Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse Part 35

THIRD PASTOR. Hark! They sing above in the clouds clear!

Heard I never of so merry a quere.

Now, gentle brethren, draw we near To hear their harmony.

FIRST PASTOR.--Brother, mirth and solace is come us among; For by the sweetness of their song, G.o.d's Son is come, whom we have looked for long, As signifieth this star that we do see.

SECOND PASTOR. "Glory, gloria in excelsis," that was their song; How say ye, fellows, said they not thus?

FIRST PASTOR. That is well said; now go we hence To worship that child of high magnificence, And that we may sing in His presence "Et in terra pax hominibus."

_There the shepherds sings "As I out rode," and Joseph saith:_

JOSEPH. Now, Lord, this noise that I do hear, With this great solemnity, Greatly amended hath my cheer; I trust high news shortly will be.

_There the Angels sing "Gloria in excelsis" again._

MARY. Ah! Joseph, husband, come hither anon; My child is born that is King of bliss.

JOSEPH. Now welcome to me, the maker of mon, With all the homage that I con; Thy sweet mouth here will I kiss.

MARY. Ah! Joseph, husband, my child waxeth cold, And we have no fire to warm him with.

JOSEPH. Now in mine arms I shall him fold, King of all kings by field and by frith; He might have had better, and Himself would, Than the breathing of these beasts to warm him with.

MARY. Now, Joseph, my husband, fetch hither my child, The Maker of man, and high King of bliss.

JOSEPH. That shall be done anon, Mary so mild, For the breathing of these beasts hath warmed [Him] well, i-wis.

[_Angels appear to the shepherds._]

FIRST ANGEL. Herd-men hend, Dread ye nothing Of this star that ye do see; For this same morn G.o.d's Son is born In Bethlehem of a maiden free.

SECOND ANGEL. Hie you thither in haste; It is His will ye shall Him see Lying in a crib of poor repast, Yet of David's line come is He.

[_The Shepherds approach and worship the Babe._]

FIRST PASTOR. Hail, maid, mother, and wife so mild!

As the angel said, so have we fand.

I have nothing to present with thy child But my pipe; hold, hold, take it in thy hand; Wherein much pleasure that I have fand; And now, to honour thy glorious birth, Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth.

SECOND PASTOR. Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame!

For in a poor lodging here art thou laid, So the angel said and told us thy name; Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head!

And now of one thing thou art well sped, For weather thou hast no need to complain, For wind, ne sun, hail, snow and rain.

THIRD PASTOR. Hail be thou, Lord over water and lands!

For thy coming all we may make mirth.

Have here my mittens to put on thy hands, Other treasure have I none to present thee with.

MARY. Now, herdmen hend, For your coming, To my child shall I pray, As He is heaven King, To grant you His blessing, And to His bliss that ye may wend At your last day.

_There the shepherds singeth again and goth forth of the place, and the two prophets cometh in and saith thus:_

FIRST PROPHET. Novels, novels, Of wonderful marvels Very high and diffuse unto the hearing!

As Scripture tells, These strange novels To you I bring.

SECOND PROPHET. Now heartily, sir, I desire to know, If it would please you for to show Of what manner a thing.

FIRST PROPHET. Very mystical unto your hearing,-- Of the nativity of a King.

SECOND PROPHET. Of a King? Whence should he come?

FIRST PROPHET. From that region royal and mighty mansion, The Seed celestial and heavenly wisdom, The Second Person and G.o.d's own Son, For our sake now is man become.

This goodly sphere Descended here Into a Virgin clear, She undefiled.

By whose work obscure Our frail nature Is now beguiled.

_Second Prophet._ Why, hath she a child?

FIRST PROPHET. Eh! trust it well; And never-the-less Yet is she a maiden even as she was, And her Son the King of Israel.

SECOND PROPHET. A wonderful marvel How that may be, And far doth excell All our capacity: How that the Trinity, Of so high regality, Should joined be Unto our mortality!

FIRST PROPHET. Of his own great mercy, As ye shall see the exposition, Through whose humanity All Adam's progeny Redeemed shall be out of perdition.

Sith man did offend, Who should amend But the said man, and none other?

For the which cause He Incarnate would be And live in misery as man's own brother.

SECOND PROPHET. Sir, unto the Deity, I believe perfectly, Impossible to be there is nothing; Howbeit this wark Unto me is dark In the operation or working.

FIRST PROPHET. What more reprief Is unto belief Than to be doubting?

SECOND PROPHET. Yet doubts oft-times hath derivation.

FIRST PROPHET. That is by the means of communication Of truths to have a due probation By the same doubts reasoning.

SECOND PROPHET. Then to you this one thing: Of what n.o.ble and high lineage is she That might this veritable prince's mother be?

FIRST PROPHET. Undoubted she is come of high parage, Of the house of David and Solomon the sage; And one of the same line joined to her by marriage; Of whose tribe We do subscribe This child's lineage.

SECOND PROPHET. And why in that wise?

FIRST PROPHET. For it was the guise To count the parent on the man's line, And not on the feminine, Amongst us here in Israel.

SECOND PROPHET. Yet can I not espy by no wise How this child born should be without nature's prejudice.

FIRST PROPHET. Nay, no prejudice unto nature, I dare well say; For the King of nature may Have all at His own will.

Did not the power of G.o.d Make Aaron's rod Bear fruit in one day?

SECOND PROPHET. Truth it is indeed.

FIRST PROPHET. Then look you and read.

SECOND PROPHET. Ah! I perceive the seed Whereupon that you spake.

It was for our need That He frail nature did take, And His blood He should shed Amends for to make For our transgression; As it is said in prophecy That of the line of Judee Should spring a right Messee By whom all we Shall have redemption.

FIRST PROPHET. Sir, now is the time come, And the date thereof run, Of His nativity.

SECOND PROPHET. Yet I beseech you heartily That ye would show me how That this strange novelty Were brought unto you.

FIRST PROPHET. This other night so cold, Hereby upon a wold, Shepherds watching their fold, In the night so far To them appeared a star, And ever it drew them nar; Which star they did behold Brighter, they say, in fold, Than the sun so clear In his midday sphere, And they these tidings told.

SECOND PROPHET. What, secretly?

FIRST PROPHET. Nay, nay, hardily; They made thereof no counsel; For they sang as loud As ever they could, Praising the King of Israel.

SECOND PROPHET. Yet do I marvel In what pile or castle These herdmen did Him see.

FIRST PROPHET. Neither in halls nor yet in bowers Born would He not be, Neither in castles nor yet in towers That seemly were to see;