lebrated their accursed
feast till the city resounded with the cry of the brute beasts and the
very air was polluted with the reek of sacrifice. This done, when the
spirits of wickedness had greatly vaunted them over Theudas' victory,
and when the temple-keepers had rendered him thanks, the king went up
again unto his palace, and said milo Theudas, "Behold now, as thou
badest us, we have spared no pains over the splendour of this gathering
and the lavishness of the sacrifice. Now, therefore, it is time for
thee to fulfil thy promises, and to deliver from the error of the
Christians my son that hath rebelled against our religion, and to
reconcile him to our gracious gods. For, though I have left no device
and deed untried, yet have I found no remedy for the mischief, but I
perceive that his will is stronger than all. When I have dealt gently
and kindly with him, I have found that he payeth me no regard
whatsoever. When I have treated him harshly and severely, I have seen
him driven the quicker to desperation. To thy wisdom for the future I
leave the care of this calamity that hath befallen me. If then I be
delivered from this trouble by thy means, and once more behold my son
worshipping my gods with me, and enjoying the gratification of this
life of pleasure, and this royal estate, I will set up unto thee a
golden statue, and make thee to receive divine honours from all men for
all time to come."

Hereupon Theudas, bowing an attentive ear to the evil one, and learning
from him the secret of his evil and deadly counsel, became himself the
devil's tongue and mouthpiece, and spake unto the king, "If thou wilt
get the better of thy son, and make his opposition vain, I have
discovered a plan, which he shall in no wise be able to resist, but his
hard and obdurate mind shall melt quicker than wax before the hottest
fire." The king, seeing this foolish fellow swelling with empty pride,
immediately grew merry and joyful, hoping that the unbridled and
boastful tongue would get the mastery of that divinely instructed and
philosophic soul. "And what is the plan?" he asked. Then began Theudas
to weave his web. He made his villainy sharp as any razor and did
cunningly prepare his drugs. Now behold this malicious device and
suggestion of the evil one. "Remove, O king," said he, "all thy son's
waiting men and servants far from him, and order that comely damsels,
of exceeding beauty, and bedizened to be the more winsome, be
co