SCENE II

Before curtain rises, invisible Choir sings—

CCOME let us all sweet carols sing,[5]Omni relicto tædioOf Mary, Mother of our King,Christoque Jesu Filio.When she had borne that Holy Thing.Reponit in præsepio (bis).2. Now Gabriel sweeping from the sky,Missus a Deo nuntius,These tidings beareth from on high,Lætissimis pastoribus,Behold your God on earth doth lie,Invenietis protinus.4. Quickly away the shepherds flew,Clara Gabrielis voce,Rejoicing as if filled anew,Bono Bacchico liquore,Leaping and dancing nigh they drew,Simul in Bethlehem Judæ.6. They entered then the hallowed cave,Jesum hic adoraverunt,The best of all they had they gave,Puerumque oraverunt,Pardon for that was lacking crave,Subitoque abierunt.

CCOME let us all sweet carols sing,[5]Omni relicto tædioOf Mary, Mother of our King,Christoque Jesu Filio.When she had borne that Holy Thing.Reponit in præsepio (bis).

2. Now Gabriel sweeping from the sky,Missus a Deo nuntius,These tidings beareth from on high,Lætissimis pastoribus,Behold your God on earth doth lie,Invenietis protinus.

4. Quickly away the shepherds flew,Clara Gabrielis voce,Rejoicing as if filled anew,Bono Bacchico liquore,Leaping and dancing nigh they drew,Simul in Bethlehem Judæ.

6. They entered then the hallowed cave,Jesum hic adoraverunt,The best of all they had they gave,Puerumque oraverunt,Pardon for that was lacking crave,Subitoque abierunt.

Curtain Rises

Scene—Kitchen of inn. In centre a fire: pot over it. White walls. Two doorsR.andL., R.into street, L.into inn. A tableR.with three stools. DiscoveredTobias,stirring pot, andDavidbusying himself with plates at the table. After curtain is up,Tobiasleaves spoon in pot, and comes forward. During all this scene he is plainly uneasy and indecisive. He relapses into silence, then rouses himself to speak.

Tob.And you have heard it, David?[They speak softly.Dav.Yes, all day,Good master, have I heard them.Tob.“Them,” you say?Why, who are they?[He looks steadily atDav.,with folded arms.Dav.I know not, but the soundWas that of singing in the air, and round[He makes gesture.About; and steps, and wings; and everywhereI heard them plainly.Tob.Was it from the airYou heard it?Dav.Aye, sir.Tob.Nothing have you seen?Dav.No, sir.[A silence.Tob.Now, David, what doth all this mean?...I, too, have heard.... Say not a word of thisTo any man.... For these are mysteries.[Clamour of voices and stamping.[Tob.leaps back to pot and begins stirringagain.Dav.turns to plates, &c.Tob.Now, boy, make haste.... Hark to the guests below.[Shouts.Coming, sirs, coming.... Yes, boy, take and go.[ExitDav.(L.)with plates and bread.I’ll bring this presently. God bless us! Why[Murmur without.I never heard such tumult. No, not IIn all my days.[Knocking heard on door(R.).Yes, yes, come in, come in.[Enter(R.)Three Merchants.Eliph.Well, my good host, and have you room within?Tob.What? More of them? Who are you, gentlemen?Eliph.Why, we are merchants three, come back againTo Bethlehem, as all the world doth know,For our enrolment. Through the frost and snowWe’ve trudged full many a mile. And have you spaceFor three good gentlemen? [He sits down heavily.Tob.Why, all the placeIs full from roof to garret.[Tumult breaks out again.Hark to them!Why, all mankind seems come to Bethlehem!Nad.Well, well! Have you no beds?Tob.Not one to spare,Nor bite nor sup, I think.[He makes despairing gesture.Uzz.(pointing to pot).What have you there?[EnterDav.(L.).Tob.No, no, good sir! First come first served, I say.ToDav.Here, lad, make haste. Come! bear the pot away.[Dav.takes it and exit(L.).Eliph.Why, but you cannot turn us out! ’Tis nightAnd freezing cold. We must have food and lightAnd roof above us.Nad.Let us have the floorHere in this kitchen, if you have no more.Tob.Well, gentlemen, I tell you, as I live,I have no better and no more to give.Eliph.Well, we must make a shift to rest and dine.A loaf of bread you have, at least, and wine,And skins, I’ll warrant you, to keep the coldFrom killing us. The sheep within the foldSeemed well-nigh frozen as we passed them by.Tob.Well, gentlemen, if you can shift, then IWill do my best to please you. Sit you down.[Nad.andUzz.sit; unloose wrappings.EnterDav.(L.).Well, are they served there?Dav.Yes, sir.[He stands waiting.Tob.All the townIs full. I never saw the like before!ToDav.Here, lad! make haste! Go, fetch a bottle more,And bread and meat. These gentlemen must dine.[ExitDav.(L.).(ToThree.) I promise you, a cup of our good wineWill set you up, sirs.[He sets out plates and cups.Eliph.Ah! I warrant youWe’ll do good justice to a cup or two.

