SIXTH ACTION (The Befriending)
Reading edition
STAGE A
Now, from the Place of Outcasts, Choral Voices sing, while once more JOSEPH, MARY and Shepherds bearing the Manger appear, coming forth from the shelter of the Evergreen. With them TREE also appears.
Seventh Chorus: A,5. Glory and Serenity CHORUS Glory and serenity, Beauty of desire, Bless to-night this holy tree And our candle fire. Tree of our hearts, behold! How the dreams of a child in your boughs unfold And the weary of earth put off their pain Where the Child of our love has lain. JOSEPH Shepherd, the morrow’s light will soon begin To wake the desert world. Here we have lain This night in quiet refuge; yet through sleep I heard far off the host of Herod rage Against this Child His kingdom. So once more Let us go forth our way, till He is safe Beyond the war-lord’s might. SHEPHERD Yea, let us go, Yet not till we have thanked this gentle Tree. JOSEPH Dear Tree, you have befriended in his need This little Child new-born. So—for His sake— Your gracious boughs shall evermore be green, Nor ever in winter lose their April sap, But freshly, at this season of His birth, They shall be fragrant of the hallowed dreams His happy heart bequeathes you. TREE He was welcome, And I will deck my boughs with infant joys In his remembrance. SHEPHERD So we say—God keep you! And not ‘Goodbye’! JOSEPH (To Tree) Nay, still another token We leave with you: His star—to be henceforth A morning star of song for other children Who rest from Herod’s wrath. So you shall be No more a forest sprite, but a hallow’d angel— His shining angel with a sheathèd sword To guard all childhood’s home. Keep here his star: Farewell! TREE O fare you well, dear wanderers, That have fulfilled with love my lonely dream! (With lighted candles, in processional, the Shepherds with Manger, Mary and Joseph depart toward the desert. While the Chorus sings, Tree stands gazing after them.) Eighth Chorus: A,6. Glory and Serenity CHORUS Glory and serenity, Beauty of desire, Blend the song of men set free With their children’s choir. Child of our hearts, behold! How the dark is strewn with your fairy gold And the bitter of soul lay-by their spleen Where the Tree of our love grows green. (Tree goes within.)