Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse Part 37

HEROD. Then speed thee forth hastily, And look that thou bear thee evenly; And also, I pray thee heartily, That thou do commend me Both to young and old.

[_The_ Messenger _goes to the_ Kings.]

NUNTIUS. Hail, sir kings, in your degree!

Herod, king of these countries wide, Desireth to speak with you all three, And for your coming he doth abide.

FIRST REX. Sir, at his will we be right bain.

Hie us, brethren, unto that lord's place; To speak with him we would be fain; That child that we seek, He grant us of His grace!

[_They go to_ HEROD.]

NUNTIUS. Hail, lord without peer!

These three kings here have we brought.

HEROD. Now welcome, sir kings, all in-fere!

But of my bright blee, sirs, abash ye not!

Sir kings, as I understand, A star hath guided you into my land, Wherein great hearting ye have found By reason of her beams bright.

Wherefore I pray you heartily The very truth that ye would certify, How long it is surely Since of that star you had first sight.

FIRST REX. Sir king, the very truth to say, And for to show you as it is best, This same is even the twelfth day Sith it appeared to us to be west.

HEROD. Brethren, then is there no more to say, But with heart and will keep ye your journey, And come home by me this same way, Of your news that I might know.

You shall triumph in this country, And with great concord banquet with me, And that child myself then will I see, And honour him also.

SECOND REX. Sir, your commandment we will fulfil, And humbly obey ourself theretill.

He that wieldeth all things at will The ready way us teach, Sir King, that we may pa.s.s your land in peace!

HEROD. Yes, and walk softly even at your own ease.

Your pa.s.sport for a hundred days Here shall you have of clear command, Our realm to labour any ways Here shall you have by special grant.

THIRD REX. Now farewell, king of high degree!

Humbly of you our leave we take.

HEROD. Then adieu, sir kings all three!

And while I live be bold of me.

There is nothing in this country But for your own ye shall it take.

[_Exeunt the_ Three Kings.]

Now these three kings are gone on their way; Unwisely and unwittily have they all wrought.

When they come again they shall die that same day, And thus these vile wretches to death they shall be brought.

Such is my liking.

He that against my laws will hold, Be he king or kaiser never so bold, I shall them cast into cares cold, And to death I shall them bring.

_There Herod goeth his ways and the three kings come in again._

FIRST REX. O blessed G.o.d, much is thy might!

Where is this star that gave us light?

SECOND REX. Now kneel we down here in this presence, Beseeching that Lord of high magnificence That we may see his high excellence, If that his sweet will be.

THIRD REX. Yonder, brother, I see the star, Whereby I know He is not far; Therefore, lords, go we nar Into this poor place.

_There the_ Three Kings _goes in to the jesen, to_ MARY _and her_ Child.

FIRST REX. Hail, Lord, that all this world hath wrought!

Hail, G.o.d and man together in-fere!

For thou hast made all thing of nought, Albeit that Thou liest poorly here.

A cupfull [of] gold here have I thee brought, In tokening Thou art without peer.

SECOND REX. Hail be Thou, Lord of high magnificence!

In tokening of priesthood and dignity of office, To Thee I offer a cupfull of incense, For it behoveth thee to have such sacrifice.

THIRD REX. Hail be Thou, Lord long looked for!

I have brought Thee myrrh for mortality, In tokening Thou shalt mankind restore To life by Thy death upon a tree.

MARY. G.o.d have mercy, kings, of your goodness!

By the guiding of the G.o.dhead hither are ye sent.

The prevision of my sweet Son your ways home redress, And ghostly reward you for your present!

[_As the_ KINGS _go away, they say._]

FIRST REX. Sir kings, after our promise, Home by Herod I must needs go.

SECOND REX. Now truly brethren, we can no less, But I am so for-watched I wot not what to do.

THIRD REX. Right so am I; wherefore, I you pray, Let all us rest us awhile upon this ground.

FIRST REX. Brethren, your saying is right well unto my pay.

The grace of that sweet child save us all sound!

[_While they sleep the_ ANGEL _appears._]

ANGEL. King of Taurus, Sir Jaspar, King of Araby, Sir Balthasar, Melchior, King of Aginar, To you now am I sent.

For dread of Herod, go you west home; Into those parts when ye come down, Ye shall be buried with great renown; The Holy Ghost thus knowledge hath sent. [_Exit._]

FIRST REX. Awake, sir Kings, I you pray!

For the voice of an angel I heard in my dream.

SECOND REX. That is full true that ye do say, For he rehea.r.s.ed our names plain.

THIRD REX. He bade that we should go down by west, For dread of Herod's false betray.

FIRST REX. So for to do it is the best; The Child that we have sought guide us the way!

Now farewell, the fairest, of shape so sweet!

And thanked be Jesus of his sond, That we three together so suddenly should meet, That dwell so wide and in strange lond,

And here make our presentation Unto this King's Son, cleansed so clean, And to his Mother, for our salvation; Of much mirth now may we mean, That we so well have done this oblation.

SECOND REX. Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brother, to you, King of Taurus, the most worthy!

Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow, And I thank you both of your good company That we together have had.

He that made us to meet on hill, I thank Him now, and ever I will; For now may we go without ill, And of our offering be full glad.

THIRD REX. Now sith that we must needly go, For dread of Herod that is so wroth, Now farewell brother, and brother also, I take my leave here at you both, This day on feet.

Now He that made us to meet on plain, And offer to Mary in her jesayne, He give us grace in heaven again All together to meet.

[_They go out, and_ HEROD _and his train occupy the pageant._]

NUNTIUS. Hail King, most worthiest in weed!