but they marvelled greatly at the winsome light,
and returned astonished to their impious lord.
Then he reproached them furiously because they had wondered so much
at the shining light, and had not dared to defile her.
Then he himself ran in with shameful intent,
but he fell prostrated before the maiden, struck down
by the devil whom he foolishly obeyed.
He lay there, as if dead, a long time upon the floor;
then his companions thought that he was busied
about his evil deeds, then one of them came to see,
and found him dead, and immediately cried out in grief,
Alas! ye ever pious Romans,
help us quickly, this cruel harlot
with her witchcraft hath destroyed our lord! '
Then straightway the citizens ran thither astonished,
and the father also came, crying aloud,
Thou crudest woman, wouldst thou show
thy fiendlike sorcery, to destroy my son '
Agnes said to him, 'Why are the others living
who came in hither, but because they worshipped
the Almighty God who compassionately clothed me,
and sent me His Angel, who preserved my body,
which was, from the cradle, consecrated to Christ?
Thy shameless son, with shameless intent
ran in towards me, but the Angel felled him,
and delivered him to the devil who straightway destroyed him.'
Then said the Prefect to the holy maiden,
' Thy saying will be manifested if thou wilt pray the self-same angel
that he will now raise up my only son in sound health.'
The blessed Agnes answered him thus,
' Thou art not worthy to see that wonder,
but nevertheless it is time that the Lord's might be manifested.
Go ye now therefore all out, that I may pray alone.'
Then went they all out, and she prayed alone,
beseeching her Lord that He would raise the dead.
