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,
ron
(Ron)
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