Apocryphal New Testament — Historical English Collection

Apocryphal New Testament — Hone/Wake/Jones — Section 70

88 He therefore filled up the spaces of those stones, and com- manded the place about the tower to be cleansed. ^ Formas. Lat. 253 Oj the mysteries III. HERMAS. 0/ the church 89 Then those virgins took besoms, and cleansed all the place around and took away all the rub- bish, and threw water on ; which being done, the place became de- lightful, and the tower beauteous. 90 Then he said unto me, All is now clean : if the Lord should come to finish the tower, he will find nothing whereby to com- plain of us. I 91 When he had said this he would have departed. But I laid hold on his bag, and began to entreat hira for the Lord's sake, that he would explain to me all things that he had shown me. 92 He said unto me, I have at present a little business ; but I will suddenly explain all things unto thee. Tarry here for me till I come. 93 I said unto him. Sir, what shall I do here alone? He an- swered. Thou art not alone, see- ing all these virgins are with thee. 94 I said. Sir, deliver me then unto them. Then he called them and said unto them, I commend this man unto you until I shall come. 95 So I remained with those virgins : now they were cheerful and courteous unto me ; especial- ly the four, which seemed to be the chiefest among them. 96 T[ Then those virgins said unto me, that shepherd will not return hither to day. I said unto them. What then shall I do? They answered. Tarry for him till the evening, if perhaps he may come and speak with thee ; but if not, yet thou shalt continue with us till he does come. 97 I said unto them, I will tarry for hira till evening ; but if he comes not by that time, I will 254 go home, and return hither again the next morning. 98 They answered me. Thou art delivered unto us, thou mayest not depart from us. I said, Where shall I tarry ? 99 They replied. Thou shalt sleep with us as a brother, not as a husband : for thou art our brother, and we are ready from henceforth to dwell with thee ; for thou art very dear to us.