HEROD. Another way! Out! out! out! Hath those false traitors done me this deed? I stamp! I stare! I look all about! Might I them take I should them burn at a gleed! I rend! I raw! and now run I wood! Ah! that these villain traitors hath marred this my mood! They shall be hanged if I may come them to! _Here Herod rages in the pageant and in the street also._ Eh! and that kerne of Bethlehem, he shall be dead, And thus shall I fordo his prophecy. How say you, sir Knights? is not this the best rede, That all young children for this should be dead, With sword to be slain? Then shall I Herod live in lede And all folk me doubt and drede, And offer to me both gold, riches and meed; Thereto will they be full fain. FIRST MILES. My lord king, Herod by name, Thy words against my will shall be; To see so many young children die is shame, Therefore counsel thereto gettest thou none of me. SECOND MILES. Well said, fellow, my truth I plight. Sir King, perceive right well you may, So great a murder to see of young fruit Will make a rising in thine own country. HEROD. A rising? Out! out! out! [_There Herod rages again and then saith thus:_] Out! villain wretches, haro upon 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. FIRST MILES. Now, cruel Herod, sith we shall do this deed, Your will needfully in this realm must be wrought; All the children of that age die they must need; Now with all my might they shall be upsought. SECOND MILES. And I will swear here upon your bright swerd, All the children that I find, slain they shall be; That make many a mother to weep and be full sore aferd, 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. [HEROD _and his train go away, and_ JOSEPH _and_ MARY _are, while asleep, addressed by an_ ANGEL.] 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 rede! JOSEPH. Arise up, Mary, hastily and soon; Our Lord's will needs must be done, Like as the angel us bade. MARY. Meekly, Joseph, mine own spouse, Toward that country let us repair; At Egypt to some kind of house, God grant us His grace safe to come there! _Here the women come in with their children, singing them; and_ MARY _and_ JOSEPH _go away clean._