CHARACTERS
The Gardener—Jesus ChristThe Three Maries-- Mary Magdalene Mary, Mother of James Mary SalomeFirst AngelSecond Angel
THE MYSTERY OF THE THREE MARIES
[Enter Mary Magdalene, and Mary, mother of James.]
Mary Magdalene. What shall I do, alas!My Lord went to the tomb, To-day is the third day;Go now see indeedIf he comes and rises, As he said to me truly.
Mary, Mother of James. I will go and seeThe body of him who redeemed me with pain, If it be risen again.Great comfort he was to us;That we should have seen his death! Alas! alas!
[Enter Mary Salome
Mary Salome. The third day is to-day;If the body of Christ be risen, Go to see.For the torment which he hadIs ever in my heart; This sorrow does not leave me.
[Here she shall meet the other Maries.
Mary Magdalene. Women, joy to ye!And Mary, mother of James, And Salome also.Sorrow is in my heart, alas!If the body of God himself is gone, Where may it be found?
Mary, Mother of James. So it is with me,Much and great torment for him; If he will not, through his grace,Help me in a short time,My heart in me will break Very really through troubles.
Mary Salome. So with me is sorrowMay the Lord see my state After him.As he is head of sovereignty,I believe that out of the tomb To-day he will rise.
Mary Magdalene. Oh! let us hasten at once,For the stone is raised From the tomb.Lord, how will it be this night,If I know not where goes The head of royalty?
Mary, Mother of James. And too long we have stayed, My Lord is gone his way Out of the tomb, surely. Alas! my heart is sick; I know not indeed if I shall see him, Who is very God.
Mary Salome. I know truly, and I believe it,That he is risen up In this day.How will it be to us now,That we find not our Lord? Alas! woe! woe!
[They sing.
[The Dirge.]
Alas! mourning I sing, mourning I call,Our Lord is dead that bought us all.
Mary Magdalene. Alas! it is through sorrows,My sweet Lord is dead Who was crucified.
[Mary Magdalene weeps at the tomb.
He bore, without complaining,Much pain on his dear body, For the people of the worldMary, Mother of James. I cannot see the formOf him on any side; Alas! woe is me!I would like to speak with him,If it were his will, Very seriously.
Mary Salome. There is to me sharp longingIn my heart always, And sorrow;Alas! my Lord Jesus,For thou art full of virtue, All mighty.
[The Dirge.]
Alas! mourning I sing, mourning I call,Our Lord is dead that bought us all.
Mary Magdalene. Jesus Christ, Lord of Heaven,O hear now our voice;Who believes not in thee, miserable he! He will not be saved.When I think of his Passion,There is not any joy in my heart;Alas! that I cannot at once Speak to thee.
Mary, Mother of James. Gone he is to another land,And with him many angels;Alas! now for grief I am sorrowful.I pray thee, Lord of grace,To send a messenger to us,That something we may be knowing How it is to thee.
Mary Salome. O Jesus, full of mercy,Do think of us;To thy kingdom when we come, Hear our voice.For desire I become very sick,I cannot stand on my standing,Alas! now what shall I do? O Lord of heaven!
[The Dirge.]
Alas! mourning I sing, mourning I call,Our Lord is dead, that bought us all.
1st Angel. I know whom ye seek:Jesus is not here, For he is risenTo life in very earnest,As I tell you, Like as he is worthy.
Mary Magdalene. O angel, now tell me,The body (none, equal to him), To what place is it gone?Like as his grace is great,Joy to me, with my eyes To see him yet.
2nd Angel. O Mary, go forthwith,Say to his disciples And to Peter,Like as he promised to themHe will go to Galilee, Very truly without doubt.
Mary, Mother of James. Now he is risen again indeed,Jesus our Saviour, Gone from the tomb.Worship to him always;He is Lord of heaven and earth, Head of sovereignty.
Mary Salome. Hence go we to the city,And let us say in every place As we have seen:That Jesus is risen,And from the tomb forth gone, To heaven really.
Mary Magdalene. Never to the city shall I go,If I do find not my Lord, Who was on the cross tree.O Jesus, King of grace, Joy to me once to see thee, Amen, amen.
Mary, Mother of James. Mary, be with theeAll the blessings of women, And the blessing of Jesus Son of grace;Of full heart I pray him,Joy and grace always good to do To us now, from God the Father.
Mary Magdalene. My blessing on ye also,From Christ, as he is gone to the tomb, Joy to ye to do well to-day.Lord, give me the graceOnce to see thy face, If it be thy will with thee.
Mary Salome. Amen, amen, let us seekChrist, who redeemed us in pain, With his flesh and with his blood;Much pain he suffered,For love of the people of the world, As he is the King of power.
[Here Mary, the mother of James, and Salome retire from the tomb, andsit down a little way from it.
Mary Magdalene. He who made heaven, · as he is gone to the tomb,After him · great is my desire.Christ, hear my voice, · I pray alsoThat thou be with me · at my end.
Lord Jesus, · give me the grace,As I may be worthy · to find a meeting,With thee to-day, · in some sure place,That I may have a view · and sight of thy face.
As thou art Creator · of heaven and earth,And a Redeemer · to us always,Christ my Saviour, · hear, if it regards theeDisclose to me, · what I so much desire.
Through great longing · I am quite weary,And my body also, · bones and back.Where is there to-night · any man who knowsWhere I may yet find · Christ full of sorrow.
[She goes to the garden.
[Enter the Gardener.
Gardener (Jesus). O woeful woman, · where goest thou?For grief thou prayest, · cry out thou dost.Weep not nor shriek, · he whom thou seekestThou didst dry his feet · with thy two plaits.
Mary Magdalene. Good lord, · if thou hast chanced to seeChrist my Saviour, · where is he truly?To see him · I give thee my land;Jesus, Son of grace, · hear my desire.
Gardener. O Mary, · as I know thee to beWithin this world, · one of his blood,If thou shouldst see him · before thee,Couldst thou · know him?
Mary Magdalene. Well I do, · know the formOf the son of Mary, · named Jesus;Since I see him not · in any place,I feel sorrow; · else I would not sing "alas!"
[And then Jesus shall shew his side to Mary Magdalene, and say:
Gardener. Mary, see · my five wounds,Believe me truly · to be risen;To thee I give thanks · for thy desire,Joy in the land · there shall be truly.
Mary Magdalene. O dear Lord, · who wast on the cross tree,To me it becomes not · to kiss thy head.I would pray thee · let me dareNow to kiss · once thy feet.
[Woman, touch me not!]
Gardener. O woeful woman, · touch me not near,No, it will not serve, · nor be for gain; The time is not come;Until I go · to heaven to my Father,And I will return · again to my country,-- To speak with thee.
Mary Magdalene. Christ, hear my voice, · say the hourThat thou comest from heaven · again to earth To speak with us.Thy disciples · are very sad,And the Jews · with violence always Are round about them.
Gardener. O Mary, · tell them, Truly I go · to Galilee, As I said;And besides that, · bear in memory to speakGood comfort · to Peter by me; Much he is loved.