To learn this secret, how I've toiled! Shall it be hidden from me now? He disguises himself, and approaches the shepherds under the form of a great lord, and says to them: Whence come you? FIRST SHEPHERD. From seeing Christ, the Saviour of mankind, By whom in God we are regenerate. Will you not go and see him, mighty lord? I'll show the way. SATAN. Can this be true, or is it all a dream? SECOND SHEPHERD. Go and see for yourself.... SATAN. God from his throne on high For this world does not care.... I am its king ... yes, I.... . . . . Come with me and make good cheer ... But you must believe no mo' That God can ever stoop so low. THIRD SHEPHERD. He is my father, brother, all ... I am his from head to foot.[86] God is for me, and no false one Shall this heavenly faith uproot. SATAN. Fools and madmen! are ye gods?... FIRST SHEPHERD. To the Son we leave the glory Of being God. Enough for us To be whatso'er he pleases, And to know that He's the great I AM. SATAN. _Can you understand the Scriptures?_ THIRD SHEPHERD. _With all humbleness we read them._ SATAN. Were he your father as you call him, Would he leave you thus accursed, Suffering poverty and want? Blind ones, open wide your eyes! Have you ever known a rich man Leave his son, like field untilled? Sons of God, indeed! whose store Are cold and hunger, rags, and all that's poor. SECOND SHEPHERD. More we suffer, more our joys redouble; For all your pleasures we'll not give a double.[87] THIRD SHEPHERD. In our hearts the Christ doth dwell Who has conquered death and hell. At these words Satan becomes confused; he calls to mind his former defeats, and knowing that the Son of God must crush him under his feet, exclaims in terror: Murdered Lamb, who didst expel Me and mine from heaven to hell.... Thou still pursuest, and no place Can hide me from thy angry face. Then the mysterious voice of God is heard again proclaiming the victory of the new-born child: Satan's tyrant reign is o'er; By the spotless Lamb 'tis ended, Who to suffer on the cross For us sinners has consented.... At my right the Lamb shall sit ... Angels sing the Lamb exalted High o'er all, and Satan quelled. Then the angels sing the song of triumph, which ends the play: Glory be to God on high, Who our greatest enemy, Satan, hath o'erthrown. Honours to the Lamb express By whom all the blessedness Of the Father is made known. The representation was finished and every one retired in admiration. The king was grateful for this condescension in his wife, and Margaret took advantage of it to induce him to listen to a few sermons. 'From the comedy he went to the preaching, which took place in the queen's chamber,' says a contemporary historian.[88]