearing them into thy meadows. And
give them drink out of thine immortal fountain which is neither fouled nor
drieth up; for they entreat and supplicate thee and desire to become thy servants
and ministers, and for this they are content even to be persecuted of thine
enemies, and for thy sake to be hated of them and to be mocked and to die,
like as thou for our sake didst suffer all these things, that thou mightest
preserve us, thou that art Lord and verily the good shepherd. And do thou
grant them to have confidence in thee alone, and the succour that cometh of
thee and the hope of their salvation which they look for from thee alone;
and that they may be grounded in thy mysteries and receive the perfect good
of thy graces and gifts, and flourish in thy ministry and come to perfection
in thy Father.
26 Being therefore wholly set upon the apostle, both the king Gundaphorus
and Gad his brother followed him and departed not from him at all, and they
also relieved them that had need giving unto all and refreshing all. And they
besought him that they also might henceforth receive the seal of the word,
saying unto him: Seeing that our souls are at leisure and eager toward God,
give thou us the seal; for we have heard thee say that the God whom thou preachest
knoweth his own sheep by his seal. And the apostle said unto them: I also
rejoice and entreat you to receive this seal, and to partake with me in this
eucharist and blessing of the Lord, and to be made perfect therein. For this
is the Lord and God of all, even Jesus Christ whom I preach, and he is the
father of truth, in whom I have taught you to believe. And he commanded them
to bring oil, that they might receive the seal by the oil. They brought the
oil therefore, and lighted many lamps; for it was night (Syr. whom I preach:
and the king gave orders that the bath should be closed for seven days, and
that no man should bathe in it: and when the seven days were done, on the
eighth day they three entered into the bath by night that Judas might baptize
them. And many lamps were lighted in the bath).
27 And the apostle arose and sealed them. And the Lord was revealed unto
them by a voice, saying: Peace be unto you brethren. And they heard his voice
only, but his likeness they saw not, for they had not yet received the added
sealing of the seal (Syr. had not been baptized). And the apostle took the
oil and poured it upon their heads and anointed and chrismed them, and began
to say (Syr. And Judas went up and stood upon the edge of the cistern and
poured oil upon their heads and said):
Come, thou holy name of the Christ that is above every name.
Come, thou power of the Most High, and the compassion that is perfect.
Come, gift (charism) of the Most High.
Come, compassionate mother.
Come, communion of the male.
Come, she that revealeth the hidden mysteries.
Come, mother of the seven houses, that thy rest may be in the eighth house.
Come, elder of the five members, mind, thought, reflection, consideration,
reason; communicate with these young men.
Come, holy spirit, and cleanse their reins and their heart, and give them
the added seal, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost.
And when they were sealed, there appeared unto them a youth holding a lighted
torch, so that their lamps became dim at the approach of the light thereof.
And he went forth and was no more seen of them. And the apostle said unto
the Lord: Thy light, O Lord, is not to be contained by us, and we are not
able to bear it, for it is too great for our sight.
And when the dawn came and it was morning, he brake bread and made them partakers
of the eucharist of the Christ. And they were glad and rejoiced.
And many others also, believing, were added to them, and came into the refuge
of the Saviour.
28 And the apostle ceased not to preach and to say unto them: Ye men and
women, boys and girls, young men and maidens, strong men and aged, whether
bond or free, abstain from fornication and covetousness and the service of
the belly: for under these three heads all iniquity cometh about. For fornication
blindeth the mind and darkeneth the eyes of the soul, and is an impediment
to the life (conversation) of the body, turning the whole man unto weakness
and casting the whole body into sickness. And greed putteth the soul into
fear and shame; being within the body it seizeth upon the goods of others,
and is under fear lest if it restore other men's goods to their owner it be
put to shame. And the service of the belly casteth the soul into thoughts
and cares and vexations, taking thought lest it come to be in want, and have
need of those things that are far from it. If, then, ye be rid of these ye
become free of care and grief and fear, and that abideth with you which was
said by the Saviour: Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall
take thought for the things of itself. Remember also that word of him of whom
I spake: Look at the ravens and see the fowls of the heaven, that they neither
sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and God dispenseth unto them; how much
more unto you, O ye of little faith? But look ye for his coming and have your
hope in him and believe on his name. For he is the judge of quick and dead,
and he giveth to every one according to their deeds, and at his coming and
his latter appearing no man hath any word of excuse when he is to be judged
by him, as though he had not heard. For his heralds do proclaim in the four
quarters (climates) of the world. Repent ye, therefore, and believe the promise
and receive the yoke of meekness and the light burden, that ye may live and
not die. These things get, these keep. Come forth of the darkness that the
light may receive you! Come unto him that is indeed good, that ye may receive
grace of him and implant his sign in your souls.
