SCENE IV

Before curtain rises, invisible Chorus sings.[7]

LLIKE silver lamps in a distant shrineThe stars are sparkling bright,The bells of the City of God ring out,For the Son of Mary was born to-night.The gloom is past, and the morn at lastIs coming with orient light.

Curtain rises.Scene—Interior of stable. Back, centre(L.),a manger, with lamp burning in it above.JosephandMarykneeling before it motionless. Rest of stage dark.Marykneels rather in foreground. TheChildis just visible. Two angels stand throughout at the head and foot of the manger. If possible, one plays a violin, the other a zither.

3. Now a new Power has come on the earth,A match for the armies of hell,A Child is born who shall conquer the foe,And all the spirits of wickedness quell.For Mary’s Son is the Mighty OneWhom the prophets of God foretell.4.(5.) Faith sees no longer the stable floor,The pavement of sapphire is there;The clear light of Heaven streams out to the world,And angels of God are crowding the air.Heaven and Earth through the spotless BirthAre at peace on this night so fair.

4.(5.) Faith sees no longer the stable floor,The pavement of sapphire is there;The clear light of Heaven streams out to the world,And angels of God are crowding the air.Heaven and Earth through the spotless BirthAre at peace on this night so fair.

[Maryslightly changes her position.Josephlays censer down. Music modulates into Coventry Carol.

Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,[8]By-by, lull-y, lull-lay,Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,By-by, lully, lullay.2. O sisters too, how may we doFor to preserve this day,This poor youngling for whom we singBy-by, lully, lullay....

Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,[8]By-by, lull-y, lull-lay,Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,By-by, lully, lullay.

2. O sisters too, how may we doFor to preserve this day,This poor youngling for whom we singBy-by, lully, lullay....

[Enter softlyMarthaandAbel,hand in hand.Abelis holding a toy-horse. They stand motionless, staring. Standing front(L.).They look the whole time at the crib.

3. (4.) Then woe is me, poor Child for TheeAnd ever mourn and sayFor thy parting, nor say nor singBy-by, lully, lullay.Martha.Tread softly—[They advance a step or two.Abel.Oh! but, Martha, is that He,The King you told me of?Mar.Hush, wait and see.I think so.... Speak to her.Abel.What shall I say?Mar.Why, hail her by her name. I think you may.Abel.What is her name?Mar.Oh, Mary is her name.And that old man is Joseph.Abel.And the sameWe saw just now?Mar.Hush.... Yes.... Look on her face....[They come a step nearer crib.Now speak aloud....Abel.Hail! Mary, full of grace!The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou aboveAll women.—Martha, Martha, may I moveA little nearer?Mar.Yes.[They move a step nearer.Abel.And blest thy SonWhose name is—Sister, now I have begunI know not how to end.Mar.Call Him the bestOf all the names you know.Abel.Why all the restAre not so good as Jesus; for that isThe word for Saviour. Will that do for His?Mar.Yes, call him Jesus.Abel.Blest is this thy ChildWhose name is Jesus. Hail, O Mary mild![Maryturns very slowly, smiling; makes thesign of the Cross, and turns again to adore.Abel.Oh! Martha, did you see the sign she made?

3. (4.) Then woe is me, poor Child for TheeAnd ever mourn and sayFor thy parting, nor say nor singBy-by, lully, lullay.

Martha.Tread softly—[They advance a step or two.

Abel.Oh! but, Martha, is that He,The King you told me of?

Mar.Hush, wait and see.I think so.... Speak to her.

Abel.What shall I say?

Mar.Why, hail her by her name. I think you may.

Abel.What is her name?

Mar.Oh, Mary is her name.And that old man is Joseph.

Abel.And the sameWe saw just now?

Mar.Hush.... Yes.... Look on her face....[They come a step nearer crib.Now speak aloud....

Abel.Hail! Mary, full of grace!The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou aboveAll women.—Martha, Martha, may I moveA little nearer?

