Hymn of the Pearl

Historical source scan page 271

244 THE ACTS OF JUDAS THOMAS. on high,* and with diamond clasps’ were all its seams fastened; and the image of the king of kings was em- broidered* and depicted in full all over it, and like* the stone of the sapphire too its hues were varied. And I saw also that all over it the instincts of knowledge were working, and I saw too that it was preparing to speak. I heard the sound of its tones, which it uttered with its..... ,° (saying): ‘I am the active in deeds, whom they reared for him before my father; and I perceived myself, that my stature grew according to his labours.’ And in its kingly movements it poured itself en- tirely over me, and on the hand of its givers it hastened that I might take it. And love urged me too to run to meet it (\ja.+) and receive it; and I stretched forth and took it. With the beauty of its colours I] adorned myself, and I wrapped myself wholly-in my toga of brilliant hues. I clothed myself with it, and went up to the gate of salutation and prostration ; I bowed my head and wor- shipped the majesty of my father who sent me,—for I had done his commandments, and he too had done what he promised,—and at the gate of his.....‘ I mingled * Literally, in ite height or elevation. b Literally, with stones of the adamas, which I here render by diamond. ¢ Literally, was made go up, was brought up. 4 I have ventured to read ܘܐܝܟ‎ instead of ܘ ܬܐܠ‎ I do not know what the apparently corrupt word ܡܺܝܚܬܝܗ̇‎ may mean; perhaps we might read Cas diss , which it uttered to those who were bringing it down. As to the follow: ing clauses I am also in doubt. f I give up : ܕܣܿܦܪܘܗ‎ , and confess my ignorance of the meaning of smMAaTAMAN. Might it be corrupted from ܕܕܣܥܪ̈ܘܗܝ‎ or ܝ ܕܕܣܧܝܪ̈ܘܗܝ‎ a plural from NAPOT, Pers. ܘܚܬ‎ , a castle or town on a hill?