THE COVENTRY NATIVITY PLAY
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Rhys, Ernest
Herald. Scant twelve days old fully.
Herod. And was he so late born?
Herald. Eh! sir, so they show'd me this same day in the morn.
Herod. Now, in pain of death, bring them me beforn And, therefore, herald, hie thee now, in haste, In all speed that thou were dight,245 Or that those kings the country be past,-- Look thou bring them all three before my sight. And in Jerusalem enquire more of that child? But I warn thee that thy words be mild, For there take thou heed, and craft thereto His power to foredo,246 That those three kings shall be beguiled.
Herald. Lord, I am ready at your bidding, To serve thee as my lord and king, For joy thereof, lo, how I spring, With light heart and fresh gambolling, Aloft here on this mould.
Herod. Then speed thee forth hastily, And look that thou bear thee evenly And also I pray thee heartily, That thou do commend me Both to young and old.
Herald (returning to the Three Kings). Hail, sir kings, in your degree! Herod; king of these countries wide Desireth to speak with you all three, And for your coming he doth abide.
1st King. Sir, at his will we be right bane247 Hie us, brother, unto that lord's place; To speak with him we would be fain That child that we seek, he grant us of his grace.
Herald (bringing in the Kings). Hail, Lord, without peer! These three kings have we brought.
Herod. Now welcome, sir kings, all in fere;248 But of my bright ble,249 sirs, abash ye nought. Sir kings, as I understand, A star hath guided you into my land; Wherein great harie250 ye have found, By reason of her beams bright; Wherefore I pray you heartily, The very truth that you would certify; How long it is surely, Since of that star you had first sight?
1st King. Sir king, the very truth we say. And to show you, as it is best, This same is even the twelfth day Since it appeared to us to be west.
Herod. Brother, then is there no more to say, But with heart and will keep ye your journey, And come home again this same way, Of your news that I may know. You shall triumph in this country, And with great concord banquet with me And that child myself then will I see, And honour him also.
2nd King. Sir, your commandment we will fulfil, And humbly obey ourselves theretyll, He that weldeth all things at will. The ready way us teach, Sir king, that we may pass your land in peace.
Herod. Yes! and walk softly even at your own ease. Your passport for a hundred days Here shall you have of clear command; Our realm to labour251 any ways Here shall you have by special grant.
3rd King. Now farewell, king of high degree, Humbly of you our leave we take.
Herod. Then adieu, sir kings, all three, And while I live be bold of me; There is nothing in this country, But for your own ye shall it take.
[Exeunt the Three Kings.
Now these three kings are gone on their way, Unwisely and unwittingly have they all wrought. When they come again, they shall die that same day, And thus these vile wretches to death shall be brought; Such is my liking. He that against my laws will hold, Be he king or kaiser, never so bold, I shall them cast into cares cold, And to death I shall them bring.
[There Herod goeth his way, and the Three Kings come in again.
1st King. Oh, blessed God, much is thy might! Where is this star that gave us light?
2nd King. Now kneel we down here on this presence By seeking that Lord of high magnificence; That we may see his high excellence, If that his sweet will be.
3rd King. Yonder, brother, I see the star, Whereby I know he is not far; Therefore, lords, go we now, Into this poor place.
[There the Three Kings go in to the jeseyne252, Mary and her child.
1st King. Hail, Lord, that all this world hath wrought! Hail God and man together in fere.253 For thou hast made all thing of nought Albeit that thou liest poorly here. A cup full of gold here I have thee brought In tokening thou art without peer.
2nd King. Hail be thou, Lord of high magnificence In tokening of priesthood, and dignity of office, To thee I offer a cup full of incense; For it behoveth thee to have such sacrifice.
3rd King. Hail be thou, Lord long looked for! I have brought thee myrrh for mortality; In tokening those shalt mankind restore To life by thy death upon a tree.
Mary. God have mercy, kings, of your goodness! By the guiding of the Godhead hither are ye sent; The provision of my sweet son, your ways home redress, And ghostly reward you for your present.
1st King. Sir kings, after our promise, Home by Herod, I must needs go.
2nd King. Now truly, brother, we can no less, But I am so far watched I wot not what to do.
3rd King. Right so am I, wherefore I you pray Let all us rest us awhile upon this ground.
1st King. Brother, your saying is right well unto my pay The grace of that sweet child save us all sound.
Angel. King of Taurus, Sir Jaspar! King of Araby, Sir Balthasar! Melchior, king of Aginara! To you now am I sent. For dread of Herod, go you west home In those parts when ye come down, Ye shall be burrid254 with great renown: The Holy Ghost this knowledge hath sent.
1st King. Awake, sir kings, I you pray, For the voice of an angel I heard in my dream!
2nd King. That is full true that ye do say For he rehearsed our names plain.
3rd King. He bade that we should go down by west For dread of Herod's false betray.
1st King. So for to do it is the best, The child that we have sought, guide us the way!
[Turning to the babe.
Now farewell, the fairest of shape so sweet, And thanked be Jesus of his sond.255 That we three together so suddenly should meet That dwell so wide, and in a strange land; And here to make our presentation Unto this king's son cleansed so clean, And to his mother for our salvation; Of much mirth now may we mean, That we so well hath done this oblation.
2nd King. Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brother to you, King of Taurus, the most worth; Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow And I thank you both of your good company, While we together have been. He that made us to meet on hill, I thank him now, and ever I will; For now may we go without ill; And of our offering be full fain.
3rd King. Now sith that we must needly go For dread of Herod, that is so wroth, Now farewell brother, and brother also; I take my leave here of you both, This day on foot. Now he that made us to meet on plain. And offered to Mary in her jeseyne,256 He give us grace in heaven again, Altogether to meet.