ST. STEPHEN AND HEROD
[_]
Sloane MS., 2593, fol. 22 b, British Museum.
1
Seynt Steuene was a clerk in kyng Herowdes halle,
And seruyd him of bred and cloþ, as euery kyng befalle.
2
Steuyn out of kechone cam, wyth boris hed on honde;
He saw a sterre was fayr and bryȝt ouer Bedlem stonde.
3
He kyst adoun þe boris hed and went in to þe halle:
‘I forsak þe, kyng Herowdes, and þi werkes alle.
4
‘I forsak þe, kyng Herowdes, and þi werkes alle;
Þer is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter þan we alle.’
5
‘Quat eylyt þe, Steuene? quat is þe befalle?
Lakkyt þe eyþer mete or drynk in kyng Herowdes halle?’
6
‘Lakit me neyþer mete ne drynk in kyng Herowdes halle;
Þer is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter þan we alle.’
7
Quat eylyt þe, Steuyn? art þu wod, or þu gynnyst to brede?
Lakkyt þe eyþer gold or fe, or ony ryche wede?’
8
‘Lakyt me neyþer gold ne fe, ne non ryche wede;
Þer is a chyld in Bedlem born xal helpyn vs at our nede.’
9
‘Þat is al so soþ, Steuyn, al so soþ, iwys,
As þis capoun crowe xal þat lyþ here in myn dysh.’
10
Þat word was not so sone seyd, þat word in þat halle,
Þe capoun crew Cristus natus est! among þe lordes alle.
11
Rysyt vp, myn turmentowres, be to and al be on,
And ledyt Steuyn out of þis town, and stonyt hym wyth ston!’
12
Tokyn he Steuene, and stonyd hym in the way,
And þerfore is his euyn on Crystes owyn day.
