Page:The Library, volume 5, series 3.djvu/407

MIRACLE CYCLES. 393 with the description in the Prologue (numbers 37 and xxxv). The last division of the cycle opens with an Emmaus play, number 38. This is duly described in the Prologue as pageant xxxvi, but whereas the latter contains the Peregrini episode only, the text includes the return of the disciples and the Incre- dulity of Thomas as well. Moreover, the two portions of the play are distinguished by being, the first in short, the second in long oflaves. Now, the Incredulity is the subject of play xxxvii of the Prologue, a distinct pageant, the description of which, however, is included in one stanza with pageant xxxviii, the ' Ascension/ Since the Ascen- sion play of the text, number 39, is in thirteeners, we may infer that the Prologue 'Incredulity' was probably in the same metre. It follows that the original play has been cut out and the loss made good by an addition to the preceding Emmaus pageant. The Ascension play, number 39, or what is left of it, is, I have said, in thirteeners. But it has been severely cut down. Some four stanzas are all that remain. Then comes a small blank in the manuscript followed by three stanzas, lacking speaker's name, which describe the election of Matthias. Halliwell printed these as though they were part of the foregoing speech of the Angel. They doubtless belong to Peter. There is no sugges- tion of them in the description of pageant xxxviii of the Prologue. Presumably, therefore, they are the remains of an originally independent play on this subjeft which has been cut out of the Prologue list. The play of Pentecost, number 40, has been