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quietly in the house, nor let us go to the tomb of the Master now, but let us wait for the darkness of night to go. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} And look, the gloom of darkness approaches. Therefore let us wait quietly, away from the guards. For how could anyone, coming through a host of enemies in the dark, anoint him without danger? But some sleepless one of the Teacher's followers ought to go to the tomb as a scout; yes, yes, it is fitting for someone to go with speed. And if he should not discover any secret deceit, let us go at dawn to the life-giving tomb; we shall come to anoint the body of the dead one according to custom. This is my opinion. But if we learn of some plot of the enemies, we shall wait in silence for the ray of the fair-shining day, nor is there need to anoint him who now lies there. For in the gloom under the earth, no corruption will descend upon the body of the Word, nor will all-devouring Hades hold his soul; for willingly he endured his fate, having no debt, that he might be confined to the darkness as though by obligation. For how will Hades, the steward of the nether regions, corrupt him who is incorruptible, born of the Incorruptible? I think he will even drag spoils from there, as many of the mortals as it held captive, whom it seized and bound in the chains of its all-dark abode. {ΧΟΡΟΣ} Rightly; it is necessary to go first to spy; send someone as quickly as possible; for now you speak wisely; and you will see me enduring with you to the end. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Who then of the friends, who are present here, dares to go to the tomb as a spy by night? Who now would be my benefactress? For the disciples of the Teacher are not present, fleeing the irrational attack of the murderers. For they do not rage equally against all; for they even look down upon our gender, but they pursue the disciples with irrational boldness. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} At your urging, I am willing to risk this danger and go as a spy to the divine sepulcher; and having learned from there how everything is, I will come to you before light comes to the earth; and I will come quickly. I undertake this toil on account of the many evils from which I was delivered; and from this, perhaps, the dead one himself—though not dead to me—will provide a more glorious gift. It seems right to sleep, and the darkness still remains for me. Let us sleep then, let us sleep; dawn is not far, which I pray I may see sooner, O All-King. But at dawn I will go as a swift runner; perhaps I will meet the sisters running with me, who chose to wait and watch the tomb. For they were all eager, in agreement with me, to spend the night now to anoint the dead one. {ΧΟΡΟΣ} Go, go; running ahead, may you learn something, bringing a man's courage. And we will follow with the maiden herself and many other daughters of Galilee; for I think all will run with you to the tomb, longing to see the fulfillment of what was hoped for. Let us sleep a little, for dawn is not far away. