The Wakefield 2023 production

GOD
I am mightful God veray, maker of all that is,1
three persons withouten nay, one God in endless bliss,
that made both night and day, beast, fowl and fish.
Then man and woman wrought I at my wish
as I well might.

PICKHARNESS
All hail, all hail, both blithe and glad,20
for here come I, a merry lad!
Cease your din, my master bade,
or else the devil you speed,
varlets every one!
Full well ye all him ken,
for some of you are his men.26
If my master come, welcome him then.
Farewell, for I am gone!

CAIN
Go forth, Greenhorn! Grim, draw on!29
Ye stand as ye were fallen in swoon!
God give you ill time!
Ware! Let me see how ye will draw.
Lo, now heard she what I said;
I say then, go fare!
Ah! God give thee sorrow and care!35
Now yet art thou the worst mare
in plough that ever I had.

PICKHARNESS
God forbid that ever thou thrive!39

CAIN
What, boy, shall I both hold and drive?40
See how they go, want of food is the cause.

PICKHARNESS
Their fodder, sir, I lay behind their arse42
and tie them fast by the necks,
with many stones in their racks.

CAIN
That shall buy thy false cheeks! Strikes him45

PICKHARNESS
And have again as right! Strikes back46

CAIN
I am thy master. Wilt thou fight?47

PICKHARNESS
Yea, with the same measure and weight48
that I borrow will I quite.

ABEL
God, as he both may and can,50
speed thee, brother, and thy man.

CAIN
Ho now! Come kiss mine arse!52
Thy welcome is the worse.
Go grease thy sheep under the tout,
for that is thee most lief.

ABEL
Brother, there is none here about56
that would thee any grief.

CAIN
Should I leave my plough and all thing66
and go with thee to make offering?
Nay, thou finds me not so mad!
Go to the devil, and say I said!

ABEL
Cain, leave this vain carping,70
for God gives thee all thy living.

CAIN
Yet borrowed I never a farthing72
of him - here’s my hand!
Whereof should I tithe, dear brother,
for I am each year worse than other?
Here my troth, it is none other.
Whereof then should I lend?

ABEL
Dear brother, say not so,78
but let us forth together go.

CAIN
Yea, yea, thou jangles waste!80
The devil me speed if I have haste,
as long as I live,
to deal my good or give,
either to God or yet to man,
of any good that ever I won.
For had I given away my good,86
then might I go with riven hood;
and it is better to hold what I have
than go from door to door and crave.

ABEL
Brother, come forth, in God’s name;90
I am full feared that we get blame.

CAIN
Yea, man, I hold thee mad!92
Weens thou that I should gad
to offer of my goods ought?
The devil him speed that me so taught!
What need had I my travail to lose,
to wear my shoes and rive my hose?
But well I see go must I need.98
Now wend before - ill might thou speed.

ABEL
Dear brother, it were great wonder100
that thou and I should go asunder,
but go we forth both together.
Blessed be God, we have fair weather.

CAIN
Lay down thy trussel upon this hill.104

ABEL
Forsooth brother, so I will.105
God of heaven take it to good.

CAIN
Thou shall tithe first, since that thou would.107

ABEL
God that shaped both earth and heaven,108
I pray to thee thou hear my steven,
and take in thank, if thy will be,
the tithe that I offer here to thee,
for I give it in good intent
to thee, my Lord, that all has sent.
I burn it now with steadfast thought,114
in worship of him that all has wrought.

CAIN
Rise! Let me now, since thou has done,116
since I must need, my tithe to burn,.
One sheaf, one, and this makes two -
but neither of these may I forgo.
Two, two now this is three -
yea, this also shall stay with me.
Four sheaves, four, lo, this makes five.122
Five and six, now this is seven -
but this gets never the God of heaven,
nor none of these four, at my might,
shall never come in God’s sight.
Seven, seven, now this is eight -

ABEL
Cain, thou tithes not as thou ought.128

CAIN
Weh lo! wilt thou that I wink?129
Then shall I do no wrong, me think.

