Nativity, The - Scene 1
Scene I Bethlehem, the night of Christ's birth. Early evening, near the house of Matthias. Enter Joseph, leading an ass upon which the Virgin Mary is seated .
Joseph .
A wind hath blown the heavens into flame
About us; earth is silver to our feet.
By night, by day, God's hand hath guided us,
Pillar and cloud His firmament hath been
To bring us hither; this should be the town
Of David, city of our sire.
M ARY .
Even so.
Joseph .
Here where the unknowing workman left an arch
In the broad wall we pass; thus Israel's God
Comes stooping to His own.
M ARY
Whereto He leads
We can but follow now as ever, yet
Methinks I hear, over the din of song
That beat about our temples all the way,
The night-song of a mother for her babe.
Hark!
Baby, sleep, my child;
Deep the night hangs o'er thee.
High the wind and wild;
Dreaming is before thee.
Come, come the happy slumber;
Bright dreams be thine in number.
Ah, baby, on thy mother's breast
Is sleep for thee, for thee is rest.
Joseph .
Let us approach; the inn mayhap is far
And crowded by the mandates of our king.
M ATTHIAS .
Who is it starts the peacefulness of night
With clamorous knocking?
Joseph .
Two of David's house
Come far, and weary; may we lodge to-night
Beside thy hearth?
M ATTHIAS .
Mine house is all too strait
For mine own household.
Beggars and their beast,
Begone.
R EBECCA .
Hush; houseless, in the night, with child.
Surely some room can still be made — —
M ATTHIAS .
But no,
We are too poor. The inn is farther down
The road. And yet — and yet — —
Good night.
M ARY .
Good night.
R EBECCA .
Houseless, with child — O husband, call them back.
M ATTHIAS .
Peace, they will elsewhere shelter find and rest.
R EBECCA .
Her eyes were like the pools of Hesebon
That mirrowed her sad soul.
M ATTHIAS .
Lo, here thy child
Hath need of thee, and of thine every thought.
R EBECCA .
He sickens, yea, his eyes begin to blur.
M ATTHIAS .
His temples burn; it is some malady
Of sudden, unknown power.
R EBECCA .
Give me the child;
Fetch thee yon herbs medicinal and oil.
M ATTHIAS .
His eyes are fixed; how his bosom lifts!
R EBECCA .
O God of Jacob, leave us still our son.
Joseph .
A wind hath blown the heavens into flame
About us; earth is silver to our feet.
By night, by day, God's hand hath guided us,
Pillar and cloud His firmament hath been
To bring us hither; this should be the town
Of David, city of our sire.
M ARY .
Even so.
Joseph .
Here where the unknowing workman left an arch
In the broad wall we pass; thus Israel's God
Comes stooping to His own.
M ARY
Whereto He leads
We can but follow now as ever, yet
Methinks I hear, over the din of song
That beat about our temples all the way,
The night-song of a mother for her babe.
Hark!
Baby, sleep, my child;
Deep the night hangs o'er thee.
High the wind and wild;
Dreaming is before thee.
Come, come the happy slumber;
Bright dreams be thine in number.
Ah, baby, on thy mother's breast
Is sleep for thee, for thee is rest.
Joseph .
Let us approach; the inn mayhap is far
And crowded by the mandates of our king.
M ATTHIAS .
Who is it starts the peacefulness of night
With clamorous knocking?
Joseph .
Two of David's house
Come far, and weary; may we lodge to-night
Beside thy hearth?
M ATTHIAS .
Mine house is all too strait
For mine own household.
Beggars and their beast,
Begone.
R EBECCA .
Hush; houseless, in the night, with child.
Surely some room can still be made — —
M ATTHIAS .
But no,
We are too poor. The inn is farther down
The road. And yet — and yet — —
Good night.
M ARY .
Good night.
R EBECCA .
Houseless, with child — O husband, call them back.
M ATTHIAS .
Peace, they will elsewhere shelter find and rest.
R EBECCA .
Her eyes were like the pools of Hesebon
That mirrowed her sad soul.
M ATTHIAS .
Lo, here thy child
Hath need of thee, and of thine every thought.
R EBECCA .
He sickens, yea, his eyes begin to blur.
M ATTHIAS .
His temples burn; it is some malady
Of sudden, unknown power.
R EBECCA .
Give me the child;
Fetch thee yon herbs medicinal and oil.
M ATTHIAS .
His eyes are fixed; how his bosom lifts!
R EBECCA .
O God of Jacob, leave us still our son.
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.