Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/25

MIRACLE CYCLES. 13 But it was among the episodes previous to the Burial that the greatest scope for elaboration lay. We soon find the events from the Entry into Jerusalem onwards fully treated, and the dramatic and romantic possibilities of the story of the Magdalen recognized : Mundi dele&atio dulcis est et grata Cuius conuersatio suauis et ornata ; and it was not long before the whole missionary life of Christ was included. At the other end the narrative was carried on beyond the Ascension to the Second Advent. This eschatology had already been adumbrated in the 'Sponsus,' and the 'Anti- christus' was already there to serve as a preface to Doomsday. Of the scheme of the c Stella' little further elabo- ration was possible, but a few late examples are known which include scenes from the earlier life of the Virgin. The most vital portion was the prophetic prologue, which necessarily rose in im- portance as soon as it was prefixed to a complete Redemption drama. Its development is particularly interesting. We find, to begin with, the simple list of prophets ; we find miniature dramas, such as those of Balaam and Daniel, arising within the 'processio' ; we find a collection of such plays intro- duced by Augustine, the accredited author of the sermon from which the ' Prophetae ' sprang ; we find complete Old Testament cycles retaining in the form of a Prophet play such material as refused