IN THE TOWN
Old French Dialogue Carol

Characters: Joseph, Mary, 3 innkeepers, stable animals

JOSEPH:  
Take heart, the journey's ended:
I see the twinkling lights,
Where we shall be befriended
On this night of nights.

MARY:
Now praise the Lord that led us
So safe into the town,
Where men will feed and bed us,
And I can lay me down.

JOSEPH:
Look yonder, wife, look yonder!
A hostelry I see,
Where travelers that wander
Will very welcome be.

MARY:
Oh, help me, I am ailing,
My strength is nearly gone;
I feel my limbs are failing,
And yet we must go on.

JOSEPH:
God save you, Hostess, kindly!
I pray you, house my wife,
Who bears beside me blindly
The burden of her life.

HOSTESS:
My guests are rich men's daughters
and sons, I'll have you know!
Seek out the poorer quarters,
Where ragged people go.

JOSEPH:
Good sir, my wife's in labor,
Some corner let us keep.

HOST:
Not I; knock on my neighbor's door,
And as for me, I'll sleep.

MARY:
In all the lighted city
Where rich men welcome win,
Will not one house for pity
Take two poor strangers in?

JOSEPH:
Good woman, I implore you,
Afford my wife a bed.

HOSTESS:
Nay, nay, I've nothing for you
Except the cattle shed.

MARY:
Then gladly in the manger
Our bodies we will house,
Since men tonight are stranger
Than donkeys, sheep and cows.

JOSEPH:
Take heart, take heart, sweet Mary,
The cattle are our friends.
Lie down,  lie down, sweet Mary,
For here our journey ends.

MARY:
Now praise the Lord that found me
This shelter in the town,
Where I with friends around me
May lay my burden down.