29 And when he had thus spoken, some of them that stood by said: It is time
for the creditor to receive the debt. And he said unto them: He that is lord
of the debt desireth always to receive more; but let us give him that which
is due. And he blessed them, and took bread and oil and herbs and salt and
blessed and gave unto them; but he himself continued his fast, for the Lord's
day was coming on (Syr. And he himself ate, because the Sunday was dawning).
And when night fell and he slept, the Lord came and stood at his head, saying:
Thomas, rise early, and having blessed them all, after the prayer and the
ministry go by the eastern road two miles and there will I show thee my glory:
for by thy going shall many take refuge with me, and thou shalt bring to light
the nature and power of the enemy. And he rose up from sleep and said unto
the brethren that were with him: Children, the Lord would accomplish somewhat
by me to-day, but let us pray, and entreat of him that we may have no impediment
toward him, but that as at all times, so now also it may be done according
to his desire and will by us. And having so said, he laid his hands on them
and blessed them, and brake the bread of the eucharist and gave it them, saying:
This Eucharist shall be unto you for compassion and mercy, and not unto judgement
and retribution. And they said Amen.
Note by Professor F. C. Burliitt, D.D.:
In the Acts of Thomas, 27, the apostle, being about to baptize Gundaphorus
the king of India with his brother Gad, invokes the holy name of the Christ,
and among other invocations says (according to the best Greek text):
'Come, O elder of the five members, mind, idea, thoughtfulness, consideration,
reasoning, communicate with these youths.'
What is the essential distinction of these five words for 'mind', and
what is meant by the 'elder' (presbuteros, Greek)? We turn to the Syriac,
as the original language in which our tale was composed though our present
text, which rests here on two manuscripts, has now and then been bowdlerized
in the direction of more conventional phraseology, a process that the Greek
has often escaped. Here in the Syriac we find (Wright, p.193, l.13; E.Tr.,
p.166, last line but one):
'Come, Messenger of reconciliation, and communicate with the minds
of these youths.'
The word for 'Come' is fem., while 'Messenger' (Izgadda) is masc. This
is because the whole prayer is an invocation of the Holy Spirit, which in
old Syriac is invariably treated as feminine. The word for Messenger is
that used in thc Manichaean cosmogony for a heavenly Spirit sent from the
Divine Light: this Spirit appeared as androgynous, so that the use of the
word here with the feminine verb is not inappropriate. It further leads
us to look out for other indications of Manichaean phraseology in the passage.
But first it suggests to us that [presbuteros] in our passage is a corruption
of, or is used for, [presbeutes], 'an ambassador'.
As for the five words for 'mind', they are clearly the equivalents
of [hauna, mad'a, re'yana, mahshebhatha, tar'itha], named by Theodore bar
Khoni as the Five Shekhinas, or Dwellings, or Manifestations, of the Father
of Greatness, the title by which the Manichaeans spoke of the ultimate Source
of Light. There is a good discussion of these five words by M. A. Kugener
in F. Cumont's [Recherches sur le Manicheisme] i, p. 10, note 3. In English
we may say:
hauna means 'sanity', mad'a means 'reason', re'yana means 'mind', mahshabhetha
means 'imagination', tar'itha means 'intention'
The Greek terms, used here and also in Acta Archelai, are in my opinion
merely equivalents for the Syriac terms.
Act the Third: Concerning the servant
30 And the apostle went forth to go where the Lord had bidden him; and when
he was near to the second mile (stone) and had turned a little out of the
way, he saw the body of a comely youth lying, and said: Lord, is it for this
that thou hast brought me forth, to come hither that I might see this (trial)
temptation? thy will therefore be done as thou desirest. And he began to pray
and to say: O Lord, the judge of quick and dead, of the quick that stand by
and the dead that lie here, and master and father of all things; and father
not only of the souls that are in bodies but of them that have gone forth
of them, for of the souls also that are in pollutions (al. bodies) thou art
lord and judge; come thou at this hour wherein I call upon thee and show forth
thy glory upon him that lieth here. And he turned himself unto them that followed
him and said: This thing is not come to pass without cause, but the enemy
hath effected it and brought it about that he may assault (?) us thereby;
and see ye that he hath not made use of another sort, nor wrought through
any other creature save that which is his subject.
