Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

GERASIMAS ADDRESSES THE SAINTS. 575
"seen and heard?" And Gerasimas said unto them, Joseph and
"How did ye know and see the birth of the Nazareth.
"Saviour of the world?" And they said unto him,
"We saw Mary go forth from Nazareth to Beth-
"lehem,^ and Joseph was with her, and he saw
"[p. 370] that her face was changed, and he said
"unto her, 'What hath happened unto thee?' and
"she said, 'The pains of childbirth have got hold
"'upon me.' And Joseph left her in a forest in
"the land of Ephratha, and went to prepare a place
"of abode for the child and its mother; and Mary
"wept because Joseph had left her by herself Now
"there were shepherds dwelling in that country,
"and they heard the noise of Mary's weeping, and
"they came to her and said unto her, 'O woman,
"'whence comest thou?' and she said unto them,
'"From Nazareth.' And while they were talking
"Joseph came and took Mary with him, and they
"arrived at a certain cave and went therein. And
"it came to pass when it was midnight that the
"angel Gabriel went down to them, and taking
"hold of Joseph's hand he brought him out from
"the cave; and he spread out his wings ^ and
"overshadowed Mary, and she gave birth to her The birth of
"firstborn child, and she wrapped him in swaddling
"bands and laid him in a manger. All this did
"we see. And aeain we saw Gabriel and his hosts
"announcing [these things] to the shepherds, and
"saying, 'Behold, there is born to you this day a
' St. Luke ii. 4, 5. = Read hV^U- '