_3rd King._ He bade that we should go down by west For dread of Herod's false betray.

_1st King._ So for to do it is the best, The child that we have sought, guide us the way!

[_Turning to the babe._

Now farewell, the fairest of shape so sweet, And thanked be Jesus of his sond.[255]

That we three together so suddenly should meet That dwell so wide, and in a strange land; And here to make our presentation Unto this king's son cleansed so clean, And to his mother for our salvation; Of much mirth now may we mean, That we so well hath done this oblation.

_2nd King._ Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brother to you, King of Taurus, the most worth; Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow And I thank you both of your good company, While we together have been.

He that made us to meet on hill, I thank him now, and ever I will; For now may we go without ill; And of our offering be full fain.

_3rd King._ Now sith that we must needly go For dread of Herod, that is so wroth, Now farewell brother, and brother also; I take my leave here of you both, This day on foot.

Now he that made us to meet on plain.

And offered to Mary in her jeseyne,[256]

He give us grace in heaven again, Altogether to meet.

[_Exeunt the Three Kings: Enter the Herald and King Herod._

_Herald._ Hail, King most worthiest in wede![257]

Hail, maintainer of courtesy through all this world wide!

Hail, the most mightiest that ever bestrode a steed!

Hail, most manfullest man in armour man to abide!

Hail in thine honour!

These three kings that forth were sent And should have come again before thee here present, Another way, Lord, home they went Contrary to thine honour.

_Herod._ Another way!--out! out!--out!

Hath those foul traitors done me this deed?

I stamp, I stare, I look all about; Might them I take I should them burn at a glede.[258]

I rend, I roar, and now run I wood;[259]

Ah! that these villain traitors hath marred this my mood!

They shall be hanged if I come them to.

[_Here Herod rages in the pageant, and in the street also._

Eh! and that kerne[260] of Bethlehem, he shall be dead, And thus shall I do for his prophecy.

How say you, sir knights, is not this the best red,[261]

That all young children for this should be dead With sword to be slain?

Then shall I, Herod, live in lede,[262]

And all folk me doubt and dread, And offer to me both gold, riches, and mede,[263]

Thereto will they be full fain.

_1st Soldier._ My Lord, King Herod by name, Thy words against my will shall be To see so many young children die, is shame; Therefore counsel thereto gettest thou none of me.

_2nd Soldier._ Well said, fellow, my troth I plight; Sir king! perceive right well you may So great a murder to see of young fruit, Will make a rising in thine own countrey.

_Herod._ A rising!--out! out! out!

[_There Herod rages again, and then saith thus:_

Out villain wretches, hereupon you I cry, My will utterly, look that it be wrought, Or upon a gallows both you shall die, By Mahound, most mightiest, that me dear hath bought!

_1st Soldier._ Now, cruel Herod, sith we shall do this deed, Your will needfully in this must be wrought.

All the children of that age, die they must need, Now with all my might they shall be upsought.

_2nd Soldier._ And I will swear here upon your bright sword, All the children that I find, slain they shall be; That make many a mother to weep, and be full sore afeard, In our armour bright, when they us see.

_Herod._ Now you have sworn, forth that ye go And my will that ye work both by day and night, And then will I for fain trip like a doe; But when they be dead, I warn you, bring them before my sight.

_Angel._ Mary and Joseph, to you I say, Sweet word from the Father I bring you full right; Out of Bethlehem into Egypt forth go ye the way And with you take the king, full of might, For dread of Herod's red.[264]

_Joseph._ Arise up, Mary, hastily and soon!

Our Lord's will needs must be done, Like as the angel bade.

_Mary._ Meekly, Joseph, mine own spouse, Toward that country let us repair, In Egypt,--some token of house,-- G.o.d grant us grace safe to come there!

[_Here the women come in with their children, singing them, and Mary and Joseph goeth clean away._

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child; By, by, lullay, lullay, thou little tiny child; By, by, lully, lullay.

O sisters too! how may we do, For to preserve this day This poor youngling, for whom we do sing By, by, lully, lullay.

Herod, the king, in his raging, Charged he hath this day His men of might, in his own sight, All young children to slay.

That woe is me, poor child for thee!

And ever morn and day, For thy parting neither say nor sing, By, by, lully, lallay.

_1st Woman._ I lull my child wondrously sweet, And in my arms I do it keep, Because that it should not cry.

_2nd Woman._ That Babe that is born, in Bethlehem so meek, He save my child and me from villainy!

_3rd Woman._ Be still! be still! my little child!

That Lord of lords save both thee and me; For Herod hath sworn with words wild That all young children slain they shall be.

_1st Soldier._ Say ye whither, ye wives, whither are ye away?

What bear you in your arms needs must we see; If they be men children, die they must this day, For at Herod's will all things must be.

_2nd Soldier._ And I in hands once them hent,[265]

Them for to slay nought will I spare; We must fulfil Herod's commandment; Else be we as traitors, and cast all in care.

_1st Woman._ Sir knights! of your courtesy This day shame not your chivalry, But on my child have pity, For my sake in this stead; For a simple slaughter it were to sloo[266]

Or to work such a child woe That can neither speak nor go, Nor never harm did.

_2nd Woman._ He that slays my child in sight, If that my strokes on him may light, Be he squire or knight, I hold him but lost.

See thou false losyngere[267]

A stroke shalt thou bear me here And spare you no cost.

_3rd Woman._ Sit he never so high in saddle, But I shall make his brain addle, And here with my pot ladle, With him will I fight.

I shall lay on him as though I wode[268] were, With this same womanly gear; There shall no man stir, Whether that he be king or knight.