Chapter IV: Balth

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

_Chorus._ O star of wonder, &c.

V.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and sacrifice,
Alleluia, Alleluia;
Earth to the heavens replies.

_Chorus._ O star of wonder, &c.

MAR. (_looking up_).
Read it again. (_She listens._)

ABEL (_reading_).
“Lo! Gentiles in Thy Light
Shall walk; and kings, all in the splendour bright
Of this Thy rising. Lift Thine eyes and see!
Lo! they are gathered; lo! they come to Thee!
Behold, Thy sons and daughters come from far” (_pause_).
And then again ... “From Madian and Epha,
From Saba too they come ... a company
Of kings on camels—all shall come to Thee.
And myrrh and gold and incense bring with them
To show God’s glory in Jerusalem.” [_He looks up._

MAR. (_meditatively, sewing_).
Why, ’tis most strange—this ancient prophecy!
Surely it stands as plain as plain can be!
And yet no kings or camels!

ABEL (_clasping his knees_).
Martha, dear,
How I should love to see them!

MAR.
Have no fear.
’Twill come to pass, if God hath spoken so....
Where is our Lady? [_She stands up and comes to front_ (R.).

ABEL (_putting book down_).
Oh! an hour ago
She went with Jesus in her arms, to see
The sheepfolds. Joseph and old Zachary
Went with her.

MAR. (_walking meditatively_).
Twelve full days have gone and past,
And yet no kings or camels.

ABEL (_clasping his knees_).
Why, how fast
’Tis gone.... Why, heaven itself is not more sweet—
To look on Jesus!—kiss His hands and feet
And kneel before our Lady!

MAR.
Silly boy!
Why, this _is_ heaven!... for all is peace and joy
Where Jesus is. Why now— [_Enter_ DAV., _running_ (R.).

DAV.
They’s coming in.

[_Violin begins, off, “Adeste Fideles.”_

Quick, Martha, quick—the lights! [_Signs to music._
Now then, begin.

[_Organ takes up Adeste ... with violin._ ABEL _springs
up at_ DAVID’S _entrance; runs to side, gets tapers
and lights two candles that stand beside chair.
He takes one_, DAV. _takes other_. MAR. _picks up
basket of flowers. All three go to entrance_ (R.)
_and wait, facing audience, looking out. Enter_
(R.) _two_ ANGELS, _playing violin and zither;
then_ ANGELS _bearing instruments of the Passion;
then_ ZACH. _with spear; then two_ SHEPHERDS _with
spears; then, after slight pause_, MARY, _cloaked,
carrying_ CHILD; _then_ JOSEPH, _and two more_
ANGELS _with swords_. MAR. _slips in behind two_
SHEPHERDS, _and walks backwards, strewing flowers_,
ABEL _and_ DAV. _place themselves on either side
of_ MARY _with candles and walk with her. The
procession takes curve to front and comes up to
chair._ MARY _stands at chair, slips off cloak
into_ JOSEPH’S _hands, and sits. Candles placed
by her._ JOSEPH _stands behind_ (R.), ANGELS _group
themselves at back_. SHEPHERDS _pass to_ (L.)
_front_. MAR., ABEL, _and_ DAV. _seat themselves on
dais_; ZACH. _stands by dais_ (L.); JOSEPH _behind
chair_ (R.).

ZACH.
Well, children, here we are—come back, you see—
Jesus and Joseph both, and Queen Mary,
To home in Bethlehem.... How have you sped
Meantime while we were gone?

MAR.
Why, Abel read
A little; and I sewed a little.

ZACH. (_lifting book_).
What is this?

MAR.
Why, we were reading that—the prophecies
Of kings and camels, Uncle, who, they say
Shall come to worship Jesus.... Where are they?

ZACH.
Nay, child, but ask our Lady: she knows best.

[_He signs to her._

MAR.
Show it her, Abel.

[ABEL _jumps up, opens book, steps on dais, and
points out passage, first genuflecting_.

ABEL.
Here! and all the rest
That follows ... here ... and here ... here, do you see?...

[ZACH. _comes and looks over book_.

Now will you tell us, please, your Majesty?

ZACH.
Nay, let me read it. [_He takes book and comes_ (L.) _front_.
“Gentiles in thy light
Shall walk; and kings, all in the splendour bright
Of this thy rising. Lift Thine eyes and see
Lo! they are gathered ... lo! they come to Thee.
Behold Thy sons and daughters come from far.”

[_Looks at_ MARY _and back_.

... Why, that would mean that following the star
They come from Orient and from Araby....
And yet they come not ... will your Majesty.

[_Breaks off as_ MARY _turns and looks out_ (R.).
_Distant jangled murmur._

... Why now, what sound is that? How loud it swells
High on the wind!—Why, sure! ’tis camel-bells.

[MARY _remains passive, smiling. All others
look out eagerly_ (R.). _Sound comes nearer,
footsteps, bells, murmur of voices. Children
spring up._ ANGELS _continually look at_
CHILD.

DAV. (_excitedly, pointing_).
Oh! look! the camels—see how slow they wind.
Look! look! Here are the kings! and there behind
The servants follow ... See, they’re coming ... See!...
Now they are stopping! Oh! I’m glad that we
Were here to see it!... Now they’re kneeling down—
The camels, at the door—and all the town
Is out to see them.

ABEL (_pointing_).
Look! they’re taking out
The bundles and the gold; and all about
The people crowding.... Why! how grand they are!

DAV. (_pointing_).
Oh look! look at that sceptre!... Grander far
Than Herod’s.

ABEL (_pointing_).
And the crowns! Why, that’s the gold
Isaias told us of.

