The inn-stable at Bethlehem. Without, voices are heard singing.
‘Noel, Noel, Noel,’
Sang the church bell;
‘God’s in His Heaven,
This know well!’
Noel, Noel, Noel,
Ding-dong-bell,
God from High Heaven
Comes on earth to dwell.
‘Noel, Noel, Noel,’
Bells ring on earth,
‘Come and know well
This bright Birth!’
Joseph.
Sleepest thou, Mary?
I sleep not; I pray.
Behold, on me my Lord His Head doth lay.
Look how in sleep He takes a mortal’s rest:
See where His Hand is laid upon my breast!
Joseph.
Mary, I dread to see!
Mary.
Nay, come more near;
But wake Him not!
Joseph.
Alas! I have such fear.
Mary.
I, too: my soul is glad through very dread
While in this chamber God doth make His bed:
For now our eyes behold the glorious Birth
Which shall uplift again low-fallen earth.
Here, where He rests, amid these hollowed rocks,
I hear the world’s heart move in joyful shocks,—
The pulsing of her rivers and her springs:
I feel the air beat with the throb of wings:
And farther up, amid the heavenly maze,
The stars and planets with adoring gaze
Look down and say, ‘O maid with favour stored,
How com’st thou to be Mother of our Lord?’
What can I answer, I? Let Gabriel
Speak to those heavenly questioners, and tell
How by the Holy Ghost this came to be;
How power from the Highest o’ershadowed me,
Till in my heart God came Himself to lie,
Perfect fulfilment of all prophecy.
Naught may I know save this: His handmaid I.
Voices.
‘Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum!
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et Benedictus Fructus
ventris tui, Jesus.’
Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et Benedictus Fructus
ventris tui, Jesus.’
[A knocking is heard.
Joseph.
Who knocks?
Shepherd (without).
A friend: we be all friendly men:
We be the shepherds.
Joseph.
Come in, shepherds, then:
Here’s welcome waiting you! Behold and bless
The Peace within your gates, the Plenteousness!
The Shepherds enter.
1st Shepherd.
Mother of God, welcome to Bethlehem!
Mary.
Shepherds of Israel, welcome to Christ’s Birth!
Omnes.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee! Blessed art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and
in the hour of our death. Amen.
Mary.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord!
So as His Word hath His Way been;
Now Earth to Heaven doth room afford;
The Godhead veiled in Flesh is seen.
Come and adore, in form of man,
The Word that was ere worlds began!
Mother Mary, hail!
And of thy Grace,
Lift away the veil
That hides God’s face!
Here God lies
For a short space.
Mary, Mother wise,
Show us God’s face!
Mary, all the lands,
Mary, all the seas,
Gather in thy hands
To thy dear knees!
Mary, maiden white,
Mother, pure within,
Show to mortal sight
Love that cures sin!
1st Shepherd.
Mother Mary, may we see God?
Mary.
Stand near in faith, behold,
Be comforted by Him!
Here, shepherds, is your fold.
Lady, I cannot see: mine eyes are dim.
Mary.
Come near, in faith: come near!
Thou shalt win sight.
Doubt not: have thou no fear!
Abel.
Lady, mine eyes be healed and full of light!
Mary.
Even so, even so,
Let Earth perceive and know!
1st Shepherd.
Son of God, shine on us!
2nd Shepherd.
Lamb of God, look on us!
3rd Shepherd.
Shepherd of men, set Thy sign on us!
4th Shepherd.
And lay Thy yoke on us!
And we will be thankful.
1st Shepherd (kneeling).
Queen, Mother, pardon me who make so bold
To speak! but hearts grown full be hard to hold
To-night, as Heaven hath willed, have come thy way
Poor folk with meagre speech yet much to say.
So, if word lack, let thine own wisdom fill:
And—give me countenance!—I’ll not speak ill.
Dear Mother, pray for us! Foolish we be,
Untaught and rude: but what we see we see,
And what we hear we hear; to what’s above
Our heads we bow: and what we love we love!
