36 "Who am I to ask for a blessing?" the young
man answered. "I am a sinner, who every day, to earn my bread, have
defiled myself. Who am I to even approach you?"
37 The Teacher of The One went to him and embraced him. "Do you not
know," he wept, "that it is for ones such as you I have come?"
38 The young man began to weep and fall to his knees, wrapping his arms
about The Teacher's legs. "Lord," he prayed, "forgive me."
39 The Teacher of The One put his hand upon his head. "Your sins," he
said, "are forgiven you. Arise. From this day forth you are a
man! You
know what you must do. Shake off this woman's garb, and follow after
me."
40 The young man rose, ran to the beggars, took off all his jewelry
that was worth a great deal, and put it in their bowls. A poor girl
walked
by in a tattered dress. He stopped her, took off the gown he wore, and
gave it to her. She clung it to her happily, crying "Thank you! Thank
you!"
41 As the young man walked back to The Teacher only in his loin cloth,
a merchant, whose booth was just inside the gate, came to him, and put
upon him a handsomely made man's robe. "I cannot pay you," remarked the
young man.
42 "Long have I watched you," explained the merchant, "and pitied you.
Now, I rejoice for you! If you were not bound to this master I would
offer you employment, and my daughter as bride."
43 "If your daughter will wait for a time," requested The Teacher,
"after our journeys are done he will return to this city to teach what
he has learned. He will need a place to earn his bread , and a woman to
share his house."
44 "Then, when he returns," promised the merchant, "both will await him
here. "