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The Gospel Called the Protevangelion
Chapter II
1 Anna, the wife of Joachim mourns her barrenness,
6 is reproached with it by Judith her maid,
9 sits under a laurel tree and prays to the Lord.
IN the mean time his wife Anna
was distressed and perplexed
on a double account, and said,
I will mourn both for my widowhood
and my barrenness.
2 Then drew near a great feast
of the Lord, and Judith her maid,
said, How long will you thus
afflict your soul? The feast of
the Lord is now come, when it is
unlawful for any one to mourn.
3 Take therefore this hood
which was given by one who
makes such things, for it is not
fit that I, who am a servant should
wear it, but it well suits a person
of your greater character.
4 But Anna replied, Depart
from me, I am not used to such
things; besides, the Lord hath
greatly humbled me.
5 I fear some ill-designing person
hath given thee this, and thou
art come to reproach me with my sin.
6 Then Judith her maid answered,
what evil shall I wish you,
when you will not hearken to me?
7 I cannot wish you a greater
curse than you are under, in that
God hath shut up your womb, that
you should not be a mother in
Israel.
8 At this Anna was exceedingly
troubled, and having on her wedding
garment, went about three o'clock
in the afternoon to walk in her
garden.
9 And she saw a laurel-tree and
sat under it, and prayed unto the
Lord, saying,
10 O God of my fathers, bless
me and regard my prayer, as thou
didst bless the womb of Sarah;
and gavest her a son Isaac.
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