A Mystery Play in Honour of the Nativity of our Lord

SCENE V

Reading edition

The Epiphany.

Handel’s “Largo” is played before curtain rises.

[If this Scene is acted, in previous Scene Joseph does not cense the manger; and Mary does not come to front with Child. She only lifts Child, says the words set down. After which Curtain descends.

Before Curtain rises the first verse of the following carol is sung.

I. WE three Kings of Orient are;[10] Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. Chorus. O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to Thy perfect light.

[Curtain rises again on same scene as before. But the Manger is not there. In centre back of stage stands a dais, and upon it a tall chair, bare; two unlighted candles stand upon dais. Discovered, Martha and Abel, seated upon dais. Abel has book in his hands, reading. Martha is sewing a child’s dress. Lights are high. A silence follows close of carol.

II. Melch. Born a King, on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King for ever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign. Chorus. O star of wonder, &c. III. Gasp. Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh. Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship Him, God most High. Chorus. O star of wonder, &c. IV. Balth. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Chorus. O star of wonder, &c. V. Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and sacrifice, Alleluia, Alleluia; Earth to the heavens replies. Chorus. O star of wonder, &c. Mar. (looking up). Read it again. (She listens.) Abel (reading). “Lo! Gentiles in Thy Light Shall walk; and kings, all in the splendour bright Of this Thy rising. Lift Thine eyes and see! Lo! they are gathered; lo! they come to Thee! Behold, Thy sons and daughters come from far” (pause). And then again ... “From Madian and Epha, From Saba too they come ... a company Of kings on camels—all shall come to Thee. And myrrh and gold and incense bring with them To show God’s glory in Jerusalem.” [He looks up. Mar. (meditatively, sewing). Why, ’tis most strange—this ancient prophecy! Surely it stands as plain as plain can be! And yet no kings or camels! Abel (clasping his knees). Martha, dear, How I should love to see them! Mar. Have no fear. ’Twill come to pass, if God hath spoken so.... Where is our Lady? [She stands up and comes to front (R.). Abel (putting book down). Oh! an hour ago She went with Jesus in her arms, to see The sheepfolds. Joseph and old Zachary Went with her. Mar. (walking meditatively). Twelve full days have gone and past, And yet no kings or camels. Abel (clasping his knees). Why, how fast ’Tis gone.... Why, heaven itself is not more sweet— To look on Jesus!—kiss His hands and feet And kneel before our Lady! Mar. Silly boy! Why, this is heaven!... for all is peace and joy Where Jesus is. Why now— [Enter Dav., running (R.). Dav. They’s coming in. [Violin begins, off, “Adeste Fideles.” Quick, Martha, quick—the lights![Signs to music. Now then, begin.

[Organ takes up Adeste ... with violin. Abel springs up at David’s entrance; runs to side, gets tapers and lights two candles that stand beside chair. He takes one, Dav. takes other. Mar. picks up basket of flowers. All three go to entrance (R.) and wait, facing audience, looking out. Enter (R.) two Angels, playing violin and zither; then Angels bearing instruments of the Passion; then Zach. with spear; then two Shepherds with spears; then, after slight pause, Mary, cloaked, carrying Child; then Joseph, and two more Angels with swords. Mar. slips in behind two Shepherds, and walks backwards, strewing flowers, Abel and Dav. place themselves on either side of Mary with candles and walk with her. The procession takes curve to front and comes up to chair. Mary stands at chair, slips off cloak into Joseph’s hands, and sits. Candles placed by her. Joseph stands behind (R.), Angels group themselves at back. Shepherds pass to (L.) front. Mar., Abel, and Dav. seat themselves on dais; Zach. stands by dais (L.); Joseph behind chair (R.).

Zach. Well, children, here we are—come back, you see— Jesus and Joseph both, and Queen Mary, To home in Bethlehem.... How have you sped Meantime while we were gone? Mar. Why, Abel read A little; and I sewed a little. Zach. (lifting book). What is this? Mar. Why, we were reading that—the prophecies Of kings and camels, Uncle, who, they say Shall come to worship Jesus.... Where are they? Zach. Nay, child, but ask our Lady: she knows best. [He signs to her. Mar. Show it her, Abel. [Abel jumps up, opens book, steps on dais, and points out passage, first genuflecting. Abel. Here! and all the rest That follows ... here ... and here ... here, do you see?... [Zach. comes and looks over book. Now will you tell us, please, your Majesty? Zach. Nay, let me read it. [He takes book and comes (L.) front. “Gentiles in thy light Shall walk; and kings, all in the splendour bright Of this thy rising. Lift Thine eyes and see Lo! they are gathered ... lo! they come to Thee. Behold Thy sons and daughters come from far.” [Looks at Mary and back. ... Why, that would mean that following the star They come from Orient and from Araby.... And yet they come not ... will your Majesty. [Breaks off as Mary turns and looks out (R.). Distant jangled murmur. ... Why now, what sound is that? How loud it swells High on the wind!—Why, sure! ’tis camel-bells.

[Mary remains passive, smiling. All others look out eagerly (R.). Sound comes nearer, footsteps, bells, murmur of voices. Children spring up. Angels continually look at Child.

