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.15 And while the bride was saying yet more than this, the bridegroom answered and said: I givethee thanks, O Lord, that hast been proclaimed by the stranger, and found in us; who hastremoved me far from corruption and sown life in me; who hast rid me of this disease that is hardto be healed and cured and abideth for ever, and hast implanted sober health in me; who hastshown me thyself and revealed unto me all my state wherein I am; who hast redeemed me fromfalling and led me to that which is better, and set me free from temporal things and made meworthy of those that are immortal and everlasting; that hast made thyself lowly even down to meand my littleness, that thou mayest present me unto thy greatness and unite me unto thyself; whohast not withheld thine own bowels from me that was ready to perish, but hast shown me how toseek myself and know who I was, and who and in what manner I now am, that I may againbecome that which I was: whom I knew not, but thyself didst seek me out: of whom I was notaware, but thyself hast taken me to thee: whom I have perceived, and now am not able to beunmindful of him: whose love burneth within me, and I cannot speak it as is fit, but that which Iam able to say of it is little and scanty, and not fitly proportioned unto his glory: yet he blamethme not that presume to say unto him even that which I know not: for it is because of his love thatI say even this much.16 Now when the king heard these things from the bridegroom and the bride, he rent his clothesand said unto them that stood by him: Go forth quickly and go about the whole city, and take andbring me that man that is a sorcerer who by ill fortune came unto this city; for with mine ownhands I brought him into this house, and I told him to pray over this mine ill-starred daughter;and whoso findeth and bringeth him to me, I will give him whatsoever he asketh of me.Theywent, therefore and went about seeking him, and found him not; for he had set sail.They wentalso unto the inn where he had lodged and found there the flute-girl weeping and afflicted159 160because he had not taken her with him.And when they told her the matter that had befallen withthe young people she was exceeding glad at hearing it, and put away her grief and said: Nowhave I also found rest here.And she rose up and went unto them, and was with them a long time,until they had instructed the king also.And many of the brethren also gathered there until theyheard the report of the apostle, that he was come unto the cities of India and was teaching there:and they departed and joined themselves unto him.The Second Act: Concerning his coming unto the king Gundaphorus.17 Now when the apostle was come into the cities of India with Abbanes the merchant, Abbaneswent to salute the king Gundaphorus, and reported to him of the carpenter whom he had broughtwith him.And the king was glad, and commanded him to come in to him.So when he was comein the king said unto him: What craft understandest thou? The apostle said unto him: The craft ofcarpentering and of building.The king saith unto him: What craftsmanship, then, knowest thouin wood, and what in stone? The apostle saith: In wood: ploughs, yokes, goads, pulleys, andboats and oars and masts; and in stone: pillars, temples, and court-houses for kings.And the kingsaid: Canst thou build me a palace? And he answered: Yea, I can both build and furnish it; for tothis end am I come, to build and to do the work of a carpenter.18 And the king took him and went out of the city gates and began to speak with him on the wayconcerning the building of the court-house, and of the foundations, how they should be laid, untilthey came to the place wherein he desired that the building should be; and he said: Here will Ithat the building should be.And the apostle said: Yea, for this place is suitable for the building.But the place was woody and there was much water there.So the king said: Begin to build.Buthe said: I cannot begin to build now at this season.And the king said: When canst thou begin?And he said: I will begin in the month Dius and finish in Xanthicus.But the king marvelled andsaid: Every building is builded in summer, and canst thou in this very winter build and makeready a palace? And the apostle said: Thus it must be, and no otherwise is it possible
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