FIFTH ACTION (“Sword of the World”)

Fourth Chorus: B,1. The Might of Herod CHORUS Herod—Herod—Herod—Herod, the mighty Lord of the world! Hail him, hail him, hail him Herod the Master! Bow to his will! His power what star can confound? Or cloud can darken his splendor, Who bindeth his brow with the lightning And girdeth his loins with the storm! For he maketh the world of men The winnowing floor of his glory: And he weareth the mail of the Most High, And shareth the mantle of God.— Millions obey him, Man is his tool. Forth on his errands Fly his red legions; Domes of his dwelling Glow in the dawn. Fire—fire Forgeth his empire; Slaves—slaves Rear his dominion; Sowing and harvest Bleed in his furrows; Peace is his footstool, War is his crown. Herod—Herod—Herod—Herod, the mighty Lord of the world! (Beside the gate, the Captain of the Host strikes a deep-toned gong and calls aloud.) CAPTAIN Herod! Herod, the most High! (HEROD comes forth with his Followers. Clad in long robe of Tyrian purple, he wears on his head a gold helmet. In his hand, he holds a great staff, surmounted by a globe of the world.) HEROD Who calls so loud at my gate? CAPTAIN I, Captain of the Host of Herod. HEROD Why do you cry on my name? CAPTAIN For I am come at your bidding, King of Men. Lo, we are here to do your command. HEROD My command I gave you, to bring unto me three Wise Men, Kings of the East. Show them before me now. CAPTAIN Most High, they are not here. We have made far searching But they are vanished away. HEROD Where are they gone? CAPTAIN No man has seen. HEROD Where shines their star? CAPTAIN Heaven has no sign. HEROD Where was he found—the child they worshipped? CAPTAIN Lowly he lay, in a poor manger. HEROD Now bring him before me! CAPTAIN He too has departed. HEROD My command! My command! My command! Have ye not slain him? Speak! CAPTAIN Herod, most High, how shall the vanished be slain? No sign gives us token Where child and mother and manger and guiding star Are vanished away. HEROD Powers of my crown and throne! Am I not Herod, Herod, the Mighty? Who shall defeat my power? Fifth Chorus: B,2 & A,4. The Wrath of Herod. (Close by, from the Place of Empire, deep Choral Voices reiterate HEROD’S boasts of triumph; far off, from the Place of Outcasts, they are answered in antiphony by high, sweet Choirs, affirming his defeat.) B,2, Reiterative CHORUS B Herod, our lord and king! Who shall defy his command? A,4, Antiphonal CHORUS A A star! A star shall confound him. HEROD Am I the Sword of the World, and shall a weakling disarm me? B,2, Reiterative CHORUS B How shall the crook of a shepherd shatter the sword of a king? A,4, Antiphonal CHORUS A A child! A child shall disarm him! HEROD Hath God anointed me, yea, and shall a babe disinherit? B,2, Reiterative CHORUS B Lo, shall the light of a manger outshine his glory of palaces? A,4, Antiphonal CHORUS A A dream! A dream shall survive him! HEROD Now, by my host of power! he shall not escape me— This babe low-born, but for his sake shall all The hosts of childhood perish. Go forth and slay them, All newly born of women, that he among them May not escape, and all who shall resist My power, young men or old, brothers or fathers, Destroy them likewise—yea, with red fire and spear And burning sword-blade. Go! My will is God’s, For I am Herod—Herod, lord of the world! (Raising his sword, the Captain makes sign to the Host, who lift high their spears. As the Chorus breaks into song, they depart, marching, while Herod reënters his palace.) Sixth Chorus: B,3. Song of the Persecuting Host CHORUS Go forth, ye host of power! Lay waste, lay waste the lowly! For Herod’s might is a blazing tower, And Herod’s wrath is holy. Yea, Herod’s wrath God’s ire it hath As he rends the weak asunder. Go forth upon his fiery path Go forth, ye host, in thunder! The strong, the strong shall reign! Unleash the hounds of pain, And loose their cry Where the wounded lie And the weakling race are slain. Go forth, ye host of power! Destroy, destroy the dreaming! For none may pause for a dream to flower Where Herod’s might goes streaming. Yea, Herod’s might God maketh His right When the weak of the world go under. Go forth upon their darkling flight, Go forth, ye host, in thunder!

CHORUS B Herod, our lord and king! Who shall defy his command? CHORUS A A star! A star shall confound him!