The
Key of Life
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PROLOGUE
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Dear fellow-pilgrims on life’s toilsome road,
Who know this world is not man’s last abode
I pray you pause a moment on your way,
And learn the simple lessons of our play.
We have no wit to bring you, nothing rare,
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In
turn of speech or figure passing fair,
But simply that great message from the past,
That God’s strong arms around His world are
cast,
And that man’s life beneath, around, above,
Is compassed with the fullness of God’s love.
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This
little play we call The Key of Life,
Because in Christ there is an end of strife,
And all the problems that perplex the mind,
In Him alone, can true solution find.
When Satan spreads his snares before our feet,
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Christ,
who once foiled him, is a sure retreat.
When sin has spoilt life’s plan and symmetry
Christ, through His death, can give us pardon free;
And when some grief has darkened all our sky,
Christ weeps with us for those who have to die.
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There
are no stars with light so far and dim,
That we can thither fly and hide from Him;
No silence in the sunless depths of sea,
But in His presence lies continually,
No hidden regions in the utmost space,
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Where
God and man cannot meet face to face.
With reverence then, and with a lowly fear,
This simple tale of man’s salvation hear,
’Twill give you guidance in perplexing hours;
’Twill give you strength to fight the evil
powers,
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If
Christ be helmsman in the soul’s frail bark,
Fear not the sea however wild and dark. [Page
152]
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SCENE I.
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[It is night. The starry canopy of space stretches
far away into the
infinite distance. Beneath it, on the shining
top of one of Heaven’s
battlements, two Angels stand, their hands clasped
in the attitude
of prayer, and their heads bowed in worship. A
strong light
falls on them from above, as an unseen angelic
choir sings very
softly: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts,
Heaven and Earth are full
of Thy Glory: Glory be to Thee, O Lord
most High. Amen.
As the “Amen” dies off into silence,
the Angels unclasp their hands,
and draw nigh to the edge of the tower, and look
down the dark
abyss beneath them, where the sun and his attendant
planets hang poised in space.]
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First Angel. |
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Dear
Brother, canst thou see,
Far
down the gulfs of night,
That world to which so joyfully
Great
Gabriel speeds his flight?
The shining of his wing,
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Lights
up the paths of space,
And all the baby planets sing
To
see his radiant face. [Page 153]
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Second Angel. |
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Yea,
Brother, I can see
That
world and know its name,
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For it, by Heaven’s high decree,
Now
wins a glorious fame,
’Tis called by mortals Earth,
And
there, since time began,
The Father willed, through Virgin birth,
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His
Son should be made man.
Great Gabriel wings his way
To
a sweet maiden’s shrine,
To tell her on this glorious day,—
She,
wrapt in trance divine,—
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That God has now decreed
She
shall be favourèd,
And bear at length the Promised Seed
To
bruise the serpent’s head.
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First
Angel. |
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O Brother, such a theme |
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Sets
all one’s heart aglow;
’Tis like the rapture of a dream
That
God should love man so.
We know how wondrous fair
The
throne of Heaven is,
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The songs that thrill the golden air
In
never ending bliss;
And does the Eternal Son
In
pity stoop so far
As to behold what things are done
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On
such a little star?
See, Brother, now at last
Great
Gabriel’s feet alight
Upon that world where sin has cast
A
darkness deep as night. [Page 154]
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Second Angel. |
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Yea,
Brother, more and more,
Thine
eyes with joy shall see
The love that God the Son will pour
On
frail humanity;
His brethren now they are,
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For
hark! the songs of praise,
Re-echoing from star to star,
Fill
all the bounds of space.
In Mary’s Virgin heart
A
fount of rapture springs,
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She wills to bear a mother’s part
Unto
the King of Kings.
And now the Light of Light,
From
Whom the worlds began,
Deigns with man’s nature to unite
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And
be for ever man.
A weary way of life
His
loving feet will tread,
And through the last most bitter strife
Go
downward to the dead.
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But He by death shall win
The
captives held in chain,
And, from the broken bonds of sin,
Shall
bring His own again.
Then up to Heaven on high
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His
brethren He will raise,
To dwell with Him beyond the sky
And
join our hymns of praise.
