ZACH. Yes, my son, There in the snow, ere the descent began To fall to Bethlehem. And there I lay, All frozen, till the children came my way. EZ. And they did succour you? God bless them, then. ZACH. God bless all children, as I say. For men [_Music, “Nowell,” soft. It continues for a line or two._ Are cruel hard.... I think that if came He— Whose coming is most sure by prophecy— ’Tis as a child He’ll come. BEN. Whom mean you? ZACH. Why, I mean Messias.... Hark, is that the sky That’s singing? (_Silent pause; music ends._) EZ. Nay, I hear no sound at all. What mean you, uncle?... Sit you by the wall, [ZACH. _has finished eating_. And cover you from cold. For sure the snow [ZACH. _shifts position_. ’S enough to freeze a body.... Well, and so You came all safe to Bethlehem with those That succoured you so kindly. ZACH. Aye, God knows They succoured me! EZ. And, as you came below, Was there no more you met? [ZACH. _turns and looks at him fixedly_. Why look you so, Uncle? Why look so strangely? ZACH. Ezra. EZ. Well? What was it that you saw? ZACH. (_shaking head slowly_). No man could tell All that I saw. EZ. (_eagerly_). Nay, nay, what was it? ZACH. Nay, ’Twas but a man and maid upon the way. [_Music of “Nowell” begins; it continues down to end of_ ZACHARY’S _next speech_. No more than that. But ... Ezra, ... such a man And such a maid as, since my days began, I never yet have seen. BEN. What! fair to see Were they? ZACH. (_very slowly, low voice_). Ben-Ezra, in old prophecy I read of one, the Mother undefiled.... “A Virgin shall conceive and bear a child.... [_He pauses now and then, as if to remember._ For unto us,” Isaias sang, “a Son Is given.” And then I read King Solomon Speaks of a maiden, fairest of her race, Among the vineyards, young, and full of grace.... A fountain sealed and holy.... Well, my son, She whom I saw to-day was such an one. (_Music ends._) EZ. Uncle! you jest! ZACH. I jest not. BEN. And the man That went with her?