and respect it as being most uncorrupted and true. And therefore I desire to pass over that circumstance, and to translate the other matters which are contained in his Passion, even as the venerable lord AEthelwerd persistently requested me to do.
After the Saviour's passion and resurrection from death
and ascension into heaven, when His apostles
travelled throught this earth, then came Thomas
to the city of Caesarea, and the Saviour Himself
came to him from heaven, thus saying: —
' The king of the Indians, who is called Gondophorus,
hath sent his steward to the Syrian land
to seek a workman who is well skilled in his craft;
come now, I will straightway send thee forth with him.'
Then answered Thomas: ' Oh! thou my Lord,
send me whither Thou wilt, save to the Indians.'
The Saviour said to him: — ' Go now, and I will be with thee,
and will not forsake thee;
and after that thou hast gained for Me the Indians,
thou shalt come to Me with the glorious crown of martyrdom.'
Thomas answered Him: ' Thou art my Lord,
and I am Thy servant; Thy will be done.'
Lo then! the steward, who was named Abbanes,
(come) from the Indian king, rowed to land,
and went through the province seeking his errand.
Then Christ went to him, and said openly,
' What buyest thou, youth? ' He answered and said:
' My lord, the king of the Indies,
hath sent me to this country to inquire for workmen,
that I may hire them home for his work;
or I will buy them, if they are slaves;
such as are cunning in stone, and are approved of in wood,
