t is my advice to you now: the king that is youngest of
us, and the shepherd that is youngest of you, to go to the door and to
knock together.

SHEPHERD. Why do you say the youngest king and the youngest
shepherd?

KING. Do you not know there is no person free from sin but only
infants that have never found occasion of doing it? The man that is
youngest of us, it is he found least occasion to do wrong; and he is the
best fitted to knock at this door, whatever there may be inside it.

SHEPHERD (_leading out another shepherd_). This is the man that
is youngest among us.

KING (_leading out another king_). This is the youngest king in
our company.

(_The two go to the door together and knock at it. The door is opened by
St. Joseph, and the manger is seen, and Mary Mother kneeling beside the
manger on her two knees, her hands crossed on her breast, and she
praying._)

KING. We are come to this door to do honour to God, and to Him
that God has sent. It is here all the people of the whole world will be
taught, and will be put on the road that is best. Show Him to us; and we
will proclaim Him to all the people of knowledge, and the learned people
of the world.

SHEPERD. We are come in search of Him who is come to put joy in
the world, and to put gladness in the hearts of the people. Show Him to
us; and we will give news of Him to the herds and the shepherds, and the
simple people of the whole world.

ST. JOSEPH. It is great my gladness is to see you here. A
hundred welcomes before you, both gentle and simple. Come in, and I will
show you Him you are in search of. Look at this baby in the manger. It
is He is King of the World, and He will put all the countries of the
world under His feet.

MARY MOTHER. He is the Son of God.

(_They all go on their knees._)

KING. We have brought gifts and offerings with us. Let us show
them to you.

MARY MOTHER. Walk softly and quietly, that you may not awake
the Child.

A KING. I am the king is oldest in our company. I will walk
softly, and I will not awake the Child.

A SHEPHERD. I am the man is oldest among us; let us give our
poor gifts to you like the others. I will walk softly; I will not awake
the little One.

KING. We have brought from the rising of the sun, gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh, and a share of every noble precious treasure
there is in the world. It is not possible for the whole world to give a
thing we have not with us; and we have brought another th