Part II. The Golden Legend. III. IV. The Nativity: A Miracle-Play. IX. Crowned with Flowers

JESUS sitting among his playmates crowned with flowers as their King.

BOYS.

WE spread our garments on the ground!

With fragrant flowers thy head is crowned

While like a guard we stand around,

And hail thee as our King!

Thou art the new King of the Jews!

Nor let the passers-by refuse

To bring that homage which men use

To majesty to bring.

Here a traveller shall go by, and the boys shall lay hold of his garments and say:

BOYS.

Come hither! and all reverence pay

Unto our monarch, crowned to-day!

Then go rejoicing on your way,

In all prosperity!

TRAVELLER.

Hail to the King of Bethlehem.

Who weareth in his diadem

The yellow crocus for the gem

Of his authority!

He passes by; and others come in, bearing on a litter a sick child.

BOYS.

Set down the litter and draw near!

The King of Bethlehem is here!

What ails the child, who seems to fear

That we shall do him harm?

THE BEARERS.

He climbed up to the robin’s nest,

And out there darted, from his rest,

A serpent with a crimson crest,

And stung him in the arm.

JESUS.

Bring him to me, and let me feel

The wounded place; my touch can heal

The sting of serpents, and can steal

The poison from the bite!

He touches the wound, and the boy begins to cry.

Cease to lament! I can foresee

That thou hereafter known shalt be,

Among the men who follow me,

As Simon the Canaanite!