The Play of the Prophets
ISAIAH I am the prophet called Isaiah Replete with God's great influence And say plainly, in spirit of prophecy, That a clean maid, through meek obedience, Shall bear a child that shall do resistance 5 Against foul Zabulon, the devil of hell, Man's soul against him to do defence. Open, in the field, the fiend he shall fell. Wherefore I say "Quod virgo concipiet et pariet filium nomen Emmanuel", 10 Our life for to save, he shall suffer death And buy us to his bliss, in heaven for to dwell. Of sacerdotal lineage, the truth I you tell, Flesh and blood to take, God will be born. Joy to man in earth and in heaven Angels 15 At the child's birth, joy shall make that morn. ROOT OF JESSE Egredietur virga de radice jesse Et flos de radice eius ascendet. A blessed branch shall spring of me That shall be sweeter than balm's breath. 20 Out of that branch in Nazareth A flower shall bloom of me, Jesse's root, The which, by grace, shall destroy death And bring mankind to bliss most sweet. KING DAVID I am David of Jesse's root 25 The fresh king by natural succession. And of my blood shall spring our boot As God himself had made promission Of royal life shall come such abundance That a clean maid, a mother shall be, 30 Against the devil's false illusion, With royal power to make men free. JEREMIAH THE PROPHET I am the prophet Jeremy And fully accord in all sentence With King David and with Isaiah, 35 Affirming plainly before this audience That God of his high benevolence Of priest and king will take lineage And buy us all from our offence In heaven to have his heritage. 40 KING SOLOMON I am Solomon the second king And that worthy temple, for sooth, made I Which is a figure of that maid young That shall be mother of great mercy. EZEKIAL THE PROPHET A vision of this, full verily 45 I, Ezekiel, have had also. Of a gate that pierced was truly And no man but a prince might therein go. KING ROBOAM The third king of the gentle Jesse, My name is known, King Roboas. 50 Of our kindred yet men shall see A clean maid tread down foul Satanas. MICAH THE PROPHET And I am a prophet called Micah. I tell you plainly that thus it is Even like as Eve, mother of woe was, 55 So shall a maiden be mother of bliss. KING ABIA I that am called King Abias Confirm for true, that ye have said, And say also as in this case That all our mirth comes of a maid. 60 DANIEL THE PROPHET I, prophet Daniel, am well pleased. In figure of this I saw a tree. All the fiends of hell shall be afraid When maiden's fruit thereon they see. KING ASA I, King Asa, believe all this 65 That God will of a maiden be born And us to bring to endless bliss Truly on rood be rent and torn. JONAH THE PROPHET I, Jonas, say that on the third morn From death, he shall rise. This is a true tale 70 Figured in me the which, long before, Lay three days buried within the whale. KING JOSOPHAT And I, Josophat, the sixth king indeed, Of Jesse's root in lineal succession. All that my progenitors hath before me said 75 Faithfully believe without any dubitation. ABDIAS THE PROPHET I, Abdias the prophet, make this protestation That after he is risen to life once again, Death shall be driven to endless damnation And life shall be granted, of paradise full plain. 80 KING JORAM And I, Joram, also in the number seven, Of Jesse's root king, know that he After his resurrection return shall to heaven Both God and verray man there endless to be. HABBAKUK THE PROPHET I, Habbakuk the prophet, hold well with thee, 85 When he is risen, he shall up fly In heaven, as judge, to sit in his see Us for to deem when we shall die. KING OZIAS And I Ozias, King of high degree Sprung of Jesse's root, dare well say this 90 When he is gone to his dignity He shall send the spirit to his disciples. JOEL THE PROPHET And I, Joel, know full true that is God bad me write in prophecy He would send down his spirit, iwis 95 On young and old full surely. KING JOATHAM My name is known, King Joatham, The ninth king sprung of Jesse. Of my kindred, God will be man, Mankind to save, and that joyeth me. 100 AGEUS THE PROPHET With you I do hold that am the prophet Aggee Come of that same high and holy stock. God of our kindred, indeed, born shall be From the wolf to save all the sheep of his flock. KING ACHAZ Of Jesse, King Achaz is my name 105 That falsely worshipped idolatry Till Isaiah put me in blame And said a maid should bear the messiah. HOSEA THE PROPHET Of that birth, witness bear I, A prophet, Hosea, men me call. 110 And after that tale of Isaiah That maid shall bear Emmanuel. KING EZECHIAS My name is known, King Ezekias, The eleventh king of the genealogy. And say, forsooth, as in this case 115 A maid by meekness shall bring mercy. SOPHOSAS THE PROPHET I, a prophet called Sophony Of this matter do bear witness And for truth to certify That maiden's birth our wealth shall dress. 120 KING MANASSES Of this noble and worthy generation The twelfth king am I, Manasses, Witnessing here by true testification That maiden's child shall be prince of peace. BARUCH THE PROPHET And I, Baruch prophet, confirm these words 125 Lord and prince of peace though that child be, All his foemen against him shall press Right a grim sire at doom's day shall he be. KING HAMON Amon king for the last conclusion, All things before said for truth do testify, 130 Praying that God of our sins remission At that dreadful day, he us grant mercy. Thus we all of this genealogy According in one, here in this place Pray that high lord when that we shall die 135 Of his great goodness to grant us his grace.
Return to N-Town Pageant List.