rs.

It was still dark and the sky cloudy when they reached Mount
Calvary, where they found the servants who had been sent on already
arrived, and the holy women sitting weeping in front of the Cross.
Cassius and several soldiers who were converted remained at a certain
distance, and their demeanour was respectful and reserved. Joseph and
Nicodemus described to the Blessed Virgin and John all they had done to
save Jesus from an ignominious death, and learned from them how they
had succeeded in preventing the bones of our Lord from being broken,
and how the prophecy had been fulfilled. They spoke also of the wound
which Cassius had made with his lance. No sooner was the centurion
Abenadar arrived than they began, with the deepest recollection of
spirit, their mournful and sacred labour of taking down from the Cross
and embalming the adorable body of our Lord.

The Blessed Virgin and Magdalen were seated at the foot of the
Cross; while, on the right-hand side, between the cross of Dismas and
that of Jesus, the other women were engaged in preparing the linen,
spices, water, sponges, and vases. Cassius also came forward, and
related to Abenadar the miraculous cure of his eyes. All were deeply
affected, and their hearts overflowing with sorrow and love; but, at
the same time, they preserved a solemn silence, and their every
movement was full of gravity and reverence. Nothing broke the stillness
save an occasional smothered word of lamentation, or a stifled groan,
which escaped from one or other of these holy personages, in spite of
their earnest eagerness and deep attention to their pious labour.
Magdalen gave way unrestrainedly to her sorrow, and neither the
presence of so many different persons, nor any other consideration,
appeared to distract her from it.

Nicodemus and Joseph placed the ladders behind the Cross, and
mounted them, holding in their hands a large sheet, to which three long
straps were fastened. They tied the body of Jesus, below the arms and
knees, to the tree of the Cross, and secured the arms by pieces of
linen placed underneath the hands. Then they drew out the nails, by
pushing them from behind with strong pins pressed upon the points. The
sacred hands of Jesus were thus not much shaken, and the nails fell
easily out of the wounds; for the latter had been made wider by the
weight of the body, which, being now supported by the cloths, no longer
hung on the nails. The lower part of the body, which sin