Hush, Brother, veil thine eyes,
Before
this awful sight.
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For now through all the throbbing skies
There
dawns a wondrous light. [Page 155]
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[The light deepens.
There is silence for a space. The Angels cover
their faces with their hands and wait with bowed
heads.
Then there is heard, but
faintly, as from a great distance, the voice
of the Angel Gabriel, giving his wonderful message
to
Blessed Mary.]
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“Hail,
thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with
thee: Blessed art thou among women.
Fear
not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And,
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behold,
thou shall conceive and bring forth a Son, and shalt
call His name Jesus.
He
shall be great and shall be called the Son of the
Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne of His father David: And He shall reign over
the house of Jacob |
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for
ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” |
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[Then the voice of the Holy
Virgin is heard in reply:] |
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“Behold
the handmaid of the Lord;
Be
it unto me according to thy word.”
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[As
the light fades into darkness, an unseen choir sings
the song of the Blessed Mary.]
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“My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit
hath rejoiced in God
my Saviour.
For He hath regarded: the lowliness of His handmaiden.
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For
behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call
me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath magnified me: and Holy
is His Name.
And His mercy is on them that fear Him: throughout
all generations.
He hath shewed strength with His arm: He hath scattered
the proud
in the imagination of their hearts. [Page
156]
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and
hath exalted
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the
humble and meek. |
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He
hath filled the hungry with good things: and the
rich He hath sent
empty away.
He remembering His mercy hath holpen His servant
Israel: as He
promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed,
for
ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son: and to the
Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall
be: world without
end. Amen.”
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SCENE II.
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[It is the neighbourhood of Bethlehem. The sun has
set and |
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night
is quickly coming; but a pale yellow light still
lingers on the horizon. The road winds steeply
up to the little town of Bethlehem, the dark outline
of the wall and tower of which looms out against
the sky. Two or three lights are seen from the
houses. To the left of the road, stands a wayside
inn built into the cliff, with an archway opening
into that part of the cave which is used as a
stable. there is a door to the inn, and a little
window from which light issues. Laughter and singing
are heard within. The night grows darker, snow
begins to fall. St. Joseph enters with bundle
on his back and lantern in his right hand. With
his left hand he leads St. Mary. St. Joseph goes
to the inn and knocks at the door. Laughter is
heard within. It stops.] [Page 157]
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St. Joseph. |
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“Goodman,
Goodman, open thy door,
Pilgrims are we, cold and footsore;
Our way is lost in the driving snow,
We have no otherwhere to go.
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[Laughter
within. St. Joseph knocks again.] |
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“Goodman, Goodman, open I pray, |
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Weary are we and long is the way,
The thick night gathers, the snow comes down,
And the hill is steep to the little town.”
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[Laughter
again. St. Joseph knocks once more, while St. Mary
takes a seat on a stone by the door.]
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St.
Joseph. |
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“Goodman,
Goodman, open thy door,
Pity the hearts and the feet that are sore, |
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Open, I pray, and take us in,
And evermore God’s favour win.”
[The
door opens and the host looks out.]
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Host. |
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“Who
are ye that come so late,
And make such knocking at my gate?
What bringeth you here in the cold and snow?
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On
to the city hasten and go.” |
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St. Joseph. |
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“O
Goodman, we are of David’s line,
And glorious the names of our fathers shine,
We are come to be taxed in David’s town,
But have no where to lay us down.”
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Host. |
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“My
house is full of the rich and great;
No room for pilgrims of thine estate.
Go on, go on, in thy journey still,
To the little town on the top of the hill.”
[Page 158] |
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[St.
Joseph goes over and takes St. Mary by the hand,
and
they kneel at the door before the host.]
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St. Joseph. |
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“O
Goodman, for the love of God, |
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Send
us not back the way we trod.
This woman is so ill and weak
She scarce hath strength enough to speak.
“The
wind is howling far and near,
And her meek spirit quakes with fear: |
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Her
shrinking steps and gentle moan
Certain would melt a heart of stone.
“An
awful sense is in the air
Of dark powers watching everywhere;
And down the mountains as we came, |
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We saw wild beasts with eyes of flame.