And, loving thee since our first entrance in,
Do thereby more love God, and more hate sin;
And of all lips would have thy lips to pray
Pardon for us and peace to seek His way.
Fair Mother, we have old men here among,
As thou may’st see; and thou, we see, art young:
Yet the name ‘Mother’ runneth to the tongue
That seeks a name for thee. May we not all
Thee as our Lady and our Mother call,
For thy Son’s sake?
Amen. So, shepherds, do!
Call as Love bids you, and I’ll answer you.
1st Shepherd.
Mother, I have laid bread here at thy feet.
For thy Son’s sake, I pray thee take and eat!
2nd Shepherd.
Mother, I bring thee milk.
3rd Shepherd.
I bring thee cheese.
4th Shepherd.
I have brought nuts. Strengthen His teeth on these,
When they begin to pair.
5th Shepherd.
Also here’s wine,
Good for a festal, or when frost bites fine.
Also my cloak is thine.
Mary.
It shall keep warm my heart, shepherd, to thee.
7th Shepherd.
Mother, my empty hands do me a wrong:
No gift have I, but in my lips a song
Such as we shepherds sing.
Mary.
Such songs are best.
To-night your lips shall lull the Shepherd’s King
To rest.
7th Shepherd (sings).
The world is old to-night,
The world is old;
The stars around the fold
Do show their light.
And so they did, and so,
A thousand years ago,
And so will do, dear Love, when you lie cold.
(Speaks.) Nay, nay, but I can sing no more thereof;
I had forgot the sadness of the end!
Mary.
Thou hast but prophesied how men shall scoff
Even at Love, my friend.
[Knocking is heard.
Joseph.
Ho, there without! Who knocks? Come ye in peace?
Kings (without).
Kings, seeking it, we come!
Joseph.
Here enter, and find ease!
The Kings enter.
1st King.
Blessed be God!
Omnes.
Blessed be God!
2nd King.
Blessed be His Holy Name!
Blessed be His Holy Name!
3rd King.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man!
Omnes.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man!
1st King.
Oh, finished quest!
Oh, rest!
2nd King.
Oh, Fount, that first
Of all hath satisfied my thirst!
3rd King.
Oh, Light,
That brings me sight!
1st King.
Thou Birth Divine,
Behold,
The earthly sign
Of power and kingship, gold,
Here in my hands I hold,
And offer, to be Thine.
2nd King.
This frankincense
Let be
A symbol, whence
All men may learn to see
How veiled a mystery
Defeats man’s sense where Godhead deigns to be.
3rd King.
Oh, Comforter of souls,
I bring Thee myrrh.
When grief my heart controls
And darkness round me rolls,
Sweet Saviour, be Thou near!
The Three Kings.
Thanksgiving, Praise, and Prayer,
Three offerings meet,
We lay in equal share
Before Christ’s feet.
Mary.
Your welcome gifts,
Proffered in love, from Earth to Heaven He lifts.
Now see we Love on Earth His throne!
All we have known,
Or hoped to gain,
Was this alone—
That He might reign!
Omnes.
That He might reign!
Oh, welcome Birth! let all adore
The Christ made Man for evermore.
The Shepherds.
’Tis Christmas morn:
Come ye, and bow the knee
Lo, here we see
The perfect Man is born.
Chorus.
(in alternate parts, Kings and Shepherds).
For this fair Birth
(Which now we see!)
Shows forth God’s worth,
(Then sing we merrily!)
And makes glad earth,
And brings man mirth,
(So sing we merrily this fair Birth!)
The Kings.
’Tis Christmas Day:
Oh pray,—put off your sins!
This day begins
For man the perfect way.
Chorus (as before).
For this fair Birth, etc.
[During this song the Attendants of the Kings have entered.
Omnes.
Mother Mary, give us thy Son’s Blessing!
(They sing.) Mary, Gate of Day,
Lend thine intercession!
