Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/279

 us victorious in all, our true and invincible athlete, our holy and victorious general, most glorious, who givest to thy people imperishable joy and rest, which knows of no affliction, good shepherd, who didst offer thyself for thy sheep, didst overcome the wolf and hast redeemed thy sheep and led them to good pastures—we praise and glorify thee and thy invisible Father and thy Holy Spirit [and] the mother of all creatures."

40. When the apostle said this, the whole multitude looked at him waiting, to hear what he would answer the colt. And after the apostle remained silent for a time, like one being beside himself, and looking toward heaven, he said to the colt, "Who art thou, and whose art thou? For surprising and strange is that which was spoken by thee, which is also hidden to many." And the colt answered and said, "I am of that family which served Balaam, and to which also belonged that colt on which sat thy Lord and thy Master. And now I have been sent to give thee rest by thy sitting on me, that these may believe and I obtain that portion which I am about to receive by the service now offered to thee, and which shall be taken from me, if I do not serve thee." And the apostle answered, "He who gave thee this gift (of speech) can do, that it be given to thee and to those belonging to thy race unto the end. For as concerns this mystery I am powerless