The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
226. |
227. |
228. |
229. |
230. |
231. |
232. |
233. |
234. |
235. |
236. |
237. |
238. |
239. |
240. |
241. |
242. |
243. |
244. |
245. |
246. |
247. |
248. |
249. |
250. |
251. |
252. |
253. |
254. |
255. |
256. |
257. |
258. |
259. |
260. |
261. |
262. |
263. |
264. |
265. |
IX. |
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
11
Dives and Lazarus
DIVES AND LAZARUS—A
[_]
a. Sylvester, A Garland of Christmas Carols, p. 50, from an old Birmingham broadside. b. Husk, Songs of the Nativity, p. 94, from a Worcestershire broadside of the last century.
1
As it fell out upon a day,Rich Dives he made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.
2
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives' door:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Bestow upon the poor.’
3
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my door;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
Nor bestow upon the poor.’
4
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives's wall:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Or with hunger starve I shall.’
5
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my wall;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
But with hunger starve you shall.’
6
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives's gate:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’
7
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my gate;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’
8
Then Dives sent out his merry men,To whip poor Lazarus away;
They had no power to strike a stroke,
But flung their whips away.
9
Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs,To bite him as he lay;
They had no power to bite at all,
But licked his sores away.
10
As it fell out upon a day,Poor Lazarus sickened and died;
Then came two angels out of heaven
His soul therein to guide.
11
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,And go along with me;
For you've a place prepared in heaven,
To sit on an angel's knee.’
12
As it fell out upon a day,Rich Dives sickened and died;
Then came two serpents out of hell,
His soul therein to guide.
13
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives,And go with us to see
A dismal place, prepared in hell,
From which thou canst not flee.’
14
Then Dives looked up with his eyes,And saw poor Lazarus blest:
‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus,
To quench my flaming thirst.
15
‘Oh had I as many years to abideAs there are blades of grass,
Then there would be an end, but now
Hell's pains will ne'er be past.
16
‘Oh was I now but alive again,The space of one half hour!
Oh that I had my peace secure!
Then the devil should have no power.’
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||