Finishes counting with his eyes closed

Let me see now how it is:

Opens his eyes

Lo, yet I hold me payed!
I tithed wonder well by guess,
and so even I laid.

ABEL
Cain, of God me think thou has no dread.135

CAIN
Now, and he get more, the devil me speed.136
The devil hang thee by the neck!
How that I tithe never thou reck.
Of this jangling I bid thee cease.
But now, since thou has tendered thine,
now will I set fire on mine.
Weh! out! harroo! Help to blow!142
It will not burn for me, I trow.
Puff! this smoke does me much shame!
Now, burn, in the devil’s name!

ABEL
Cain, this is not worth one leek.146
Thy tithe should burn without smoke.

CAIN
Come kiss the devil right in the arse!148
For thee it burns but the worse.
I would that it were in thy throat,
fire and sheaf and every sprout.

GOD
Cain, why art thou so rebel152
against thy brother Abel?
Needest thou never fight nor chide.
If thou tithe right, thou gets thy meed;
and be thou sure, if thou tithe false,
thou shall be quit then somewhat else.

CAIN
Why, who is that hob-over-the-wall?158
Weh! who was that that piped so small?
Come, go we hence, for perils all;
God is out of his wit!
Come forth, Abel, and let us wend.
Me think that God is not my friend;
on land then will I flit.164

ABEL
Ah, Cain, brother, that is ill done.165

CAIN
No, but go we hence soon,166
and, if I may, I shall be
where God will not me see.

ABEL
Dear brother, I will fare169
on field where our beasts are,
to look if they be empty or full.

CAIN
Nay, nay, abide! We have a crow to pull.172
Hark, speak with me ere thou go!
What, weens thou to escape so?

ABEL
Brother, why art thou so to me in ire?175

CAIN
Weh! thief, why burned thy tithe so sheer,176
where mine did but smoke,
right as it would us both have choked?

ABEL
God’s will I trow it were179
that mine burned so clear.
If thine smoked, am I to blame?

CAIN
Weh! yea! thou shall repay the shame.182
With cheek-bone, ere I go again,
thou and thy life shall part in twain.

Strikes Abel down with an ass’s jaw-bone

So, lie down there and take thy rest:
thus shall shrews be chastised best.

ABELL
Vengeance, vengeance, Lord, I cry!187
For I am slain and not guilty.

CAIN
Yea, lie there, old shrew, lie there, lie!189
But now, since he is fallen asleep,
into some hole fain would I creep.
For fear I quake, here at my need,
for if I be taken, I be but dead.

GOD
Cain, Cain!194

CAIN
Who is that that calls me?195
I am yonder, may thou not see?

GOD
Cain, where is thy brother Abel?197

CAIN
Why asks thou me? I trow at hell,198
at hell I trow he be -
whoso were there, then might he see -
or somewhere fallen on sleeping.
When was he in my keeping?

GOD
Cain, Cain, thou was mad.203
The voice of thy brother’s blood,
that thou has slain on false wise,
from earth to heaven vengeance cries.
And, for thou has brought thy brother down,
here I give thee my malison.

CAIN
Since I have done so mickle sin209
that I may not thy mercy win,
and thou does me from thy grace,
I shall hide me from thy face,
and whereso any man may find me
he shall slay me, certainly.
For, may I from this place depart,215
by all men I set not a fart.

GOD
Nay, Cain, it is not so;217
I will that no man other slay,
for he that slays thee, young or old,
shall be punished sevenfold.

CAIN
Yea, so! I know whither I shall:221
in hell, I trow, must be my stall.
But this corpse I would were hid.
Pickharness, my knave, will I bid.
Ho! Pickharness! Pickharness! ho!

PICKHARNESS
Master, master!226

CAIN
Hearest thou, boy? There is a pudding in the pot.227
Take thee that, boy, take thee that! Strikes him
Hark, boy, I have a counsell thee to say:
I slew my brother this same day.
I pray thee, good boy, if thou may,
to run away with the bones.

