“Yes,” said Smetse, with a smile, “I can see that well enough.”
“I am,” said the man, “Joseph, nominal husband of the very blessed Virgin Mary, who is sitting on this bench, and this child that she has in her arms is Jesus, thy Saviour.”
Smetse, dumbfounded at these words, looked at the wayfarers with great astonishment, and saw about the man’s head a nimbus of fire, a crown of stars about the woman’s, and, about the child’s, beautiful rays more brilliant than the sun, springing from his head and girdling him round with light.
Thereupon he fell at their feet and said: “My Lord Jesus, Madam the Virgin, and my Master St. Joseph, grant me pardon for my lack of understanding.”
To this St. Joseph replied: “Thou art an honest man, Smetse, and righteous as well. For this reason I give thee leave to make three requests, the greatest thou canst think of, and my Lord Jesus will listen to them favourably.”
At these words Smetse was filled with joy, for it seemed to him that in this way he might perhaps escape the devil; but at the same time he did not dare to avow that he had traded his soul away. So he remained in silence for a few moments, thinking of what things he could ask, then suddenly said, with great respect: “My Lord Jesus, Madam St. Mary, and you, Master St. Joseph, will you please to enter my dwelling? There I can tell you what boons I ask.”
“We will,” said St. Joseph.
“Mother,” said Smetse to his wife, “come hither and look to the ass of these noble lords.”
And Smetse went in before them, sweeping the threshold so that there should be no dust to touch the soles of their feet.
And he took them into his garden, where there was a fine plum-tree in full blossom. “My Lord, Madam, and Sir,” said Smetse, “will it please you to order that whosoever shall climb up into this plum-tree shall not be able to come down again unless I so desire?”