20. After this the angel took them to the house where the wedding was, and the door-keeper opened the door to them. When they had crossed the threshold, they were at once greeted by an angel the bridegroom had sent, and they were taken inside and shown to the places allotted to them. Then they were invited into an ante-chamber, where they saw in the middle of the room a table, on which was placed a magnificent lamp-stand, equipped with seven branches and bowls, all made of gold. Attached to the walls were silver sconces, and the lights from all of these made a golden glow. Beside the lamp-stand they saw two tables, on which were arranged loaves in three rows, and in the four corners of the room were tables with goblets of crystal.
[2] While they were looking at these, the door of the next room was thrown open, and they saw six maidens coming out followed by the bridegroom and bride. They were holding hands, and they led each other to a seat set near the lamp-stand. They sat down on this, the bridegroom on the left and the bride on his right; and the six maidens took up a position beside the seat near the bride. The bridegroom was dressed in a mantle of gleaming purple and a tunic of shining linen with an ephod, on which was a golden plate set with a surround of diamonds. An egret was engraved upon this plate, the wedding emblem of this community of heaven. His head was covered with a mitre. The bride wore a red cloak over an embroidered gown falling from neck to foot, with a golden girdle below the bust; on her head she had a crown of gold set with rubies.
[3] When they had taken their places, the bridegroom turned to the bride and put a gold ring on her finger. Then he took out bracelets and a pearl necklace, and fastening the bracelets above her wrists and the necklace around her neck, he said: 'Accept these pledges.' As she accepted them, he kissed her and said: 'Now you are mine,' and he called her his wife.
When he did this, all the guests cried: 'A blessing on you.' Each said this individually, and then they all called it out together. Someone who had been sent by the prince to represent him also called this out; and at that instant the ante-chamber was filled with the fragrant smoke of incense, a sign of blessing from heaven. Then the attendants took the bread from the two tables next to the lamp-stand, and the goblets, which were now full of wine, from the tables in the corners, and gave each guest bread and a goblet; so they ate and drank. After this the husband and wife rose and were followed by the six maidens with silver lamps in their hands, now lit, as far as the threshold. So the married couple entered the bridal chamber, and the door was shut.
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