Location York

XVII
THE GOLDSMITHS’ PLAY

I KING

Ah sirs! For sight what shall I say?
Where is our sign? I see it not.

2 KING

No more do I.   Now dare I lay
In our wending some wrong is wrought.

3 KING

Unto that Prince I advise we pray,
That sent to us his sign unsought,
That he teach us a ready way
That we might find what we have sought.

I KING

Ah sirs! I see it stand
Above where he is born!
Lo, here the house at hand.
We have not missed, this morn.

I SHEPHERD

Whom seek ye, sirs, by ways so wild,
With talking, travelling to and fro?
Here dwells a woman with her child
And her husband; here are no mo.

I KING

We seek a lord and yet a child;
His certain sign hath told us so;
And his mother, a maiden mild.
Here hope we now to find those two.

2 SHEPHERD

Come near, good sirs, and see;
Your way to an end is brought.

3 KING

Behold here, sirs, and see
The same that we have sought.

I KING

Loved be that Lord who lasteth aye,
That has revealed so courteously
Our path by many a wandering way,
Till we found this pure company.

2 KING

Let us make now no more delay,
But swift take forth our treasury,
And range our gifts in good array,
To worship him, as is worthy.

3 KING

Worthy this child appears
Worship and wealth to win.
And for honour to years,
Brother, you shall begin.

I KING

Hail! fairest of all that men might find!
Of the fiend and his fellows thou breakest the hold,
Hail! pure one that is born of King's kind,
Born to be King over all, as the learned have told.
And since it shall work on this wise,
With wealth of thine own will I pay thee.
With gold that is greatest of price
Be paid in this present, I pray thee.

2 KING

Hail! food that thy folk all fully may feed,
Hail! flower fairest that never shall fade.
Hail! son that is sent of this same seed,
That shall save us from sin that our sires made.
And since thou shalt sit to be deeming,
To hell or to heaven to have us,
Incense to thy service is seeming.
Lord, see to thy servants and save us.

3 KING

Hail! man that is made to mankind meet,
Since thou and thy mother with mirth are met.
Hail! Duke that shall drive death under thy feet,
Yet, thy deeds done, to die is thy debt.
And since thy body buried shall be,
This myrrh will I give to thy graving.
The gift is not great of degree
Yet take it, and see to our saving.

MARY

Sir Kings, ye travel not in vain;
As ye have thought, here may ye find.
God's angel in his greeting plain
Said he should comfort all mankind.
Therefore doubt you no deal,
Here for to have your boon.
I shall witness full well
All that is said and done.

I KING

For solace sure now may we sing,
All is performed that we have prayed.
But good child, give us thy blessing.
All fair hap be before thee laid.
                         (Exeunt shepherds and kings.)