Tob.And you have heard it, David?[They speak softly.

Dav.Yes, all day,Good master, have I heard them.

Tob.“Them,” you say?Why, who are they?[He looks steadily atDav.,with folded arms.

Dav.I know not, but the soundWas that of singing in the air, and round[He makes gesture.About; and steps, and wings; and everywhereI heard them plainly.

Tob.Was it from the airYou heard it?

Dav.Aye, sir.

Tob.Nothing have you seen?

Dav.No, sir.[A silence.

Tob.Now, David, what doth all this mean?...I, too, have heard.... Say not a word of thisTo any man.... For these are mysteries.[Clamour of voices and stamping.[Tob.leaps back to pot and begins stirringagain.Dav.turns to plates, &c.

Tob.Now, boy, make haste.... Hark to the guests below.[Shouts.Coming, sirs, coming.... Yes, boy, take and go.[ExitDav.(L.)with plates and bread.I’ll bring this presently. God bless us! Why[Murmur without.I never heard such tumult. No, not IIn all my days.[Knocking heard on door(R.).Yes, yes, come in, come in.[Enter(R.)Three Merchants.

Eliph.Well, my good host, and have you room within?

Tob.What? More of them? Who are you, gentlemen?

Eliph.Why, we are merchants three, come back againTo Bethlehem, as all the world doth know,For our enrolment. Through the frost and snowWe’ve trudged full many a mile. And have you spaceFor three good gentlemen? [He sits down heavily.

Tob.Why, all the placeIs full from roof to garret.[Tumult breaks out again.Hark to them!Why, all mankind seems come to Bethlehem!

Nad.Well, well! Have you no beds?

Tob.Not one to spare,Nor bite nor sup, I think.[He makes despairing gesture.

Uzz.(pointing to pot).What have you there?[EnterDav.(L.).

Tob.No, no, good sir! First come first served, I say.ToDav.Here, lad, make haste. Come! bear the pot away.[Dav.takes it and exit(L.).

Eliph.Why, but you cannot turn us out! ’Tis nightAnd freezing cold. We must have food and lightAnd roof above us.

Nad.Let us have the floorHere in this kitchen, if you have no more.

Tob.Well, gentlemen, I tell you, as I live,I have no better and no more to give.

Eliph.Well, we must make a shift to rest and dine.A loaf of bread you have, at least, and wine,And skins, I’ll warrant you, to keep the coldFrom killing us. The sheep within the foldSeemed well-nigh frozen as we passed them by.

Tob.Well, gentlemen, if you can shift, then IWill do my best to please you. Sit you down.[Nad.andUzz.sit; unloose wrappings.

EnterDav.(L.).Well, are they served there?

Dav.Yes, sir.[He stands waiting.

