The English and Scottish Popular Ballads :: :: University of Virginia Library

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 abide
As 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.’

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.’