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The evergreen tree

Chapter 6: FIFTH ACTION (“Sword of the World”)
By Percy MacKaye
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About This Book

A community masque in twelve actions frames a Christmas ritual around an evergreen as a symbol of light, childhood, and renewal. Folk and biblical figures—elves and gnomes, shepherds, a mute Mary and Joseph, a persecuting host, outcasts, and the Three Kings—interact with choruses, carols, and staged tableaux to dramatize contrasts between innocence, authority, exile, and consolation. Music, choral participation, and scenic design are integral, with carols and choruses set for communal singing and acting. The piece envisions a democratic, devotional festival that blends pagan merriment with Christian passion to express communal hope and sorrow amid social trial.

FIFTH ACTION
(“Sword of the World”)

STAGE B: THE PLACE OF EMPIRE

Gateway and Steps in front of HEROD’S Palace.

With spears and in armor, the CAPTAIN and the Host of Herod are assembling.

With deep, pounding reverberation, Voices of the male Chorus conflict with the far, high singing of the other Chorus, now dying away.

Fourth Chorus: B,1. The Might of Herod
CHORUS
Herod—Herod—Herod—Herod, the mighty
Lord of the world!
Hail him, hail him, hail him Herod the Master!
Bow to his will!
His power what star can confound?
Or cloud can darken his splendor,
Who bindeth his brow with the lightning
And girdeth his loins with the storm!
For he maketh the world of men
The winnowing floor of his glory:
And he weareth the mail of the Most High,
And shareth the mantle of God.—
Millions obey him,
Man is his tool.
Forth on his errands
Fly his red legions;
Domes of his dwelling
Glow in the dawn.
Fire—fire
Forgeth his empire;
Slaves—slaves
Rear his dominion;
Sowing and harvest
Bleed in his furrows;
Peace is his footstool,
War is his crown.
Herod—Herod—Herod—Herod, the mighty
Lord of the world!
(Beside the gate, the Captain of the Host strikes a deep-toned gong and calls aloud.)
CAPTAIN
Herod! Herod, the most High!

(HEROD comes forth with his Followers. Clad in long robe of Tyrian purple, he wears on his head a gold helmet. In his hand, he holds a great staff, surmounted by a globe of the world.)

HEROD
Who calls so loud at my gate?
CAPTAIN
I, Captain of the Host of Herod.
HEROD
Why do you cry on my name?
CAPTAIN
For I am come at your bidding, King of Men.
Lo, we are here to do your command.
HEROD
My command I gave you, to bring unto me three Wise Men,
Kings of the East. Show them before me now.
CAPTAIN
Most High, they are not here. We have made far searching
But they are vanished away.
HEROD
Where are they gone?
CAPTAIN
No man has seen.
HEROD
Where shines their star?
CAPTAIN
Heaven has no sign.
HEROD
Where was he found—the child they worshipped?
CAPTAIN
Lowly he lay, in a poor manger.
HEROD
Now bring him before me!
CAPTAIN
He too has departed.
HEROD
My command! My command! My command!
Have ye not slain him? Speak!
CAPTAIN
Herod, most High, how shall the vanished be slain?
No sign gives us token
Where child and mother and manger and guiding star
Are vanished away.
HEROD
Powers of my crown and throne! Am I not Herod,
Herod, the Mighty? Who shall defeat my power?
Fifth Chorus: B,2 & A,4. The Wrath of Herod.

(Close by, from the Place of Empire, deep Choral Voices reiterate HEROD’S boasts of triumph; far off, from the Place of Outcasts, they are answered in antiphony by high, sweet Choirs, affirming his defeat.)

B,2, Reiterative
CHORUS B
Herod, our lord and king! Who shall defy his command?
A,4, Antiphonal
CHORUS A
A star! A star shall confound him.
HEROD
Am I the Sword of the World, and shall a weakling disarm me?
B,2, Reiterative
CHORUS B
How shall the crook of a shepherd shatter the sword of a king?
A,4, Antiphonal
CHORUS A
A child! A child shall disarm him!
HEROD
Hath God anointed me, yea, and shall a babe disinherit?
B,2, Reiterative
CHORUS B
Lo, shall the light of a manger outshine his glory of palaces?
A,4, Antiphonal
CHORUS A
A dream! A dream shall survive him!
HEROD
Now, by my host of power! he shall not escape me—
This babe low-born, but for his sake shall all
The hosts of childhood perish. Go forth and slay them,
All newly born of women, that he among them
May not escape, and all who shall resist
My power, young men or old, brothers or fathers,
Destroy them likewise—yea, with red fire and spear
And burning sword-blade. Go! My will is God’s,
For I am Herod—Herod, lord of the world!

(Raising his sword, the Captain makes sign to the Host, who lift high their spears. As the Chorus breaks into song, they depart, marching, while Herod reënters his palace.)

Sixth Chorus: B,3. Song of the Persecuting Host
CHORUS
Go forth, ye host of power!
Lay waste, lay waste the lowly!
For Herod’s might is a blazing tower,
And Herod’s wrath is holy.
Yea, Herod’s wrath
God’s ire it hath
As he rends the weak asunder.
Go forth upon his fiery path
Go forth, ye host, in thunder!
The strong, the strong shall reign!
Unleash the hounds of pain,
And loose their cry
Where the wounded lie
And the weakling race are slain.
Go forth, ye host of power!
Destroy, destroy the dreaming!
For none may pause for a dream to flower
Where Herod’s might goes streaming.
Yea, Herod’s might
God maketh His right
When the weak of the world go under.
Go forth upon their darkling flight,
Go forth, ye host, in thunder!

Sword of the World

CHORUS B
Herod, our lord and king! Who shall defy his command?
CHORUS A
A star! A star shall confound him!