This is pretty much how I thought.

Now I’m nearly bewildered by their

dreamy talk, like I had indulged

in a heady drink. Still, I trust

in God.

Mary:

in God. Which is for the best too.

I’m pleased by how upright you are,

humble and good, as it should be.

One of the Kings:

Let us kneel before the child

and lay our gifts before him here

at his feet.

The Kings kneel.

Joseph:

at his feet. Worthy gentlemen,

aren’t you being a bit too polite?

Don’t you think you’re being much too nice

to me and my wife, to such plain

and simple people as we are?

First King:

It’s for showing this devotion,

and for this joyous arrival.

If anything, it’s just the way

we decorate things. Such objects,

as precious as they may seem to you,

we have all over the place. So

don’t tell us how grateful you are.

You’ve given us more, for we will

bring this joy back to our homeland,

for we have seen the Messiah,

the Lord, in whom many people

will one day have faith and build him

a temple. However, he will

not be so fortunate himself

as one might think.

Mary:

as one would think. What do you mean?

Second King:

A smart man says nothing at all,

not what he knows nor not what he

thinks he might know.

First King:

thinks he might know. You’re right.

e might know. You’re right(To Mary) I meant

only that your son, so great in love,

could be like in suffering, nothing

that might give you cause to worry.

Mary:

Even as you give me joy, now you

give me a heavy heart.

Third King:

give me a heavy heart. It’s nothing.

He talks a bit too much.

He talks (To his colleague) Better

if you could keep it to yourself.

Mary:

Suffering? Am I beginning

to see what fate lies in store for my son?

You look at me as though you cared

for me, as though concerned, but what

you’re telling me doesn’t sound pleasant.

Joseph:

Peace and love and faith as well, go

above all else.

Mary:

above all else. Of course, you good

man.

Joseph:

man. While it seems a trifle gloomy,

things will soon be cheerful once more.

We don’t want to let our hearts get

any sadder. After all, God has

given this child to you, thus will

He lead it by the hand as well

through this unforeseeable life.

Old Man:

How serious everything is.

Jester:

Shall we be off?

Vagabond:

Shall we be off? Someone surely

should make a start. Joy and sorrow,

greatness and baseness, are ever

cheek by jowl; this bit of wisdom

comes from a good-for-nothing’s head.

Joseph:

Good night!

Soldier:

Good night! I’ll be off too. Good night!

Third King:

We’ll be wanting to go to our inn.