Dav. (excitedly, pointing). Oh! look! the camels—see how slow they wind. Look! look! Here are the kings! and there behind The servants follow ... See, they’re coming ... See!... Now they are stopping! Oh! I’m glad that we Were here to see it!... Now they’re kneeling down— The camels, at the door—and all the town Is out to see them. Abel (pointing). Look! they’re taking out The bundles and the gold; and all about The people crowding.... Why! how grand they are! Dav. (pointing). Oh look! look at that sceptre!... Grander far Than Herod’s. Abel (pointing). And the crowns! Why, that’s the gold Isaias told us of. Dav. Why, look how old That first one is. Abel. (A little frightened, taking holding of Martha.) Oh, Martha, stand by me. (To Mary.) They’re coming up the steps, your Majesty. [Mary makes gesture to Zach. to go R. Zach. steps R. Knocking. Zach. Yes, sir; and who are you? Gaspar (without). [He speaks slowly and gravely. We come from far, Led by the shining of a splendid star. Our names are Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar. Zach. Whom do ye seek? Gasp. We seek a new-born King, To bring Him gold, and every precious thing That kings should have. Zach. And is that all? Gasp. Nay, nay; We bring Him myrrh; for He shall die one day. Zach. What? He shall die?...[He glances at Mary. And is that all? Gasp. Why, no, It is not all; for all men here below Shall die. But God our Lord shall rise from thence, And therefore do we bring Him frankincense. [Pause. Zach. (very slowly and impressively). And is that all? Gasp. Nay. As is meet and right, We bring our darkness to His Heavenly Light. Our ignorance to The Wise; our sicknesses To Him for health; our sins to His Righteousness. Aye; all our nature, ringed about with Hell And Heathendom to Him, the King of Israel. Zach. (making gesture of welcome). Come in, then, since ye know these mysteries; For here He dwells, and this His Palace is.

[He goes across again (L.) genuflecting. Children stand back, staring. Enter, slowly, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, followed by two servants with bundles, &c. The three come down (R.) and stand facing towards Mary; they bow profoundly. Mary bows back.

Gasp. (courteously). That is our Lady? Zach. Yes. Melch. And that her Son, The King of Kings? Zach. Yes, sir. Melch. (clasping his hands). Oh! well begun Was this our journey. Balt. And well ended too. (To Mary.) Hail, Mary, full of grace! [He bows to her again. Melch. The Lord in truth Is with her! In her arms, in very sooth!

[Mary holds out Child. Zach. makes a sign to them. They bow again profoundly as “Adeste” begins to be played, then, one by one, they go up in order. Each genuflects before dais, then, kneeling on dais, kiss the Child’s foot and Mary’s hand; then each retires back to R. front and kneels once more. Music ends. Gaspar lifts two crowns from Servant’s tray, and holds them out; then sceptre.

Gasp. Here be two crowns of gold for Him and Thee; And here a sceptre all of gems. Melch. (leaning forward with censer boat). For me I bring sweet frankincense. Balt. (leaning forward with casket). And I but myrrh To offer here.... Lord Joseph, give them her.

[Joseph advances, takes crowns, genuflects, places them on dais, then the casket, finally the censer, into which he puts incense; he kneels; all kneel. He censes throne with three double swings. He stands, genuflects, and goes back. Gaspar turns to tray, lifts a cope, still kneeling. Melchior takes a little silk robe.

Gasp. Will not my Lady take a gift or two Of silk and satin, broidered through and through With jewels? Melch. And a many-coloured dress Fit for the Little King of Righteousness.

[Joseph steps forward, takes the gifts, and lays them at Mary’s feet. Then Abel steps forward with Martha.

Abel (to Gasp.). Will you not speak for us? Mar. Some word to tell To Jesus, for to show we love Him well? We—and the people here[Signs to audience. Who have no gold Nor myrrh nor frankincense; yet, young and old Alike, desire to show that for their parts They love their Infant King with all their hearts. Zach. Aye, speak, King Gaspar, at this holy tide For us who have no gold—and all poor folks beside.

[Gaspar rises, looks at audience, then back to Mary. Then suddenly and fervently speaks. His voice rises in tone and force as he speaks, till he ends passionately.

Gasp. Why, yes; the greatest gift is yet ungiven, For He, who for our sake came down from Heaven, Has all already. For His glory fills The earth: the cattle on a thousand hills, The birds, the beasts, the fishes; gold and gem, Ivory of Ophir—all are His; for them He made, and they are His.[Stretches arms. So we entreat To offer here before His holy feet That which alone He asks of us—the love For whose poor sake He came here from above, Since we, as best we can, have played our parts, [He kneels, stretches hands. All kneel with him. Oh! Jesus, Mary, Joseph, take our hearts. To Jesus, Mary, Joseph, wondrous three, All glory, praise, and honour endless be From men and angels now and through eternity.

[Music of “Adeste Fideles” instantly begins, ff.; the curtain comes down; then rises again to show Mary coped and crowned; then after one chord all begin to sing—all on their knees. At end of first verse Gaspar rises, then Melchior, Balthasar, Zachary, Two Shepherds, Abel, Martha, David, Servants, Angels—each one by one comes up, genuflects at dais, and kisses the Child’s foot and Mary’s hand. Meantime Joseph, kneeling at side, censes them. At end of last chorus, as last line begins, Mary stands, and as she makes Sign of Cross with Child, all cross themselves.

Curtain.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · B. & S., 3rd Series, No. 45.