The young maiden did not sleep much during the night, and early in the morning she went to the place of execution, to be there when he came. She invoked Jesu, Mother, Marie, and the Holy Caterina of Egypt, virgin and martyr, incessantly with prayers to save his soul. Incessantly she repeated: 'I will that he shall be saved--I will, I will.' But she was afraid that her prayers were unavailing, for she did not feel any longer that ecstasy which had filled her the evening before; she only felt an infinite pity for him who should die. She was quite overcome with grief and sorrow. Little by little the Market Place filled with people. The soldiers marched up, the executioner arrived, and much noise and talking went on around her; but she saw and heard nothing. She felt as if she were quite alone. When Nicola Tungo arrived, it was just the same with him. He had no thought for all the others, but saw only her. When he saw at the first glance that she was entirely overcome with sorrow, his face beamed, and he felt almost happy. He called loudly to her: 'You have not slept much this night, maiden?' 'No,' she said; 'I have watched in prayer for you; but now I am in despair, for my prayers have no power.' He knelt down before the block, and she knelt so that she could hold his head in her hands. 'Now I am going to your Bridegroom, Caterina.' She sobbed more and more. 'I can comfort you so badly,' she said. He looked at her with a strange smile. 'Your tears are my best comfort.' The executioner stood with his sword drawn, but she bade him with a movement stand on one side, for she would speak a few words with the doomed man. 'Before you came,' she said, 'I laid my head down on the block to try if I could bear it; and then I felt that I was still afraid of death, that I do not love Jesus enough to be willing to die in this hour; and I do not wish you to die either, and my prayers have no power.' When he heard this he thought: 'Had I lived I should have won her'; and he was glad he should die before he had succeeded in drawing the radiant heavenly bride down to earth. But when he had laid his head in her hands, a great consolation came to them both. 'Nicola Tungo,' she said, 'I see heaven open. The angels descend to receive your soul.' A wondering smile passed over his face. Could what he had done for her sake make him worthy of heaven? He lifted his eyes to see what she saw; the same moment the sword fell. But Caterina saw the angels descend lower and lower, saw them lift his soul, saw them carry it to heaven. * * * * * All at once it seemed so natural that Caterina Benincasa has lived all these five hundred years. How could one forget that gentle little maiden, that great loving heart? Again and again they must sing in her praise, as they are now singing in the small chapels: