"Yes," cried Helen, "let us go home and may God have mercy on us."
And others smiting their breasts cried, "Almighty God, we have sinned! Forgive us."
And so it came to pass that no one remained round the cross but the holy women and John, and the friends of Jesus with the hangmen.
The chief priests and the rulers still stood together marveling near the cross of the repentant thief, when suddenly a temple servant came rushing into their midst, breathless with haste.
"High priests and assembled council!" he exclaimed, "a fearful thing has occurred in the holy place. I tremble in every limb."
"What is it?" cried Caiaphas in alarm. "Not the temple?"
"Has it fallen?" said Annas.
"No," said the servant, "not that, but the veil of the temple has been rent in twain from the top to the bottom. I hastened hither with staggering feet, and feared the whole world was bursting asunder with the shock!"
"Dreadful!" exclaimed the priests and Pharisees, throwing up their hands.
But Caiaphas said, "It is that wretch who has done this by his magic arts. What a blessing it is that he is out of the world! Otherwise he would bring all the elements into disorder."