Poems (Tynan)/The Flight into Egypt
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT
Scene I.—Joseph sleepeth in a room white with moonlight.Outside, Bethlehem lieth still in the moon. Joseph dreamethand uttereth aloud his dream.
Joseph.
Are they not safe? I heard, methought, The crying of women sore distraught, And through that lonely sound I caught The shriek of babes, and then
Clashing of swords, and oaths, and fierce Wild laughter rang against mine ears,Mine eyes beheld the dripping spears In hands of wicked men.
'Twas night in Bethlehem did seem All through the horror of my dream. And "Woe!" and "Woe to Bethlehem!" I heard a voice cry on.
And yet I know the small town lies Soothed by the sweetest lullabies, Watched by a million starry eyes That gaze until the dawn.
I know the babies lie at rest, Each rosy on its mother's breast, Wherein love makes the tenderest nest. O hard-heart little town,
That bade my dearest in her need Take refuge in the cattle-shed, And gave her sweetest Son for bed The cattle's manger brown.
Nevertheless sleep well, and far Away from thee those cries of war! Sleep sweetly under the Birthnight Star Until the cock shall crow.
The while I hear, as soft as love,The tender breathing of my dove,And the dear Babe her heart above Breathing so soft and low. [A radiance floateth in his dream, in the midst of which appeareth the Angel of the Lord.
The Angel.
Joseph, arise! no time for sleep,If thou thy trust with God wouldst keep. Leave Bethlehem town to wail and weep, But thou, up and away!
Take Mother and Child, and ride in haste Across the desert still and vast. Saddle thine ass and ride thee fast. Be far ere break of day.
Herod now seeks the Child to kill. Up and away with a good will. Soon will the winds of dawn blow chill, The day of blood be red.
Save thou the Child! Here will be moan, Weeping and lamentation lone,The voice of Rachel for her son Mourning uncomforted. [Joseph waketh and peereth in the moonlight. He then ariseth hastily and wakeneth Mary.
Joseph.Dearest, rise up and take the Child. We must away ere yon star mild Wanes in the day. While yet He smiled In sleep, a vision rose,
And warned of danger dark and death. Wrap thee right warm. The morning breath Is cold, and cold the night bloweth The way our journey goes.
Mary.
Alas, and is it so soon they seek To slay my Babe new-born and weak? This little one so soft and meek, No wild beast would Him harm.
Saddle the ass. We two will be Ready by then to ride with thee. My sweet shall take no chill with me: My veil and cloak are warm.
Come, little one, now leave behind The town where we no roof could find The night that Thou wast born. Unkind The desert need not prove
For Thee to whom the world is ill: Yea, raveneth like a wild beast still, My white and innocent lamb to kill, Come, tender little dove! [They pass out info the darkness, where Joseph holdeth the stirrup-rein of the ass.
Scene II.—In a robber's cave in the desert. Mary laveth the little Jesus in clear water, while by her side Leah, the robbers wife, suckleth her babe.
Leah (singeth).
Sleep sweet, my baby, Whiter than snows,Rose of the desert That in the night blows. Round my wan rosebud Floweth my veil,Screening my white rose, Tender and pale.
Little white rosebud, Be not in haste Yet to uncover To the hot blast. World's breath will scorn thee, Cruel winds blow,Ravage my rosebud Whiter than snow.
Lullaby, my rosebud, Grow not a rose. Round thee to shield thee Mother's veil flows. Rose of her darkness, Make her heart glad—The saddest poor another That ever earth had.
Mary.
Why then, my sister, dost thou sing So sad a cradle song to wing Thy baby into slumbering? Nay then, thine eyes be dried.
Kiss his soft feet and feel but this, Thou art a mother, with that bliss Turning all carking care that is To happy joy and pride.
We take the joy and grief in one, We mothers who have borne a son, And would not wish our lot undone If it were else all woes.
But hold my Jesus, and let me Thy pretty baby on my knee Nurse for a little. I would see The face thou holdest so close.
Leah (weepeth).
Lady, ah now you touch my wound. Where is a sadder mother found All the sad earth o'er and around? O lady, see my child,
White with the leprosy! I dare Not touch your boy's sweet face and hair, Lest that my finger-tips should bear Those seeds rank and defiled.
Mary.
Alas, poor mother, was this why Didst lay thy precious baby by, And wouldst not let my gaze come nigh His piteous little form?
Nay, give him me, and take my sweet,That is all sound from head to feet. The evil thing I fear not it; It cannot do Him harm.
Give me thy son. I will him bathe Here where my one Son bathed hath. Great virtue hath He evil scathe And taint away to take.
[Holdeth the babe, swiftly unclothing him.
Now in the water I thee lay. My Baby's Father, take away This baby's leprosy, I pray, Even for Thy sweet Son's sake![She raiseth the babe from the water, wholly cleansed, and layeth him rosy in his mother's lap.
Mary.
Here is thy Dimas. Lift thine eyes! See how he sweet and rosy lies That piteous was and food for sighs. Now, sister, praise the Lord!
Leah (falleth down).
I praise His Name, and thee He sent, His angel and His instrument, To work on me His good intent, And on my babe and bird.
Mary.
Praise me not. But if thou wilt, praise My Baby through thy length of days, And praise His Father who had grace And pity for thy need.
Thou, little Dimas, who art clean, I have a vision of thy sin,And of thy sorrow that wins in At last to Heaven indeed.
O little Dimas, round and smooth, I see thee in thy lusty youth Brought down to death and shame in truth; I see thee keeping tryst
In a most bitter day and hour When men are mad and hell hath power, High where the awful crosses tower, Keeping thy tryst with Christ.
Little Dimas, when all is done, Side by side with my little Son, Thou winnest in when Heaven is won, O happy little child!
Now sleep. And sleep, my Jesus small, For little birds are sleeping all,And shadows lengthen on the wall, And fades the daylight mild.