31 And when he had so said, a great (Syr. black) serpent (dragon) came out
of a hole, beating with his head and shaking his tail upon the ground, and
with (using) a loud voice said unto the apostle: I will tell before thee the
cause wherefore I slew this man, since thou art come hither for that end,
to reprove my works. And the apostle said: Yea, say on. And the serpent: There
is a certain beautiful woman in this village over against us; and as she passed
by me (or my place) I saw her and was enamoured of her, and I followed her
and kept watch upon her; and I found this youth kissing her, and he had intercourse
with her and did other shameful acts with her: and for me it was easy to declare
them before thee, for I know that thou art the twin brother of the Christ
and always abolishest our nature (Syr. easy for me to say, but to thee I do
not dare to utter them because I know that the ocean-flood of the Messiah
will destroy our nature): but because I would not affright her, I slew him
not at that time, but waited for him till he passed by in the evening and
smote and slew him, and especially because he adventured to do this upon the
Lord's day.
And the apostle inquired of him, saying: Tell me of what seed and of what
race thou art. 32 And he said unto him: I am a reptile of the reptile nature
and noxious son of the noxious father: of him that hurt and smote the four
brethren which stood upright (om. Syr.: the elements or four cardinal points
may be meant) I am son to him that sitteth on a throne over all the earth
that receiveth back his own from them that borrow: I am son to him that girdeth
about the sphere: and I am kin to him that is outside the ocean, whose tail
is set in his own mouth: I am he that entered through the barrier (fence)
into paradise and spake with Eve the things which my father bade me speak
unto her: I am he that kindled and inflamed Cain to kill his own brother,
and on mine account did thorns and thistles grow up in the earth: I am he
that cast down the angels from above and bound them in lusts after women,
that children born of earth might come of them and I might work my will in
them: I am he that hardened Pharaoh's heart that he should slay the children
of Israel and enslave them with the yoke of cruelty: I am he that caused the
multitude to err in the wilderness when they made the calf: I am he that inflamed
Herod and enkindled Caiaphas unto false accusation of a lie before Pilate;
for this was fitting to me: I am he that stirred up Judas and bribed him to
deliver up the Christ: I am he that inhabiteth and holdeth the deep of hell
(Tartarus), but the Son of God hath wronged me, against my will, and taken
(chosen) them that were his own from me: I am kin to him that is to come from
the east, unto whom also power is given to do what he will upon the earth.
33 And when that serpent had spoken these things in the hearing of all the
people, the apostle lifted up his voice on high and said: Cease thou henceforth,
O most shameless one, and be put to confusion and die wholly, for the end
of thy destruction is come, and dare not to tell of what thou hast done by
them that have become subject unto thee. And I charge thee in the name of
that Jesus who until now contendeth with you for the men that are his own,
that thou suck out thy venom which thou hast put into this man, and draw it
forth and take it from him. But the serpent said: Not yet is the end of our
time come as thou hast said. Wherefore compellest thou me to take back that
which I have put into this man, and to die before my time? for mine own father,
when he shall draw forth and suck out that which he hath cast into the creation,
then shall his end come. And the apostle said unto him: Show, then, now the
nature of thy father. And the serpent came near and set his mouth upon the
wound of the young man and sucked forth the gall out of it. And by little
and little the colour of the young man which was as purple, became white,
but the serpent swelled up. And when the serpent had drawn up all the gall
into himself, the young man leapt up and stood, and ran and fell at the apostle's
feet: but the serpent being swelled up, burst and died, and his venom and
gall were shed forth; and in the place where his venom was shed there came
a great gulf, and that serpent was swallowed up therein. And the apostle said
unto the king and his brother: Take workmen and fill up that place, and lay
foundations and build houses upon them, that it may be a dwelling-place for
strangers.
34 But the youth said unto the apostle with many tears: Wherein have I sinned
against thee? for thou art a man that hast two forms, and wheresoever thou
wilt, there thou art found, and art restrained of no man, as I behold. For
I saw that man that stood by thee and said unto thee: I have many wonders
to show forth by thy means and I have great works to accomplish by thee, for
which thou shalt receive a reward; and thou shalt make many to live, and they
shall be in rest in light eternal as children of God. Do thou then, saith
he, speaking unto thee of me, quicken this youth that hath been stricken of
the enemy and be at all times his overseer. Well, therefore, art thou come
hither, and well shalt thou depart again unto him, and yet he never shall
leave thee at any time. But I am become without care or reproach: and he hath
enlightened me from the care of the night and I am at rest from the toil of
the day: and I am set free from him that provoked me to do thus, sinning against
him that taught me to do contrary thereto: and I have lost him that is the
kinsman of the night that compelled me to sin by his own deeds, and have found
him that is of the light, and is my kinsman. I have lost him that darkeneth
and blindeth his own subjects that they may not know what they do and, being
ashamed at their own works, may depart from him, and their works come to an
end; and have found him whose works are light and his deeds truth, which if
a man doeth he repenteth not of them. And I have left him with whom lying
abideth, and before whom darkness goeth as a veil, and behind him followeth
shame, shameless in indolence; and I have found him that showeth me fair things
that I may take hold on them, even the son of the truth that is akin unto
concord, who scattereth away the mist and enlighteneth his own creation, and
healeth the wounds thereof and overthroweth the enemies thereof. But I beseech
thee, O man of God, cause me to behold him again, and to see him that is now
become hidden from me, that I may also hear his voice whereof I am not able
to express the wonder, for it belongeth not to the nature of this bodily organ.