“We
are not clad in silk and rings,
We are no company for kings;
If that the inn be crowded all,
Give us then shelter in a stall. |
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“Our gentle brothers, ox and ass,
Will let the humble pilgrims pass;
And all night long, their breathings deep
Will soothe us in our dreamless sleep.”
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Host. |
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“No
time have I, in this cold night, |
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To
hearken to your sorry plight.
Rise up and to the stable go,
There find some shelter from the snow.”
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[Host
turns to enter the inn. Rough servant appears.] |
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“Here, fellow, take these folk away.
Let them on straw their tired limbs lay.
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Then
quickly come, the hour is late,
Upon the others thou must wait.” [Page
159]
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[Host enters the inn, and closes the door hurriedly.
St. Joseph
and St. Mary rise from their knees.]
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Servant. |
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“Good
people, pity in my heart,
Has made the tears from my eyes start.
So weary are ye and footsore,
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’Tis
shame to turn you from the door. “May
God, who doeth all things right,
Give you good rest and sleep to-night.
Upon sweet straw your tired limbs lay,
Until the white dawn brings the day.” |
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[Servant takes lantern from St. Joseph and passes
into
the
archway, followed by St. Joseph leading St. Mary.
As
the darness gradually deepens, this hymn is
sung
by the unseen choir.]
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Hymn
to the Infant Jesus
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O wondrous love of God,
That
men will cast away,
O wondrous love of God,
Come
to my heart and stay.
Cast out all trifling things,
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False
loves and toys of earth;
Enter, great King of Kings,
In
me once more have birth.
O little face of love,
Against
thy mother’s breast, |
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The
starry hosts above
Are
resting in thy rest.
O little hands of power,
O
infant’s panting breath—
Eternity’s at flower |
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And
life is born of death. [Page 160]
O little clinging mite,
Beneath
thy mother’s face,
Thy dreaming eyes have sight,
Beyond
the bounds of space. |
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So fair and white thy throne,
O
little tired one, sleep;
The legions are thine own,
That
guard the starlit deep.
O wondrous love of God,
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Cast
not my love away;
Enter my heart, my God,
Enter
my heart and stay.
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SCENE III.
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[A plain near Bethlehem. Dark mountains are seen
dimly in the |
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distance.
In the foreground is a little mound on which the
shepherds are sitting, wrapped in long cloaks
with staves in their hands. The night is dark
and still, as after a storm; and the stars are
now twinkling merrily in the sky. At the foot
of the little hill, the sheep are sleeping quietly.
The shepherds look up and, extending their arms,
join in singing a hymn for their flocks.] [Page
161] |
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“O Lord above the starry height
Enthroned in splendour and in might,
Look downward through the veil of night,
And
guard our sheep.
Let not the wolf nor cunning fox
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Disturb the slumber of our flocks,
And from rude rain and thunder shocks
Them
safely keep.
The night is cold
But
warm the fold, |
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And
on the hill,
Beside
its dam,
Each
little lamb,
With
sleep-sealed eyes,
So
closely lies
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All
warm and still
’Neath
starry skies.
Great God be near,
Keep them from fear,
Guard them from murrain, hurt and pain, |
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And give them, all the fruitful year,
Rich pasture in the watered plain.”
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[As the hymn ceases, a bell in the distance is heard
softly tolling
midnight.] |
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First
Shepherd. |
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“The storm is o’er, but black night
reigns
On sea and mountain, hills and plains.
Now toilers on the treacherous deep
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Watch the long billows without sleep.
Now lions in the desert prowl,
And in the dark wood hoots the owl.
Alas, my heart was once so glad,
But sorrow makes it worn and sad.
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A wife, I had, whose love and care
Filled life with music everywhere.
But now she lies within the tomb,
And life is nought but toil and gloom.” [Page
162]
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[He turns away, hiding his face in his hands.] |
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Second Shepherd. |
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“Ah
Brother, sad thy grief and wild; |
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But
I have lost my only child.
No gloomy sepulchre shuts him in,
But Satan chains him by his sin. “His
heart to me is dead and cold,
He has no pity for the old. |
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His
feet go down Gehenna’s way,
No power from doom his steps can stay.”
