[Gutenberg 19481] • "Everyman," with other interludes, including eight miracle plays

Excerpt: ...To you now am I sent. For dread of Herod, go you west home In those parts when ye come down, Ye shall be burrid254 with great renown: The Holy Ghost this knowledge hath sent. 1st King. Awake, sir kings, I you pray, For the voice of an angel I heard in my dream! 2nd King. That is full true that ye do say For he rehearsed our names plain. 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!...