Water: Lo, how the utmost deeps are clarified! The Spirits Terrene: What might is this more potent than the spring? Lo, how the night Which wrapped us round with its most heavy cloths Opens and breathes with some strange-fashioned brighness! IN HEAVEN Christ, the eternal Spirit in Heaven speaketh thus, over the child of Mary: O star, move forth and write upon the skies, "This child is born in ways miraculous." * * * * * O windy spirits, that are born in Heaven, Go down and bid the powers of Earth and Air Protect his ways until the Time shall come. * * * * * O Mother, if the dark of things to be Wrap round thy heart with cloudy apprehensions, Eat of thy present corn, the aftermath Hath its appointed end in whirling light. Eat of thy present corn, thou so hast share In mightier portents than Augustus hath. * * * * * In every moment all to be is born, Thou art the moment and need'st fear no scorn. Echo of the Angels singing "Exultasti": Silence is born of many peaceful things, Thus is the starlight woven into strings Whereon the Powers of peace make sweet accord. Rejoice, O Earth, thy Lord Hath chosen Him his holy resting-place. Lo, how the winged sign Flutters above that hallowed chrysalis. IN THE AIR The invisible Spirit of the Star answers them: Bend in your singing, gracious potencies, Bend low above your ivory bows and gold! That which ye know but dimly hath been wrought High in the luminous courts and azure ways: Bend in your praise; For though your subtle thought Sees but in part the source of mysteries, Yet are ye bidden in your songs, sing this: "Gloria! gloria in excelsis Pax in terra nunc natast." Angels continuing in song: Shepherds and kings, with lambs and frankincense Go and atone for mankind's ignorance: Make ye soft savour from your ruddy myrrh. Lo, how God's son is turned God's almoner. Give ye this little Ere he give ye all. ON EARTH One of the Magi: How the deep-voicèd night turns councillor! And how, for end, our starry meditations Admit us to his board! A Shepherd: Sir, we be humble and perceive ye are Men of great power and authority, And yet we too have heard. DIANA IN EPHESUS (Lucina dolentibus:) "Behold the deed! Behold the act supreme! With mine own hands have I prepared my doom, Truth shall grow great eclipsing other truth, And men forget me in the aging years." Explicit. MAESTRO DI TOCAR (W.R.) You, who are touched not by our mortal ways Nor girded with the stricture of our bands, Have but to loose the magic from your hands And all men's hearts that glimmer for a day, And all our loves that are so swift to flame Rise in that space of sound and melt away. ARIA My love is a deep flame that hides beneath the waters. —My love is gay and kind, My love is hard to find as the flame beneath the