PROLOGUE
PROLOGUE
Before curtain rises there is sung—
GGOD rest you merry, gentlemen,[1]Let nothing you dismay;Remember Christ our SaviourWas born on Christmas Day,To save us all from Satan’s powerWhen we were gone astray.Chorus.O! tidings of comfort and joy.2. In Bethlehem, in Jewry,This blessed Babe was born,And laid within a manger,Upon this blessed morn.The which His mother MaryDid nothing take in scorn.Chorus.O! tidings ...3. From God our Heavenly FatherA blessed Angel came,And unto certain ShepherdsBrought tidings of the same:How that in Bethlehem was bornThe Son of God by name.Chorus.O! tidings ...4. Now to the Lord sing praisesAll you within this place,And with true love and brotherhoodEach other now embrace;This holy tide of ChristmasAll other doth deface.Chorus.O! tidings ...
GGOD rest you merry, gentlemen,[1]Let nothing you dismay;Remember Christ our SaviourWas born on Christmas Day,To save us all from Satan’s powerWhen we were gone astray.Chorus.O! tidings of comfort and joy.2. In Bethlehem, in Jewry,This blessed Babe was born,And laid within a manger,Upon this blessed morn.The which His mother MaryDid nothing take in scorn.Chorus.O! tidings ...3. From God our Heavenly FatherA blessed Angel came,And unto certain ShepherdsBrought tidings of the same:How that in Bethlehem was bornThe Son of God by name.Chorus.O! tidings ...4. Now to the Lord sing praisesAll you within this place,And with true love and brotherhoodEach other now embrace;This holy tide of ChristmasAll other doth deface.Chorus.O! tidings ...
GGOD rest you merry, gentlemen,[1]Let nothing you dismay;Remember Christ our SaviourWas born on Christmas Day,To save us all from Satan’s powerWhen we were gone astray.
G
Chorus.O! tidings of comfort and joy.
2. In Bethlehem, in Jewry,This blessed Babe was born,And laid within a manger,Upon this blessed morn.The which His mother MaryDid nothing take in scorn.
Chorus.O! tidings ...
3. From God our Heavenly FatherA blessed Angel came,And unto certain ShepherdsBrought tidings of the same:How that in Bethlehem was bornThe Son of God by name.
Chorus.O! tidings ...
4. Now to the Lord sing praisesAll you within this place,And with true love and brotherhoodEach other now embrace;This holy tide of ChristmasAll other doth deface.
Chorus.O! tidings ...
Curtains part—EnterHerald,closing curtains behind him. He bows low, slowly, with arms across his breast; he recovers himself perfectly upright, and begins in a clear, declaiming voice—
Good Christians, now the time is near [here]When long ago our Saviour dearCame hither from His heavenly hallTo teach and help and save us all.For born He was, a little Child,And Mary was His mother mild,And Joseph guarded both of themWithin the cave of Bethlehem.Here simple shepherds ran to view[He makes a gesture with his right hand.The Lord alike of them and you:Here, on their camels, came to see[He repeats gesture with his left hand.Their Lord, wise kings of Araby.Here Angels sang their praises meet,And bowed before His little feet,Whose hands the heavens and earth have wrought[He extends his hands slowly, palms uppermost.And, pierced by nails, our ransom bought.To this same God the whole world wideBows and adores at Christmastide.[He bows very slowly as he speaks the line.We therefore, too, with good intent,The simple story here present.Here sheep and shepherds shall you see,The Holy Child and sweet Mary,Great angels and good Joseph too,Merchants, and simple folks like you,The sturdy landlord of the inn,Cold snow without and fire within—All shall be shown as best we can,In praise of Jesus, God and man.[He bows.We therefore pray you of your graceTo hear in silence and good face.Mock not, if here or there we failTo set out well this holy tale.Keep silence, too, except ye sing,As we shall do, before our King.And if we please you, well, why then,We pray you, hold your peace again.And so God☩bless us all. Amen.[He signs himself; bows; and exit backwards through curtains.
Good Christians, now the time is near [here]When long ago our Saviour dearCame hither from His heavenly hallTo teach and help and save us all.For born He was, a little Child,And Mary was His mother mild,And Joseph guarded both of themWithin the cave of Bethlehem.Here simple shepherds ran to view[He makes a gesture with his right hand.The Lord alike of them and you:Here, on their camels, came to see[He repeats gesture with his left hand.Their Lord, wise kings of Araby.Here Angels sang their praises meet,And bowed before His little feet,Whose hands the heavens and earth have wrought[He extends his hands slowly, palms uppermost.And, pierced by nails, our ransom bought.To this same God the whole world wideBows and adores at Christmastide.[He bows very slowly as he speaks the line.We therefore, too, with good intent,The simple story here present.Here sheep and shepherds shall you see,The Holy Child and sweet Mary,Great angels and good Joseph too,Merchants, and simple folks like you,The sturdy landlord of the inn,Cold snow without and fire within—All shall be shown as best we can,In praise of Jesus, God and man.[He bows.We therefore pray you of your graceTo hear in silence and good face.Mock not, if here or there we failTo set out well this holy tale.Keep silence, too, except ye sing,As we shall do, before our King.And if we please you, well, why then,We pray you, hold your peace again.And so God☩bless us all. Amen.[He signs himself; bows; and exit backwards through curtains.
Good Christians, now the time is near [here]When long ago our Saviour dearCame hither from His heavenly hallTo teach and help and save us all.For born He was, a little Child,And Mary was His mother mild,And Joseph guarded both of themWithin the cave of Bethlehem.Here simple shepherds ran to view[He makes a gesture with his right hand.The Lord alike of them and you:Here, on their camels, came to see[He repeats gesture with his left hand.Their Lord, wise kings of Araby.Here Angels sang their praises meet,And bowed before His little feet,Whose hands the heavens and earth have wrought[He extends his hands slowly, palms uppermost.And, pierced by nails, our ransom bought.To this same God the whole world wideBows and adores at Christmastide.[He bows very slowly as he speaks the line.
We therefore, too, with good intent,The simple story here present.Here sheep and shepherds shall you see,The Holy Child and sweet Mary,Great angels and good Joseph too,Merchants, and simple folks like you,The sturdy landlord of the inn,Cold snow without and fire within—All shall be shown as best we can,In praise of Jesus, God and man.[He bows.We therefore pray you of your graceTo hear in silence and good face.Mock not, if here or there we failTo set out well this holy tale.Keep silence, too, except ye sing,As we shall do, before our King.And if we please you, well, why then,We pray you, hold your peace again.And so God☩bless us all. Amen.[He signs himself; bows; and exit backwards through curtains.
Exeunt the three Merchants.
Exeunt the three Merchants.