PICKHARNESS
Has thou thy brother slain?233

CAIN
Peace, man, for God’s pain!234

PICKHARNESS
Yea, but for fear of grievance235
here I thee forsake;
we must have a mickle mischance
if the bailiffs us take.

CAIN
Ah, sir, I cry you mercy! Cease,239
and I shall make you a release.

PICKHARNESS
What, wilt thou cry my peace241
throughout this land?

CAIN
Yea, that I give God a vow,243
but thou must be my good boy,
and cry ‘Oyez, oyez, oy’.

PICKHARNESS
Peas, peas to thy boy!246

CAIN
I command you, in the king’s name,247

PICKHARNESS
And in my master’s, false Cain,248

CAIN
that no man with them find fault nor blame.249

PICKHARNESS
Yea, cold roast is at my master’s home.250

CAIN
The king writes you until:251

PICKHARNESS
Yet eat I never half my fill.252

CAIN
The king will that they be safe.253

PICKHARNESS
Yea, a draught of drink fain would I have.254

CAIN
At their own will let them live.255

PICKHARNESS
My stomach is ready to receive.256

CAIN
Look no man say to them, one or other:257

PICKHARNESS
This same is he that slew his brother.258

CAIN
Bid every man them love and lowt.259

PICKHARNESS
Yea, ill-spun weft aye comes foul out.260

CAIN
Bid every man them please to pay.261

PICKHARNESS
Yea, give Dun, thy horse, a wisp of hay!262

CAIN
Weh! Come down, in twenty devils’ way!263
The devil I thee betake;
For, but it were Abel my brother,
yet knew I never thy like.

PICKHARNESS
Now, old and young, ere that ye wend,267
the same blessing, withouten end,
that God of heaven my master has given
shall ye have, while that ye live.

CAIN
Come down, yet, in the devil’s way,271
and anger me no more!
And wend thee forth fast before.

GOD
These five thousand years and more1
man has bought his sin full sore,
first in heaven then in hell.
But long therein shall he not dwell;
out of pain he shall be bought.
I will not harm what I have wrought;
Righteousness will we make:7
I will that my son manhood take.
Rise up, Gabriel, and wend
to a maiden that is hend,
to Nazareth in Galilee,
where she dwells in that city,
to that virgin and that spouse13
to a man of David’s house,
Joseph also named is he,
and the maiden’s name Mary.
On my behalf thou shall her greet;
I have her chosen, that maiden sweet;
she shall conceive my darling,19
she shall of her body bear
God and man without fear;
She shall be blessed without end.
Gabriel, hie thee and wend.

GABRIEL
Hail, Mary gracious!24
Hail maiden, and God’s spouse!
To thee I bow.
Of all virgins thou art queen,
that ever were or shall be seen
I tell thee now.

MARY
What is thy name?48

GABRIEL
Gabriel,49
God’s strength and his angel,
that comes to thee.

MARY
Wondrous greeting now I hear!52
Thou tells that I a child should bear.
How shall this be?

GABRIEL
Lady this is the privity:61
The Holy Ghost shall light in thee,
and his virtue
thee shall o’ershadow and fulfil
that thy maidenhead shall never spill,
but ay be new.

MARY
I love my lord all-wielding;75
be done to me in all thing
as thou has told.

GABRIEL
Mary, maiden hend,78
me behoves to wend;
my leave of thee I take.

MARY
Fare to my friend,81
who thee did send
for mankind’s sake.

MARY
My lord of heaven, that sits on high,2
and all thing sees with eye,
thee save, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH
Welcome, Mary, blessed bloom!5
Joyful am I that thou art come
to me from Nazareth.

MARY
How stands it with you, for thy part?8

ELIZABETH
Well, my daughter and dear heart,9
as can be for mine eld.

MARY
Full long I thought to speak with thee,11
for ye with child in eld be,
ye that were barren called.

