THE NATIVITY
Scene I.—Shepherds on a hillside, watching their flocks by night.
First Shepherd.
The frost is crackling in the grass;
'Twere well the flock warm-housed was.
How merrily now the time would pass
Were I by mine own fire.
'Twere well the flock warm-housed was.
How merrily now the time would pass
Were I by mine own fire.
Second Shepherd.
Ay, neighbour, sad the shepherd's lot.
Whether the wind be cold or not,
He must away from wife and cot,
To frozen field and byre.
Whether the wind be cold or not,
He must away from wife and cot,
To frozen field and byre.
First Shepherd.
Where 's Jacob?
Second Shepherd.
See! he cometh now
Yonder, over the wheatfield brow;
And in his arms he hath, I trow,
A young lamb, newly born.
Yonder, over the wheatfield brow;
And in his arms he hath, I trow,
A young lamb, newly born.
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