The
Apocalypse of the Virgin.
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Introduction.
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The present translation of this Apocalypse
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is made from the text as published by Mr. M.
R. James in
Texts and Studies
, ii., 3, from a
ms.
in the Bodleian Library, which he assigns to the
eleventh century. The original he conjecturally assigns to the
ninth century, and regards it as a late and clumsy compilation based on
(1) the Assumption Legends and (2) the Apocalypse of Paul. Its
main feature, intercession for the lost, it has in common with the
Testament of Abraham, the Apocalypse of Paul, 4 Esdras, the Apocalypse
of Baruch, the Apocalypse of Esdras and the Apocalypse of
Sedrach. Parallels are pointed out in the notes.
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In this Apocalypse and
that of Sedrach which follows, the text is in many places so obviously
corrupt that the translator cannot be confident that he has given the
correct meaning of the original in all cases.—A.R.