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} I must labor intensely, and while laboring, look forward to a worthy reward; for to everyone, the prize set before the work brings a twofold grace, which I have received many times over and may I receive again. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Yes, this is just, and you think rightly; you give good counsel and you speak at the right time. You speak of the reward and grace you have received before your labors, and may you receive it again. But what greater prize than these will you ask for? But he will nevertheless give you gifts that are much the fairest of those now among men, I know, and you will then be blessed for having obtained them. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} Behold, I will run, considering your wish; may I be the first to see the resurrection, maiden; for this is the reward I ask to receive for my labors; for you see, you see my eagerness. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} See that you do not encounter the guards in the darkness. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} I will indeed be on my guard and will step quietly. But may I be fortunate and obtain what you desire; for you surely desire to see your Son quickly; it is for this longing that I run, risking danger. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Go as quickly as possible, and may you become a messenger of good news to me all the sooner of what I desire, so that I may obtain it. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} I yield, having been commanded; for since you are my mistress, you could not be wrong in this, so I obey. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} I too will follow with you, Mary; for I grieve, I grieve, even to remain behind you. Being so concerned, how shall I, wretched one, bear it now? {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} And so let us go, dear maiden; for having you as a companion, I rejoice greatly. These women do not cast sleep from their eyes. Wake up, wake up! Why, women, do you delay? Loosen the grim seat of your eyelids. Will you not look at the all-shining splendor of the moon? dawn

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ἡσύχως ἐν οἰκίᾳ, μηδ' ἀπίωμεν ἐς τάφον νῦν ∆εσπότου, ἀλλ' ἰέναι μείνωμεν εὐφρόνης κνέφας. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Καὶ μὴν ἰδού, πρόεισιν ὄρφνης τὸ κνέφας. Λοιπὸν μένωμεν ἡσύχως ἐκ φυλάκων. Πῶς γάρ τις ὄρφνῃ δυσμενῶν ἀνὰ στρατὸν ἐλθὼν μυρίσει τόνδ' ἀκινδύνως μολών; κατάσκοπον δὲ πρὸς τάφον μολεῖν ἔδει τιν' ἐξ ὀπαδῶν ἄγρυπνον ∆ιδασκάλου· ναὶ ναὶ προσήκει τιν' ἀπιέναι τάχει· κἂν μέν τινα κρυφαῖον οὐ γνοίη δόλον, βῶμεν πρὸς ὄρθρον τύμβον ἐς ζωηφόρον· δέμας νέκυος τοῦ μυρίσαι κατ' ἔθος ἐλευσόμεσθα· τήνδ' ἔχω γνώμην ἐγώ. Ἢν δ' αὖ τιν' ἐχθρῶν μηχανὴν πυθώμεθα, τῆς καλλιφεγγοῦς ἡμέρας τὴν ἀκτίνα σιγῇ μενοῦμεν, οὐδὲ χρεία μυρίσαι τὸν κείμενον νῦν· οὐ γὰρ ὑπὸ γῆς ζόφον φθορὰ κατασκήψει τις εἰς δέμας Λόγου, οὔτ' οὖν καθέξει ψυχὰν ᾅδης παμφάγος· ἑκὼν γὰρ ἔτλη πότμον, οὐκ ὄφλημ' ἔχων, ἵνα κατειρχθῇ κατ' ὀφειλὴν εἰς ζόφον. Ἐξ ἀφθίτου γὰρ ἄφθιτον πεφυκότα πῶς νιν φθερεῖ ταμίας ᾅδης νερτέρων; ὃν καὶ λάφυρ' ἐκεῖθεν ἑλκύσαι δοκῶ ὅσους βροτῶν καθεῖρξεν, οὓς ξυνήρπασε κἄδδησεν ἐν δεσμοῖσι πανζόφου στέγης. {ΧΟΡΟΣ} Ὀρθῶς· μολεῖν χρὴ πρῶτον εἰς κατασκοπήν· πέμφ' ὡς τάχιστα· νῦν γὰρ ἀσφαλῶς λέγεις· σὺν σοὶ δέ μ' ὄψει καρτεροῦσαν ἐς τέλος. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Τίς δῆτα φίλων, αἳ πάρεισιν ἐνθάδε, τολμᾷ κατόπτις ἔννυχος τύμβῳ μολεῖν; τίς ἂν γένοιτο νῦν ἐμὴ δ' εὐεργέτις; μύσται γὰρ οὐ πάρεισι τοῦ ∆ιδασκάλου, φεύγοντες ὁρμὴν ἄλογον μιαιφόνων. Οὐ γὰρ ἴσως πνέουσι θυμοῦ καθ' ὅλων· περιφρονοῦσι καὶ γὰρ ἡμῶν τοῦ γένους, μύστας δὲ διώκουσιν ἀλόγῳ θράσει. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} Ἐγὼ πρὸς ὑμῶν τόνδε κίνδυνον θέλω ῥίψασα κατόπτις σοροῦ θείου μολεῖν· ἅπαντ' ἐκεῖθεν ἐκμαθοῦσα δ' ὡς ἔχει, ἥξω πρὸς ὑμᾶς πρὶν φάος μολεῖν χθόνα· ἥξω δὲ θᾶττον. Τόνδ' ὑφίσταμαι πόνον ἕκητι πολλῶν, ὧν ἀπηλλάγην, κακῶν· κἀντεῦθεν ἴσως εὐκλεέστερον δόμα αὐτὸς παράσχῃ νεκρός, οὐ νεκρὸς δ' ἐμοί. Εὕδειν δοκεῖ δὲ καὶ μένειν μ' ἔτι κνέφας. Εὕδωμεν οὖν, εὕδωμεν· οὐ μακρὰν ἕως, ἣν εἴθ' ἴδοιμι τάχιόν γε, Παντάναξ· ἀτὰρ πρὸς ὄρθρον ἀπίω ταχυδρόμος· ἴσως κἀδελφαῖς συντρεχούσαις ἐντύχω, αἳ προσμένειν εἵλοντο καὶ βλέπειν τάφον. Πᾶσαι γὰρ ἠπείγοντο συμφώνως ἐμοὶ ἐννυχίσαι νῦν πρὸς τὸ μυρίσαι νέκυν. {ΧΟΡΟΣ} Ἄπιθ' ἄπιθι· προδραμοῦσά τι μάθοις ἀνδρῴαν εἰσφέρουσα τὴν τολμηρίαν. Ἄμμες δ' ἐφεψόμεσθα σὺν αὐτῇ κόρῃ ἄλλαι τε πολλαὶ Γαλιλαίας θρεμμάτων· πάσας γὰρ οἶμαι συνδραμεῖν σοι πρὸς τάφον, ἰδεῖν ποθούσας τέρμα τῶν ἠλπισμένων. Μικρὸν δ' ἐφυπνώσωμεν, ἠὼς οὐκ ἄπο. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} Σφοδρῶς πονεῖν με χρή, πονοῦσαν δ' ἄξιον μισθὸν προαθρεῖν· παντὶ γὰρ προκείμενον ἆθλον πρὸς ἔργῳ τὴν χάριν τίκτει διπλῆν, ἣν πολλαπλῆν εἴληφα καὶ πάλιν λάβω. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Ναὶ καὶ δίκαιον τοῦτο, κοὐκ ἄλλως σκοπεῖς· σύ τ' εὖ παραινεῖς καὶ σὺ καιρίως λέγεις· λέγεις δὲ μισθὸν καὶ χάριν ὅσην ἔχεις πρὸ τῶν πόνων λαβοῦσα, καὶ πάλιν λάβοις· πλὴν οὖν τί μεῖζον τῶνδ' ἀπαιτήσεις γέρας; δώσει δ' ὅμως σοὶ δῶρ' ἃ καλλιστεύεται τῶν νῦν ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν, οἶδ' ἐγώ, πολύ, μακαρία τ' ἔπειτα κυρήσασ' ἔσῃ. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} Ἰδού, τὸ σόν γε προσκοπουμένη δράμω· πρώτη δ' ἴδοιμι τὴν ἀνάστασιν, κόρη· μισθὸν γὰρ αἰτῶ τῶν πόνων λαβεῖν τόδε· ἀθρεῖς γὰρ ἀθρεῖς τὴν ἐμὴν προθυμίαν. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Ὅρα κατ' ὄρφναν μὴ φύλαξιν ἐντύχῃς. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} Φυλάξομαί τοι καὶ πόδ' ἡσύχως βαλῶ. Ἀλλ' εὐτυχοίην καὶ τύχοιμι δ' ὧν ἐρᾷς· ἐρᾷς δὲ πάντως Υἱὸν ἰδέσθαι τάχει· ὅπερ ποθοῦσα ῥιψοκινδύνως τρέχω. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Βάθ' ὡς τάχιστ', ἐμοὶ δὲ θᾶττον, ὧν ἐρῶ, εὐάγγελος γένοιο, τυχεῖν ὡς ἔχω. {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} Εἴκω κελευσθεῖσ'· οὖσα γάρ μοι δεσπότις, οὐκ ἂν ἁμάρτοις τοῦδέ γ', ἀλλὰ πείθομαι. {ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΣ} Ἐφέψομαι κἀγὼ δὲ σὺν σοί, Μαρία· ἀλγῶ γὰρ ἀλγῶ καὶ μένειν σοῦ κατόπιν. Οὕτω μέλουσα, πῶς ποτ' οἴσω νῦν τλάμων; {ΜΑΓ∆ΑΛΗΝΗ} Καὶ λοιπὸν ἀπίωμεν, ὦ φίλα κόρα· σὲ γὰρ ἔχουσα συνοδὸν χαίρω μέγα. Αἵδ' ὕπνον οὐ βάλωσιν ὀμμάτων ἄπο. Ἔγρεσθ' ἔγρεσθε· τί, γυναῖκες, μέλλετε; γοργωπὸν ἕδραν τῶν βλεφάρων λύσατε. Οὐ λεύσετ' ἐς μηνάδος αἴγλαν παμφαῆ; ἀὼς