Tob.All the townIs full. I never saw the like before!ToDav.Here, lad! make haste! Go, fetch a bottle more,And bread and meat. These gentlemen must dine.[ExitDav.(L.).(ToThree.) I promise you, a cup of our good wineWill set you up, sirs.[He sets out plates and cups.

Eliph.Ah! I warrant youWe’ll do good justice to a cup or two.

[They range themselves. EnterDav.with bottle, mugs, bread, and meat, and exit again(L.).They begin to eat and drink. Landlord stands with arms akimbo by fire, watching. Now and again he comes to table, helps them to wine, &c., and goes back, as conversation continues.

Tob.And was all quiet as you came?[He looks at them curiously.Nad.Why, yes.All was as still as death—a wildernessOf snow and frost.Tob.And did you see no man?[Very earnestly, leaning on table.Nad.Why, yes, a few. Just as the road beganTo come to Rachel’s tomb we passed a maidAnd old man, and her arm in his was laid;[He pauses to eat during this speech.He is very cool and self-contained.And they were walking—walking wondrous slow:[He makes a little gesture.The maid seemed wearied.... And an hour agoTwo children; and then afterwards againSome old fool of a shepherd-man; and thenNone further, till we reached the market-square.Tob.Ah! yes. A mighty company was thereOf neighbours, come to see the folk arriveFrom all the country.

Tob.And was all quiet as you came?[He looks at them curiously.

Nad.Why, yes.All was as still as death—a wildernessOf snow and frost.

Tob.And did you see no man?[Very earnestly, leaning on table.

Nad.Why, yes, a few. Just as the road beganTo come to Rachel’s tomb we passed a maidAnd old man, and her arm in his was laid;[He pauses to eat during this speech.He is very cool and self-contained.And they were walking—walking wondrous slow:[He makes a little gesture.The maid seemed wearied.... And an hour agoTwo children; and then afterwards againSome old fool of a shepherd-man; and thenNone further, till we reached the market-square.

Tob.Ah! yes. A mighty company was thereOf neighbours, come to see the folk arriveFrom all the country.

[He begins to walk about uneasily, pensively. There is a long silence. The three eat. Then he suddenly comes back.

As I am alive,I could have sworn that more were there than men.Eliph.What, women?Tob.Aye, and more.(He looks darkly.)Eliph.Well, children, then?Tob.Aye, more than human-kind.[They stare at him, dropping food.Once and again,[He looks at them earnestly, making gestures.Speaking softly—As I looked out upon the folks, it seemedSomething was forward—somewhat—or I dreamed!—Of more than earthly business. For the airSeemed full of singing, runnings to and fro,Then silences again—rushes of sound—Footsteps, it seemed, moved on the frozen ground,As if some company, to come and goWas set, all busy, in the market-square.Eliph.(after pause).Bah! You were dreaming, man! The air was keen,And you were weary.... There was nothing seen?[He seems a little disturbed.Tob.No; for I asked my lad if aught were thereThat he could see——Nad.Bah! You and your market-square!A dreamer! Like the old man on the hillWho babbled of God’s Love and Justice tillI was all wearied—and Messias’ name,Who comes one day, he said. Why, but the sameOld tale is past and gone for you and meSince old Isaias babbled prophecy.(Scornfully.) “A Virgin shall conceive,” he said!...Choirsoftly sings a line or two—“A Virgin unspotted, the Prophet foretold,Should bring forth a Saviour whom now we....”Tob.(starting).What is that sound?Do you hear nothing?[They stare. Clamour breaks out in room(L.),and music stops.Gone again, and drowned!But you heard nothing?[EnterDavid(L.)running, excited.He stops dead.Eliph.(after pause).Why, the man is mad!Singing and footsteps! What next? Here, you lad,Did you hear aught now?Dav.(frightened).Sir, what did you say?Eliph.(banging table impatiently).Did you hear aught just now? From far awayA sound of singing?Dav.Why, sir, yes—all day—And now again![Silence. They eye one another uneasily.Nad.(toTob.).Bah! Here, a cup of wineWill clear your hearing. I dare wager mine’S as good as yours. Some drunken fellow thereIs noisy in his cups.[Holds out cup of wine toTob.,who takes it hesitatingly.Tob.(after pause).Well, sir, I swearI never heard nor drunk nor sober singAs fair as this I heard. (Drinks.)Eliph.(easily).Why, anythingMay maze a man on such a night, when snowAnd cold conspire to starve the senses. GoAnd see your other guests. Perhaps.... MaybeYou’ll find them singing.[Tob.begins to go out(L.)slowly.Aye, come back to me,[ExitTob.(L.)withDav.whispering to him.And we three’ll join them.(To other two.) Did you ever hearSuch madness?Uzz.Bah! Why, all the world is madSave such as you and I. As for that lad,I swear he spoke so just to please the man.Nad.But to come back to where we first began—

