Complete Poems and Plays (31 page)

C
HORUS
.
Does the bird sing in the South?

Only the sea-bird cries, driven inland by the storm.

What sign of the spring of the year?

Only the death of the old: not a stir, not a shoot, not a breath.

Do the days begin to lengthen?

Longer and darker the day, shorter and colder the night.

Still and stifling the air: but a wind is stored up in the East.

The starved crow sits in the field, attentive; and in the wood

The owl rehearses the hollow note of death.

What signs of a bitter spring?

The wind stored up in the East.

What, at the time of the birth of Our Lord, at Christmastide,

Is there not peace upon earth, goodwill among men?

The peace of this world is always uncertain, unless men keep the

peace of God.

And war among men defiles this world, but death in the Lord

renews it,

And the world must be cleaned in the winter, or we shall have

only

A sour spring, a parched summer, an empty harvest.

Between Christmas and Easter what work shall be

done?

The ploughman shall go out in March and turn the same earth

He has turned before, the bird shall sing the same song.

When the leaf is out on the tree, when the elder and may

Burst over the stream, and the air is clear and high,

And voices trill at windows, and children tumble in front of the door,

What work shall have been done, what wrong

Shall the bird’s song cover, the green tree cover, what wrong

Shall the fresh earth cover? We wait, and the time is short

But waiting is long.

[
Enter
the
F
IRST
P
RIEST
with
a
banner
of
St.
Stephen
borne
before
him.
The
lines
sung
are
in
italics.
]

F
IRST
P
RIEST
.
Since Christmas a day: and the day of St. Stephen, First

Martyr.

Princes
moreover
did
sit,
and
did
witness
falsely
against
me.

A day that was always most dear to the Archbishop Thomas.

And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice:

Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.

Princes
moreover
did
sit.

[
Introit
of
St.
Stephen
is
heard
]

[
Enter
the
S
ECOND
P
RIEST
,
with
a
banner
of
St.
John
the
Apostle
borne
before
him.
]

S
ECOND
P
RIEST
.
Since St. Stephen a day: and the day of St. John the

Apostle.

In
the
midst
of
the
congregation
he
opened
his
mouth.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,

Which we have seen with our eyes, and our hands have handled

Of the word of life; that which we have seen and heard

Declare we unto you.

In
the
midst
of
the
congregation.

[
Introit
of
St.
John
is
heard
]

[
Enter
the
T
HIRD
P
RIEST
,
with
a
banner
of
the
Holy
Innocents
borne
before
him.
]

T
HIRD
P
RIEST
.
Since St. John the Apostle a day: and the day of the

Holy Innocents.

Out
of
the
mouth
of
very
babes,
O
God.

As the voice of many waters, of thunder, of harps,

They sang as it were a new song.

The blood of thy saints have they shed like water,

And there was no man to bury them. Avenge, O Lord,

The blood of thy saints. In Rama, a voice heard, weeping.

Out of the mouth of very babes, O God!

[T
HE
P
RIESTS
stand
together
with
the
banners
behind
them
]

F
IRST
P
RIEST
.
Since the Holy Innocents a day: the fourth day from

Christmas.

T
HE
T
HREE
P
RIESTS
.
Rejoice
we
all,
keeping
holy
day.

F
IRST
P
RIEST
.
As for the people, so also for himself, he offereth

for sins.

He lays down his life for the sheep.

T
HE
T
HREE
P
RIESTS
.
Rejoice
we
all,
keeping
holy
day.

F
IRST
P
RIEST
.
                                                                  To-day?

S
ECOND
P
RIEST
.
To-day, what is to-day? For the day is half gone.

F
IRST
P
RIEST
.
To-day, what is to-day? but another day, the dusk of

the year.

S
ECOND
P
RIEST
.
To-day, what is to-day? Another night, and another

dawn.

T
HIRD
P
RIEST
.
What day is the day that we know that we hope for or

fear for?

Every day is the day we should fear from or hope from. One

moment

Weighs like another. Only in retrospection, selection,

We say, that was the day. The critical moment

That is always now, and here. Even now, in sordid particulars

The eternal design may appear.

[
Enter
the
F
OUR
K
NIGHTS
.
The
banners
disappear
]

F
IRST
K
NIGHT
.
Servants of the King.

F
IRST
P
RIEST
.
                                      And known to us.

You are welcome. Have you ridden far?

F
IRST
K
NIGHT
.
Not far to-day, but matters urgent

Have brought us from France. We rode hard,

Took ship yesterday, landed last night,

Having business with the Archbishop.

S
ECOND
K
NIGHT
.
Urgent business.

T
HIRD
K
NIGHT
.
                                 From the King.

S
ECOND
K
NIGHT
.
By the King’s order.

F
IRST
K
NIGHT
.
                                       Our men are outside.

F
IRST
P
RIEST
.
You know the Archbishop’s hospitality.

We are about to go to dinner.

The good Archbishop would be vexed

If we did not offer you entertainment

Before your business. Please dine with us.

Your men shall be looked after also.

Dinner before business. Do you like roast pork?

F
IRST
K
NIGHT
.
Business before dinner. We will roast your pork

First, and dine upon it after.

S
ECOND
K
NIGHT
.
We must see the Archbishop.

T
HIRD
K
NIGHT
.
                                                     Go, tell the Archbishop

We have no need of his hospitality.

We will find our own dinner.

F
IRST
P
RIEST
[
to
attendant
]
.
Go, tell His Lordship.

F
OURTH
K
NIGHT
.
How much longer will you keep us waiting?

[
Enter
T
HOMAS
]

T
H
OMAS
[
to
P
RIESTS
].
However certain our expectation

The moment foreseen may be unexpected

When it arrives. It comes when we are

Engrossed with matters of other urgency.

On my table you will find

The papers in order, and the documents signed.

[
To
K
NIGHTS
].
You are welcome, whatever your business may be.

You say, from the King?

F
IRST
K
NIGHT
.
                     Most surely from the King.

We must speak with you alone.

T
HOMAS
[
to
P
RIESTS
]
                     Leave us then alone.

Now what is the matter?

F
IRST
K
NIGHT
.
                    This is the matter.

T
HE
T
HREE
K
NIGHTS
.
You are the Archbishop in revolt against the