So Asenath set a fair linen cloth upon the table, and put thereon new
bread of a sweet savour. Then said the Angel--
"Give me also a little honey in the honeycomb."
So Asenath was grievously troubled because she had no honey to set
before her guest. But the Angel comforted her, saying--
"Look within thine aumbrey, and thou shalt find withal to furnish thy
table."
Then she hastened thereto, and found a store of virgin honey, white as
snow, of sweetest savour. So she spake to the Angel--
"Sire, I had no honey, but thou spakest the word, and it is there, and
the perfume thereof is as the breath of thy mouth."
The Angel smiled at the understanding of Asenath, and placed his hand
upon her head, and said--
"Blessed be thou, O Asenath, because thou hast forsaken thy idols, and
believed in our living Lord. Yea, blessed are they whom Penitence
bringeth before Him, for they shall eat of this honey gathered by the
bees of Paradise from the dew of the roses of Heaven; and those who eat
thereof shall never see death, but shall live for evermore."
Then the Angel stretched forth his hand and took of the honeycomb and
break it; and he ate a little, and gave the rest to the mouth of
Asenath, saying--
"This day hast thou eaten of the Bread of Life, and art anointed with
the Holy Chrism. Beauty is given thee for ashes; for virtue shall never
go from thee, neither shall thy youth wither, nor thy fairness fail;
but thou shalt be as the strong city builded as a refuge for the
children of our Lord, Who is King for ever more."
Then the Angel touched the honeycomb, and it became unbroken as before.
Again he stretched forth his hand, and with his finger signed the cross
thereon, and there where his finger touched came forth blood. So he
spake to Asenath, and said--
"Behold this honey!"
Whilst she gazed thereon, she saw bees come forth from that honey, some
white as snow, others vermeil as jacinths, and they gathered about her,
and set virgin honey in the palm of her hand; and she ate thereof, and
the Angel with her.
"Bees," said the Angel, "return now to your own place."
So they passed through that window which gave upon the east, and took
their way to Paradise.
"Faithful as these bees are the words which I have spoken."
Then the Angel put forth his hand three times, and touched the honey,
and fire came forth and consumed the honey without singeing the table,
and the perfume which came from the honey and the fire was very sweet.
_Of the blessing of the seven maidens, and of the marriage of Asenath,
as set forth in the story._