Along the garden walk, and thence

Through the wicket in the garden fence,

I steal with quiet pace,

My pitcher at the well to fill,

That lies so deep and cool and still

In this sequestered place.

These sycamores keep guard around;

I see no face, I hear no sound,

Save bubblings of the spring,

And my companions, who within
The threads of gold and scarlet spin,

And at their labour sing.

THE ANGEL GABRIEL.

Hail, Virgin Mary, full of grace!

Here MARY looketh around her, trembling, and then saith:

MARY.

Who is it speaketh in this place,

With such a gentle voice?

GABRIEL.

The Lord of heaven is with thee now!

Blessed among all women thou,

Who art his holy choice!

MARY, setting down the pitcher.

What can this mean? No one is near,

And yet, such sacred words I hear,

I almost fear to stay.

Here the ANGEL, appearing to her, shall say:

GABRIEL.

Fear not, O Mary! but believe!

For thou, a Virgin, shalt conceive

A child this very day.

Fear not, O Mary! from the sky
The Majesty of the Most High

Shall overshadow thee!

M

MARY.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord!

According to thy holy word,

So be it unto me!

Here the Devils shall again make a great noise under the stage.

III. THE ANGELS OF THE SEVEN PLANETS,
Bearing the Star of Bethlehem.

THE ANGELS.

The Angels of the Planets Seven,
Across the shining fields of heaven
The natal star we bring!

Dropping our sevenfold virtues down,

As priceless jewels in the crown
Of Christ, our new-born King.

RAPHAEL.

I am the Angel of the Sun,

Whose flaming wheels began to run

When God's almighty breath

Said to the Darkness and the Night,
Let there be light! and there was light!
I bring the gift of Faith.

GABRIEL.

I am the Angel of the Moon,

Darkened, to be rekindled soon

Beneath the azure cope!

Nearest to earth, it is my ray

That best illumes the midnight way.

I bring the gift of Hope!

ANAEL.

The Angel of the Star of Love,

The Evening Star, that shines above
The place where lovers be,

Above all happy hearths and homes,
On roofs of thatch, or golden domes,
I give him Charity!

ZOBIACHEL.

The Planet Jupiter is mine!

The mightiest star of all that shine,

Except the sun alone!

He is the High Priest of the Dove,

And sends, from his great throne above, Justice, that shall atone!

MICHAEL.

The Planet Mercury, whose place

Is nearest to the sun in space,

Is my allotted sphere!

And with celestial ardour swift
I bear upon my hands the gift
Of heavenly Prudence here!

URIEL.

I am the Minister of Mars,

The strongest star among the stars!
My songs of power prelude
The march and battle of man's life,
And for the suffering and the strife,

I give him Fortitude!

ORIFEL.

The Angel of the uttermost

Of all the shining, heavenly host,
From the far-off expanse

Of the Saturnian, endless space,

I bring the last, the crowning grace,
The gift of Temperance!

A sudden light shines from the windows of the stable in the village below.

IV. THE WISE MEN OF THE EAST.

Three

The Stable of the Inn. The VIRGIN and CHILD.
Gypsy Kings, GASPAR, MELCHIOR, and BELSHAZZAR,

shall come in.

GASPAR.

Hail to thee, Jesus of Nazareth!

Though in a manger thou drawest thy breath,

Thou art greater than Life and Death,

Greater than Joy or Woe!

This cross upon the line of life

Portendeth struggle, toil, and strife,

And through a region with dangers rife
In darkness shalt thou go!

MELCHIOR.

Hail to thee, King of Jerusalem!

Though humbly born in Bethlehem

A sceptre and a diadem

Await thy brow and hand!