Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/46

 and bears were let loose upon her. And a fierce lioness having run up to her feet, lay down. But the multitude of the women cried aloud. And a bear ran upon her; but the lioness went to meet it and tore the bear to pieces. And again a lion that had been trained against men, which belonged to Alexander, ran upon her. And the lioness, encountering the lion, was killed along with him. And the women cried the more, since also the lioness, her protector, was dead.

34. Then they send in many beasts, she standing and stretching forth her hands, and praying. And when she had finished her prayer, she turned around and saw a large ditch full of water, and said, "Now it is time to wash myself." And she threw herself in, saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ I baptize myself on my last day." When the women saw it, and the multitude, they wept and said, "Do not throw thyself into the water!" so that also the governor shed tears, because the seals were to devour such beauty. She then threw herself into the water in the name of Jesus Christ; but the seals having seen the glare of lightning, floated about dead. And there was round her a cloud of fire, so that the beasts could neither touch her, nor could she be seen naked.

35. But the women lamented, when other more fierce animals were let loose, and some threw green herbs, others nard, others cassia, others amomum,