rning what would have to be done
about the large stone at the door, as to who would be the best person
to ask about removing it, for they had been so engrossed by grief that
they had not thought about it before. Their intention was to pour
precious ointments upon the body of Jesus, and then to strew over it
flowers of the most rare and aromatic kinds, thus rendering all the
honour possible to their Divine Master in his sepulchre. Salome, who
had brought more things than anyone else, was a rich lady, who lived in
Jerusalem, a relation of St. Joseph, but not the mother of John. The
holy women came to the determination of putting down their spices on
the stone which closed the door of the monument, and waiting until
someone came to roll it back.

The guards were still lying on the ground, and the strong
convulsions which even then shook them clearly demonstrated how great
had been their terror, and the large stone was cast on one side, so
that the door could be opened without difficulty. I could see the linen
cloth in which the body of Jesus had been wrapped scattered about in
the tomb, and the large winding-sheet lying in the same place as when
they left it, but doubled together in such a manner that you saw at
once that it no longer contained anything but the spices which had been
placed round the body, and the bandages were on the outside of the
tomb. The linen cloth in which Mary had enveloped the sacred head of
her Son was still there.

I saw the holy women coming into the garden; but when they perceived
the light given by the lamps of the sentinels, and the prostrate forms
of the soldiers round the tomb, they for the most part became much
alarmed, and retreated towards Golgotha. Mary Magdalen was, however,
more courageous, and, followed by Salome, entered the garden while the
other women remained timidly on the outside.

Magdalen started, and appeared for a moment terrified when she drew
near the sentinels. She retreated a few steps and rejoined Salome, but
both quickly recovered their presence of mind, and walked on together
through the midst of the prostrate guards, and entered into the cave
which contained the sepulchre. They immediately perceived that the
stone was removed, but the doors were closed, which had been done in
all probability by Cassius. Magdalen opened them quickly, looked
anxiously into the sepulchre, and was much surprised at seeing that the
cloths in which they had enveloped our Lord were lyin