Volume 2

The Adulteress 313
pearls. She wore a bodice in shape somewhat like a
heart, and open at the sides, something like a scapular
thrown over the head and fastened together around the
body by straps reaching from the back. Around the neck
and breast it was ornamented with cords and pearls.
From it fell, in folds to the ankle, two deep skirts, one
shorter than the other. Both were of fine white wool
embroidered with large, colored flowers. The sleeves
were wide and fastened with armlets. To the shoulder
straps that connected the front and back of the bodice
was attached the upper part of a short mantle that fell
over the arms. Over this flowed a long veil, of the whiteness
of wool.
The woman, ashamed and anxious, entered slowly and
timidly, her pale countenance bespeaking confusion and
her eyes red from weeping. She wanted to approach
Jesus, but the crowd was so great that she could not get
near Him. The Pharisees keeping order went to her, and
she at once addressed them: "Lead me to the Prophet,
that He nlay forgive my sins and cure me!" The
Pharisees stopped her with the words: "Woman, go
home! What do you want here? The Prophet will not
speak to you. How can He forgive you your sins? He will
not busy Himself with you, for you are an adulteress."
When the woman heard these words, she grew pale, her
countenance assumed a frightful expression, she threw
herself on the ground, rent her mantle from top to bottom,
snatched her veil from her head and cried: "Ah,
then I am lost! Now they lay hold of me! They are tearing
me to pieces! See, there they are!" and she nanled
five devils who were raging against her, one of her husband,
the other four of her paramours. It was a fearful
spectacle. Some of the women standing around raised her
from the ground, and bore her wailing to her home. Jesus
knew well what was going on, but He would not put the
Pharisees of this place to shame. He did not interfere, but