As I am alive,I could have sworn that more were there than men.

Eliph.What, women?

Tob.Aye, and more.(He looks darkly.)

Eliph.Well, children, then?

Tob.Aye, more than human-kind.[They stare at him, dropping food.Once and again,[He looks at them earnestly, making gestures.Speaking softly—As I looked out upon the folks, it seemedSomething was forward—somewhat—or I dreamed!—Of more than earthly business. For the airSeemed full of singing, runnings to and fro,Then silences again—rushes of sound—Footsteps, it seemed, moved on the frozen ground,As if some company, to come and goWas set, all busy, in the market-square.

Eliph.(after pause).Bah! You were dreaming, man! The air was keen,And you were weary.... There was nothing seen?[He seems a little disturbed.

Tob.No; for I asked my lad if aught were thereThat he could see——

Nad.Bah! You and your market-square!A dreamer! Like the old man on the hillWho babbled of God’s Love and Justice tillI was all wearied—and Messias’ name,Who comes one day, he said. Why, but the sameOld tale is past and gone for you and meSince old Isaias babbled prophecy.(Scornfully.) “A Virgin shall conceive,” he said!...

Choirsoftly sings a line or two—

“A Virgin unspotted, the Prophet foretold,Should bring forth a Saviour whom now we....”

Tob.(starting).What is that sound?Do you hear nothing?[They stare. Clamour breaks out in room(L.),and music stops.Gone again, and drowned!But you heard nothing?[EnterDavid(L.)running, excited.He stops dead.

Eliph.(after pause).Why, the man is mad!Singing and footsteps! What next? Here, you lad,Did you hear aught now?

Dav.(frightened).Sir, what did you say?

Eliph.(banging table impatiently).Did you hear aught just now? From far awayA sound of singing?

Dav.Why, sir, yes—all day—And now again![Silence. They eye one another uneasily.

Nad.(toTob.).Bah! Here, a cup of wineWill clear your hearing. I dare wager mine’S as good as yours. Some drunken fellow thereIs noisy in his cups.[Holds out cup of wine toTob.,who takes it hesitatingly.

Tob.(after pause).Well, sir, I swearI never heard nor drunk nor sober singAs fair as this I heard. (Drinks.)

Eliph.(easily).Why, anythingMay maze a man on such a night, when snowAnd cold conspire to starve the senses. GoAnd see your other guests. Perhaps.... MaybeYou’ll find them singing.[Tob.begins to go out(L.)slowly.Aye, come back to me,[ExitTob.(L.)withDav.whispering to him.And we three’ll join them.(To other two.) Did you ever hearSuch madness?

Uzz.Bah! Why, all the world is madSave such as you and I. As for that lad,I swear he spoke so just to please the man.

Nad.But to come back to where we first began—

[Air of “A Virgin” sung byChoirwith closed lips; it continues very faintly down to whereEliph.opens the door.

