Elsie. How beautiful is the column that he looks at!

Prince Henry. That, too, she sculptured.  At the base of it
Stand the Evangelists; above their heads
Four Angels blowing upon marble trumpets,
And over them the blessed Christ, surrounded
By his attendant ministers, upholding
The instruments of his passion.

Elsie. O my Lord!  Would I could leave behind me upon earth Some monument to thy glory, such as this!

Prince Henry. A greater monument than this thou leavest
In thine own life, all purity and love! 
See, too, the Rose, above the western portal
Flamboyant with a thousand gorgeous colors,
The perfect flower of Gothic loveliness!

Elsie. And, in the gallery, the long line of statues, Christ with his twelve Apostles watching us.

(A BISHOP in armor, booted and spurred, passes with his train.)

Prince Henry. But come away; we have not time to look.  The crowd already fills the church, and yonder Upon a stage, a herald with a trumpet, Clad like The Angel Gabriel, proclaims The Mystery that will now be represented.

THE NATIVITY.

* * * * *

A MIRACLE PLAY.

* * * * *

THE NATIVITY.

INTROITUS.

Praeco. Come, good people, all and each,
Come and listen to our speech! 
In your presence here I stand,
With a trumpet in my hand,
To announce the Easter Play,
Which we represent to-day! 
First of all we shall rehearse,
In our action and our verse,
The Nativity of our Lord,
As written in the old record
Of the Protevangelion,
So that he who reads may run!

          (Blows his trumpet.)

* * * * *

I. HEAVEN.

  Mercy (at the feet of God).  Have pity, Lord be not afraid
To save mankind, whom thou hast made, Nor let the souls that were betrayed
   Perish eternally!

  Justice. It cannot be, it must not be! 
When in the garden placed by thee,
The fruit of the forbidden tree
  He ate, and he must die!

  Mercy. Have pity, Lord! let penitence
Atone for disobedience,
Nor let the fruit of man’s offence
  Be endless misery!

  Justice. What penitence proportionate
Can e’er be felt for sin so great? 
Of the forbidden fruit he ate,
  And damned must he be!

  God. He shall be saved, if that within
The bounds of earth one free from sin
Be found, who for his kith and kin
  Will suffer martyrdom.

  The Four Virtues. Lord! we have searched the world around,
From centre to the utmost bound, But no such mortal can be found;
  Despairing, back we come.