that they may erect his palace in the Roman fashion.'
Then said the Saviour straightway to the youth:
'I have a workman, worthy and faithful,
whom I have often sent to various cities;
and whatsoever he getteth as meed of his labour
he bringeth to me without fraud.
This one I will send with thee, if thou so desirest,
provided that thou, honourably, after the work is done,
wilt send him back again safe to me.'
Then rejoiced Abbanes, and bowed at his knees,
and the Saviour committed the holy Thomas
to him, to take home; and so they departed.
Then Abbanes asked the venerable apostle:
'Tell me, in truth, if thou be His slave?'
Thomas answered him, ' If I were not His property,
I should very soon neglect His bests;
but I am His slave, and do not the things
which I myself choose, but that which my Lord tells me;
I am one of the countless number of His slaves,
and we all know (various) crafts in works,
and go throughout provinces, and without fraud
bring back to our Lord that which we earn.'
Then went they to ship, and hoisted their sail,
and went with the wind even as God guided them.
Then again said Abbanes unto the apostle,
'If thou art cunning in crafts, as thou saidst but now,
why would Thy Lord let thee come to me? '
Thomas said to him, concerning Christ's building:
' I lay the foundations which shall last for ever,
and I set the wall which shall never sink,
and make the windows which shall be very perfect,
that there shall be no lack to the house of the heavenly light.
