O Kings, your quest is ended now, earth joins To greet her Lord, in Heaven’s exultant strains. Righteousness is the girdle of His loins, And faithfulness the girdle of His reins. The Spirit of God shall rest on Him, of might, Of wisdom, and of counsel, and of fear: He shall not judge according unto sight, Neither reprove by the hearing of His ear: But by His righteousness shall He do right, And with His equity the meek repay; Out of His mouth a rod the earth shall smite, And by His breath the wicked He shall slay. The wolf shall make his dwelling in the fold, The leopard and the kid together play, The young lion with the fatling: and behold A Little Child shall lead them in the way! Then like the ox the lion shall eat straw, The calf and the young bear be in one pen; The suckling from his hole the asp shall draw, And the weaned child play by the adder’s den. They shall not hurt in all my Holy Hill, Nor shall there any more destruction be: The knowledge of the Lord the earth shall fill, Even as the water covereth the sea. And He shall raise His people from their sin. This is the way of Life: walk ye therein! 1ST KING. Where shall we find Him? where throw off our load? GABRIEL. In Bethlehem Peace makes His fair abode. Yonder His star still lights you to your road. [_Exeunt the KINGS._ ACT II. _The inn-stable at Bethlehem. Without, voices are heard singing._ ‘Noel, Noel, Noel,’ Sang the church bell; ‘God’s in His Heaven, This know well!’ Noel, Noel, Noel, Ding-dong-bell, God from High Heaven Comes on earth to dwell. ‘Noel, Noel, Noel,’ Bells ring on earth, ‘Come and know well This bright Birth!’ JOSEPH. Sleepest thou, Mary? MARY. I sleep not; I pray. Behold, on me my Lord His Head doth lay. Look how in sleep He takes a mortal’s rest: See where His Hand is laid upon my breast! JOSEPH. Mary, I dread to see! MARY. Nay, come more near; But wake Him not! JOSEPH. Alas! I have such fear. MARY.