Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/44

28 chamber, and he made signs to them : ‘ Celebrate (God’s) praises morning and evening !’

‘ O John! take the Book with strength ;’ and we gave him judgment when a boy, and grace from us, and purity ; and he was pious and righteous to his parents, and was not a rebellious tyrant.

So peace upon him the day he was born, and the day he died, and the day he shall be raised up alive.

And mention, in the Book, Mary; when she retired from her family into an eastern place ; and she took a veil (to screen herself) from them ; and we sent unto her our spirit ; and he took for her the semblance of a well-made man. Said she, ‘ Verily, I take refuge in the Merciful One from thee, if thou art pious.’ Said he, ‘ I am only a messenger of thy Lord to bestow on thee a pure boy.’

Said she, ‘ How can I have a boy when no man has touched me, and when I am no harlot ?’ He said, ‘ Thus says thy Lord, It is easy for Me ! and we will make him a sign unto man, and a mercy from us ; for it is a decided matter.’

So she conceived him, and she retired with him into a remote place. And the labour pains came upon her at the trunk of a palm tree, and she said, ‘ O that I had died before this, and been forgotten out of mind!’ and he called to her from beneath her, ‘ Grieve not, for thy Lord has placed a stream beneath thy feet ; and shake towards thee the trunk of the palm tree, it will drop upon thee fresh dates fit to