- Mary: God will us guide, full well wit ye; / Therefore, Joseph, be of good cheer. /For in this place born will he be / That shall save us from sorrows here /Both even and morn. /Sir, wit ye well the time is near/ He shall be born.
- Joseph: Then had we better bide here still,/ Here in this same place all this night.
- Angel: [to Mary] In chastity thy body / Conceive and bear a child you shall;/ This salutation bring I thee./ His name Gesu shall you call.
- Third Shepherd: Yea, forsooth this is the place. /Lo, where that lord is laid /Low in a manger of no grace, /Right as the angel said.
- Narrator: [opening lines] O troubled people in a world of war,/ Be silent yet a little in this place./ For here are mysteries too great to know,/ And yet a peace that passes all desire.
- Angel: Now, Joseph, hearken unto me. /Gabriel am I, God's angel bright; /And I am sent to bid thee flee /With Mary and her precious wight. /For Herod the king will do to death /All boy children that now have breath /In every place /Of all your race /That two years tell./ Till Herod die, I say, /In Egypt shall ye dwell. /Till I bid you away.