[Before this speech Syr. (Wright) inserts one of equal length, chiefly
about man's free will and fall. But the fifth-century palimpsest edited by
Mrs. Lewis agrees with the Greek.]
35 And the apostle answered him, saying: If thou depart from these things
whereof thou hast received knowledge, as thou hast said, and if thou know
who it is that hath wrought this in thee, and learn and become a hearer of
him whom now in thy fervent love thou seekest; thou shalt both see him and
be with him for ever, and in his rest shalt thou rest, and shalt be in his
joy. But if thou be slackly disposed toward him and turn again unto thy former
deeds, and leave that beauty and that bright countenance which now was showed
thee, and forget the shining of his light which now thou desirest, not only
wilt thou be bereaved of this life but also of that which is to come and thou
wilt depart unto him whom thou saidst thou hadst lost, and will no more behold
him whom thou saidst thou hadst found.
36 And when the apostle had said this, he went into the city holding the
hand of that youth, and saying unto him: These things which thou hast seen,
my child, are but a few of the many which God hath, for he doth not give us
good tidings concerning these things that are seen, but greater things than
these doth he promise us; but so long as we are in the body we are not able
to speak and show forth those which he shall give unto our souls. If we say
that he giveth us light, it is this which is seen, and we have it: and if
we say it of wealth, which is and appeareth in the world, we name it (we speak
of something which is in the world, Syr.), and we need it not, for it hath
been said: Hardly shall a rich man enter into the kingdom of heaven: and if
we speak of apparel of raiment wherewith they that are luxurious in this life
are clad, it is named (we mention something that nobles wear, Syr.), and it
hath been said: They that wear soft raiment are in the houses of kings. And
if of costly banquets, concerning these we have received a commandment to
beware of them, not to be weighed down With reveling and drunkenness and cares
of this life -speaking of things that are- and it hath been said: Take no
thought for your life (soul), what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, neither
for your body, what ye shall put on, for the soul is more than the meat and
the body than the raiment. And of rest, if we speak of this temporal rest,
a judgement is appointed for this also. But we speak of the world which is
above, of God and angels, of watchers and holy ones of the immortal (ambrosial)
food and the drink of the true vine, of raiment that endureth and groweth
not old, of things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have they
entered into the heart of sinful men, the things which God hath prepared for
them that love him. Of these things do we converse and of these do we bring
good tidings. Do thou therefore also believe on him that thou mayest live,
and put thy trust in him, and thou shalt not die. For he is not persuaded
with gifts, that thou shouldest offer them to him, neither is he in need of
sacrifices, that thou shouldest sacrifice unto him. But look thou unto him,
and he will not overlook thee; and turn unto him, and he will not forsake
thee. For his comeliness and his beauty will make thee wholly desirous to
love him: and indeed he permitteth thee not to turn thyself away.
37 And when the apostle had said these things unto that youth, a great multitude
joined themselves unto them. And the apostle looked and saw them raising themselves
on high that they might see him, and they were going up into high places;
and the apostle said unto them: Ye men that are come unto the assembly of
Christ, and would believe on Jesus, take example hereby, and see that if ye
be not lifted up, ye cannot see me who am little, and are not able to spy
me out who am like unto you. If, then, ye cannot see me who am like you unless
ye lift yourselves up a little from the earth, how can ye see him that dwelleth
in the height and now is found in the depth, unless ye first lift yourselves
up out of your former conversation, and your unprofitable deeds, and your
desires that abide not, and the wealth that is left here, and the possession
of earth that groweth old, and the raiment that corrupteth, and the beauty
that waxeth old and vanisheth away, and yet more out of the whole body wherein
all these things are stored up, and which groweth old and becometh dust, returning
unto its own nature? For it is the body which maintaineth all these things.
