The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | III. |
| 54. |
| 55. |
| 56. |
Dives and Lazarus
|
| 57. |
| 58. |
| 59. |
| 60. |
| 61. |
| 62. |
| 63. |
| 64. |
| 65. |
| 66. |
| 67. |
| 68. |
| 69. |
| 70. |
| 71. |
| 72. |
| 73. |
| 74. |
| 75. |
| 76. |
| 77. |
| 78. |
| 79. |
| 80. |
| 81. |
| 82. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| 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 | |