a city
in which was the palace of a great
king, and whose house was not far
from the inn.

20 Here they staid, and when
the girl went one day to the
prince's wife, and found her in a
sorrowful and mournful condition,
she asked her the reason of her
tears.

21 She replied, wonder not at
my groans, for I am under a great
misfortune, of which I dare not
tell any one.

22 But, says the, girl, if you
will entrust me with your private
grievance, perhaps I may find you
a remedy for it.

23 Thou, therefore, says the
prince's wife, shall keep the
secret, and not discover it to
any one alive.

24 I have been married to this
prince, who rules as king over
large dominions, and lived long
with him before he had any child
by me.

25 At length I conceived by
him, but alas! I brought forth a
leprous son; which, when he saw
him would not own to be his, but
said to me,

26 Either do thou kill him, or
send him to some nurse in such a
place, that he may be never heard
of; and now take care of yourself;
I will never see you more.

27 So here I pine, lamenting
my wretched and miserable
circumstances. Alas, my son! alas,
my husband; Have I disclosed it
to you?

28 The girl replied I have found
a remedy for your disease, which
I promise you, for I also was
leprous, but God hath cleansed
me, even he who is called Jesus
the son of the Lady Mary.

29 The woman inquiring where
that God was, whom she spake
of; the girl answered, He lodges
with you here, in the same house.

30 But how can this be? says
she; where is he? Behold, replied
the girl, Joseph and Mary; and
the infant who is, with them is
called Jesus; and it is he who
delivered me from my disease and
torment.

31 But by what means, says she,
were you cleansed from your leprosy?
Will not you tell me that?

32 Why not? says the girl; I
took the water with which his
body had been washed, and poured
it upon me, and my leprosy
vanished.

33 The prince's wife then arose
and entertained them, providing a
great feast for Joseph among a
large company of men.

34 And the next day took
perfumed water to wash the Lord
Jesus, and afterwards poured the
same water upon her son, whom
she had brought with her, and her
son was instantly cleansed from
his leprosy,

35 Then she sang thanks and
unto God, and said, Blessed
is the mother that bare thee,
O Jesus!

36 Dost thou thus cure men of
the same nature with thyself, with
the