JASPAR Stay, brothers and princes. The star is lost. BALTHASAR Now for twelve nights it hath burned clear. MELCHOIR And floated on before to guide our steps. Here is some evil thing that it should fade. BALTHASAR Some evil near. Stay we our course. The star That westward we have trailed from Araby And your bright orient kingdoms, will not fail Until the prophecies we read of old Be new fulfilled. But peril to the Child Might dim its fire. JASPAR Yea, in the ancient scrolls Are dangers written deep. The star-flame blows Back at the heavy tread of mailed feet. _Below, on the stairway, Herod appears, and comes slowly up followed by guards and counsellors._ MELCHOIR What gleam of helmets yonder, and of gold? BALTHASAR Some lord is this, whose rule is not as ours. JASPAR Hail, Prince, and peace, and light unto thy path! HEROD What stranger kings are these who come unknown, Unbidden, to my realm? BALTHASAR From out the East We come, Melchoir, and Jaspar, King of Taurus, And he who speaks you here, Balthasar Prince of Araby. We are come to seek A Child new-born whose mystic star we found As prophets had foretold from long ago, A Child born to be King of the Jews. We come With gifts to greet and worship Him. Say thou Where is this Child? HEROD King of the Jews, ye say. I know Him not. JASPAR Who art thou, good my lord? HEROD Forgive mine evil courtesy, sir princes, But I am troubled.... Herod is my name, a king In this lean land of Judah. Speak you fair, And say again--this star--these prophecies? JASPAR The star hath led us westward, wondering on; The prophecies name Bethlehem, a town Little in Judah, whence shall come a King To rule in Israel, anoint of God. HEROD I knew it not. I have no child.... But when First saw ye this new star? BALTHASAR Twelve nights ago. ’Tis like the Child was born that night. HEROD Yea, very like, and have ye told me all? BALTHASAR All that hath been revealed. We wait Here with our gifts. The star may burn again.