ELIZABETH
Full long shall I the better be14
that I may speak my fill with thee,
my dear kinswoman;
to wit how thy friends fare,
in thy country where they are,
thereof tell me thou can,

MARY
Well, dame, gramercy your asking21
for good ye do enquire.

ELIZABETH
And Joachim, thy father, at home,23
and Anna, my niece and thy dame,
how stands it with him and her?

MARY
Dame, yet are they both alive,26
both Joachim and Anna his wife.

ELIZABETH
Else were my heart full sore.28

MARY
Dame, God that all may,29
yield you that you say,
and bless you therefore.

ELIZABETH
Blessed be thou of all women,32
and the fruit that well I ken
within the womb of thee;
and this time may I bless
that my Lord’s mother is
come thus unto me.

MARY
Magnificat anima mea dominum:50
My soul loves my lord above,
and my ghost is glad with love
of God that is my heal,
for in me he did regard
the meekness of his handmaid,
and kept me maiden loyal.56

ELIZABETH
Will thou now go, God’s dear?84
Come kiss me, daughter, with good cheer,
ere thou hence go.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Lord, what these weathers are cold! And I am ill happed;
I am near dulled, so long have I napped;
my legs they fold, my fingers are chapped.
It is not as I would, for I am all lapped
in sorrow.
In storms and tempest,
now in the east, now in the west,7
woe is him that never has rest,
midday nor morrow!

SECOND SHEPHERD
Bensté and Dominus, what may this mean?27
Why fares this world thus? Oft have we not seen.
Lord, these weathers are spiteful, and the winds full keen,
and the frosts so hideous they water mine een,
no lie!
Now in dry, now in wet,
now in snow now in sleet,33
when my shoes freeze to my feet,
it is not all easy.

FIRST SHEPHERD
God save thee now! Full deafly ye stand.36

SECOND SHEPHERD
Yea, the devil in thy maw, ye stay so long.37
Saw thou ought of Daw?

FIRST SHEPHERD
Yea, on a lee-land39
heard I him blow. He comes here at hand,
not far.
Stand still.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Why?43

FIRST SHEPHERD
For he comes, hope I.44
He will make us both a lie
But if we beware.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Christ’s cross me speed and Saint Nicolas!47
Thereof had I need; it is worse than it was.
Whoso could take heed and let the world pass,
it is ever in dread, and brittle as glass
For ponder:
these floods, so they drown,
both in fields and in town,53
and bear all down,
and that is a wonder.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Christ’s curse, my knave, thou art a lazy hind!
Ill thrift thou shall find.
Thy gauds -
where are our sheep boy? - we scorn.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Sir, this same day at morn61
I them left in the corn,
when they rang Lauds.

FIRST SHEPHERD
That is right. By the rood, these nights are long!65
Yet I would, ere we go, one gave us a song.

SECOND SHEPHERDF
So thought I as I stood, to mirth us among.67

THIRD SHEPHERD
I grant.68

FIRST SHEPHERD
Let me sing the tenory.69

SECOND SHEPHERD
And I the treble so high.70

THIRD SHEPHERD
Then the mean falls to me.71
Let see how ye chant. They sing

MAK
Now Lord, for thy names seven, that made both earth and heaven,
well more than I can tell, I am all uneven;
for even or for odd, that moves oft my brains.
Now would God I were in heaven, for there weep no bairns
so still.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Who is that pipes so poor?78

MAK
Would God ye wist who I were!79
Lo, a man that walks on the moor,
and has not all his will.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Mak, where has thou gone? Tell us tiding.82

THIRD SHEPHERD
Is he come? Then each man take heed to his things.83

MAK
What? I am a yeoman, I tell you, of the king,84
the self and the same, sent from a great lord
on high.
Fie on you! Go hence
out of my presence!
I must have reverence.
Why, who am I?90

SECOND SHEPHERD
Mak, the devil in your eye! A stroke would I give you.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Mak, know ye not me? By God, I could grieve you!92

He pulls off Mak’s cloak

MAK
God look ye all three! Me thought I should find you!
Ye are a fair company.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Can ye now mind you?95

SECOND SHEPHERD
Take keep!96
Thus late as thou goes,
what will men suppose?
And thou has an ill noise of stealing of sheep.

