1 Give ear, give ear, good Christian men!
The lay is worth a hearing:
We tell how grief hath ended woe,
And fear hath finished fearing:
And pain that lasted for a day
Hath brought eternal cheering!
2 Was ever battle won like this—
Where He that lost was gaining:
And He that fell was triumphing,
And He that died was reigning:
And He that held the reed of scorn,
A scepter was obtaining?
3 The winner then had such a foil
As crushed him down for ever:
The wise was taken in his craft,
The strong in his endeavor:
And He, the slain, was victor still,
And he that slew Him, never!
4 Give ear, give ear, good Christian men!
The riddle is expounded:
From north to south, from east to west,
Its meaning shall be sounded:
On Easter Day was fought the fight,
Whereon the crown is founded!