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CHAPTER 13 And when he had thus said, the
angel ordered the beast to stand, for the time when she should bring forth
was at hand; and he commanded the blessed Mary to come down off the
animal, and go into a recess under a cavern, in which there never was
light, but always darkness, because the light of day could not reach it.
And when the blessed Mary had gone into it, it began to shine with as much
brightness as if it were the sixth hour of the day. The light from God so
shone in the cave, that neither by day nor night was light wanting as long
as the blessed Mary was there. And there she brought forth a son, and the
angels surrounded Him when He was being born. And as soon as He was born,
He stood upon His feet, and the angels adored Him, saying: Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace to men of good pleasure. Now, when the
birth of the Lord was at hand, Joseph had gone away to seek midwives. And
when he had found them, he returned to the cave, and found with Mary the
infant which she had brought forth. And Joseph said to the blessed Mary: I
have brought thee two midwives--Zelomi and Salome; and they are standing
outside before the entrance to the cave, not daring to come in hither,
because of the exceeding brightness. And when the blessed Mary heard this,
she smiled; and Joseph said to her: Do not smile; but prudently allow them
to visit thee, in case thou shouldst require them for thy cure. Then she
ordered them to enter. And when Zelomi had come in, Salome having stayed
without, Zelomi said to Mary: Allow me to touch thee. And when she had
permitted her to make an examination, the midwife cried out with a loud
voice, and said: Lord, Lord Almighty, mercy on us! It has never been heard
or thought of, that any one should have her breasts full of milk, and that
the birth of a son should show his mother to be a virgin. But there has
been no spilling of blood in his birth, no pain in bringing him forth. A
virgin has conceived, a virgin has brought forth, and a virgin she
remains. And hearing these words, Salome said: Allow me to handle thee,
and prove whether Zelomi have spoken the truth. And the blessed Mary
allowed her to handle her. And when she had withdrawn her hand from
handling her, it dried up, and through excess of pain she began to weep
bitterly, and to be in great distress, crying out, and saying: O Lord God,
Thou knowest that I have always feared Thee, and that without recompense I
have cared for all the poor; I have taken nothing from the widow and the
orphan, and the needy have I not sent empty away. And, behold, I am made
wretched because of mine unbelief, since without a cause I wished to try
Thy virgin. |