Dear Tree, you have befriended in his need This little Child new-born. So—for His sake— Your gracious boughs shall evermore be green, Nor ever in winter lose their April sap, But freshly, at this season of His birth, They shall be fragrant of the hallowed dreams His happy heart bequeathes you. TREE He was welcome, And I will deck my boughs with infant joys In his remembrance. SHEPHERD So we say—God keep you! And not ‘Goodbye’! JOSEPH (To TREE) Nay, still another token We leave with you: His star—to be henceforth A morning star of song for other children Who rest from Herod’s wrath. So you shall be No more a forest sprite, but a hallow’d angel— His shining angel with a sheathèd sword To guard all childhood’s home. Keep here his star: Farewell! TREE O fare you well, dear wanderers, That have fulfilled with love my lonely dream! (With lighted candles, in processional, the SHEPHERDS with MANGER, MARY and JOSEPH depart toward the desert. While the CHORUS sings, TREE stands gazing after them.) [Sidenote: _Eighth Chorus: A,6. Glory and Serenity_] CHORUS _Glory and serenity,_ _Beauty of desire,_ _Blend the song of men set free_ _With their children’s choir._ _Child of our hearts, behold!_ _How the dark is strewn with your fairy gold_ _And the bitter of soul lay-by their spleen_ _Where the Tree of our love grows green._ (TREE goes within.) SEVENTH ACTION (The Three Wise Men) _AISLE II: ANOTHER PATHWAY INTO THE WILDERNESS_ Entering from its farther end appear, in procession, the THREE WISE MEN, and their FOLLOWERS. Lighted by torches of their Attendants, this PAGEANT OF THE KINGS moves onward in oriental splendor. Each KING wears a crown of gold. The crown of the youngest, BELSHASAR, is set on a turban. He is clean shaven, pale and recluse. The garb of him and his Group has a tone of asceticism. The crown of the middle-aged, MELCHIOR, is placed on a helmet. He is thick-set, black-bearded and sharp-eyed. A martial glitter touches him and his Group. The crown of the oldest, CASPAR, is set on a high-peaked hat with wide flapping brims. His beard is silver white, his face ruddy and wrinkled with laughter. His ample gown is gorgeous with red dyes and jewels. Like him in jocular splendor are his Followers. As they approach the place of the Tree, KINGS and FOLLOWERS come singing a carol, led by the KINGS. [Sidenote: _Carol 4. Trio and Chorus: “We Three Kings of Orient Are”_] BELSHASAR, MELCHIOR AND CASPAR _TRIO_ _We three kings of Orient are:_ _Wending home, we traverse afar_ _Field and fountain_ _Moor and mountain_ _Seeking for our lost star._ _CHORUS_ (Of the THREE KINGS and their FOLLOWERS)