THE NATIVITY.

INTROITUS.

PRÆCO.

COME, good people, all and each,
Come and listen to our speech!
In your presence here 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 be 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.