320 ST. MARK’S REST

three kings in attitudes of supplication; and above are the words-

VBIE. QVINATU’ EST. REX. JUDÆORUM.

“Ubi est qui natus est rex Judæorum?”

“Where is he that is born king of the Jews?”}St. Matt. ii. 2

II. The wise men adoring Christ.

X ADORABVT EV ONS REGES TERE ET OMS GETES

SERVIENT EI

“Adorabunt eum omnes reges terræ, (et) omnes gentes servient ei.”

“Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him” (Psalm lxxii. 10, 11).

In the centre is the Madonna seated on a throne, which is also part of the stable of the inn. On her knees is the infant Christ, with two fingers of his right hand raised in benediction. The Madonna holds out her hand, as if showing the Child to the kings, who approach Him with gifts and in attitudes of devout worship. To the left is a man leading a camel out of a building; whilst to the right of the stable lies Joseph asleep, with an angel descending to him: “Arise and take the young child.” (See the next mosaic.) The rays from the central figure of the vaulted roof fall, one on the second of the three kings, and another, the most brilliant of them,-upon which, where it breaks into triple glory, the star of Bethlehem is set,-upon the Madonna and the Christ.

III. The flight into Egypt.

X SVRGE ET ACCIPE PUERVM ET MATREM EU’

ET FUGE IN EGYPTUM. ET ESTO IBI USQ’

DVM DICAM TIBI

“Surge et accipe puerum et matrem ejus et fuge in Egyptum et esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi.”

“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring thee word” (St. Matt. ii. 13).

A youth carrying a gourd leads into a building with a mosque-like dome a white ass, on which is seated the

[Version 0.04: March 2008]