_Joseph._ Now welcome to me, the maker of man, With all the homage that I can; Thy sweet mother here will I kiss. _Mary._ Ah Joseph, husband, my child waxeth cold And we have no fire to warm him with. _Joseph._ Now in my arms I shall him fold, King of all kings by field and by frith,[229] He might have had better, and himself would Than the breathing of these beasts to warm him with. _Mary._ Now, Joseph, my husband, fetch hither my child, The maker of man, and high King of bliss. _Joseph._ That shall be done, anon, Mary so mild! For the breathing of these beasts hath warmed him, I wis. _1st Angel._ Herdmen kind, dread ye nothing, Of this star that ye do see; For this same morn God's son is born, In Bethlem of a maiden fre.[230] _2nd Angel._ Hie you hither in haste, It is his will ye shall him see Lying in a crib of poor repast; Yet of David's line come is he. _1st Shepherd._ Hail, maid-mother, and wife so mild! As the angel said, so have we found, I have nothing to present to thy child, But my pipe; hold, hold! take it in thy hand; Wherein much pleasure that I have found, And now to honour thy glorious birth, Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth. _2nd Shepherd._ Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame, For in a poor lodging here art thou laid; So the angel said, and told us thy name. Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head, And now of one thing thou art well sped; For weather thou hast no cause to complain, For wind, nor sun, hail, snow, and rain. _3rd Shepherd._ Hail, be thou Lord over water and lands For thy coming all we may make mirth, Have here my mittens to put on thy hands Other treasure have I none to present thee with. _Mary._ Now, herdmen kind, For your coming, To my child shall I pray, As he is heaven's king, To grant you his blessing, And to his bliss that ye may wynd[231] At your last day. [_There the Shepherds sing again:_] Down from heaven, from heaven so high, Of angels there came a great company, With mirth, and joy, and great solemnity They sang, Terli, terlow; So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow. [_The two prophets come in._ _1st Prophet._ Novellis, novellis,[232] of wonderful marvellys,[233] Were high and sweet unto the hearing, As Scripture tellis, these strange novellis To you I bring. _2nd Prophet._ Now, heartily, sir, I desire to know, If it would please you for to show, Of what manner a thing? _1st Prophet._ Were it mystical unto your hearing,-- Of the nativity of a king? _2nd Prophet._ Of a king? Whence should he come? _1st Prophet._ From that region royal and mighty mansion, The seed celestial and heavenly wisdom, The Second Person, and God's one Son, For our sake is man become. This godly sphere, descended here, Into a virgin clear, She undefiled, By whose work, obscure our frail nature Is now beguiled. _2nd Prophet._ Why, hath she a child? _1st Prophet._ Ah, trust it well, And never the less, Yet is she a maid even as she was, And her son the king of Israel.