What think you of Messias and that taleThe prophets tell?Eliph.Well, may not prophets failAs much as any man? I hold such menNo better than this dreamer back again.Once, as a child, I thought it otherwise,And deemed that all was holy, and the skiesCrowded with angels, and the earth I trodAll holy as the dwelling-place of God.And now! Why, I know better.... (Drinks.)Nad.As for me,I’m with you. (Drinks.)Uzz.So am I. The SadduceeSeems wisest of the lot.[They pledge one another. Knocking heard(R.).Why, who comes here?[He pauses. Then he goes to door(R.)impatiently,and opens it. A burst of music. Silence. He seemsto listen.No, no! No room! Nor here, nor anywhere!...[Listens.I tell you, No! There’s not a bed to spare. [Listens.Nad.Who’s that?(Uzz.begins to stare towards door, listening.)Eliph.(after pause).The landlord’s out.... What’s that?... Why, thenYou’d best find shelter as you may.[Closes door; comes back. As he comes to seat, knocking.Again![Rises angrily; goes to door, flings open. After pause—That’s no affair of mine! I tell you, Go.And find room where you may. Above, below,The place is packed. Be off! Be off, I say![Half-closes door, listening.No; not for such as you. The host’s away,Up in Jerusalem. I’m master here;That’s my last word.[Bangs door; comes to seat. Knocking. He rises furiously.Here’s impudence, I swear![Opens door once more.I’ll set the dogs upon you.... I don’t care....[Pause.Yes, to the stable then, with ox and ass.[Bangs door; returns growling; sits.Nad.Who were the knaves?Eliph.That old man and the lassWe saw up yonder.Uzz.(who has been listening intently).Was there no one more?I could have sworn I heard them at the door—A multitude of footsteps.Eliph.(hands trembling, head jerking).Bah! what stuff!The two were there. No more! And quite enough.[He drinks. The two stare.Nad.What ails you, friend?Eliph.(furiously).Ails me! Why—[EnterTob.andDav.hurriedly(L.).Tob.Who came then?I swear I heard the music once again.And knocking. Was there no one at the door?[He hurries across toR.,but stops irresolute.Eliph.Music? What foolery is this?Nad.(coolly).BeforeYou came just now, two folks were here, but nowGone otherwhere to seek for shelter.Tob.How?[He hastens to door(R.),followed byDav.Gone otherwhere! Why, there’s no room to findIn all the place.[Opens door; looks out. Very faint music,“A Virgin unspotted ...;” it continuesdown to end of scene.It surely were unkindTo turn a dog away on such a night. (Turns from door.)Where are they gone? Here, David, bring a light.[Dav.does so. He looks.Nad.Nay, they are gone. Here, drink a cup with me.Dav.(crying out, pointing).Oh! master, look!Tob.(looking eagerly).Eh? eh? What is’t you see?Dav.There master, there![TheThree Merchantsrise in alarm andstandL.,staringR.Eliph.What is it? Speak, I say.Tob.(staring out).No. I see nothing!Dav.There, across the way!All, all in light they move, a countless host.[He falls on knee.Eliph.Bah! bah! What foolery! He sees a ghost.[Shrinks in fear and anger.Tob.(quietly).My lad, I can see nothing.... That’s the byreWhere lie the cattle.Dav.(suddenly crying out and pointing).See! all, all afireWith glory!Eliph.(in terror, as are others).Here, man! Shut the door![They continue there.Well, if you will not, I will.[Sidles along wall; shuts door angrily.One fool moreOr less in such a household matters not.Nad.(recovering).Why, landlord! your old wits are clean forgotAnd wildered.Uzz.Drink a cup of wine with me!There’s no cure for such madness but good company.

What think you of Messias and that taleThe prophets tell?

Eliph.Well, may not prophets failAs much as any man? I hold such menNo better than this dreamer back again.Once, as a child, I thought it otherwise,And deemed that all was holy, and the skiesCrowded with angels, and the earth I trodAll holy as the dwelling-place of God.And now! Why, I know better.... (Drinks.)

