THE COVENTRY NATIVITY PLAY
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Rhys, Ernest
3rd Shepherd. Brother, now we be past that fright, And it is far within the night: Full soon will spring the daylight, It draweth full near the tide. Here awhile let us rest And repast ourselves of the best. Till that the sun rise in the east, Let us all here abide.
[There the Shepherds draw forth their meat, and do eat and drink, and as they drink they see the star and say thus:
Brother, look up and behold, What thing is yonder that shineth so bright? As long as ever I have watched my fold, Yet saw I never such a sight In field. Aha! now is come the time that old fathers hath told, That in the winter's night so cold, A child of maiden born, be he would, In whom all prophecies shall be fulfilled.
1st Shepherd. Truth it is without nay, So said the prophet Isaye, That a child should be born of a maid so bright In winter nigh the shortest day, Or else in the middest of the night.
2nd Shepherd. Loved be God, most of might! That our grace is to see that sight; Pray we to him as it is right If that his will it be, That we may have knowledge of this signification, And why it appeareth on this fashion And ever to him let us give laudation, In earth, while that we be.
[There the angels sing "Gloria in Excelsis Deo."
3rd Shepherd. Hark, they sing above in the clouds clear! Heard I never of so merry a choir. Now gentle brother draw we near To hear their harmony?
1st Shepherd. Brother, mirth and solace is come us among For, by the sweetness of their song; God's Son is come, whom we have looked for long, As signifieth this star we do see.
2nd Shepherd. Glory, Gloria in Excelsis, that was their song, How say ye fellows! said they not thus?
1st Shepherd. That is well said, now go we hence To worship that child of high magnificence; And that we may sing in his presence, Et in terra pax omnibus.
[There the Shepherds sing:]
As I out rode this enderes' night, Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight, And all about their fold a star shone bright; They sang, Terli, terlow; So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.
Joseph. Now, Lord, this noise that I do hear With this great solemnity, Greatly amended hath my cheer, I trust high news shortly will be.
[There the Angels sing "Gloria in Excelsis" again.
Mary. Ah Joseph, husband, come hither anon My child is born that is King of bliss.
Joseph. Now welcome to me, the maker of man, With all the homage that I can; Thy sweet mother here will I kiss.
Mary. Ah Joseph, husband, my child waxeth cold And we have no fire to warm him with.
Joseph. Now in my arms I shall him fold, King of all kings by field and by frith,229 He might have had better, and himself would Than the breathing of these beasts to warm him with.
Mary. Now, Joseph, my husband, fetch hither my child, The maker of man, and high King of bliss.
Joseph. That shall be done, anon, Mary so mild! For the breathing of these beasts hath warmed him, I wis.
1st Angel. Herdmen kind, dread ye nothing, Of this star that ye do see; For this same morn God's son is born, In Bethlem of a maiden fre.230
2nd Angel. Hie you hither in haste, It is his will ye shall him see Lying in a crib of poor repast; Yet of David's line come is he.
1st Shepherd. Hail, maid-mother, and wife so mild! As the angel said, so have we found, I have nothing to present to thy child, But my pipe; hold, hold! take it in thy hand; Wherein much pleasure that I have found, And now to honour thy glorious birth, Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth.
2nd Shepherd. Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame, For in a poor lodging here art thou laid; So the angel said, and told us thy name. Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head, And now of one thing thou art well sped; For weather thou hast no cause to complain, For wind, nor sun, hail, snow, and rain.
3rd Shepherd. Hail, be thou Lord over water and lands For thy coming all we may make mirth, Have here my mittens to put on thy hands Other treasure have I none to present thee with.
Mary. Now, herdmen kind, For your coming, To my child shall I pray, As he is heaven's king, To grant you his blessing, And to his bliss that ye may wynd231 At your last day.
[There the Shepherds sing again:]
Down from heaven, from heaven so high, Of angels there came a great company, With mirth, and joy, and great solemnity They sang, Terli, terlow; So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.
[The two prophets come in.
1st Prophet. Novellis, novellis,232 of wonderful marvellys,233 Were high and sweet unto the hearing, As Scripture tellis, these strange novellis To you I bring.
2nd Prophet. Now, heartily, sir, I desire to know, If it would please you for to show, Of what manner a thing?
1st Prophet. Were it mystical unto your hearing,-- Of the nativity of a king?
2nd Prophet. Of a king? Whence should he come?
1st Prophet. From that region royal and mighty mansion, The seed celestial and heavenly wisdom, The Second Person, and God's one Son, For our sake is man become. This godly sphere, descended here, Into a virgin clear, She undefiled, By whose work, obscure our frail nature Is now beguiled.
2nd Prophet. Why, hath she a child?
1st Prophet. Ah, trust it well, And never the less, Yet is she a maid even as she was, And her son the king of Israel.
2nd Prophet. A wonderful marvel, How that may be, And far doth excel-- All our capacity, How that the trinity, Of so high regality, Should joined be, Unto our mortality.
1st Prophet. Of his one great mercy As ye shall see the exposition, Through whose humanity all Adam's progeny Redeemed shall be Out of perdition; Sith man did offend, who should amend, But the said man and no other; For the which cause he, Incarnate would be, And live in misery As man's one brother.
2nd Prophet. Sir, upon the Deity, I believe perfectly, Impossible to be, there is nothing; Howbeit this work, unto me is dark, In the operation or working.
1st Prophet. What more reproof is unto belief Than to be doubting.