If the sun has hid its light,
If the day has turned to night,
If the heavens are not benign,
If the stars refuse to shine—­

Heart of man lose not thy hope;
Door, there’s none that shall not ope;
Path, there’s none that shall not clear;
Heart of man! why shouldst thou fear?

If for years should be thy quest,
If for years thou hast no rest,
If thou circlest earth and sea,
If thou worn and weary be—­

Heart of man, lose not thy hope;
Door, there’s none that shall not ope;
Path, there’s none that shall not clear;
Heart of man! why shouldst thou fear?

[Sidenote:  Balthazar Cometh]

“That,” exclaimed Gaspard and Melchoir together, “is the voice of Balthazar,” and they hastened to meet him, for he was now almost at the summit, and the refrain of his song was still upon his lips.  At that moment Balthazar sprang up from the sloping path into full view of the two men, and, giving each a hand, exclaimed:  “Gaspard, Melchoir, beloved companions, I have found you at last.  The peasants below were not mistaken.  From their description, I was certain I should find you here.  And you, too, have been searching these long years for the kingdom of the Christ! and, like me, you have met with disappointment; but, comrades, be not of faint heart: 

    Door, there’s none that shall not ope;
    Path, there’s none that shall not clear.

Let us hasten down the mountain, for see! the sky is already growing gold and crimson beyond the pillars of Hercules.  Let us seek the wayfarer’s lodging with the hospitable peasants in the valley, and tomorrow let us begin our search for the Christ anew.  We have wandered alone; let us invoke now the star to guide us together.”

[Sidenote:  Forget Not Hospitality]

That night, therefore, the three strangers lodged with the simple peasant people in the valley, partaking with thankfulness of the coarse bread, the dates and the red wine—­the common fare of their daily life.  Nor did they fail to notice a motto inscribed above the fireplace in rude Greek letters: 

* * * * *

On the morrow they were ready to begin their search together for the Christ, and they hoped not to wander far before they should find at least the outskirts of His kingdom.  But whither should they go?  In what direction should they first turn their steps?

[Sidenote:  Once More a Star]

While they were thus wondering and debating, Balthazar suddenly exclaimed:  “I see the star!” And behold, a little way before them, and at no great distance above their heads, they discerned in the gray of the early morning a star of pale, opal light, which seemed to move forward as the men moved toward it.

“We must follow the star!” Balthazar said in a whisper.  Silently and breathlessly his companions followed on.