The laughter caused by this farce had scarcely died away when the serious part of the performance began. A second stage had been drawn meanwhile to the market-place, and was stationed at a little distance from the first one, where to the shepherds, once more quietly guarding their flock, there suddenly appeared an angel. The simple countrymen gazed in awe, while in a sweet voice he sang _Gloria in Excelsis_, and then, as he came closer, they sank on their knees, while he addressed them: “Rise, gracious hired-men, for now is He born That shall take from the fiend that Adam had lorn [lost] ... God is made your friend: now at this morn He behests [commands] To Bedlem go see There lies that free [Divine One] In a crib full poorly, Betwixt two beasts.” In amaze the shepherds listened, and in amaze they talked together when the shining angel had gone. Pointing to a brilliant star, one of them declared it was a token to guide them “where the young Child lay.” “Hie we thither quickly; If we be wet and weary, To that Child and that Lady,” another urged. And so descending from the stage-field, they began their journey to Bethlehem, a journey represented by the space between the two pageants. On the other platform meanwhile a charming scene was disclosed. There was the stable at Bethlehem, with its broken roof, and within the stable Mary in a long blue robe knelt beside the manger, at which, with their kind, patient eyes, an ox and an ass were also gazing. Now the shepherds had arrived, and finding themselves in the presence of “that Child and that Lady,” they bent low their knees, and began to talk to the Baby Jesus as though they loved Him, and as though He were a child of their own to whom they had brought tiny presents. “Hail, comely and clean; hail, young child!” said the first shepherd. “Lo, He merry is; Lo, He laughs, my sweeting, A welcome meeting! I have given my greeting, Have a bob of cherries?” Then in the same homely, delightful way, the second shepherd greeted the Baby: “Hail, Sovereign Saviour, for Thou hast us sought! Hail! I kneel and I cower.... A bird have I brought To my bairn. Hail, little tiny mop [little tiny pate] ... Little day-starn [star].” And the third shepherd said: “Hail, darling dear, full of Godheed! I pray Thee be near when that I have need.... Hail, put forth Thy dall [hand], I bring Thee but a ball: Have and play Thee with all, And go to the tennis.” Mary, bending down to the shepherds, then spoke to them gently, telling them that she would pray her Son to keep them from woe, and bidding them spread the glad tidings of His birth. After a while the shepherds left her presence, singing glad songs in honour of the new-born King. “I like that best of all, except Abraham and Isaac!” Margery exclaimed, as the pageants were drawn away. “And _now_ we shall see the wicked King Herod, shan’t we?”