Page:Goldenlegendlive00jaco.djvu/73

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S. Dorothy
59

that the tormentor should bind their hands, and bind them both together back to back, and cast them in the fire so bound, and burnt them. And then he said to the virgin Dorothy: 'How long wilt thou trouble us with thy witchcraft? Or do sacrifice to our gods, or else anon thy head shall be smitten off.' And then said the holy virgin with a glad semblant: 'Do to me what torment thou wilt, for I am all ready to suffer it for the love of my spouse Jesu Christ, in whose garden full of delices I have gathered roses, spices, and apples.' And when the tyrant heard that he trembled for anger, and commanded that her fair visage should be beaten with stones so that there should appear no beauty in her visage, but all disfigured, and so to be put in prison till the next day. And on the next day she came forth all so whole and sound as though she had suffered no disease, and was more fairer for to look on than ever she was tofore, by the grace of her blessed spouse Jesu Christ, for whose love she took on her these great and sharp torments. And then this cursed judge commanded to smite off her head; and as she was led to the place assigned where it should be done, a scribe of the royame, named Theophilus, said to her in scorn: 'I pray thee to send me some of thy roses and apples that thou hast gathered in the garden of thy spouse that thou praisest so much'; and she granted to him his desire. And this was in the cold winter time when there was both frost and snow. And when she came to the place where she should be beheaded, she kneeled down on her knees and made her prayers to our Lord Jesu Christ, beseeching him that all they