But rather believe on our Lord Jesus Christ, vvhom we preach, that your hope
may be in him and in him ye may have life world without end, that he may become
your fellow traveller in this land of error, and may be to you an harbour
in this troublous sea. And he shall be to you a fountain springing up in this
thirsty land and a chamber fill of food in this place of them that hunger,
and a rest unto your souls, yea, and a physician for your bodies.
38 Then the multitude of them that were gathered together hearing these things
wept, and said unto the apostle: O man of God, the God whom thou preachest,
we dare not say that we are his, for the works which we have done are alien
unto him and not pleasing to him; but if he will have compassion on us and
pity us and save us, overlooking our former deeds, and will set us free from
the evils which we committed being in error, and not impute them unto us nor
make remembrance of our former sins, we will become his servants and will
accomplish his will unto the end. And the apostle answered them and said:
He reckoneth not against you, neither taketh account of the sins which ye
committed being in error, but overlooketh your transgressions which ye have
done in ignorance.
The Fourth Act: Concerning the colt
39 And while the apostle yet stood in the highway and spake with the multitude,
A she ass's colt came and stood before him (Syr. adds, And Judas said: It
is not without the direction of God that this colt has come hither. But to
thee I say, O colt that by the grace of our Lord there shall be given to thee
speech before these multitudes who are standing here; and do thou say whatsoever
thou wilt, that they may believe in the God of truth whom we preach. And the
mouth of the colt was opened, and it spake by the power of our Lord and said
to him) and opened its mouth and said: Thou twin of Christ, apostle of the
Most High and initiate in the hidden word of Christ who receivest his secret
oracles, fellow worker with the Son of God, who being free hast become a bondman,
and being sold hast brought many into liberty. Thou kinsman of the great race
that hath condemned the enemy and redeemed his own, that hast become an occasion
of life unto man in the land of the Indians; for thou hast come (against thy
will, Syr.) unto men that were in error, and by thy appearing and thy divine
words they are now turning unto the God of truth which sent thee: mount and
sit upon me and repose thyself until thou enter into the city. And the apostle
answered and said: O Jesu Christ (Son) that understandest the perfect mercy!
O tranquillity and quiet that now art spoken of (speakest, Syr.) by (among)
brute beasts! O hidden rest, that art manifested by thy working, Saviour of
us and nourisher, keeping us and resting in alien bodies! O Saviour of our
souls! spring that is sweet and unfailing; fountain secure and clear and never
polluted; defender and helper in the fight of thine own servants, turning
away and scaring the enemy from us, that fightest in many battles for us and
makest us conquerors in all; our true and undefeated champion (athlete); our
holy and victorious captain: glorious and giving unto thine own a joy that
never passeth away, and a relief wherein is none affliction; good shepherd
that givest thyself for thine own sheep, and hast vanquished the wolf and
redeemed thine own lambs and led them into a good pasture: we glorify and
praise thee and thine invisible Father and thine holy spirit [and] the mother
of all creation.
40 And when the apostle had said these things, all the multitude that were
there looked upon him, expecting to hear what he would answer to the colt.
And the apostle stood a long time as it were astonied, and looked up into
heaven and said to the colt: Of whom art thou and to whom belongest thou?
for marvelous are the things that are shown forth by thy mouth, and amazing
and such as are hidden from the many. And the colt answered and said: I am
of that stock that served Balaam, and thy lord also and teacher sat upon one
that appertained unto me by race. And I also have now been sent to give thee
rest by thy sitting upon me: and (that) I may receive (Syr. these may be confirmed
in) faith, and unto me may be added that portion which now I shall receive
by thy service wherewith I serve thee; and when I have ministered unto thee,
it shall be taken from me. And the apostle said unto him: He is able who granted
thee this gift, to cause it to be fulfilled unto the end in thee and in them
that belong unto thee by race: for as to this mystery I am weak and powerless.
And he would not sit upon him. But the colt besought and entreated him that
he might be blessed of him by ministering unto him. Then the apostle mounted
him and sat upon him; and they followed him, some going before and some following
after, and all of them ran, desiring to see the end, and how he would dismiss
the colt.
41 But when he came near to the city gates he dismounted from him, saying:
Depart, and be thou kept safe where thou wert. And straightway the colt fell
to the ground at the apostle's feet and died. And all they that were present
were sorry and said to the apostle: Bring him to life and raise him up. But
he answered and said unto them: I indeed am able to raise him by the name
of Jesus Christ: but this is by all means expedient (or, this is by any
means expedient). For he that gave him speech that he might talk was able
to cause that he should not die; and I raise him not, not as being unable,
but because this is that which is expedient and profitable for him. And he
bade them that were present to dig a trench and bury his body and they did
as they were commanded.
