that I may not sin against Thee, if I belie myself.'
She said then to the youth, ' Oh thou wickedest of men!
"Why wouldest thou thus falsely accuse us two guiltless ones?
I desire even to die, not guilty, nevertheless,
and I will bear forth with me my integrity,
because in nowise he dieth who is slain unto life [eternal].'
Then wondered the judge at the woman's constancy,
that she would not confess, in such severe tortures,
that which the youth had soon said from cowardice,
and condemned them both to be put to death.
Then ran the people quickly to the spectacle
and forthwith the executioner struck the youth
who had belied himself, so that he lay headless
with one stroke, and he afterward turned
to the constant woman, desiring to slay her.
She bent down for the stroke, and he then struck at her
with all his might, but the sword could not
cut anything but the skin, though he struck fiercely.
He grew then ashamed, and struck again strongly;
then the sword stood still, and did not touch the neck;
but the executioner's gold suddenly fell from him,
while he was shaking his hands so violently.
The woman said to him, ' Youth, take thy gold,
lest that be lost to thee for which thou hast so long laboured.'
So unconcerned was the woman under the cruel executioner,
that she could notice the money of him who would deprive her of life (or, who would behead her).
Then the executioner struck at her yet again with the sword,
but the Holy Trinity held back the sword,
