Elsie.  Let us go back; I am afraid!

Prince Henry.  Nay, let us mount the church-steps here, Under the doorway’s sacred shadow; We can see all things, and be freer From the crowd that madly heaves and presses!

Elsie. What a gay pageant! what bright dresses!  It looks like a flower besprinkled meadow.  What is that yonder on the square?

Prince Henry A pulpit in the open air,
And a Friar, who is preaching to the crowd
With a voice so deep and clear and loud,
That, if we listen, and give heed,
His lowest words will reach the ear.

Friar Cuthbert (gesticulating and cracking a postilion’s
whip) What ho! good people! do you not hear? 
Dashing along at the top of his speed,
Booted and spurred, on his jaded steed,
A courier comes with words of cheer. 
Courier! what is the news, I pray? 
“Christ is arisen!” Whence come you?  “From court.” 
Then I do not believe it; you say it in sport.

          (Cracks his whip again.)

There comes another, riding this way;
We soon shall know what he has to say. 
Courier! what are the tidings to-day? 
“Christ is arisen!” Whence come you?  “From town.” 
Then I do not believe it; away with you, clown.

          (Cracks his whip more violently.)

And here comes a third, who is spurring amain;
What news do you bring, with your loose-hanging rein,
Your spurs wet with blood, and your bridle with foam? 
“Christ is arisen!” Whence come you?  “From Rome.” 
Ah, now I believe.  He is risen, indeed. 
Ride on with the news, at the top of your speed!

          (Great applause among the crowd.)

To come back to my text!  When the news was first spread
That Christ was arisen indeed from the dead,
Very great was the joy of the angels in heaven;
And as great the dispute as to who should carry
The tidings, thereof to the Virgin Mary,
Pierced to the heart with sorrows seven. 
Old Father Adam was first to propose,
As being the author of all our woes;
But he was refused, for fear, said they,
He would stop to eat apples on the way! 
Abel came next, but petitioned in vain,
Because he might meet with his brother Cain! 
Noah, too, was refused, lest his weakness for wine
Should delay him at every tavern sign;
And John the Baptist could not get a vote,
On account of his old fashioned, camel’s-hair coat;
And the Penitent Thief, who died on the cross,
Was reminded that all his bones were broken! 
Till at last, when each in turn had spoken,
The company being still at a loss,
The Angel, who had rolled away the stone,
Was sent to the sepulchre, all alone,
And filled with glory that gloomy prison,
And said to the Virgin, “The Lord is arisen!”

          (The Cathedral bells ring.)