Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/473

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LATIN GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS.
357

their abode, and they cried out, saying, We are conquered by thee. Who art thou that orderest our confusion before the Lord? Who art thou that without the ruin of corruption, by unfailing evidence of majesty, in thy fury condemnest our power? Who art thou, so great and small, humble and high, soldier and commander, admirable warrior in the form of a servant, and king of glory, dead and alive, whom when slain the cross upheld? Thou who didst lie dead in the sepulchre, hast come down alive unto us; and at thy death every creature trembled, and all the stars were shaken; and now thou art become free among the dead, and dost disturb our legions. Who art thou that dost loose the captives that are held bound in original sin, and recallest them to their primeval liberty? Who art thou that sheddest divine and splendid and lustrous light upon them that are blinded by the darkness of sin?

Likewise also all the legions of demons, terrified with similar fear, because of their fearful overthrow, with one voice cried out, and said, Whence art thou, O Jesus, so mighty a man, and splendid in majesty, so illustrious without spot, and pure from fault? For that earthly world, which hath ever been subject unto us till now, which paid tribute to our use, never sent us such a dead man, and never assigned such gifts to the underworld. Who then art thou that hast entered our borders so fear-