Shepherd. You who are noble and great, and rich and wise, and learned in all things, tell us what is in this stable.
King. It is true we are noble and honourable, and learned and powerful, and wise and prudent, but we cannot tell you that. We do not know ourselves what is the thing that is in it.
Shepherd. Tell us this much anyway, is it sorrow or joy, grief or gladness, courage or fear, it will put on us? Will you not tell us that before we knock at the closed door?
King. It is certain there are no other persons in the world so learned as ourselves. We are astronomers to tell of the coming and going of the stars, and the ways of the heavens, and everything that is on the earth and in the clouds and under the earth. But for all that we cannot tell you this thing.
Shepherd. Who will knock at the door?
King. It 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.