SHEPHERD.  Who will knock at the door?

KING.  It is my advice to you now:  the king that is youngest of us, and the shepherd that is youngest of you, to go to the door and to knock together.

SHEPHERD.  Why do you say the youngest king and the youngest shepherd?

KING.  Do you not know there is no person free from sin but only infants that have never found occasion of doing it?  The man that is youngest of us, it is he found least occasion to do wrong; and he is the best fitted to knock at this door, whatever there may be inside it.

SHEPHERD (leading out another shepherd).  This is the man that is youngest among us.

KING (leading out another king).  This is the youngest king in our company.

(The two go to the door together and knock at it.  The door is opened by St. Joseph, and the manger is seen, and Mary Mother kneeling beside the manger on her two knees, her hands crossed on her breast, and she praying.)

KING.  We are come to this door to do honour to God, and to Him that God has sent.  It is here all the people of the whole world will be taught, and will be put on the road that is best.  Show Him to us; and we will proclaim Him to all the people of knowledge, and the learned people of the world.

SHEPERD.  We are come in search of Him who is come to put joy in the world, and to put gladness in the hearts of the people.  Show Him to us; and we will give news of Him to the herds and the shepherds, and the simple people of the whole world.

ST. JOSEPH.  It is great my gladness is to see you here.  A hundred welcomes before you, both gentle and simple.  Come in, and I will show you Him you are in search of.  Look at this baby in the manger.  It is He is King of the World, and He will put all the countries of the world under His feet.

MARY MOTHER.  He is the Son of God.

(They all go on their knees.)

KING.  We have brought gifts and offerings with us.  Let us show them to you.

MARY MOTHER.  Walk softly and quietly, that you may not awake the Child.

A KING.  I am the king is oldest in our company.  I will walk softly, and I will not awake the Child.

A SHEPHERD.  I am the man is oldest among us; let us give our poor gifts to you like the others.  I will walk softly; I will not awake the little One.

KING.  We have brought from the rising of the sun, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, and a share of every noble precious treasure there is in the world.  It is not possible for the whole world to give a thing we have not with us; and we have brought another thing the world has not to give, the knowledge and sense and wisdom of our own hearts.  We have been gathering it through the years, from youth to old age; and we put it first of all these things. (They lay gold and spices, and other treasures before the Child.)

SHEPHERD.  We have brought fleeces, and cheeses, and a little lamb with us as an offering.  We have no other thing to give.  We are old now, and we have got this wisdom from God, that there is nothing better worth giving than the things God has given to us. (They put down their own offerings.  The two women come round to the front.)