1ST SHEPHERD (_kneeling_). Queen, Mother, pardon me who make so bold To speak! but hearts grown full be hard to hold To-night, as Heaven hath willed, have come thy way Poor folk with meagre speech yet much to say. So, if word lack, let thine own wisdom fill: And--give me countenance!--I’ll not speak ill. Dear Mother, pray for us! Foolish we be, Untaught and rude: but what we see we see, And what we hear we hear; to what’s above Our heads we bow: and what we love we love! And, loving thee since our first entrance in, Do thereby more love God, and more hate sin; And of all lips would have thy lips to pray Pardon for us and peace to seek His way. Fair Mother, we have old men here among, As thou may’st see; and thou, we see, art young: Yet the name ‘Mother’ runneth to the tongue That seeks a name for thee. May we not all Thee as our Lady and our Mother call, For thy Son’s sake? MARY. Amen. So, shepherds, do! Call as Love bids you, and I’ll answer you. 1ST SHEPHERD. Mother, I have laid bread here at thy feet. For thy Son’s sake, I pray thee take and eat! 2ND SHEPHERD. Mother, I bring thee milk. 3RD SHEPHERD. I bring thee cheese. 4TH SHEPHERD. I have brought nuts. Strengthen His teeth on these, When they begin to pair. 5TH SHEPHERD. Also here’s wine, Good for a festal, or when frost bites fine. Also my cloak is thine. 6TH SHEPHERD. Dear Mother, for God’s sake, Wilt thou, I prithee, take This firstling from the fold? It is so beautiful, And thereto hath warm wool To ward one from the cold. Take it, then, to thy lap Beside thy Son: It may keep warm, mayhap, The Blessed One. MARY. It shall keep warm my heart, shepherd, to thee. 7TH SHEPHERD. Mother, my empty hands do me a wrong: No gift have I, but in my lips a song Such as we shepherds sing. MARY. Such songs are best. To-night your lips shall lull the Shepherd’s King To rest. 7TH SHEPHERD (_sings_). The world is old to-night, The world is old; The stars around the fold Do show their light. And so they did, and so, A thousand years ago, And so will do, dear Love, when you lie cold. (_Speaks._) Nay, nay, but I can sing no more thereof; I had forgot the sadness of the end! MARY. Thou hast but prophesied how men shall scoff Even at Love, my friend. [_Knocking is heard._ JOSEPH. Ho, there without! Who knocks? Come ye in peace? KINGS (_without_). Kings, seeking it, we come! JOSEPH. Here enter, and find ease! _THE KINGS enter._ 1ST KING. Blessed be God! OMNES. Blessed be God! 2ND KING. Blessed be His Holy Name! OMNES. Blessed be His Holy Name! 3RD KING.