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] well, i-wis. [_Angels appear to the shepherds._] FIRST ANGEL. Herd-men hend, Dread ye nothing Of this star that ye do see; For this same morn God's Son is born In Bethlehem of a maiden free. SECOND ANGEL. Hie you thither 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. [_The Shepherds approach and worship the Babe._] FIRST PASTOR. Hail, maid, mother, and wife so mild! As the angel said, so have we fand. I have nothing to present with thy child But my pipe; hold, hold, take it in thy hand; Wherein much pleasure that I have fand; And now, to honour thy glorious birth, Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth. SECOND PASTOR. 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 need to complain, For wind, ne sun, hail, snow and rain. THIRD PASTOR. 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 hend, For your coming, To my child shall I pray, As He is heaven King, To grant you His blessing, And to His bliss that ye may wend At your last day. _There the shepherds singeth again and goth forth of the place, and the two prophets cometh in and saith thus:_ FIRST PROPHET. Novels, novels, Of wonderful marvels Very high and diffuse unto the hearing! As Scripture tells, These strange novels To you I bring. SECOND PROPHET. Now heartily, sir, I desire to know, If it would please you for to show Of what manner a thing. FIRST PROPHET. Very mystical unto your hearing,-- Of the nativity of a King. SECOND PROPHET. Of a King? Whence should he come? FIRST PROPHET. From that region royal and mighty mansion, The Seed celestial and heavenly wisdom, The Second Person and God's own Son, For our sake now is man become. This goodly sphere Descended here Into a Virgin clear, She undefiled. * * * * * By whose work obscure Our frail nature Is now beguiled. _Second Prophet._ Why, hath she a child? FIRST PROPHET. Eh! trust it well; And never-the-less Yet is she a maiden even as she was, And her Son the King of Israel. SECOND PROPHET. A wonderful marvel How that may be, And far doth excell All our capacity: How that the Trinity, Of so high regality, Should joined be Unto our mortality!