Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Apocrypha of the New Testament/The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew/Chapter 18

Chapter 18.

And having come to a certain cave, and wishing to rest in it, the blessed Mary dismounted from her beast, and sat down with the child Jesus in her bosom.&#160; And there were with Joseph three boys, and with Mary a girl, going on the journey along with them.&#160; And, lo, suddenly there came forth from the cave many dragons; and when the children saw them, they cried out in great terror.&#160; Then Jesus went down from the bosom of His mother, and stood on His feet before the dragons; and they adored Jesus, and thereafter retired.&#160; Then was fulfilled that which was said by David the prophet, saying:&#160; Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons; ye dragons, and all ye deeps. &#160; And the young child Jesus, walking before them, commanded them to hurt no man.&#160; But Mary and Joseph were very much afraid lest the child should be hurt by the dragons.&#160; And Jesus said to them:&#160; Do not be afraid, and do not consider me to be a little child; for I am and always have been perfect; and all the beasts of the forest must needs be tame before me.