The Fifth Act: Concerning the devil that took up his abode in the
woman
42 And the apostle entered into the city and all the multitude followed him.
And he thought to go unto the parents of the young man whom he had made alive
when he was slain by the serpent: for they earnestly besought him to come
unto them and enter into their house. But a very beautiful woman on a sudden
uttered an exceeding loud cry, saying: O Apostle of the new God that art come
into India, and servant of that holy and only good God; for by thee is he
preached, the Saviour of the souls that come unto him, and by thee are healed
the bodies of them that are tormented by the enemy, and thou art he that is
become an occasion of life unto all that turn unto him: command me to be brought
before thee that I may tell thee what hath befallen me, and peradventure of
thee I may have hope, and these that stand by thee may be more confident in
the God whom thou preachest. For I am not a little tormented by the adversary
now this five years' space [one Greek MS. And the apostle bade her come unto
him, and the woman stood before him and said: I, O servant of him that is
indeed God am a woman: the rest have, As a woman] I was sitting at the first
in quiet, and peace encompassed me on every side and I had no care for anything,
for I took no thought for any other. 43 And it fell out one day that as I
came out from the bath there met me a man troubled and disturbed, and his
voice and speech seemed to me exceeding faint and dim; and he stood before
me and said: I and thou will be in one love and we will have intercourse together
as a man with his wife; And I answered and said to him: I never had to do
with my betrothed, for I refused to marry, and how shall I yield myself to
thee that wouldest have intercourse with me in adulterous wise? And having
so said, I passed on, and I said to my handmaid that was with me: Sawest thou
that youth and his shamelessness, how boldly he spake with me, and had no
shame? but she said to me: I saw an old man speaking to thee. And when I was
in mine house and had dined my soul suggested unto me some suspicion and especially
because he was seen of me in two forms; and having this in my mind I fell
asleep. He came, therefore, in that night and was joined unto me in his foul
intercourse. And when it was day I saw him and fled from him, and on the night
following that he came and abused me; and now as thou seest me I have spent
five years being troubled by him, and he hath not departed from me. But I
know and am persuaded that both devils and spirits and destroyers are subject
unto thee and are filled with trembling at thy prayers: pray thou therefore
for me and drive away from me the devil that ever troubleth me, that I also
may be set free and be gathered unto the nature that is mine from the beginning,
and receive the grace that hath been given unto my kindred.
44 And the apostle said: O evil that cannot be restrained! O shamelessness
of the enemy! O envious one that art never at rest! O hideous one that subduest
the comely! O thou of many forms! As he will he appeareth, but his essence
cannot be changed. O the crafty and faithless one! O the bitter tree whose
fruits are like unto him! O the devil that overcometh them that are alien
to him! O the deceit that useth impudence! O the wickedness that creepeth
like a serpent, and that is of his kindred! (Syr. wrongly adds a clause bidding
the devil show himself.) And when the apostle said this, the malicious one
came and stood before him, no man seeing him save the woman and the apostle,
and with an exceeding loud voice said in the hearing of all: 45 What have
we to do with thee, thou apostle of the Most High! What have we to do with
thee, thou servant of Jesus Christ? What have we to do with thee, thou counsellor
of the holy Son of God? Wherefore wilt thou destroy us, whereas our time is
not yet come? Wherefore wilt thou take away our power? for unto this hour
we had hope and time remaining to us. What have we to do with thee? Thou hast
power over thine own, and we over ours. Wherefore wilt thou act tyrannously
against us, when thou thyself teachest others not to act tyrannously? Wherefore
dost thou crave other men's goods and not suffice thyself with thine own?
Wherefore art thou made like unto the Son of God which hath done us wrong?
for thou resemblest him altogether as if thou wert born of him. For we thought
to have brought him under the yoke like as we have the rest, but he turned
and made us subject unto him: for we knew him not; but he deceived us with
his form of all uncomeliness and his poverty and his neediness: for seeing
him to be such, we thought that he was a man wearing flesh, and knew not that
it is he that giveth life unto men. And he gave us power over our own, and
that we should not in this present time leave them but have our walk in them:
but thou wouldest get more than thy due and that which was given thee, and
afflict us altogether.
