THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 379 



riage with her lover folemnly and publicly. For which 

 purpofe fhe applied to the patriarch to difpenfe with the 

 affinity between her and Za Chriftos, arifing from his having 

 been married before to her fifter. 



It is not to be fuppofed that the patriarch would have 

 refilled, if nothing had Hood in the way except the affinity : 

 but weighty impediments prefented themfelves befides ; for 

 either the firft marriage was valid, or it was not. If it was 

 valid, then Wengelawit could not marry Za Chriftos or any 

 one elfe, becaufe her hufband was alive ; nor could fhe marry 

 her fecond, nor Tecla Georgis, her third. If the firft mar- 

 riage was not valid, then the fecond was, which hufband 

 was ftill alive ; and, in this cafe, a licence to marry was gi- 

 ving her liberty of having three hufbands at one time. The 

 patriarch, for thefe reafons, refufed his authority to this 

 manifold adultery and inccft ; nor could he, notwithftand- 

 ing the interccffion of the whole court, ever be brought to 

 comply. His firmnefs (however commendable) greatly in- 

 creafed the hatred to his perfon, and averfion to the church 

 of Rome, 



One day when the king was fitting in his apartment, 

 a monk entered the room, crying with a loud voice, " Hear 

 *' the ambafifador of God and of the Virgin Mar)- !" The king, 

 upon firft fight of the man, expedling fome improper liberty 

 might be taken, ordered his attendants to turn him out at 

 the door, and, being removed from his prcfence, to bring 

 word what he had to fay, which was to this effisd: : " It is 

 three days fince I rofe from the dead. One day when I was 

 ftanding in paradife, God called me, and fent me with this 

 meliage to you : — O emperor ! fays God, it is now many years 



3 B 2 that 



