Apocryphal New Testament — Historical English Collection

Apocryphal New Testament — Hone/Wake/Jones — Section 69

77 I answered ; If it be neces- sary, why do you perplex your- self, and not rather choose, if you have any choice among them, and fit them into the building. 78 Upon this he chose out the largest and brightest, and squared them ; which when he had done the virgins took them up, and placed them in the outside of the building. 79 And the rest that re- mained were carried back into the same field from which they were taken ; howbeit, they were not cast away; because, said he, there is not yet a little wanting to this tower, which is to be built; and perhaps the Lord will have these stones fitted into this build- ing, because they are exceeding white. 80 Then were there called twelve very stately women, clothed with a black garment, girded, and their shoulders free. and their hair loose. These seemed to me to be country wo- men. 81 And the shepherd com- manded them to take up those stones which were cast out of the building, and carry them back to the mountains out of which they were taken. 82 And they took them all up joyfully, and carried them back to their places from whence they had been taken. 83 When not one stone re- mained about the tower, he said unto me, Let us go about this tower, and see whether any thing be wanting to it. 84 We began therefore to go round about it ; and when he saw that it was handsomely built, he began to be very glad ; for it was so beautifully framed, that any one that had seen it must have been in love with the build- ing: 85 For it seemed to be all but one stone, nor did a joint any- where appear ; but it looked as if it had all been cut out of one rock. 86 T[ And when I diligently considered what a tower it was, I was extremely pleased : and he said unto me. Bring hither some lime and little shells, that I may fill up the ^ spaces of those stones that were taken out of the build- ing, and put in again ; for all things about the tower must be made even. 87 And I did as he command- ed me, and he said unto me. Be ready to help me, and this work will quickly be finished.