A cup full of frankincense was Balthazar’s gift, “In tokening of priesthood and dignity of office;” while the young king Melchior had brought a precious goblet, with “myrrh for mortality, in tokening Thou shalt mankind restore to life by Thy death upon a tree.”
Then Mary spoke to the kings as sweetly as she had addressed the shepherds, and presently they withdrew a little from her presence and began to discuss their homeward journey. Gaspar declared that according to their promise they must return through Herod’s land; and though the others agreed, they were all so fatigued that they decided to lie down and rest awhile. Accordingly, at a distance from the manger, they threw themselves on the ground. Before long they slept, and while they slept, a beautiful vision appeared to them.
An angel, who seemed to be hovering in the air, descended from the darkness of the stable-roof, and bent still hovering above them.
“Is he really flying?” exclaimed Margery, in an awed voice; and Master Gyseburn smiled.
“It looks as though he were, certainly,” he agreed; “but there’s a clever contrivance arranged by the carpenters and fastened to the roof up there, by which the angel is let down and made to look as though he were fluttering in the air.”
“He is lovely!” declared Margery, sighing with pleasure. “Look at his golden curls and his long wings! What is he going to say to the kings?”
“Listen!” Colin advised her.
“King of Tarsus, Sir Gaspar!” (exclaimed the angel)
“King of Araby, Sir Balthazar!
Melchior, King of Aginara!