123 But at the dawn Charisius went unto Mygdonia [AND Syr. nurse, her], 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 [CANNOT chastely live they except well] 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
ron
(Ron)
#1