Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/375

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to that sorcerer, that, availing himself of his magical art, he has opened the doors of the prison, and wishes to set all the prisoners free? But let us go and report to the king, and let him also know about his wife and his son." Whilst the keepers meditated upon this, Judas listened silently. And at dawn they went to King Misdai and said, "Lord, release that sorcerer, or cause him to be shut elsewhere. < For we cannot keep him. > For twice has thy fortune (only) kept the prisoners. When we lock the doors at the night time, we find them opened when we rise. Nay, more; thy wife and son will not keep away from the man any more than the rest of them." And when the king heard this, he went to look at the seals which he put to the doors. And he found the seals as they were, and said to the jailers, "Why are you telling lies? for certainly these seals are quite safe. And how do you say that Tertia and Mygdonia go within the prison?" And the wardens said, "We have told thee the truth."

163. And after this the king went to the house of judgment and sent for Judas. And when he came, they stripped him, and girded him with an apron, and set him before the king. And Misdai said to him, "Art thou a slave or a freeman?" Judas said, "I am a slave, but thou hast no power over me whatever." And Misdai said, "How hast thou run away and come to this country?" Judas said, "I came here that I might save many, and that I might by thy hands depart from this body,"