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 [HIM it brought that] 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