Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/175

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THE GOSPEL OF PSEUDO-MATTHEW.
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along with them, and with, the oxen and asses, and the beasts of burden which carried necessaries for them, and hurt no one although they remained with them: but they were tame among the sheep and rams which they had brought with them from Judea, and had with them. They walked among wolves and feared nothing, and no one was hurt by another. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet: Wolves shall feed with lambs: lion and ox shall eat chaff together.[1] There were two oxen also with them, and a cart, wherein they carried necessaries: and the lions directed them in their way.

CHAPTER XX.

Now it came to pass on the third day from their departure, as they went along, the blessed Mary was wearied by the too great heat of the sun in the desert: and seeing a palm tree she said to Joseph, Let me rest a little under the shadow of this tree. Joseph hastened therefore, and led her to the palm, and caused her to descend from the beast. And when the blessed Mary had sat down there, she looked at the foliage of the palm and saw it full of fruit, and she said to Joseph, I desire that I may be able to partake of the fruit of this palm. And Joseph saith to her, I wonder thou sayest this, when thou

  1. Is. xi. 6-9; Ixv. 25.