Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/109

 been done within a few days. He had dismissed his attendants, as he wished to be alone; but his wife came to him to hear what rumour had disturbed him.

“Would I had listened to thee, Marcella!” said the governor. “I feared these factions Jews more than the gods; and now I dread their vengeance. But I knew not how great was my impiety. I thought Jesus was but an innocent man; but now I can scarcely doubt that he is a demi-god.”

“I believed so,” replied Marcella, “when my dream troubled me concerning this cause. What has happened to convince you, when I, your wife, spoke in vain?”

“The sepulchre is open, and the body is gone, though a guard was on the watch; how the entrance was closed and sealed I have told you already.”

“The guard might have slept.”

“To do so is death, as they know: and so many cannot have slept at once.”

“They may have been treacherous, and permitted the followers of this Jesus to steal the body.”

“For what purpose?”