Now let good Christians all begin A holier life to live; And to rejoice and merry be For this is Christmas Eve. 4. Now mark the goodness of the Lord Which He to mankind bore, His mercy soon He did extend Lost man for to restore; And, therefore, to redeem our souls From death and hell and thrall, He said His own dear Son should be The Saviour of us all. _Chorus._ Now let ... ABEL (_letting go_). Why! What was that? Who’s singing there below?... [_Runs to_ MARTHA, _who is looking_ (L.). I’m frightened, Martha.... Martha! let us go. [ZACH., _also staring_ (L.). ZACH. Why! Who comes here? [_He goes a step._ An old man and a maid! Is that their singing?... No ... she seems afraid And weary. Children! See how slow they wind! [_Looks intently, under hand._ Children! look closer.... Who comes on behind?... No ... he is gone again.... I thought I saw Figures who came and went, behind, before, As if to keep them.... Children, do you see? [_A silence._ [Illustration: _Why! Who comes here? An old man and a maid—— See how slow they wind!_] MAR. (_looking_). I see a maiden, and a man like thee. Old, old and heavy.... Why, sir, look again! Why ... who is that? Nay ... nay, I saw him plain— All, all in light—Nay, but he’s gone again. [_The three shrink together backwards across the stage to_ (R.) _as_ (L.) _enter_ JOSEPH _and_ MARY, _very slowly. She leans on him. They come up to tree. She sinks on to it, in his arms, and drops her head. He stands behind, holding her. So the tableau remains. Behind the scenes the Chorus sings, as below. During the singing_, ABEL _advances step by step, almost imperceptibly, with_ MARTHA _behind and_ ZACHARY _last_. CHORUS. A Virgin unspotted, the Prophet foretold,[4] Should bring forth a Saviour, which now we behold, To be our Redeemer from death, hell, and sin, Which Adam’s transgression had wrappèd us in. _Chorus._ Aye and therefore be merry; set sorrow aside, Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide. 2. At Bethlehem city in Jewry it was That Joseph and Mary together did pass, All for to be taxed with many one more; Great Cæsar commanded the same should be so. _Chorus._ Aye and therefore ... 3. There were they constrained in a stable to lie, Where horses and asses they used for to tie, Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn, But against the next morning our Saviour was born. _Chorus._ Aye and therefore ...