attain to his understanding. I have deceived myself, O most wretched me! I desired to obtain a pupil, and found I had a tutor. My friends, I am filled with shame, that I who am an old man am defeated by a child. I suffer affliction and death through this child; for this very hour I can not look into his face. And when all say I was overcome by a little child, what can I say? or what can I tell of the lines of the first letter, which he told me of? I know not, O friends; for I know not its beginning and end. Wherefore I beseech thee, brother Joseph, take him away to thy house. Whatever great thing He is, whether God or Angel, or what to say, I know not.

CHAPTER VIII

And when the Jews encouraged Zaccheus, the child laughed greatly, and said: Now let thy works be fruitful, and let the blind in heart see. I come from above that I may curse them, and call to things on high, as He who sent me ordained for your sakes. And as the child paused in his speech, straightway all who had fallen under his curse were delivered. And thenceforward no one dared provoke him, lest he should curse him and he become blind.

CHAPTER IX

And after some days Jesus was playing in a certain house in an upper room, and one of the children who were playing with him fell down from the house and died. And when the other children saw it, they fled, and Jesus remained alone. And the parents of him that was dead came and accused him, saying, verily thou causedst him to fall. But Jesus said, I did not cause him to fall. And they threatened him. Jesus leaped down from the roof and stood by the dead body of the child and cried with a loud voice, and said: Zeno! (for so his name was called), rise and tell me; did I cast thee down? And immediately he rose and said, Nay, Lord, thou hast not cast me down, but raised me up. And seeing this they were amazed. And the parents of the boy 4 The text is here corrupt or defective.

4

THE FOUNTAIN OF THE VIRGIN.

The ancient well or "fountain" in Nazareth, declared by tradition to be the one whence Mary drew water for her household, and beside which Jesus played in infancy.