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 lying on one side, and
that the place where they had deposited the sacred remains was empty. A
celestial light filled the cave, and an angel was seated on the right
side. Magdalen became almost beside herself from disappointment and
alarm. I do not know whether she heard the words which the angel
addressed to her, but she left the garden as quickly as possible, and
ran to the town to inform the Apostles who were assembled there of what
had taken place. I do not know whether the angel spoke to Mary Salome,
as she did not enter the sepulchre; but I saw her leaving the garden
directly after Magdalen, in order to relate all that had happened to
the rest of the holy women, who were both frightened and delighted at
the news, but could not make up their minds as to whether they would go
to the garden or not.

In the mean time Cassius had remained near the sepulchre in hopes of
seeing Jesus, as he thought he would be certain to appear to the holy
women; but seeing nothing, he directed his steps towards Pilate's palace
to relate to him all that had happened, stopping, however, first at the
place where the rest of the holy women were assembled, to tell them
what he had seen, and to exhort them to go immediately to the garden.
They followed his advice, and went there at once. No sooner had they