MARY. God have mercy, kings, of your goodness! By the guiding of the Godhead hither are ye sent. The prevision of my sweet Son your ways home redress, And ghostly reward you for your present! [_As the_ KINGS _go away, they say._] FIRST REX. Sir kings, after our promise, Home by Herod I must needs go. SECOND REX. Now truly brethren, we can no less, But I am so for-watched I wot not what to do. THIRD REX. Right so am I; wherefore, I you pray, Let all us rest us awhile upon this ground. FIRST REX. Brethren, your saying is right well unto my pay. The grace of that sweet child save us all sound! [_While they sleep the_ ANGEL _appears._] ANGEL. King of Taurus, Sir Jaspar, King of Araby, Sir Balthasar, Melchior, King of Aginar, To you now am I sent. For dread of Herod, go you west home; Into those parts when ye come down, Ye shall be buried with great renown; The Holy Ghost thus knowledge hath sent. [_Exit._] FIRST REX. Awake, sir Kings, I you pray! For the voice of an angel I heard in my dream. SECOND REX. That is full true that ye do say, For he rehearsed our names plain. THIRD REX. He bade that we should go down by west, For dread of Herod's false betray. FIRST REX. So for to do it is the best; The Child that we have sought guide us the way! Now farewell, the fairest, of shape so sweet! And thanked be Jesus of his sond, That we three together so suddenly should meet, That dwell so wide and in strange lond, And here make our presentation Unto this King's Son, cleansed so clean, And to his Mother, for our salvation; Of much mirth now may we mean, That we so well have done this oblation. SECOND REX. Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brother, to you, King of Taurus, the most worthy! Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow, And I thank you both of your good company That we together have had. He that made us to meet on hill, I thank Him now, and ever I will; For now may we go without ill, And of our offering be full glad. THIRD REX. Now sith that we must needly go, For dread of Herod that is so wroth, Now farewell brother, and brother also, I take my leave here at you both, This day on feet. Now He that made us to meet on plain, And offer to Mary in her jesayne, He give us grace in heaven again All together to meet. [_They go out, and_ HEROD _and his train occupy the pageant._] NUNTIUS. Hail King, most worthiest in weed! Hail, maintainer of courtesy through all this world wide! Hail, the most mightiest that ever bestrode a steed! Hail, most manfullest man in armour man to abide! Hail in thine honour! These three kings that forth were sent, And should have come again before thee here present, Another way, lord, home they went, Contrary to thine honour.