_Before curtain rises, invisible Chorus sings._[7]
Like silver lamps in a distant shrine
The stars are sparkling bright,
The bells of the City of God ring out,
For the Son of Mary was born to-night.
The gloom is past, and the morn at last
Is coming with orient light.
_Curtain rises._ SCENE—_Interior of stable. Back,
centre_ (L.), _a manger, with lamp burning in it
above_. JOSEPH _and_ MARY _kneeling before it
motionless. Rest of stage dark._ MARY _kneels
rather in foreground. The_ CHILD _is just visible.
Two angels stand throughout at the head and foot of
the manger. If possible, one plays a violin, the
other a zither._
3. Now a new Power has come on the earth,
A match for the armies of hell,
A Child is born who shall conquer the foe,
And all the spirits of wickedness quell.
For Mary’s Son is the Mighty One
Whom the prophets of God foretell.
4.(5.) Faith sees no longer the stable floor,
The pavement of sapphire is there;
The clear light of Heaven streams out to the world,
And angels of God are crowding the air.
Heaven and Earth through the spotless Birth
Are at peace on this night so fair.
[MARY _slightly changes her position_. JOSEPH
_lays censer down. Music modulates into Coventry Carol._
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,[8]
By-by, lull-y, lull-lay,
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By-by, lully, lullay.
2. O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day,
This poor youngling for whom we sing
By-by, lully, lullay....
[_Enter softly_ MARTHA _and_ ABEL, _hand in hand_. ABEL
_is holding a toy-horse. They stand motionless,
staring. Standing front_ (L.). _They look the whole
time at the crib._
3. (4.) Then woe is me, poor Child for Thee
And ever mourn and say
For thy parting, nor say nor sing
By-by, lully, lullay.
MARTHA.
Tread softly— [_They advance a step or two._
ABEL.
Oh! but, Martha, is that He,
The King you told me of?
MAR.
Hush, wait and see.
I think so.... Speak to her.
ABEL.
What shall I say?
MAR.
Why, hail her by her name. I think you may.
ABEL.
What is her name?
MAR.
Oh, Mary is her name.
And that old man is Joseph.
ABEL.
And the same
We saw just now?
MAR.
Hush.... Yes.... Look on her face....
[_They come a step nearer crib._
Now speak aloud....
ABEL.
Hail! Mary, full of grace!
The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou above
All women.—Martha, Martha, may I move
A little nearer?
MAR.
Yes. [_They move a step nearer._
ABEL.
And blest thy Son
Whose name is—Sister, now I have begun
I know not how to end.
MAR.
Call Him the best
Of all the names you know.
ABEL.
Why all the rest
Are not so good as Jesus; for that is
The word for Saviour. Will that do for His?
MAR.
Yes, call him Jesus.
ABEL.
Blest is this thy Child
Whose name is Jesus. Hail, O Mary mild!
[MARY _turns very slowly, smiling; makes the
sign of the Cross, and turns again to adore_.
ABEL.
Oh! Martha, did you see the sign she made?
[_Angels begin to come in and group themselves. They
carry the Instruments of the Passion in humeral
veils. They form group down stage_ (L.).
What did that mean?
MAR.
I know not.
ABEL.
See Him laid
So little, in the manger for His bed.
Oh! Is He truly King of kings? You said
You thought he was!
MAR.
Why, yes, I think so. See
The Angels all about His Majesty.
[_Angels remain motionless, turned towards manger.
During the following carol the children go across,
step by step, nearer and nearer: they kneel down
by_ MARY. ABEL _offers his horse_. MARY _takes it,
and makes him put it by_ CHILD _in Manger_. MARY
_leans over manger and puts arms round_ CHILD.
ANGELS.
When I view the Mother holding[9]
In her arms the heavenly boy,
Thousand blissful thoughts unfolding
Melt my heart with sweetest joy.
With her babe the hours beguiling,
Mary’s soul in transport lives.
God her Son upon her smiling,
Thousand kisses fondly gives.
As the sun his radiance flinging
Shines upon the bright expanse,
So the Child to Mary clinging
Doth her gentle heart entrance.
See the Virgin Mother bearing
[_Enter_ SHEPHERDS, _followed by_ DAV. _These fall
on their knees_, ZACH. _and_ DAV. _together; and
remain till end of singing_. ZACH. _is nearest
audience, then_ DAV., _then_ EZRA, _then_ BEN-EZRA.
Jesus by her arms embraced,
Dew on softest roses gleaming,
Violet with lily chaste.
Each round other fondly twining,
Pours the shafts of mutual love,
Thick as flowers in meadow shining,
Countless as the stars above.
Oh! may one such arrow glowing,
Sweetest Child which Thou dost dart
Through Thy mother’s bosom going,
Blessed Jesus, pierce my heart....
[_Music continues softly until_ MARY _rises.
If possible, the music should be played on the
violin only, which the_ ANGEL _holds. The
air is that of the preceding Carol._
ZACH. (_stretching out his arms_).
Did I not tell you so? Oh! see Him lie!
Dimittis nunc in pace, Domine
Me servum tuum.
UZZ. (_pointing_).
See the angels great
About the manger where He lies in state.
Secundum verbum tuum, oculi
Mei viderunt, quod præparasti
Hoc tuum salutare.
BEN. (_pointing_).
See the maid
And mother undefiled, where He is laid,
To worship Him. Ostende hunc fructum
Ventris tui post hoc exsilium!
[JOSEPH _rises. Then_ MARY _lifts the_ CHILD, _all
others fall on their knees; and all the_ ANGELS.
_All remain absolutely still. Then, if this Scene
is the last, she brings the_ CHILD _to the front of
the stage. Music stops. She lifts the_ CHILD _as
high as she can_.
MARY.
Magnificat anima mea Dominum.
[_With the_ CHILD _she makes the sign of the
Cross over the audience_.
CURTAIN.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: _Mary—Magnificat anima mea Dominum_—]
[Illustration: _Adeste Fideles:_—]