Nad.As for me,I’m with you. (Drinks.)

Uzz.So am I. The SadduceeSeems wisest of the lot.[They pledge one another. Knocking heard(R.).Why, who comes here?[He pauses. Then he goes to door(R.)impatiently,and opens it. A burst of music. Silence. He seemsto listen.No, no! No room! Nor here, nor anywhere!...[Listens.I tell you, No! There’s not a bed to spare. [Listens.

Nad.Who’s that?(Uzz.begins to stare towards door, listening.)

Eliph.(after pause).The landlord’s out.... What’s that?... Why, thenYou’d best find shelter as you may.[Closes door; comes back. As he comes to seat, knocking.Again![Rises angrily; goes to door, flings open. After pause—That’s no affair of mine! I tell you, Go.And find room where you may. Above, below,The place is packed. Be off! Be off, I say![Half-closes door, listening.No; not for such as you. The host’s away,Up in Jerusalem. I’m master here;That’s my last word.[Bangs door; comes to seat. Knocking. He rises furiously.Here’s impudence, I swear![Opens door once more.I’ll set the dogs upon you.... I don’t care....[Pause.Yes, to the stable then, with ox and ass.[Bangs door; returns growling; sits.

Nad.Who were the knaves?

Eliph.That old man and the lassWe saw up yonder.

Uzz.(who has been listening intently).Was there no one more?I could have sworn I heard them at the door—A multitude of footsteps.

Eliph.(hands trembling, head jerking).Bah! what stuff!The two were there. No more! And quite enough.[He drinks. The two stare.

Nad.What ails you, friend?

Eliph.(furiously).Ails me! Why—

[EnterTob.andDav.hurriedly(L.).

Tob.Who came then?I swear I heard the music once again.And knocking. Was there no one at the door?[He hurries across toR.,but stops irresolute.

Eliph.Music? What foolery is this?

Nad.(coolly).BeforeYou came just now, two folks were here, but nowGone otherwhere to seek for shelter.

Tob.How?[He hastens to door(R.),followed byDav.Gone otherwhere! Why, there’s no room to findIn all the place.

[Opens door; looks out. Very faint music,“A Virgin unspotted ...;” it continuesdown to end of scene.

It surely were unkindTo turn a dog away on such a night. (Turns from door.)Where are they gone? Here, David, bring a light.[Dav.does so. He looks.

Nad.Nay, they are gone. Here, drink a cup with me.

Dav.(crying out, pointing).Oh! master, look!

Tob.(looking eagerly).Eh? eh? What is’t you see?

Dav.There master, there![TheThree Merchantsrise in alarm andstandL.,staringR.

Eliph.What is it? Speak, I say.

Tob.(staring out).No. I see nothing!

Dav.There, across the way!All, all in light they move, a countless host.[He falls on knee.

Eliph.Bah! bah! What foolery! He sees a ghost.[Shrinks in fear and anger.

Tob.(quietly).My lad, I can see nothing.... That’s the byreWhere lie the cattle.

Dav.(suddenly crying out and pointing).See! all, all afireWith glory!

Eliph.(in terror, as are others).Here, man! Shut the door![They continue there.Well, if you will not, I will.[Sidles along wall; shuts door angrily.One fool moreOr less in such a household matters not.

Nad.(recovering).Why, landlord! your old wits are clean forgotAnd wildered.

Uzz.Drink a cup of wine with me!There’s no cure for such madness but good company.

[SlowlyTob.comes across to table, still listening.Dav.slips outR.Eliph.followsTob.All fill cups,Tob.still listening. Music swells up; dies again.Tob.,after pause, touches his cup with the others. They all drink.

Curtain.

Pastoral symphony begins at once, and continues until the Carol.

Man stirring pot.

Angel.—Gloria in Excelsis Deo.—

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