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[He too turns away, hiding his face in his hands.] |
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Third Shepherd. |
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“I,
not by private grief distressed,
Mourn that our nation is oppressed,
That foreign tyrants with us dwell
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As rulers of God’s Israel. “I
mourn, because our foes are strong,
That right is worsted by the wrong,
That rapine, ruin, greed and lust
Have trampled Israel in the dust.” |
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First Shepherd. |
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“Brothers,
meseems our various woe
Doth from one source of evil flow.
Let us together kneel this night,
And ask high God to send us light.”
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[They
kneel and pray, facing the East.] |
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“O Father of the land and sea, |
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Give
us the light that is to be.
O Builder of the mountains wild,
Bring home again the erring child.
O Lord, who gave the wind his breath,
Fill with new life the house of death.
[Page 163]
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O King of Kings above the sky,
Give us some hope before we die.
Give us some Key amid the strife
That will unlock the gates of life.”
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[The scene grows darker. Suddenly a bright light
shines in the
sky, and an angel appears and sings:] |
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“Fear
not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, |
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which
shall be to all people.
For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And
this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” |
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[Then the light bursts over the whole sky, and behold,
it is full of
angels, singing: |
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“Glory
to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill
towards men.” |
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When
the angels are gone away from them into Heaven and
the
shepherds are left in darkness, they rise as if
the spell
of the vision were still upon them.]
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First Shepherd. |
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“Verily,
a glorious sight
Hath burst upon our eyes this night.
My heart is full of hopes and fears,
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That wring from it unwonted tears. “Come,
let us haste and find out them
That guard this Babe in Bethlehem;
And at His feet our homage pay,
Who comes to usher in the day.” |
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[They pass on to Bethlehem.] [Page
164] |
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SCENE IV.
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Herod’s Court
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[A scene of barbaric splendour opens out disclosing a hall of
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vast proportions with rich pillars in rows on either side.Bright carpets cover the marble floor. At the back of the hall are two thrones, covered with cloth of gold. Slaves stand on either side of the thrones holding large fans of peacocks’ feathers. To a slow music, a procession enters, of soldiers and pages followed by scribes, courtiers and lastly, the King and Queen. The soldiers and courtiers group themselves in a semi-circle at the back of the scene and do homage, as the King and Queen mount the thrones. Then the music ceases and the guests divide in groups conversing. |
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| Herod turns to the Queen, putting his hand to his head as |
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though oppressed with weariness or anxiety.] |
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Herod.
“Lady, in horror all night long,
I heard a deep voice round my bed.
Methought it was the triumph song
Borne upward from my murdered dead.
‘Herod,’ it cried, ‘thy doom is sealed.
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The vengeance of the Lord draws nigh.
Behold, in Bethlehem is revealed,
The Shiloh of the prophecy!’”
Queen.
“O Sire, it were an evil thing
To heed all mutterings of the brain. |
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Were I a man, and that a king,
I would life’s cup of pleasure drain;
And should dire fury, like a flood,
Burst from the angry heart of God,
I’d dye in God’s own people’s blood, |
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The strokes of His avenging rod.” [Page 165]
Herod.
“Thrice-nobly spoken, wife and Queen;
Thy words disperse the cloud of gloom.
For what will be, like what has been,
Is written in the scroll of doom.” |
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[Enter the Three Wise Men bearing gifts.]
“But who are these that come from far,
Arrayed as pilgrims from the East?
Tell us, good people, what ye are,
And wherefore come ye to the feast.”
Melchior.
“O Sire, we come from far-off lands, |
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The new-born King to greet.
We bring these presents in our hands
To lay them at His feet.
Long time the deep and mystic lore
Of ancient men we read, |
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Until to us the dark scrolls bore
The wisdom of the dead.”
“We sought to find The Key of Life,
Why man has come to be,
What means the spirit’s constant strife |
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To win Eternity.
Then as we fasted, prayed and sought,
With tireless, sleepless eyes,
The pitying constellations brought
A message from the skies.” |
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“For, lo, a star, unseen before,
Moved through the trackless night.
