he is God's friend, and God's angels serve him;
my soul was verily led to heaven
by God's angels, and I there saw
the glorious palace which Thomas hath made thee,
in the very likeness in which he planned it here,
adorned with precious stones, fair beyond all.
While I was regarding the shining palace,
the angels said to me: " These are the buildings
which Thomas hath built for thy brother on earth."
Then I wished that I might be at least a doorkeeper
in that glorious house. Then said the Lord's angels:
" Thy brother is not worthy of this work's fairness;
if thou desire to have it, we will pray the Saviour
to raise thee up from cruel death,
and thou shalt buy it afterward, that thy brother may receive
his money which he thinketh to be wholly lost to him." '
After these words he hastened to the prison,
and sought the apostle, saying with weeping:
'My brother knew not, Lord, that thou wert the apostle
of the living God, and he hath highly sinned.'
Then he quickly unbound him, and besought him to receive
costly raiment. Then said the Lord's servant:
Yet knowest thou not that those who follow Christ
and desire to possess heavenly virtues,
wear not splendid garments nor fleshly adornings.
This pallium which I wear will last me out,
and my sark will not fail, nor my shoes burst out
before my soul departs from the body.'
Lo! then, as they went out of the old dungeon,
Gondophorus came towards the apostle of God,
earnestly beseeching pardon for his misdeeds.
Then said Thomas to him: ' Christ my Lord
