Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/229

 Andrew. What else could I have said to thee than this? I need great compassion and thy help, to show myself worthy of the seed received from thee. But it will only grow unceasingly and visibly spring, if thou willst, and by praying for it and my whole self."

13. And Andrew answered him, "It is this, child, that I myself saw in thee. And I praise my Lord that my spiritual efforts for thee have not fallen upon an empty soil; that I know, however, what he preached. But that thou may know it, to-morrow Aegeates will have me crucified. For Maximilla, the Lord's maid, will excite the evil enemy that dwells in him and whom he serves, because she denies to him what is hateful to her. And he will imagine to comfort himself by killing me."

14. And Maximilla was not present when the apostle said this. Having heard the words of his reply, and having in manner collected herself and decided as the words demanded, she gave up every worldly enjoyment of life, and fully decided she went straightway to the pretorium. Ageates made the same request, which she was to consider, whether she would not share with him in his couch. And as she refused, he plotted to kill Andrew, and reflected which capital punishment he was to inflict. And having made up his mind to the death upon the cross, he went away and had a banquet with his equals. But Maximilla, the Lord going before her in the form of Andrew, went with Iphidamia to the prison. And when a greater number of brethren