Diverus and Lazarus
DIVES AND LAZARUS—B
[_]
From memory, as sung by carol-singers at Christmas, in
Worcestershire, at Hagley and Hartlebury, 1829-39: F.S.
L., in Notes and Queries, Fourth Series, III, 76.
1
As it fell out upon one day,
Rich Diverus he made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.
2
And it fell out upon one day,
Poor Lazarus he was so poor,
He came and laid him down and down,
Evn down at Diverus' door.
3
So Lazarus laid him down and down
Even down at Diverus' door:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus,
Do bestow upon the poor.’
4
‘Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus,
Lying begging at my door:
No meat, no drink will I give thee,
Nor bestow upon the poor.’
5
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
Even down at Diverus' wall:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus,
Or surely starve I shall.
6
‘Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus,
Lying begging at my wall;
No meat, no drink will I give thee,
And therefore starve thou shall.’
7
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
Even down at Diverus' gate:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’
8
‘Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus,
Lying begging at my gate;
No meat, no drink will I give thee,
For Jesus Christ his sake.
9
Then Diverus sent out his merry men all,
To whip poor Lazarus away;
They had not power to whip one whip,
But threw their whips away.
10
Then Diverus sent out his hungry dogs,
To bite poor Lazarus away;
They had not power to bite one bite,
But licked his sores away.
11
And it fell out upon one day,
Poor Lazarus he sickened and died;
There came two angels out of heaven,
His soul thereto to guide.
12
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,
And come along with me;
There is a place prepared in heaven,
For to sit upon an angel's knee.’
13
And it fell out upon one day
Rich Diverus he sickened and died;
There came two serpents out of hell,
His soul thereto to guide.
14
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Diverus,
And come along with me;
There is a place prepared in hell,
For to sit upon a serpent's knee.’