46 And having said this the devil wept, saying: I leave thee, my fairest
consort, whom long since I found and rested in thee; I forsake thee, my sure
sister, my beloved in whom I was well pleased. What I shall do I know not,
or on whom I shall call that he may hear me and help me. I know what I will
do: I will depart unto some place where the report of this man hath not been
heard, and peradventure I shall call thee, my beloved by another name (Syr.
for thee my beloved I shall find a substitute). And he lifted up his voice
and said: Abide in peace for thou hast taken refuge with one greater than
I, but I will depart and seek for one like thee, and if I find her not, I
will return unto thee again: for I know that whilst thou art near unto this
man thou hast a refuge in him, but when he departeth thou wilt be such as
thou wast before he appeared, and him thou wilt forget, and I shall have opportunity
and confidence: but now I fear the name of him that hath saved thee. And having
so said the devil vanished out of sight: only when he departed fire and smoke
were seen there: and all that stood there were astonied.
47 And the apostle seeing it, said unto them: This devil hath shown nought
that is alien or strange to him, but his own nature, wherein also he shall
be consumed, for verily the fire shall destroy him utterly and the smoke of
it shall be scattered abroad. And he began to say:
Jesu, the hidden mystery that hath been revealed unto us, thou art he that
hast shown unto us many mysteries; thou that didst call me apart from all
my fellows and spakest unto me three (one, Syr.) words wherewith I am inflamed,
and am not able to speak them unto others. Jesu, man that wast slain, dead
buried! Jesu, God of God, Saviour that quickenest the dead, and healest the
sick! Jesu, that wert in need like and savest as one that hath
no need, that didst catch the fish for the breakfast and the dinner and madest
all satisfied with a little bread. Jesu, that didst rest from the weariness
of wayfaring like a man, and walkedst on the waves like a God. 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 basin;
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 perfectly 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 Lying
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 always 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 description
of hell-torments 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 accomplished (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 Lying 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 Lying 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 wife 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! was 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 women 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 glorified 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 always 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 offering 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 you
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, destroy many children (boys),
for whom they will pay the penalty; that content not themselves with 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 which 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 received
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 many 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 leapt 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 Lying 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 gone? 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 prayed, saying: Lord God and Master,
merciful Father, Saviour 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 doors 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 who hath been the occasion
of this. For by his means did the 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 suffer 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. let 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 connection. We have it in Greek in one
manuscript, the Vallicellian, and in a paraphrase by Nicetas of Thessalonica,
found and edited by Bonnet.]
When I was an infant child in the palace of my
Father and resting in the wealth and luxury of my nurturers, out of the
East, our native country, my parents provisioned me and sent me.
And of the wealth of those their treasures they
put together a load both great and light, that I might carry it alone.
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) and stones, chalcedonies from the Indians and pearls
from the Kosani (Kushan).
And they armed me with adamant 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 and the robe
that was yellow in hue, made for my stature.
And they made a covenant with me, and inscribed
it on mine understanding, that I should forget it, and said:
If thou go down into Egypt, and bring back thence
the one pearl which is there girt about by the devouring
serpent thou shalt put on the garment set with gems, and that robe
whereupon it resteth (or which is thereon) and become with thy brother that
is next unto us (Gr. of the well-remembered) an heir (Gr. herald) in our
kingdom.
109. And I came out of the East by a road difficult
and fearful, with two guides and I was untried in travelling by it.
And I passed by the borders of the Mosani (Maishan)
where is the resort of the merchants of the East, and reached the land of
the Babylonians.
But when I entered into Egypt, the guides left
me which had journeyed with me.
And I set forth by the quickest way to the serpent,
and by his hole I abode watching for him to slumber and sleep, that I might
take my pearl from him.
And forasmuch as I was alone I made mine aspect
strange, and appeared as an alien to my people.
And there I saw my kinsman from the East, the
free-born a lad of grace and beauty, a son of princes (or an anointed one).
He came unto me and dwelt with me, and I had him
for a companion, and made him my friend and partaker in my journey (or merchandise).
And I charged him to beware of the Egyptians,
and of partaking of those unclean things (or consorting with those unclean
men).
And I put on their raiment, lest I should seem
strange, as one that had come from without to recover the pearl; and lest
the Egyptians should awake the serpent against me.
But, I know not by what occasion, they learned
that I was not of their country.
And with guile they mingled for me a deceit, and
I tasted of their food.
And I knew no more that I was a king's son, and
I became a servant unto their king.
And I forgot also the pearl for which my fathers
had sent me, and by means of the heaviness of their food I fell into a deep
sleep.
110. But when this befell me, my fathers also
were ware of it, and grieved for me and a proclamation was published in
our kingdom, that all should meet at our doors.
