mple
before the Lord, making the proper
offerings for him, according
to the requirement of the law of
Moses: namely, that every male
which opens the womb shall be
called holy unto God.

6 At that time old Simeon saw
him shining as a pillar of light,
when St. Mary the Virgin, his
mother, carried him in her arms,
and was filled with the greatest
pleasure at the sight.

7 And the angels stood around
him, adoring him, as a king's
guards stand around him.

8 Then Simeon going near to
St. Mary, and stretching forth his
hands towards her, said to the
Lord Christ, Now, O My Lord,
thy servant shall depart in peace,
according to thy word;

9 For mine eyes have seen thy
mercy, which thou hast prepared
for the salvation of all nations;
a light to all people, and the glory
of thy people Israel.

10 Hannah the prophetess was
also present, and drawing near,
she gave praises to God, and
celebrated the happiness of Mary.

CHAPTER III.

1 The wise men visit Christ. Mary gives them
one of his swaddling clothes.
3 An angel appears to them in the form of a star.
4 They return and make a fire, and worship the
swaddling cloth, and put it in the fire where it
remains unconsumed.

AND it came to pass, when the
Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem,
a city of Judaea, in the time of Herod
the King;--the wise men came from the
East to Jerusalem, according to the
prophecy of Zoradascht, [Zoroaster]
and brought with them offerings:
namely, gold, frankincense, and myrrh,
and worshipped him, and offered to him
their gifts.

2 Then the Lady Mary took one
of his swaddling clothes in which
the infant was wrapped, and gave
it to them instead of a blessing,
which they received from her as a
most noble present.

3 And at the same time there
appeared to them an angel in the
form of that star which had before
been their guide in their journey;
the light of which they followed
till they returned into their own
country.

4 On their return their kings
and princes came to them inquiring,
whom they had seen and done?
What sort of journey and return
they had? What Company
they had on the road?

5 But they produced the swaddling
cloth which St. Mary had given
them, on account whereof they kept
a feast.

6 And having, according to the
custom of their country, made
a fire, they worshipped it.

7 And casting the swaddling
cloth into it, the fire took it
and kept it.

8 And