Acts of Paul and Thecla

Historical source scan page 162

THE HISTORY OF THECLA. 135 hér hold of Thecla, but was taking (mao) her by the hand, and going (with her), and saying to her: “ My. own daughter I accompanied and conveyed to the tomb; — and thee, Thecla, lo, I am accompanying and leading, that the beasts may devour thee.” ‘And Thecla wept bitterly and groaned before God,* and said: “My Lord and my God, I believe in Thee, for I took refuge with Thee and Thou didst deliver me from the fire; and now? grant Thou a recompense to Tryphena, because her soul has had compassion* upon Thy handmaiden and she has kept me in purity.” “And at that moment there was a preat confusion, and the sounds of the cracking of many whips, which they were cracking at the beasts, and the sound of the outcry of men and women, who were saying, “Bring out the violator of the temple of the gods.” And some of them were saying: ‘This city will be destroyed for the wickedness which it has done; the hégemén has ruined us all; for bitter ܩܢܘ)‎ ( is the sight which“ we behold here, and evil is the doom of Thecla.”’* 7 And the young men came and took’ Thecla away from the hands of queen Tryphena, and led her into the theatre to throw her to the beasts. And they brought (her), and made her stand in the midst of the theatre, and stripped (her), and took away her clothes,‘ and put a cloth round her loins; and she was standing naked, and 8 D. before the Lord. b C. D. omit and now. ° See above, p. 133, note j. 4 C. ts that which. ¢ C. D. omits of Thecla. ' D. to take. £ C, adds from her.