MAK
And I am as true as steel, all men wot100
But a sickness I feel that holds me full hot:
my belly fares not well, it is out of estate.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Seldom lies the devil dead by the gate.103

MAK
Therefore full sore I am and ill,104
if I stand stone still.
I ate not a needle
this month and more.

FIRST SHEPHERD
How fares thy wife? By thy hood, how fares she?108

MAK
Lies waltering - by the Rood - by the fire, lo!109
And a house full of brood. She drinks well too.
Ill speed other good that she will do!
But she
eats as fast as she can,
and ilk year that comes to man
she brings forth a bairn, and some years two.115

SECOND SHEPHERD
I wot, so weary is none in this shire;116
I would sleep, if I took less to my hire.

Third SHEPHERD
I am cold and naked, and would have a fire.118

FIRST SHEPHERD
I am weary, for-racked, and run in the mire -119
Wake thou!

SECOND SHEPHERD
Nay, I will lie down by121
for I must sleep, truly.

THIRD SHEPHERD
As good a man’s son was I as any of you.123
But Mak, come hither! Between shall thou lie.

MAK
No dread.125
From my top to my toe,
Manus tuas commendo,
Poncio Pilato.
Christ’s cross me speed!

The Shepherds sleep. Mak rises

Now were time for a man that lacks what he would
to stalk privily then into a fold,131
and nimbly to work, and be not too bold,
for he might a-buy the bargain, if it were told
at the ending.
Now were time for to reel,
but he needs good counsel
that fain would fare well,137
and has but little spending.

Casts a spell on the sleeping shepherds

But about you a circle, as round as a moon,
till I have done that I will, till that it be noon,
that ye lie stone-still till that I have done.
And I shall say thereto of good words a few:
‘On height,143
over your heads my hand I lift.
Out go your eyes! Fordo your sight!’
But yet I must make better shift
and it be right.

Makes more spell-casting gestures

GILL
Who makes such a din this time of the night?158

MAK
Good wife, open the lock! Sees thou not what I bring?

GILL
I may let thee draw the sneck. Ah, come in my sweeting!
By the naked neck thou art like for to hang!

MAK
Do way!162
I am worthy my meat,
for in a strait I can get
more than they that swink and sweat
all the long day.

GILL
It were a foul blot to be hanged for the case.168

MAK
I have escaped, good wife, oft as hard a place.169

GILL
‘But so long goes the pot to the water,’ men says,
‘at last comes it home broken.’

MAK
Well know I the token,172
but let it never be spoken!
Come, bar the door fast.

GILL
Come they ere he be slain and hear the sheep bleat -

MAK
Then might I be taken. That were a cold sweat!178
Go spar the gate-door.

GILL
Yes, Mak, for if they come at thy back -180

MAK
Then might I buy, for all the pack,181
the devil of a care!

GILL
A good jape have I spied, since thou can none:183
Here shall we him hide till they be gone,
in my cradle. Abide! Let me alone,
and I shall lie beside in childbed and groan.

MAK
Well said!187
And I shall say thou was light
of a knave-child this night.

GILL
Now well is me the day bright190
that ever I was bred!

MAK
If they rise ere I come, there blows a cold blast!194
I will go sleep.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Resurrex a mortruus! Have hold of my hand.200
Judas carnas dominus! I may nor well stand.

SECOND SHEPHERD
My foot sleeps, by Jesus,202
I thought that we laid us full near England.

THIRD SHEPHERD
God save thee!204
Lord, what I have slept well!
As fresh as an eel,
as light I me feel
as leaf on a tree.

MAK
Now Christ’s holy name be us among!210
What’s this? For St James, I may not well gang!
I trow I be lame; my neck has lain wrong.
Ah, my head!

