316 ST. MARK’S REST

meaning of persuasive leading. It should also be noted that the child and his guide are already far on their way; they have left all vegetation behind them; only a stony rock and rough ground, with one or two tufts of grass and a leafless tree, are visible.

139. d. He receives a cloak from an angel.-This is also not biblical.¹ The words above the mosaic are-

HC AGELUS REPRESETAT VESTE BTO IOHI

“Hic angelus representat vestem beato Johanni.”

“Here the angel gives (back?) a garment to the blessed John.”

MTSt. John wears his cloak of camel’s hair, and holds in one

NOhand a scroll, on which is written an abbreviation of

ETthe Greek “hetanoeite”-“Repent ye.”

E

e. He preaches to the people.

HIC PREDICAT.*

“Here he preaches” [or “predicts the Christ”].

The Baptist is gaunt and thin; he wears his garment of camel’s hair, and has in his hand a staff with a cross at the top of it. He stands in a sort of pulpit, behind which is a building, presumably a church; whilst in front of him listen three old men, a woman, and a child. Below are three more women.

140. f. He answers the Pharisees (on the wall opposite e).-To the right are the priests and Levites sent from Jerusalem, asking, “What says he of himself?” They are four in number, a Rabbi and three Pharisees. To the left is

* The mark of abbreviation over the C shows the omission of an h in the medićval “predichat.”

¹ [But as the Baptist was to “go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias” (Luke i. 17), he receives from the angel Elijah’s garment (2 Kings i. 8).]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]