_Angel._
Herdmen hend,[21]
Dread ye no thing
Of this star that ye do see;
For this same morn
God’s son is born
In Bethlem of a maiden free.
_First Shepherd._
Hail maid, mother, and wife so mild!
As the angel said, so have we fand.
I have nothing to present with thy child
But my pipe; hold, hold, take it in thy hand;
Wherein much pleasure that I have fand;
And now, to honour thy glorious birth,
Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth.
_Second 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 need to complain,
For wind, ne sun, hail, snow, and rain.
_Third 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 bend,
For your coming
To my child shall I pray,
As he is heaven king
To grant you his blessing
And to his bliss that ye may wend
At your last day.
_Here the Shepherds sing_:
As I out rode this enderes[22] 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.
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.
[21] Courteous.
[22] Last.