Good King Wenceslas
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1. Good Kind Wenceslas looked out
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On the feast of Stephen
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When the snow lay round about
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Cold and crisp and even
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Brightly shown the moon that night
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Though the frost was cruel
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When a poor man came insight
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Gathering winter fuel.
2. “Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know’st it telling?
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
3. “Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we fetch the thither.”
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind’s wild lament
And the bitter weather
4. “Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind grows colder.
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer.”
“Mar my footsteps good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”
5. In his master’s steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted.
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth and rank possessing
Ye who now will help the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.