And over them the blessed Christ, surrounded
By his attendant ministers, upholding
The instruments of his passion.

ELSIE.

O my Lord

Would I could leave behind me upon earth
Some monument to thy glory, such as this!

PRINCE HENRY.

A greater monument than this thou leavest
In thine own life, all purity and love!
See, too, the Rose, above the western portal
Flamboyant with a thousand gorgeous colors,
The perfect flower of Gothic loveliness!

ELSIE.

And, in the gallery, the long line of statues,
Christ with his twelve Apostles watching us.

A BISHOP in armor, booted and spurred, passes with his train.

PRINCE HENRY.

But come away; we have not time to look.

The crowd already fills the church, and yonder
Upon a stage, a herald with a trumpet,
Clad like the Angel Gabriel, proclaims
The Mystery that will now be represented.

THE NATIVITY:

A MIRACLE-PLAY.

INTROITUS

PRÆCO.

COME, good people, all and each,
Come and listen to our speech!
In your presence her I stand,
With a trumpet in my hand,
To announce the Easter Play,
Which we represent to-day!
First of all we shall rehearse,
In our action and our verse,
The Nativity of our Lord,
As written in the old record
Of the Protevangelion,

So that he who reads may run!

Blows his trumpet.

I. HEAVEN.

MERCY, at the feet of God.

Have pity, Lord! be not afraid

To save mankind, whom thou hast made,
Nor let the souls that were betrayed
Perish eternally!

JUSTICE.

It cannot be, it must not be!

When in the garden placed by thee,

The fruit of the forbidden tree
He ate, and he must die!

MERCY.

Have pity, Lord! let penitence
Atone for disobedience,

Nor let the fruit of man's offence

Be endless misery!

JUSTICE.

What penitence proportionate
Can e'er be felt for sin so great?
Of the forbidden fruit he ate,

And damned must he be!

GOD.

He shall he saved, if that within

The bounds of earth one free from sin
Be found, who for his kith and kin
Will suffer martyrdom.

THE FOUR VIRTUES.

Lord! we have searched the world around,

From centre to the utmost bound,

But no such mortal can be found;
Despairing, back we come.

WISDOM.

No mortal, but a God made man,
Can ever carry out this plan,
Achieving what none other can,
Salvation unto all!

GOD.

Go, then, O my beloved Son!
It can by thee alone be done;
By thee the victory shall be won
O'er Satan and the Fall!

Here the ANGEL GABRIEL shall leave Paradise and fly towards the earth; the jaws of Hell open below, and the Devils walk about, making a great noise.

II. MARY AT THE WELL.

MARY.

Along the garden walk, and thence

Through the wicket in the garden fence,

I steal with quiet pace,

My pitcher at the well to fill,
That lies so deep and cool and still
In this sequestered place.
These sycamores keep guard around;
I see no face, I hear no sound,
Save bubblings of the spring,
And my companions, who within
The threads of gold and scarlet spin,
And at their labor sing.

THE ANGEL GABRIEL.

Hail, Virgin Mary, full of grace!

Here MARY looketh around her, trembling, and then saith:

MARY.

Who is it speaketh in this place,

With such a gentle voice?

GABRIEL.

The Lord of heaven is with thee now!

Blessed among all women thou,

Who art his holy choice!

MARY, setting down the pitcher.

What can this mean? No one is near,

And yet, such sacred words I hear,

I almost fear to stay.

Here the ANGEL, appearing to her, shall say:

GABRIEL.

Fear not, O Mary! but believe!

For thou, a Virgin, shalt conceive
A child this very day.

Longfellow. II.

5

Fear not, O Mary! from the sky
The majesty of the Most High

Shall overshadow thee!

MARY.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord!

According to thy holy word,

So be it unto me!

Here the Devils shall again make a great noise, under the stage.

III. THE ANGELS OF THE SEVEN PLANETS, bearing the Star of Bethlehem.

THE ANGELS.

The Angels of the Planets Seven,

Across the shining fields of heaven
The natal star we bring!

Dropping our sevenfold virtues down,
As priceless jewels in the crown
Of Christ, our new-born King.

I am the Angel of the Sun,

RAPHAEL.

Whose flaming wheels began to run
When God's almighty breath

Said to the darkness and the Night,
Let there be light! and there was light!
I bring the gift of Faith.

GABRIEL.

I am the Angel of the Moon,

⚫ Darkened, to be rekindled soon
Beneath the azure cope!
Nearest to earth, it is my ray
That best illumes the midnight way.
I bring the gift of Hope!