Laurence Housman

Name: Bethlehem: A Nativity Play
Author: Laurence Housman

Summary

“Bethlehem: A Nativity Play”, is a work by Laurence Housman. It explores elements such as Virgin Birth, bliss and shepherd.

Quotes from Bethlehem: A Nativity Play (Laurence Housman)

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Shepherd of men, set Thy sign on us!
4th Shepherd.
And lay Thy yoke on us!
[31]
5th Shepherd.
And we will be thankful.
1st Shepherd (kneeling) .
Queen, Mother, pardon me who make so bold
To speak! but hearts grown full be hard to hold
To-night, as Heaven hath willed, have come thy way
Poor folk with meagre speech yet much to say.
So, if word lack, let thine own wisdom fill:
And—give me countenance!—I’ll not speak ill.
Dear Mother, pray for us! Foolish we be,
Untaught and rude: but what we see we see,
And what we hear we hear; to what’s above
Our heads we bow: and what we love we love! ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ No standing here have we: in heart we kneel,
With, at our hearts, this prayer,—that ye may feel
How in Love’s hands time is a little thing!
And so shall Love to-night your senses bring
Back to the hills of Bethlehem, the fold
Where shepherds watched their sheep, where angels told
Of peace, goodwill to men, in Christ new-born,
By Whom, from Virgin Birth, our flesh goes worn. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Though Heavenly signs depart, Heaven’s purpose holds, [41]
Where Earth’s Redemption slumbers at my breast.
Look where He lies! Kiss ye His feet, and go!
Your Shepherd He: Whose sheep are ye, I know.
When mothers teach to babes their mother-tongue,
This tale shall first be told:
How to His birth ye came in days of old,
While starlight led and seraph-voices sung.
So, in that story, shall your names stay young.
Farewell; give thanks for this! Ye to Christ’s fold
Are come. Take all the bliss that hearts on earth may hold! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Lost are the voices, sets the Star that shone:
Back to their folds have gone the shepherd-band:
Each king is now returned to his own land.
Love is gone forth into the world to win
Saints to their rest, and sinners back from sin. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ To-night God gives you sight; then be not blind;
Behold with us the high celestial mind!
Ye also with one voice must here rejoice.
1st Shepherd.
We be poor mortals! Here’s all Heaven in sight!
Gabriel.
The Heavens themselves are joined with earth to-night.
Fear not, but rise! Mercy and Truth are met;
And Righteousness on Peace her seal hath set.
Stand and be strong,
Ye, too, shall share our song!
[14]
Semi-Chorus.
Glory to God; on earth, peace, goodwill!
He smites with His rod, and the waters are still ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Shepherd (without) .
A friend: we be all friendly men:
We be the shepherds.
Joseph.
Come in, shepherds, then:
Here’s welcome waiting you! Behold and bless
The Peace within your gates, the Plenteousness!
[28]
The Shepherds enter.
1st Shepherd.
Mother of God, welcome to Bethlehem!
Mary.
Shepherds of Israel, welcome to Christ’s Birth!
Omnes.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with
thee! Blessed art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and
in the hour of our death. Amen. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Behold, this night shall bring you to your bliss.
3rd King.
Whence comes thy knowledge to make hope so near?
Gabriel.
Oh, let your ears be opened till they hear!
Open your eyes, and mark with fearless sight
The throng of thanksgiving which fills this night:
Nor walks on heaven alone, but earth as well! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Out of His mouth a rod the earth shall smite,
And by His breath the wicked He shall slay.
The wolf shall make his dwelling in the fold,
The leopard and the kid together play,
The young lion with the fatling: and behold
A Little Child shall lead them in the way! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ It shall keep warm my heart, shepherd, to thee.
7th Shepherd.
Mother, my empty hands do me a wrong:
No gift have I, but in my lips a song
Such as we shepherds sing.
Mary.
Such songs are best.
To-night your lips shall lull the Shepherd’s King
To rest.
7th Shepherd (sings) .
The world is old to-night,
The world is old ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Says he, ‘I shall behold him;—but not nigh:
‘Out of Jacob there shall come forth a Star,
‘And a Sceptre in Israel shall be raised high.’—
So he bare witness of things seen afar.
And that being told so many years ago,
Yet still to come, do surely seem to show
How we be likelier to behold that Star
Than he who only spoke o’ it from afar.
And in that day, ’tis told, the dumb shall talk,
The old shall leap, and the lame man shall walk,
And the blind man recover back his sight!
3rd Shepherd.
Well, well, it may be so! God will do right.
[11]
1st Shepherd. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Laurence Housman, Bethlehem: A Nativity Play

“ Joseph, in a dream by night,
Word of King Herod’s fear, and counsels flight.
So, lastly, ye shall see them rise and go,
And the place vacant left. Yet ye shall know
That Love remains, and that Faith sees it so.
So, have ye hope! let Time your trust increase!
Hark, I hear music! Christmas comes; ’tis peace!
Pastoral music: a shepherd’s voice is heard.
‘The world is old, to-night,
The world is old ”

Laurence Housman

Summary

Quotes from Bethlehem: A Nativity Play (Laurence Housman)

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