Holy Mother Mary,
Pray for my transgression!
Ere He yet touched Earth,
He did first touch thee;
Through thy perfect worth
God reached down for me.
The word expressed
In Flesh hath come;
Against my breast
The Voice lies dumb,
That shall be of all prophecies the sum.
Oh, Thou dread Voice
Of Heaven’s decree,
Who madest choice
To dwell with me,
Now through my lips, this once, let utterance be!
My Peace I leave,
My Peace I give:
All that receive
The same shall live;
And tribute hearts win joy retributive.
The Cup I bless,
The Bread I break,
Is Righteousness!
Draw near and take!
Eat, drink, and hold remembrance for Love’s sake!
The peace of Peace,
Outpassing sense,
Give your mind’s ease
When ye go hence.
Love, peace, and pardon be your recompense!
Omnes.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee! Blessed art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and
in the hour of our death. Amen.
Mary.
Kings from far countries have ye come to see
A King Whose reign shall make all kingdoms free.
Low at His feet your crowns ye cast to ground;
From this day forward ye shall go more crowned;
For, named hereafter, ye shall be named wise,
Seeing that in Heaven ye watched Christ’s star arise.
Great kings ye came, but much more great ye go,
Who to His state have bowed yourselves so low.
And you, dear Shepherds, to your settled folds
Return, and father your sweet flocks to rest!
Though Heavenly signs depart, Heaven’s purpose holds,
Where Earth’s Redemption slumbers at my breast.
Look where He lies! Kiss ye His feet, and go!
Your Shepherd He: Whose sheep are ye, I know.
When mothers teach to babes their mother-tongue,
This tale shall first be told:
How to His birth ye came in days of old,
While starlight led and seraph-voices sung.
So, in that story, shall your names stay young.
Farewell; give thanks for this! Ye to Christ’s fold
Are come. Take all the bliss that hearts on earth may hold!
[Exeunt Kings, Shepherds, and Attendants.
Shepherds and Kings (without).
I heard on Christmas night
The loud bells ringing:
‘New Life and Light
Christ comes bringing!’
Chorus.
Oh, that is true, is true,
And better could not be!
So God bless you!
And God bless me!
Oh, that is true, is true,
And better could not be!
So God bless you!
And God bless me!
I heard on Christmas night
The high Heavens telling:
‘Christ who left His height,
On earth finds dwelling!’
Oh, that is true, is true,
And better could not be!
So God bless you!
And God bless me!
From Mary, Queen of Might,
Comes down sweet saying:
‘I hear, on Christmas night,
All poor hearts praying!’
Oh, that is true, is true,
And better could not be!
So God bless you!
And God bless me!
Enter Gabriel.
Gabriel.
Servant of God, sleep not, awake!
Saddle the ass ere dawn of day;
The Mother, and the young Child take,
Whom Herod seeketh now to slay;
Get thee hence ere the wakening bird
Hath sung; to Egypt win thy way:
There, till I come and bring thee word,
Shalt thou in hiding stay.
As thou hast heard, make haste, obey!
[Exit.
Joseph.
Mary, arise; hence must we go,
Even before the dawn of day.
Mary.
It is God’s will?
Joseph.
’Tis even so:
His angel’s word.
Mary.
Which we obey.
[Exeunt.
Enter Chorus.
Chorus. Oh Maid and Holy Child, where have ye gone?
Lost are the voices, sets the Star that shone:
Back to their folds have gone the shepherd-band:
Each king is now returned to his own land.
Love is gone forth into the world to win
Saints to their rest, and sinners back from sin.
Gentles, O ye that here have watched our play,
Tell me, I pray you, did He pass your way?
Say have ye Him safe, each one, in his breast?
Oh, hold Him well! So shall we all have rest.
The grace of Jesus Christ, who is our Lord,
The Love of God, the Holy Ghost’s accord,
Be with us all! And Heaven be our reward!
Amen.
Printed by R. & R. Clark, Limited, Edinburgh.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.