BETHLEHEM [Illustration] BETHLEHEM A NATIVITY PLAY BY LAURENCE HOUSMAN PERFORMED WITH MUSIC BY JOSEPH MOORAT UNDER THE STAGE-DIRECTION OF EDWARD GORDON CRAIG DECEMBER MCMII LONDON MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1902 _All rights reserved_ ACT I. _CHORUS enters and speaks before the curtain._ Ye Gentles, that come here to watch our play, Put, we beseech you, thought of us away! No standing here have we: in heart we kneel, With, at our hearts, this prayer,--that ye may feel How in Love’s hands time is a little thing! And so shall Love to-night your senses bring Back to the hills of Bethlehem, the fold Where shepherds watched their sheep, where angels told Of peace, goodwill to men, in Christ new-born, By Whom, from Virgin Birth, our flesh goes worn. Also, if we may guide you, ye shall see The manger where in great humility Lieth that Babe, the Maker of us all, By Mary’s side, amid the beasts in stall. And ye shall see the coming of the Kings, Led by a star; and Gabriel that brings Unto St. Joseph, in a dream by night, Word of King Herod’s fear, and counsels flight. So, lastly, ye shall see them rise and go, And the place vacant left. Yet ye shall know That Love remains, and that Faith sees it so. So, have ye hope! let Time your trust increase! Hark, I hear music! Christmas comes; ’tis peace! _Pastoral music: a shepherd’s voice is heard._ ‘The world is old, to-night, The world is old; The stars around the fold Do show their light, do show their light. And so they did, and so, A thousand years ago, And so will do, dear love, when you lie cold.’ [_The curtain opens._ YOUNG SHEPHERD (_sings_). The world is still, to-night, The world is still; The snow on vale and hill Like wool lies white, like wool lies white. And so it was, and so, A thousand years ago, And so will be, good lads, when we lack will. WATCHER. Ay-oh, ay-oh, ay-oh! 1ST SHEPHERD. There be good fairies up in air to-night: Come ere a frost so mild with stars so bright? The wind has shut itself in-door again, And all the air be saft like a’ter rain. WATCHER. Ay-oh, ay-oh, ay-oh! 2ND SHEPHERD (_rising_). The sheep be quiet; the dogs have nought to do; The lambs come kind; there haven’t been a ewe Lost, nor a still one born, this moon, there an’t: A thing I can’t remember, nor I can’t, Since I’ve been shepherd:--that’s nigh forty year. 3RD SHEPHERD. Well, well! 4TH SHEPHERD. What star be that’n out yonder there? It’s been a-coming on, night a’ter night, This long time back, but never looked so bright As ’a do now. WATCHER. Ay-oh, ay-oh, ay-oh! 4TH SHEPHERD.