Accompanied with armies all of stars To fill the air with glorious light,[371] [371] Baxa esclareciendo el ayre Con exercitos de estrellas. descending to Galilee, announces as about to be accomplished by the birth of the Messiah. This ends the first act. The second opens with the rejoicings of the Serpent, Sin, and Death,--confident that the World is now fairly given up to them. But their rejoicings are short. Clarionets are sounded, and Divine Grace appears on the upper portion of the stage, and at once expels the sinful rout from their boasted possessions; explaining afterwards to the World, who now comes on as one of the personages of the scene, that the Holy Family are immediately to bring salvation to men. The World replies with rapture:-- O holy Grace, already I behold them; And, though the freezing night forbids, will haste To border round my hoar frost all with flowers; To force the tender buds to spring again From out their shrunken branches; and to loose The gentle streamlets from the hill-tops cold, That they may pour their liquid crystal down; While the old founts, at my command, shall flow With milk, and ash-trees honey pure distil To quench our joyful thirst.[372] [372] Gracia santa, ya los veo. Voy á hazer que aquesta noche, Aunque lo defienda el yelo, Borden la escarcha las flores, Salgan los pimpollos tiernos De las encogidas ramas, Y de los montes soberbios Bajen los arroyos mansos Liquido cristal vertiendo. Hare que las fuentes manen Candida leche, y los fresnos Pura miel, diluvios dulces, Que aneguen nuestros deseos. Comedias, Tom. XXIV., Zaragoza, 1641, f. 116. The next scene is in Bethlehem, where Joseph and Mary appear begging for entrance at an inn, but, owing to the crowd, they are sent to a stable just outside the city, in whose contiguous fields shepherds and shepherdesses are seen suffering from the frosty night, but jesting and singing rude songs about it. In the midst of their troubles and merriment, an angel appears in a cloud announcing the birth of the Saviour; and the second act is then concluded by the resolution of all to go and find him, and carry him their glad salutations. The last act is chiefly taken up with discussions of the same subjects by the same shepherds and shepherdesses, and an account of the visit to the mother and child; some parts of which are not without poetical merit. It ends with the appearance of the three Kings, preceded by dances of Gypsies and Negroes, and with the worship and offerings brought by all to the newborn Saviour.