The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew · 2

VII. Abiathar the priest offers many gifts that Mary may marry his son. She refuses, saying that she has vowed perpetual virginity.

VIII. When she was 14, a council was held and Israel was summoned to the temple on the third day. The high priest addressed them and said that since Solomon's time there had always been noble virgins brought up in the temple and married when they were of age. But Mary had vowed virginity and it must be ascertained who should take charge of her. Those who had no wives were to bring rods. There was no sign, so Abiathar went in and prayed, and an angel pointed out that one very small rod had not been returned to its owner. This was Joseph's. The dove appeared. Joseph resisted, but was overcome: he stipulated that some virgins should accompany Mary. Rebecca, Sephora, Susanna, Abigea, and Zahel were chosen. They cast ​lots for the colours of the veil. Mary had the purple: the others were jealous and called her in sport 'Regina virginum'. An angel rebuked them and said it was a true prophecy. They were abashed and asked Mary to pray for them.

IX. Mary at the fountain addressed by an angel. On the next day as she wove he appeared again and completed the Annunciation.

X. Joseph returned from Capernaum and found Mary great with child. His lament. The virgins defended Mary, but Joseph lamented still.

XI. The angel reassured him, and he asked pardon of Mary.

XII. Rumour went forth, and Joseph and Mary were summoned by the priests. The water of jealousy administered by Abiathar. Joseph and Mary each went about the altar seven times and no sign appeared. All asked her pardon and took her home in triumph.

XIII. Caesar's decree. They went to Bethlehem. The two peoples—Jews and Gentiles—weeping and laughing. An angel made her dismount and enter a dark cave which began to shine. There Christ was born. Joseph was gone to find midwives and brought Zelomi and Salome. Zelomi believed, Salome was incredulous, and her hand withered and was healed by touching the swaddling cloth. The shepherds' vision. The star shone.

XIV. On the third day Mary left the cave and went to a stable and put the child in the manger, and the ox and ass adored him, fulfilling the prophecies of Isaiah and Habakkuk. There they stayed three days.

XV. On the sixth day they went to Bethlehem, kept the sabbath, and circumcised the child on the eighth day. The Presentation: Symeon and Anna.

XVI. After the second year came the magi: told as in the Gospel.

XVII. Massacre of the Innocents; the warning to flee into Egypt.

Here the use of the Protevangelium ends. It will be seen that it has been freely dealt with. Among the interesting things that have been left out is the standing still of all creation at the moment of the Birth. Nor is John the Baptist or Zacharias mentioned at all.

Chapters XVIII-XXIV deal with the Flight into Egypt and the sojourn there. They may or may not be translated from a written source: on the whole I think they are not. Some tell of fulfilments of prophecy, others may depend on local legend.

XVIII. They came to a cave and wished to rest there. Mary dismounted and sat with Jesus in her lap. There were three boys with Joseph and a girl with Mary. Suddenly a number of dragons came out of the cave, and ali cried out in fear. Jesus got down from his mother's lap and stood before the dragons, ​which worshipped him. Thus was fulfilled the word, 'Praise the Lord out of the earth, ye dragons and all deeps'. Jesus walked before them and bade them hurt no one. Mary was alarmed for him, but he said, 'Fear not, neither conceive that I am a child, for I always was and am a perfect man, and it is necessary that all the beasts of the forest should grow tame before me.'

XIX. In like manner lions and leopards adored him and accompanied them, showed them the way, and bowed their heads to Jesus. At first Mary was afraid, but Jesus smiled on her and reassured her. The lions never injured their oxen and asses or the sheep they had brought from Judaea. Wolves, too, came and were harmless. Thus was fulfilled the word, 'The wolves shall feed with the lambs, the lion and ox shall eat straw together.' They had with them two oxen and a cart to carry their necessaries.

