Isaac.
Nay, Simeon, wait! What means this crowd of men
And women here in peaceful Bethlehem?
Simeon (comes to him).
Herod the King hath issued a decree
That each and all his subjects taxèd be;
And every one who in this town saw light
Must here return and register tonight.
From all Judea, aye, from th' distant land,
Each Bethlehemite must come at his command.
Isaac (comes to the doorway of the inn and peers in).
The town is full of people, great and small,
Each inn is crowded to its very wall.
Simeon (comes down center and takes his arm).
But come, we're wasting time, 'tis very late.
Make haste, my son, I know the flocks await!
Isaac.
Thou speakest true, though I would rather stay,
Our duty calls, so to the hills, away!
(They go out at rear right.)
The concealed choir repeats the first stanza of the song softly. After a slight pause Deborah enters from the inn.
Deborah (coming down to right front).
My inn is crowded to the doors. The heat
Is stifling, but out here the air is sweet.
(Looks upward.)
The bright stars twinkle with mysterious light,
Methinks there's something strange about the night.
She sits on the bench in front of the inn. Timothy enters from rear left. Deborah continues her soliloquy.
The air is still, the night is very cold,
The shepherds seek the hills to watch the fold.
(Sees him.)