Out villain wretches, hereupon you I cry, My will utterly, look that it be wrought, Or upon a gallows both you shall die, By Mahound, most mightiest, that me dear hath bought! _1st Soldier._ Now, cruel Herod, sith we shall do this deed, Your will needfully in this must be wrought. All the children of that age, die they must need, Now with all my might they shall be upsought. _2nd Soldier._ And I will swear here upon your bright sword, All the children that I find, slain they shall be; That make many a mother to weep, and be full sore afeard, In our armour bright, when they us see. _Herod._ Now you have sworn, forth that ye go And my will that ye work both by day and night, And then will I for fain trip like a doe; But when they be dead, I warn you, bring them before my sight. _Angel._ Mary and Joseph, to you I say, Sweet word from the Father I bring you full right; Out of Bethlehem into Egypt forth go ye the way And with you take the king, full of might, For dread of Herod's red.[264] _Joseph._ Arise up, Mary, hastily and soon! Our Lord's will needs must be done, Like as the angel bade. _Mary._ Meekly, Joseph, mine own spouse, Toward that country let us repair, In Egypt,--some token of house,-- God grant us grace safe to come there! [_Here the women come in with their children, singing them, and Mary and Joseph goeth clean away._ Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child; By, by, lullay, lullay, thou little tiny child; By, by, lully, lullay. O sisters too! how may we do, For to preserve this day This poor youngling, for whom we do sing By, by, lully, lullay. Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day His men of might, in his own sight, All young children to slay. That woe is me, poor child for thee! And ever morn and day, For thy parting neither say nor sing, By, by, lully, lallay. _1st Woman._ I lull my child wondrously sweet, And in my arms I do it keep, Because that it should not cry. _2nd Woman._ That Babe that is born, in Bethlehem so meek, He save my child and me from villainy! _3rd Woman._ Be still! be still! my little child! That Lord of lords save both thee and me; For Herod hath sworn with words wild That all young children slain they shall be. _1st Soldier._ Say ye whither, ye wives, whither are ye away? What bear you in your arms needs must we see; If they be men children, die they must this day, For at Herod's will all things must be. _2nd Soldier._ And I in hands once them hent,[265] Them for to slay nought will I spare; We must fulfil Herod's commandment; Else be we as traitors, and cast all in care. _1st Woman._ Sir knights! of your courtesy This day shame not your chivalry, But on my child have pity, For my sake in this stead; For a simple slaughter it were to sloo[266] Or to work such a child woe That can neither speak nor go, Nor never harm did.