| |
JESUS. THE SHOWER is over. Let us play, | |
| And make some sparrows out of clay, | |
| Down by the river’s side. | |
| |
JUDAS. See, how the stream has overflowed | |
| Its banks, and o’er the meadow road | 5 |
| Is spreading far and wide! They draw water out of the river by channels, and form little pools. JESUS makes twelve sparrows of clay, and the other boys do the same. | |
| |
JESUS. Look! look how prettily I make | |
| These little sparrows by the lake | |
| Bend down their necks and drink! | |
| Now will I make them sing and soar | 10 |
| So far, they shall return no more | |
| Unto this river’s brink. | |
| |
JUDAS. That canst thou not! They are but clay, | |
| They cannot sing, nor fly away | |
| Above the meadow lands! | 15 |
| |
JESUS. Fly, fly! ye sparrows! you are free! | |
| And while you live, remember me, | |
| Who made you with my hands. Here JESUS shall clap his hands, and the sparrows shall fly away, chirruping. | |
| |
JUDAS. Thou art a sorcerer, I know; | |
| Oft has my mother told me so, | 20 |
| I will not play with thee! He strikes JESUS in the right side. | |
| |
JESUS. Ah, Judas! thou hast smote my side, | |
| And when I shall be crucified, | |
| There shall I piercèd be! Here JOSEPH shall come in and say: | |
| |
JOSEPH. Ye wicked boys! why do ye play, | 25 |
| And break the holy Sabbath day? | |
| What, think ye, will your mothers say | |
| To see you in such plight! | |
| In such a sweat and such a heat, | |
| With all that mud upon your feet! | 30 |
| There ’s not a beggar in the street | |
| Makes such a sorry sight! | |
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