God's New Bible

The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James

Biographical Gospel of the Lord

- Chapter 108 -

A Secret Roman Marriage Law

CYRENIUS WAS quite satisfied by this assurance of Joseph and said,
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'My esteemed friend, now everyone of my wishes has been fulfilled and I have nothing more that I might wish!
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Only one unfortunate situation still exists beside my great good fortune, and this is as follows:
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Tullia, the heavenly one, is now my rightful wife. But according to convention I am a Roman and therefore must also, for the sake of the people, have myself formally married by a priest.
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Such a consecration can only be performed by a high priest of Hymen, and only then becomes a legally acceptable union.
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Now how are we going to do this here since apart from the three lesser priests not one remains?'
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Here Joseph suggested to Cyrenius, 'Why do you concern yourself with that which is of no consequence?
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When you return to Tyre you will find enough priests who will give you their benediction for money, if you actually place any importance on this benediction.
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But if you remain as you are you will do better, for you are after all also a lord above your own law.
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Now I recall having once heard from a Roman that a secret law exists in Rome which reads thus:
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If a man espouses a girl in the presence of a mute, a fool or a minor child,
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and these are good-natured during the espousal and smile, then the marriage is quite legal, only a notice thereof must afterward be given to the priest having jurisdiction in that locality,
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wherewith of course a small shining offering must not be omitted.
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If this secret law is correct, what more is needed?
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Let the three priests come who are staying with me. These will give you a witness that you in the presence of a Child hardly four months old which smiled at you and blessed you, espoused Tullia!
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Once you have this quite innocent witness and a little gold, what more is there needed for the whole Roman people?'
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At this Cyrenius actually jumped for joy and declared to Joseph,
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'Indeed, my noble brother, you are quite correct. Such a law actually does exist, but at first I could not recall it.
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Now everything is in the best order, so get me the three priests and I shall immediately confer with them in this matter.' - And Joseph promptly had the three still silent priests come into the chamber.

Footnotes