XX. On the third day Mary saw a palm and wished to rest under it. When she was seated there she saw fruit on it, and said to Joseph that she should like to have some. Joseph said he was surprised she should say that because the tree was so high: he himself was thinking more about water, of which they had very little left. Jesus sitting in Mary's lap with a joyful countenance bade the palm give his mother of its fruit. The tree bent as low as her feet and she gathered what she would. He bade it rise again, and give them of the water concealed below its roots. A spring came forth and all rejoiced and drank of it.

XXI. Next day when they left the place Jesus said to the palm: I give thee this privilege, that one of thy branches shall be taken by my angels and planted in my Father's garden. And henceforth all who win contests shall be told that they have won the palm of victory. An angel came and took a branch and flew away with it. All fell down in fear, but Jesus reassured them.

XXII. As they went, Joseph said that as it was hot they might go by the sea coast. But Jesus said he would shorten the way—and even as he spoke they began to see the hills and cities of Egypt.

They arrived at Hermopolis and entered a city called Sotinen, and had to lodge in a temple where were 365 gods.

XXIII. When Mary and the Child entered, all the idols fell, and Isaiah's word was fulfilled. 'Behold the Lord shall come upon a light cloud and enter into Egypt, and all the gods made by the hand of the Egyptians shall be moved before his face.'

XXIV. Affrodosius, governor of the city, heard of it and came with all his host. The priests thought he would punish those who had destroyed the gods: but when he saw them fallen he adored the child and said to those present that 'unless this were the God of our gods they would not have fallen. If we ​do not adore him, as they have done, we are in danger of such destruction as fell upon Pharaoh who was drowned with all his army.'

Then all the people of the city believed in the Lord through Jesus Christ.

Here begins the second part—the Infancy proper of our Lord. The source is the Gospel of Thomas: sometimes a better text of that work than we have elsewhere is represented, but there is also a good deal of late amplification.

XXV. The angel bade Joseph return to Judaea.

XXVI. When Jesus was in Galilee at the beginning of his fourth year he was playing by the Jordan, and made seven pools. A boy spoilt them, and was struck dead. The parents complained. Joseph asked Mary to admonish Jesus. She begged him not to do such things, and he, not willing to grieve her, 'smote the back side of the dead boy with his foot and bade him rise: which he did, and Jesus went on with his pools'.

XXVII. He took clay from the pools and made twelve sparrows, on the sabbath. A Jew saw it and spoke to Joseph, who spoke to Jesus. Jesus clapped his hands and bade the sparrows fly away. All marvelled, and some went and told the chief priests and Pharisees.

XXVIII. The son of Annas the priest broke up the pools with a stick, and Jesus with a word withered him up.

XXIX. Joseph was afraid and took Jesus home. On the way a boy ran against Jesus and got on his shoulder, meaning to hurt him. Jesus said: 'Mayest thou not return whole from the way thou goest.' He fell dead. Complaints of the parents, as in Thomas. Joseph to Jesus: 'Why doest thou such things? Many are now complaining against thee and hate us on thy account, and we suffer injuries through thee.' Jesus: 'No son is wise whom his father hath not taught according to the knowledge of this age, and the curse of his father hurteth no man save them that do ill.' All reviled Jesus to Joseph and he was much afraid. 'Then Jesus took the dead boy by the ear and held him up by it in the sight of all, and they saw Jesus speaking to him as a father to his son. And his spirit returned unto him and he lived again, and all marvelled.'

In Thomas Joseph takes Jesus by the ear. Our compiler found this offensive and changed it. He also changed the speech of Jesus to Joseph and made it wholly pointless as far as I can see.

XXX. Master Zachyas spoke reproachfully to Joseph: 'You and Mary think more of your son than of the traditions of the elders.' Joseph: But who can teach him? if you can do so, we are very willing. Jesus overhearing said: What you say is well for ordinary people: I have no earthly father. When I am lifted up from the earth I will make all mention of your descent to ​cease. I know when you were born and how long you have to live. All cried out in wonder: We have never heard the like. Jesus: Does this surprise you? I will tell you more. I have seen Abraham. None could answer. Jesus: I have been among you with the children, and ye have not known me. I have spoken with you as with the wise and ye have not understood my voice, for ye are less than me, and of little faith.