Mar.Yes.[They move a step nearer.

Abel.And blest thy SonWhose name is—Sister, now I have begunI know not how to end.

Mar.Call Him the bestOf all the names you know.

Abel.Why all the restAre not so good as Jesus; for that isThe word for Saviour. Will that do for His?

Mar.Yes, call him Jesus.

Abel.Blest is this thy ChildWhose name is Jesus. Hail, O Mary mild![Maryturns very slowly, smiling; makes thesign of the Cross, and turns again to adore.Abel.Oh! Martha, did you see the sign she made?

[Angels begin to come in and group themselves. They carry the Instruments of the Passion in humeral veils. They form group down stage(L.).

What did that mean?Mar.I know not.Abel.See Him laidSo little, in the manger for His bed.Oh! Is He truly King of kings? You saidYou thought he was!Mar.Why, yes, I think so. SeeThe Angels all about His Majesty.

What did that mean?

Mar.I know not.

Abel.See Him laidSo little, in the manger for His bed.Oh! Is He truly King of kings? You saidYou thought he was!

Mar.Why, yes, I think so. SeeThe Angels all about His Majesty.

[Angels remain motionless, turned towards manger. During the following carol the children go across, step by step, nearer and nearer: they kneel down byMary.Abeloffers his horse.Marytakes it, and makes him put it byChildin Manger.Maryleans over manger and puts arms roundChild.

Angels.When I view the Mother holding[9]In her arms the heavenly boy,Thousand blissful thoughts unfoldingMelt my heart with sweetest joy.With her babe the hours beguiling,Mary’s soul in transport lives.God her Son upon her smiling,Thousand kisses fondly gives.As the sun his radiance flingingShines upon the bright expanse,So the Child to Mary clingingDoth her gentle heart entrance.See the Virgin Mother bearing

[EnterShepherds,followed byDav.These fall on their knees,Zach.andDav.together; and remain till end of singing.Zach.is nearest audience, thenDav.,thenEzra,thenBen-Ezra.

Jesus by her arms embraced,Dew on softest roses gleaming,Violet with lily chaste.Each round other fondly twining,Pours the shafts of mutual love,Thick as flowers in meadow shining,Countless as the stars above.Oh! may one such arrow glowing,Sweetest Child which Thou dost dartThrough Thy mother’s bosom going,Blessed Jesus, pierce my heart....

[Music continues softly untilMaryrises. If possible, the music should be played on the violin only, which theAngelholds. The air is that of the preceding Carol.

Zach.(stretching out his arms).Did I not tell you so? Oh! see Him lie!Dimittis nunc in pace, DomineMe servum tuum.Uzz.(pointing).See the angels greatAbout the manger where He lies in state.Secundum verbum tuum, oculiMei viderunt, quod præparastiHoc tuum salutare.Ben.(pointing).See the maidAnd mother undefiled, where He is laid,To worship Him. Ostende hunc fructumVentris tui post hoc exsilium!

Zach.(stretching out his arms).Did I not tell you so? Oh! see Him lie!Dimittis nunc in pace, DomineMe servum tuum.

Uzz.(pointing).See the angels greatAbout the manger where He lies in state.Secundum verbum tuum, oculiMei viderunt, quod præparastiHoc tuum salutare.

Ben.(pointing).See the maidAnd mother undefiled, where He is laid,To worship Him. Ostende hunc fructumVentris tui post hoc exsilium!

[Josephrises. ThenMarylifts theChild,all others fall on their knees; and all theAngels.All remain absolutely still. Then, if this Scene is the last, she brings theChildto the front of the stage. Music stops. She lifts theChildas high as she can.

Mary.Magnificat anima mea Dominum.[With theChildshe makes the sign of theCross over the audience.

Mary.Magnificat anima mea Dominum.

[With theChildshe makes the sign of theCross over the audience.

Curtain.

Mary standing, holding Jesus..

Mary—Magnificat anima mea Dominum—

Adeste Fideles:—

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