THIRD SHEPHERD
Go forth, ill might thou thrive! Now would I we sought
this morn,
that we had all our store.

FIRST SHEPHERD
But I will go before.224
Let us meet.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Where?226

THIRD SHEPHERD
At the crooked thorn.227

MAK
Undo this door! Who is here? How long shall I knock?

GILL
What end has thou made with the shepherds, Mak?229

MAK
The last word that they said when I turned my back,
they would look that they had their sheep, all the pack.
Pardee!
But how so the game goes,
to me they will suppose,
and make a foul noise,
and cry out upon me.236

GILL
Harken well when they call; they will come anon.237
Come and make ready all, and sing by thine own.
Sing ‘Lullay’ thou shall, for I must groan,
and cry out by the wall on Mary and John
for sore.
Sing ‘Lullay’ fast
when thou hears at the last,243
I shall play a false cast,
or trust me no more.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Ah, Coll, good morn! Why sleeps thou not?246

FIRST SHEPHERD
Alas, that ever I was born! We have a foul blot -247
a fat wether have we lorn.

THIRD SHEPHERD
A foul mischief, God wot!249

SECOND SHEPHERD
Who should do us that scorn? That were a foul spot.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Mak and Gill,251
such works they do use.
We shall them accuse;
they shall make no excuse
that did that same ill.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Go we thither, I rede, and run on our feet.256
Shall I never eat bread the sooth till I wit.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Not drink in my head till I with him meet.258

SECOND SHEPHERD
I will rest in no stead till I him greet,259
my brother.
This I plight:
Till I see him in sight,
shall I never sleep one night
where I do another.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Will ye hear how they hack? Our sire list croon!265

FIRST SHEPHERD
Heard I never none crack so clear out of tune.266
Call on him.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Mak, undo your door soon!268

MAK
Who is that spake as it were noon aloft?269
Who is that, I say?

THIRD SHEPHERD
Good fellows, were it day.271

MAK
As far as ye may, good sirs, speak soft272
over a sick woman’s head that is at mis-ease;
I had rather be dead than she had any dis-ease.

GILL
Go to another stead! I may not well wheeze;275
each foot that ye tread goes through my nose
so high.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Tell us, Mak, if ye may:278
How fare ye, I say?

MAK
But are ye in town today?280
Now how fare ye?
I would ye dined ere ye go. Methink ye are wet.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Nay, neither mends our mood drink nor meat.283

MAK
Why, sir, ails you ought but good?284

THIRD SHEPHERD
Yea, our sheep till we get.285
They are stolen as they lay; our loss is great.

MAK
Sirs, drink!287
Had I been there,
some should have bought it full sore.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Pardee, som men trow that ye were,290
and so may we think.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Mak, some men trow that it should be ye.292

THIRD SHEPHERD
Either ye or your spouse, so say we.293

MAK
Now if ye suppose it be Gill or me,294
come ransack our house and then ye may see.

GILL
Ah, my middle!296
I pray to God so mild:
if ever I you beguiled,
that I eat this child
that lies in this cradle.

MAK
Peace, woman, for God’s pain, and cry not so!
Thou spills thy brain and makes me full woe.

SECOND SHEPHERD
I trow our sheep be slain. What find ye two?303

THIRD SHEPHERD
All work we in vain; as well may we go.304

SECOND SHEPHERD
Sir, done!305
Sir, our Lady him save -

To Mak

Is your child a knave?

MAK
Any lord might him have, this child, to his son.308

SECOND SHEPHERD
Mak, friends will we be, for we are all one.309

MAK
We? Nay, not for me, for amends get I none.310
Farewell all three! All glad were ye gone.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Fair words may there be, but love is there none312
this year.

FIRST SHEPHERD
Gave ye the child anything?314

SECOND SHEPHERD
I trow, not one farthing.315

THIRD SHEPHERD
Fast again will I fling;316
abide ye me here. He runs back

MAK
Nay, thou does me great reproof, and foul has thou done.

