And suddenly they saw a young man, of a beauty more than earthly,
clad in a robe of the colour of the setting sun.
Kindly he looked at them.
Knowing him for God's angel, the three ladies fell on their faces
before him.
But the youngest, bolder than the others, as is the way with children,
dared to steal a look at the fair ambassador, and, seeing him so
comely, took heart and smiled.
The angel took her by the hand, saying to her and to her sisters:
"Come and follow me."
This they did.
And thence they came to the spot where the church now stands, and
the angel said to them: "This is the place."
"Thank you, My Lord," said the youngest joyously.
VIII. How the three ladies saw a green island, with sweet flowers
and birds thereon.
At that time it was thirteen days past the feast of the Kings; snow
had fallen heavily and set hard in frost after, by reason of a north
wind which was blowing.
And the three ladies saw before them, among the snow, as it were a
green island.
And this island was girt about with a cord of purple silk.
And upon the island the air was fresh as in spring, and roses were
blowing, with violets and jessamine, whose smell is like balm.
But outside was naught but storm, north wind, and terrible cold.
Towards the middle, where now stands the grand altar, was a holm-oak,
covered with blossom as if it had been a Persian jessamine.
In the branches, warblers, finches and nightingales sang to their
hearts' content the sweetest songs of Paradise.
For these were angels, who had put on feathered guise, carolling in
this fashion in God's honour.
One fair nightingale, the sweetest singer of them all, held in his
right claw a roll of parchment, whereon was written in letters of gold:
"This is the place chosen by God and shown by him to the three maidens
for the building of a church to the glory of Our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ."
Great was the joy of the ladies at that sight, and the youngest said
to the angel:
"We see certainly that God loves us somewhat; what must we do now,
My Lord Angel?"
"Thou must build the church here, little one," answered the messenger,
"and choose for this work twelve of the most skilled workmen, neither
more nor less; God himself will be the thirteenth."
And having said so much he returned to high heaven.
IX. Of the church of Our Lord at Haeckendover, and of the strange
mason who worked there.
Then all three went off in haste to choose from among the others the
twelve good workmen who should set up the foundations of the church
where they had seen the cord of purple silk.
The work went on so well that it was a pleasure to see the stones
mounting up, straight and quickly.
But the miracle was this, that during the hours of labour the masons
were always thirteen in number, but at dinner and at paytime twelve
only.
For the Lord Jesus was pleased to work with the others, but neither
ate nor drank with them; he who in Paradise had such fine broth and
such sweet fruits, and wine from the fountain of Saphir, which is a
fountain giving forth without intermission wine of a richer yellow
than liquid gold itself.
Nor did he suffer for want of money; for that is an evil reserved to
us needy, piteous, and ill-faring mortals.
The building advanced so well that soon the bell was hung in the
tower as a sign that the church was finished.
Then the three maids entered in together; and, falling on her knees,
the youngest said:
"By whom, divine husband and beloved Jesus, shall we dedicate this
church built for your service?"
To which the Lord Jesus replied: "It is I Myself who will consecrate
and dedicate this church; let none come after me to consecrate
it anew."