And then the kings of Parthia and they that bare
office and the great ones of the East made a resolve concerning me, that
I should not be left in Egypt, and the princes wrote unto me signifying
thus (and every noble signed his name to it, Syr.):
From the (thy) Father the King of kings, and thy
mother that ruleth the East, and thy brother that is second unto us; unto
our son that is in Egypt, peace.
Rise up and awake out of sleep, and hearken unto
the words of the letter and remember that thou art a son of kings; lo, thou
hast come under the yoke of bondage.
Remember the pearl for the which thou wast sent
into Egypt (Gr. puts this after 46).
Remember thy garment spangled with gold, Thy name is named in the
book of life, and with thy brother whom thou hast received in
our kingdom.
111. and the King [as ambassador]
sealed it because of the evil ones, even the children of the Babylonians
and the tyrannous demons of Labyrinthus (Sarbug, Syr.).
It flew and lighted down by me, and became all
speech.
And I at the voice of it and the feeling of it
started up out of sleep and I took it up and kissed it and
read it.
And it was written concerning that which was recorded
in mine heart.
And I remembered forthwith that I was a son of
kings, and my freedom yearned (sought) after its kind.
I remembered also the pearl for the which I was
sent down into Egypt and I began (or came) with charms against the terrible
serpent, and I overcame him (or put him to sleep) by naming the name of
my Father upon him, And I caught away the pearl and turned back to bear
it unto my fathers.
And I stripped off the filthy garment and left
it in their land, and directed my way forthwith to the light of my fatherland
in the East.
And on the way I found my letter that had awakened
me, 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.
For at times the royal garment of silk before
mine eyes, and with love leading me and drawing me onward, I passed by Labyrinthus
(Sarbug), and I left Babylon upon my left hand and I came unto Meson (Mesene;
Maishan) the great, that lieth on the shore of the sea, from the heights
of Warkan (Hyrcania?) had my parents sent thither by the hand of their treasurers,
unto whom they committed it because of their faithfulness>.
112. 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 of
my Father, but suddenly, [when] I saw the garment made like unto me as it
had been in a mirror.
And I beheld upon it all myself (or saw it wholly
in myself) and I knew and saw myself through it, that we were divided asunder,
being of one; and again were one in one shape.
Yea, the treasurers also which brought me the
garment I beheld, that they were two, yet one shape was upon both, one royal
sign was set upon both of them.
The money and the wealth had they in their hands,
and paid me the due price, and the lovely garment, which was variegated
with bright colours with gold and precious stones and pearls of comely hue
they were fastened above (or in the height).
And the likeness of the King of kings was all
in all of it. Sapphire stones were fitly set in it above (or, like the sapphire
stone also were its manifold hues).
113. And again I saw that throughout it motions
of knowledge were being sent forth, and it was ready to utter speech.
And I heard it speak:
I am of him that is more valiant than all men,
for whose sake I was reared up with the Father himself.
And I also perceived his stature (so Gr.- Syr.
I perceived in myself that my stature grew in accordance with his working).
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).
And it hastened, reaching out from the hand of
unto him that would receive it and me also did yearning
arouse to start forth and meet it and receive it.
And I stretched forth and received it, and adorned
myself with the beauty of the colours thereof (mostly Syr.; Gr. corrupt)
and in my royal robe excelling in beauty I arrayed myself wholly.
And when I had put it on, I was lifted up unto
the place of peace (sahltation) and homage and I bowed my head and worshipped
the brightness of the Father which had sent it unto me. for I had performed
his commandments, and he likewise that which he had promised, and at the
doors of his palace which was from the beginning I mingled among,
and he rejoiced over me and received me with him into his palace, and all
his servants do praise him with sweet voices.
And he promised me that with him I shall be sent
unto the gates of the king, 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 become 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 always, 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 away, 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 deeds 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 ( Let 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 favor, 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, secret
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 bade 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 affairs.
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?
130 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 may 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 Lying 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 suffer 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 poverty 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 (purity), 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 always 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 always 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 of 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 receive 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;
lo, I reign in the kingdom whereon I set my hope, even from 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 disciples: 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 And 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 injury 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
naked 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 my continual fastings perish, and my great zeal toward
thee; let not my seed of wheat be changed for tares out of thy land, Let 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 more 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 them 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, God of the
and my his Syr. in giver I servants, helper life believe preach; whom Christ
Jesus proclaim, children.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 sayeth 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 therefore 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, especially 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 sayedst 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 beautiful 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 of 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 officer, 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 following: 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 say, 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 sepulchre, 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
lad 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 brethren: 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, made 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.]