THIRD SHEPHERD
The child will it not grieve, that little day star.
Mak, with your leave, let me give to your bairn
but sixpence

MAK
Nay, do way! He sleeps.323

THIRD SHEPHERD
Methinks he peeps.324

MAK
When he wakens, he weeps.325
I pray you go hence.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Give me leave him to kiss, and lift up the clout.327
What the devil is this! He has a long snout!

FIRST SHEPHERD
He is marked amiss; we wait ill about.329

SECOND SHEPHERD
Ill-spun weft, iwis, aye comes foul out.330

He goes closer

Ay, so!
He is like to our sheep!

THIRD SHEPHERD
How, Gib, may I peep?333

FIRST SHEPHERD
Saw I never asleep a horned lad ere now!334

THIRD SHEPHERD
I know him by the ear-mark, that is a good token.335

MAK
I tell you sirs, hark: his nose was broken.336

GILL
I saw it myself; with an elf he was taken,337
when the clock struck twelve he was misshapen.

THIRD SHEPHERD
For this trespass339
we will neither fight nor beat,
think curse nor threat,
but have done with it straight,
and cast him in canvas.

They toss Mak in a blanket

FIRST SHEPHERD
Lord what I am sore, in point for to burst!344
In faith, I may no more, thereof will I rest.

SECOND SHEPHERD
As a sheep of seven score he weighed in my fist.346
For to sleep anywhere methink that I list.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Now I pray you lie down on this green.348

FIRST SHEPHERD
Yet I think on this thief.349

THIRD SHEPHERD
Whereto should ye grieve?350
Do as I say you.

ANGEL
Rise, herd-men kind, for now is he born352
that shall take from the fiend what Adam had lorn;
that warlock to bind, this night is he born.,
God is made your friend now at this morn.
At his behest,
to Bethlehem go see.
There lies that lord free, between two beasts.358

SECOND SHEPHERD
Say, what was his song? Heard ye not how he cracked it?
Three breves to a long.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Yea, truly, he hacked it.361
Was no crochet wrong, nor nothing that lacked it.

FIRST SHEPHERD
For to sing us among, right as he hacked it,363
I can.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Let see how ye croon!365
Can ye bark at the moon?

THIRD SHEPHERD
Hold your tongues! Have done!367

FIRST SHEPHERD
Hark after then:368

SECOND SHEPHERD
Go we now, let us fare; the place is us near.380

THIRD SHEPHERD
Speed forth, I declare; go we all there381
to that bright.
Lord, if thy will be -
we are simple all three -
thou grant us some glee
at that sight.

JOSEPH

FIRST SHEPHERD
Hail, comely and clean! Hail young child!397
Hail, maker, as I mean, of a maiden so mild.
Thou hast vanquished, I ween, the warlock so wild.
The false guiler of men, now goes he beguiled.
Lo, he merries!
Lo, he laughs, my sweeting;
a full fair meeting!403
I give thee my greeting:
Have a bob of cherries.

SECOND SHEPHERD
Hail, sovereign saviour, for thou has us sought!406
Hail, fair food and flower, that all thing has wrought.
Hail, full of favour, that made all of nought.
Hail! I kneel and I cower. A bird have I brought
to my bairn.
Hail, little tiny mop!
Of our creed thou art crop.412
I would drink of thy cup,
little day star.

THIRD SHEPHERD
Hail, darling dear, full of Godhead!415
I pray thee, be near when that I have need.
Hail, sweet is thy cheer! My heart would bleed
to see thee sit here in so poor weed,
with no pennies.
To thy hand so small
I bring thee but a ball:421
have and play thee withal,
and go to the tennis.

JOSEPH

MARY
He that all mights may, the maker of heaven,430
that is for to say, my son that I name,
reward you this day, as he set all on seven.
He grant you for ay his bliss full even
continuing.
He give you good grace!
Tell forth of this case.436
He speed your pace,
and grant you good ending.