We journeyed over sea and shore,
Led onward by its light.
And now we seek the infant King,
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The mystic Light Divine,
Whose arm the victory will bring
To Israel’s chosen line.” [Page 166]
[Herod, in anger]
“What means this mummery, fellow, say?
Begone, thou uncouth clown, |
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Or death will have thee for his prey,
Before the sun goes down.”
[Balthasar advances, holding up his hand in warning.]
“O Sire, beware, the sign was sure,
No mummery this, in truth.
The purposes of God endure, |
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For God is in His youth.”
[The courtiers gather round about in interest and alarm. Herod, turning to the Scribe:]
“O Scribe, has Israel ever heard
That such a King should come?
Have Israel’s Prophets said the word,
Or are her sages dumb?” |
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[Scribe unrolls a parchment scroll and reads slowly:]
“From Bethlehem, the prophets tell,
Shall come the King of Israel.”
[Herod turns to the Queen and is evidently alarmed. Consternation seizes the guests, who discuss the matter, one with another.
Herod stands and addresses the Three Wise Men.]
“To Bethlehem haste and go;
And when ye find the King,
Bear me back word, that I may so |
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Prepare myself, and bring
My costliest treasures to His feet,
My sceptre and my crown,
And do such homage, as is meet,
To one from Heaven sent down.” [Page 167] |
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[The Wise Men make their reverence to the King and depart. Herod leads the Queen out past the guests who do obeisan- ce.]
Herod.
“Come, Queen, be not cast down,
I still am Israel’s Lord;
[Whispering in her ear,]
This Child shall never wear the crown,
While Herod holds the sword.” |
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SCENE V.
The Court of Death. |
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[Death, with the face of a skull and wearing a gold crown with sharp points, sits enthroned. He holds in one hand a scythe, in the other an hour-glass. At his feet crouch seven dusky forms in shadowy raiment, which are the Seven Deadly Sins. The scene, except where the light falls upon Death and the crouching figures, is absolutely dark. There is music of a slow dirge. It ceases, and the dark forms join in chanting, to a weird melody, the Hymn of the Seven Deadly Sins.] [Page 168]
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“King of the wind-blown mountains,
Lord of the lakes and streams,
Death, majestic and mighty,
Dream that awakes us from dreams,
Black is the frown on the visage,
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Piercing the fire of thine eye,
Thou girdest thyself with the tempest,
Thou spreadest thy wings on the sky.
“Cities, and lone habitations,
Peoples, and ships of the sea, |
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Cringing, and prone at thy footstool,
Offer their treasures to thee.
Monarchs, in pride of dominion,
Beggars, in rags from the street,
Bow down before thee as brothers, |
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Naked they crouch at thy feet.
“Speed us, great Death, on thine errands,
Cover with darkness the land,
Give us sweet sin for a poison,
Make us a sword in thine hand. |
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God and His Hosts shall be vanquished;
Love shall be cast from His throne;
Over the dark desolations,
Thou shalt be monarch alone.”
[They rise and wave their lean, white hands above their heads, making at the same time, a hissing sound as of serpents. Then, as Death rises on his throne to speak, they cry:]
“All hail, undying Death! |
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Whose black lips suck man’s breath,
Whose grip is on man’s heart,
Whose sharp knife loves can part.” [Page 169]
Death.
“Children, born of hate and gloom,
Feeders of the hungry tomb, |
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Ere the day-star bring the day,
Speed upon your darksome way.
“Nothing pity, nothing spare,
Stab and poison everywhere,
Snare and capture, strip and bind, |
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Forge the fetters of the mind.
“If ye mark temptation’s hour,
Nothing can withstand your power;
When the soul begins to slip,
Get it quickly in your grip. |
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“When a soul has fallen in sin,
Pour a deeper poison in.
Tell it, God witholds His care;
Blast it with a dumb despair.
“Scar and scratch the face of right, |
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Blind the eyes that look for light,
Shackle truth, set lying free,
So shall all things come to me.”
[He holds up his right hand, and Pride comes and kneels before him. Death, holding his hand above him blessing, says:]
“Pride, go forth to crush in doom
Hearts wherein God has no room.” |
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[Pride retires, and Covetousness kneels before Death.]
