(Having put off his King’s robe, sceptre and crown, CASPAR now appears in his under-jerkin of red, with long boots, like a Peasant.) MELCHIOR (To BELSHASAR) Mad! Stark gone! CAPTAIN (Tossing aside the robe, sceptre and crown, speaks to his Followers.) Lay-by These tokens, men! Your spears! Your spears! This wise man shall learn wisdom now In Herod’s name. BELSHASAR (Interposing) Forbear! He raves. (HE and MELCHIOR draw the CAPTAIN momentarily aside.) RUTH (To CASPAR) Alas! How can you help us now And have no kingdom? CASPAR Ha, my dears! A joyful heart finds many a job Can earn a kingdom. (Taking the little BOY and GIRL, one on each knee, he speaks to them and their Mother.) Cheerly, woman! Thy goodman plied a goodly trade.— Poor Claus he was a pedlar: Ho! A pedlar now will Caspar be, And take thy goodman’s pack and name, And ply his trade of children’s toys By neighbor chimneys, house to house, With jingling bells in winter air; And hearth to hearth the mirth shall spread Around the fire, and yule logs blaze, And apples toast, and stockings spill With candy dolls and popping tricks; And tiptoe boys and girls shall peep To spy the pedlar with his sack, And pay his wage in wonder coin Left on the hearthstone; and through all The evergreen and evergreen, Around the tree of light shall run— With fairy twinklings of His star— The laughter of a Manger Child. (Rising, he lifts the CHILDREN in his arms.) Up, kiddies, now, with Pedlar Claus To find His kingdom! CAPTAIN (To BELSHASAR, brushing him and MELCHIOR aside) Nay, no more! He bowed not down, and shall pay dear For Herod’s anger. CASPAR (Swinging the Pedlar’s pack upon his back) Ho, good hearts! Now, Sorrow, come! and Poverty! And you, dear Song, that serve on them! You, Elf and Gnome, and desert beasts! Ye children all, both old and young, Come, gather by this holy Tree And share with Pedlar Claus his pack! CAPTAIN (Mocking) Ho, Claus, the Pedlar-King! Hail Claus! THE HOST OF HEROD Hail, Claus, the Pedlar-King! King Claus! (They crowd toward him; his cap is struck off.) CAPTAIN (Raising the cap on a spear) Lo, Claus, his crown! Behold the crown! THE HOST Hail to the crown! The Pedlar’s crown! CAPTAIN Ye Spears of Herod, spill him wine! Yea, with his blood anoint him!