Acts of Paul and Thecla

Historical source scan page 159

132 THE HISTORY OF THECLA. heard this, they were astonished, and cried out in com- plaint before the tribunal and said: ‘“ Evil is the doom of Thecla.” And Thecla came and stood before the hége- mén, and made him swear that she should be kept in purity until they threw her to the beasts. And the hégemén, when he heard this thing, said to Thecla: (ܩܢܐ)‎ “Go whither thou pleasest, and be in safe keep- ing.”* And there was there’ a rich queen, whose name was Tryphena, whose daughter was dead; and she came and took Thecla, and was keeping her, and it was a consolation to her that she saw Thecla.° And when the beasts were brought into the theatre, (men) came for Thecla, to take her away from the house of Tryphena; and they led“ her to the theatre. And they brought (her, and) stripped‘ her, and put a cloth round her loins, and made her stand naked, and brought in against her a huge lioness. And queen Tryphena was standing beside the door of the theatre, and was weeping for her.’ And the lioness came (and) drew near to her, and was® licking her, whilst Thecla was standing (there). And the whole people (215) were" astonished at her and at the power' which God had given her. And they wrote on tablets and showed (them) unto all the people who were sitting (there) ; “Thecla they have called a violator of the temples, ® D. Go, be in keeping where thou pleasest. > D. omits there. ¢ D. omits this clause. ° D. and lead. ¢ C. brought Thecla and stripped. f D. omits this clause. 5D. came, and when tt had drawn near to her, it was etc. h D. adds much. 1 D. astonished at the power.