and the hard floor where he lay, turned a little, and stretched out his limbs, seeking to find a mother’s favor and caress. Then his mother took him in her hands and clasped him to her heart, and with her cheek and breast warmed him with great joy, and a mother’s tender compassion. Then sitting on the ground, she laid her son in her lap, and began diligently to wrap him up, at first in linen and then in woollen cloths, and drawing them tight on his little body, bound his legs and arms with fillets tied to the four corners of the outer woollen cloth. And then she wrapped on her Son’s head the two small linen cloths, which she had ready for the purpose. When this was done, the old man entered, and prostrating himself on his knees on the ground, he adored him, weeping for joy. Nor did the Virgin on this occasion lose color or strength, as befalls other women who are delivered, except that her size was diminished. Then she arose with the child in her arms, and both together, that is, she and Joseph, laid him in the manger, and kneeling, adored him with immense joy and gladness. — Lib. vii, c. 21.
