Hymn of the Pearl

Historical source scan page 269

242 THE ACTS OF JUDAS THOMAS. ing to what was traced on my heart were the words of my letter written. (y+) I remembered that I was a son of royal parents, and my noble birth asserted its nature. I remembered the pearl, for which I had been sent to Egypt, and I began to charm him, the terrible loud- breathing serpent. I hushed him to sleep and lulled him into slumber, for my father’s name I named over him, and the name of our second (in power), and of my mother, the queen of the East; and I snatched away the pearl, and turned to go back to my father’s house. And their filthy and unclean dress I stripped off, and left it in their country; and I took my way straight to come to the light of our home the East. And my letter, my awakener, I found before me on the road; and as with its voice it had awakened me, (so) too with its light it was leading me. It, that dwelt in the palace,* gave light before me with its form, and with its voice and its guidance it also encouraged me to speed, and with its love it drew me on.® I went forth (and) passed by Sar- bug; I left Babel on my left hand; and I came to the great Maishan, to the haven of merchants, which sitteth has been suggested to me to read ܠܝܬ ܡܣ‎ , and I broke tts seal, but then we should expect MA» t50 . 2 The words ܕܫܪ̈ܝܐ ܒܣܠܝܩܟܘܢ‎ cause me much perplexity. I have translated as if ܒܣܠܝܩܘܢ‎ were ܒܒܣܠܝܩܘܢ‎ . If the original reading of the MS., ܕܫܝܪܝܐ‎ , be correct, the meaning might be: if was direct- ing me ; because the royal silk (in which the letter was wrapped ) shone before me, etc. I can hardly imagine the words to signify because the dweller (the letter wrapped) in silk & ) ܣܠ ܝܩ ܘܢ‎ = sericum 1). × Read ܢ̈ܓܕܐ‎ .