Читать книгу The White Christmas and other Merry Christmas Plays - Walter Ben Hare - Страница 19

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O come, come away From labor now reposing, Let busy care a while forbear; O come, come away.

(The front curtains are drawn, showing a winter street in Bethlehem. No one appears on the stage, but the choir continues singing outside at right front.)

Come, come, our social joys renew, And thus where trust and friendship grew, Let true hearts welcome you, O come, come away.

Rachel and Priscilla enter from the inn at right front, arm in arm. They go to the center, then to the rear of the stage, turn and face the inn, pause a moment or two, listening to the choir, and then go out at rear left. The choir continues:

From toils and the cares On which the day is closing, The hour of eve brings sweet reprieve, O come, come away. O come where love will smile on thee, And round its hearth will gladness be, And time fly merrily, O come, come away.

While the choir is singing the last three lines of the song, Simeon and Isaac enter from rear left, leaning on their shepherd's crooks. They pause at rear center and listen to the singing. When the song is finished the organ continues the same music softly.

Simeon.

Make haste, my son, the hour is waxing late,

The night is cold, methinks our sheep await.

Isaac.

Nay gran'ther, I would liefer tarry here.

The town is gay, the inns are full of cheer.

Simeon (points to rear right). But there our duty lies, the wind grows cold! Come, let's away and put the sheep in fold.

(Starts off right.)

Isaac.

Nay, Simeon, wait! What means this crowd of men

And women here in peaceful Bethlehem?

Simeon (comes to him). Herod the King hath issued a decree That each and all his subjects taxèd be; And every one who in this town saw light Must here return and register tonight. From all Judea, aye, from th' distant land, Each Bethlehemite must come at his command. Isaac (comes to the doorway of the inn and peers in). The town is full of people, great and small, Each inn is crowded to its very wall. Simeon (comes down center and takes his arm). But come, we're wasting time, 'tis very late. Make haste, my son, I know the flocks await! Isaac. Thou speakest true, though I would rather stay, Our duty calls, so to the hills, away!

(They go out at rear right.)

The concealed choir repeats the first stanza of the song softly. After a slight pause Deborah enters from the inn.

Deborah (coming down to right front). My inn is crowded to the doors. The heat Is stifling, but out here the air is sweet.

(Looks upward.)

The bright stars twinkle with mysterious light,

Methinks there's something strange about the night.

She sits on the bench in front of the inn. Timothy enters from rear left. Deborah continues her soliloquy.

The air is still, the night is very cold,

The shepherds seek the hills to watch the fold.

(Sees him.)

(Timothy goes out at rear R.)

Deborah.

Some strange, unearthly voice seems calling me,

Methinks this night portends great things to be.

Enter Rachel and Priscilla from rear right, then come down center and address the hostess.

Rachel.

Hail, hostess of the inn, my cousin here

Hath lodgings at your inn. We'd seek its cheer.

Deborah (rises). Enter within. My guests tonight are gay And fain would turn this winter's night to day.

Rachel and Priscilla enter the inn, followed by Deborah. The organ music continues softly. After a slight pause enter Anna from rear left. She leads Ruth and Thomas by the hand.

Thomas (at rear center). Oh, mother, hark! There's music in the inn! Anna. 'Tis not for us—their noise and merry din. Ruth. Our little town is crowded, joyous, gay. Thomas. So many travelers came this way today. Ruth. The night is chill and cold, I much do fear The little sheep will shiver by the mere. Anna. Too cold it is for thee, I fear, in truth, Return and get thy cloak, my little Ruth. We'll wait for thee upon the little hill.

(Points off R.)

But speed thy steps, the cold will work thee ill.

Ruth.

I'll fly, dear mother, like an arrow home.

(Runs out at L.)

Anna.

We must not tarry. Come, my Thomas, come!

(She leads him out at rear R. There is a pause. The music changes to a mysterious plaintive air. The old German song, Holy Night, may be effectively introduced as an organ solo.)

Enter from rear right, Joseph, walking with a staff and supporting Mary.

Mary.

Here is a place, now I must rest awhile!

For many a league, for many a weary mile,

We've trudged along since break of day began.

Joseph.

'Tis true, and I'm an old and ancient man,

My joints are stiff, my bones are waxing old—

And the long night is bitter, bitter cold.

Here take my cloak and keep thee warm within,

And wait thee here while I search out an inn.

(He wraps his cloak around her and seats her on the bench or stool in front of the manger. He goes out at rear left. The music changes to the Magnificat, to be found in all Episcopal hymnals.)

Mary (sings). My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty has magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, forever.

Enter Joseph from rear L.

Joseph.

For hours I've trudged the street in fruitless quest,

Here is an inn, mayhap at last we'll rest.

Enter Deborah from the inn.

Mary.

Husband, I'm faint; I can no farther go.

Methinks I'll rest me here upon this loe.

(Sits in front of the manger.)

Joseph (assisting her). Have courage, Mary, here's the hostess here.

(Comes to Deborah at right.)

We'd lodge with thee tonight.

Deborah.

Alas, I fear

My inn is crowded to the very wall,

Soldiers and scribes, the rich, the great, the small!

Joseph.

Is there room for us? My wife is ill.

Deborah.

My heart is sad and it is not my will

To send you hence, but naught is left to do.

Perhaps some other inn will shelter you.

Joseph.

Alas, the other inns are all the same!

Deborah.

Never was seen the like in Bethlehem.

(Laughter and noise at R.)

My guests are merry, hear their jovial din!

(Goes to R.)

I pity you, there's no room at the inn.

(Exits into the inn.)

Mary.

Our last hope gone! Now, what shall we do?

My strength is leaving!

(Bows head.)

Joseph.

Would I could succor you.

I'll wrap thee warm. Now rest thee here a while.

We've traveled far, full many a weary mile.

Enter Ruth from rear L., hurrying along.

Joseph.

Maiden, I fain would stop thee in thy flight—

Can'st tell where we could lodge this winter night?

Ruth.

That inn is crowded. There's one upon the hill.

Joseph.

I've tried them all, my wife is very ill.

Ruth.

That little stable there upon the loe,

(Points to L front.)

'Tis snug and warm. 'Twill shield thee from the snow.

Mary (rises). God's blessing on thy little head, sweet child! Come, Joseph, for the wind now waxes wild.

(Exits L. front.)

(Joseph leads her to exit L., then turns and looks off R.)

Joseph.

O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth (Turns toward manger.) The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

(Ruth stands at rear C., watching him.)

The curtains slowly fall.

Scene II: Hymn by the congregation.