DAV.
Why, look how old
That first one is.

ABEL.
(_A little frightened, taking holding of_ MARTHA.)
Oh, Martha, stand by me.
(_To_ MARY.) They’re coming up the steps, your Majesty.

[MARY _makes gesture to_ ZACH. _to go_ R.
ZACH. _steps_ R. _Knocking._

ZACH.
Yes, sir; and who are you?

GASPAR (_without_).
[_He speaks slowly and gravely._
We come from far,
Led by the shining of a splendid star.
Our names are Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar.

ZACH.
Whom do ye seek?

GASP.
We seek a new-born King,
To bring Him gold, and every precious thing
That kings should have.

ZACH.
And is that all?

GASP.
Nay, nay;
We bring Him myrrh; for He shall die one day.

ZACH.
What? He shall die?... [He glances at Mary.
And is that all?

GASP.
Why, no,
It is not all; for all men here below
Shall die. But God our Lord shall rise from thence,
And therefore do we bring Him frankincense. [_Pause._

ZACH. (_very slowly and impressively_).
And is that all?

GASP.
Nay. As is meet and right,
We bring our darkness to His Heavenly Light.
Our ignorance to The Wise; our sicknesses
To Him for health; our sins to His Righteousness.
Aye; all our nature, ringed about with Hell
And Heathendom to Him, the King of Israel.

ZACH. (_making gesture of welcome_).
Come in, then, since ye know these mysteries;
For here He dwells, and this His Palace is.

[_He goes across again_ (L.) _genuflecting. Children
stand back, staring. Enter, slowly_, GASPAR,
MELCHIOR, _and_ BALTHASAR, _followed by two
servants with bundles, &c. The three come down_
(R.) _and stand facing towards_ MARY; _they bow
profoundly_. MARY _bows back_.

GASP. (_courteously_).
That is our Lady?

ZACH.
Yes.

MELCH.
And that her Son,
The King of Kings?

ZACH.
Yes, sir.

MELCH. (_clasping his hands_).
Oh! well begun
Was this our journey.

BALT.
And well ended too.
(_To_ MARY.) Hail, Mary, full of grace!

[_He bows to her again._

MELCH.
The Lord in truth
Is with her! In her arms, in very sooth!

[MARY _holds out_ CHILD. ZACH. _makes a sign to them.
They bow again profoundly as “Adeste” begins to be
played, then, one by one, they go up in order. Each
genuflects before dais, then, kneeling on dais,
kiss the_ CHILD’S _foot and_ MARY’S _hand; then
each retires back to_ R. _front and kneels once
more. Music ends._ GASPAR _lifts two crowns from_
SERVANT’S _tray, and holds them out; then sceptre_.

GASP.
Here be two crowns of gold for Him and Thee;
And here a sceptre all of gems.

MELCH. (_leaning forward with censer boat_).
For me
I bring sweet frankincense.

BALT. (_leaning forward with casket_).
And I but myrrh
To offer here.... Lord Joseph, give them her.

[JOSEPH _advances, takes crowns, genuflects, places them
on dais, then the casket, finally the censer, into
which he puts incense; he kneels; all kneel. He
censes throne with three double swings. He stands,
genuflects, and goes back._ GASPAR _turns to tray,
lifts a cope, still kneeling_. MELCHIOR _takes a
little silk robe_.

GASP.
Will not my Lady take a gift or two
Of silk and satin, broidered through and through
With jewels?

MELCH.
And a many-coloured dress
Fit for the Little King of Righteousness.

[JOSEPH _steps forward, takes the gifts,
and lays them at_ MARY’S _feet. Then_
ABEL _steps forward with_ MARTHA.

ABEL (_to_ GASP.).
Will you not speak for us?

MAR.
Some word to tell
To Jesus, for to show we love Him well?
We—and the people here [_Signs to audience._
Who have no gold
Nor myrrh nor frankincense; yet, young and old
Alike, desire to show that for their parts
They love their Infant King with all their hearts.

ZACH.
Aye, speak, King Gaspar, at this holy tide
For us who have no gold—and all poor folks beside.

[GASPAR _rises, looks at audience, then back
to_ MARY. _Then suddenly and fervently
speaks. His voice rises in tone and force as he
speaks, till he ends passionately._

GASP.
Why, yes; the greatest gift is yet ungiven,
For He, who for our sake came down from Heaven,
Has all already. For His glory fills
The earth: the cattle on a thousand hills,
The birds, the beasts, the fishes; gold and gem,
Ivory of Ophir—all are His; for them
He made, and they are His. [_Stretches arms._
So we entreat
To offer here before His holy feet
That which alone He asks of us—the love
For whose poor sake He came here from above,
Since we, as best we can, have played our parts,

[_He kneels, stretches hands. All kneel with him._

Oh! JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH, take our hearts.
To JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH, wondrous three,

All glory, praise, and honour endless be
From men and angels now and through eternity.

[_Music of “Adeste Fideles” instantly begins, ff.; the
curtain comes down; then rises again to show_ MARY
_coped and crowned; then after one chord all begin
to sing—all on their knees. At end of first verse_
GASPAR _rises, then_ MELCHIOR, BALTHASAR, ZACHARY,
TWO SHEPHERDS, ABEL, MARTHA, DAVID, SERVANTS,
ANGELS—_each one by one comes up, genuflects at
dais, and kisses the_ CHILD’S _foot and_ MARY’S
_hand. Meantime_ JOSEPH, _kneeling at side, censes
them. At end of last chorus, as last line begins_,
MARY _stands, and as she makes Sign of Cross with_
CHILD, _all cross themselves_.

CURTAIN.

APPENDICES