Death.
“Love of Gold, go forth to slay
Souls who God’s love cast away.”
[Covetousness retires, and Lust kneels before Death.] [Page 170]
Death.
“Lust, go forth to poison love,
Blind men’s eyes to things above.”
[Envy comes.]
Death.
“Envy, prick men like a thorn, |
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Make them curse that they were born.”
[Gluttony comes.]
Death.
“Gluttony, be thou a mesh,
Snaring all the grosser flesh.”
[Anger comes.]
Death.
“Anger, go forth like a flood,
Drown the world in pain and blood.” |
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[Sloth comes.]
Death.
“Sloth, be thou a clogging slime,
Make men lose salvation’s time.”
[Then Death extends his wide, black wings, and chants exultingly:]
“Now shall my dominions
Be the captive world.
Now my outstretched pinions, |
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Like a flag unfurled,
Mock in exultation
God upon His throne;
And of all creation
I am lord alone.” [Page 171] |
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[Suddenly, a trumpet gives three loud, sharp blasts, and, in a burst of light, an Angel appears holding a drawn sword over Death, who, at sight of the Angel, crouches down, grovelling on the ground, with the Seven Deadly Sins prostrate around him.]
Angel.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.”
“Vain Death, depart, thy reign is o’er.
God’s Son is Man for evermore.
Through Him, temptation makes more strong
The soul that battles with the wrong. |
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When sheltered ’neath His loving wing,
All pain and sorrow lose their sting.
His slave art thou, to sit and wait
And ope for souls the heavenly gate.
Behold, the clouds have rolled away |
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And on the mountains dawns the day.”
[Death and the Seven Deadly Sins crawl off on their hands and knees, like animals.]
Angel [uplifting his Sword,]
“Our God is Victor in the strife.
Behold for man the Key of Life.”
[Instantly a light falls round about and in it stands revealed the scene of Nativity. From a manger at the back, rays of glory emerge. Behind the manger, stand two lighted candles. St. Mary and St. Joseph, the Shepherds and Wise Men kneel in front, while a row of adoring angels forms a background to the scene. Melchior, who kneels in the centre facing the manger, swings a censer of sweet incense. As they kneel, they all join in singing softly:] [Page 172]
“O Word of God Incarnate,
O Light begot of Light, |
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To weakness comes all power,
To finite infinite.
We hail Thee, tender Saviour,
We hail Thee, mighty King;
All that we have, we bring Thee, |
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As love’s own offering.
O, born of Virgin Mother,
Sweet Jesu, Prince of Peace,
Give us the strength to conquer,
Give us from sin release. |
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The thick night hovers o’er us,
Our foes advance for strife,
To us, O Key of David,
Throw wide the gates of life.
Amen.” |
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[As the last “Amen” is sung, darkness falls upon the scene, and the choir sings the Song of the aged Simeon, which he sang when he took the Lord’s Christ into his arms in the temple.]
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to |
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| thy word. |
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For mine eyes have seen: thy Salvation,
Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world |
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| without end. Amen.” [Page 173] |
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EPILOGUE
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Good people, now our simple play is ended.
In halting lines the story has been told,
How great Jehovah hath our race befriended
And loved us with a love that was of old.
Go home, then, filled with deeper love and pity |
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For sinful souls, for all the sick and sad:
And, as about the streets of this fair city
Ye go each day, make others bright and glad.
Think not that they who knelt before the manger
Were nearer God than ye can be today— |
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That, had ye worshipped then the little Stranger,
No tempter’s wiles could lure your heart away.
For, every age hath its own special vision.
At every door, the Crucified has stood.
To every soul, there comes the fierce decision— |
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The final choice of evil or of good.
And, day by day, unchanging through the ages,
Though ears are deaf and eyes are blind with mist,
He, who was worshipped by the Eastern Sages,
Is throned amongst us in the Eucharist. |
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Yea, that dear Christ, born of the spotless maiden,
In yearning love still cries to souls distressed—
“All ye that labour and are heavy laden,
Come unto Me and I will give you rest.”
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FINIS [Page 174]
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