The Cyber Hymnal ‎#1968

1968. Good King Wenceslas

1. Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.

2. Hither, page, and stand by me, if you know 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 food and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither,
You and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together,
Through the cold wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.

4. Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread now in them boldly,
You shall find the winter’s rage freeze your 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 or rank possessing,
You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing.

Text Information

• First Line: Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen
• Title: Good King Wenceslas
• Author: John Mason Neale, 1818-1866 (1853)
• Language: English
• Source: Carols for Christmas-Tide, 1853, by Neale & Thomas Helmore
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Neale may have written the hymn some time earlier: he related the story on which it is based in Deeds of Faith (1849). The historical Wenceslas was Duke of Bohemia.

Tune Information

• Name: TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM
• Composer: Anonymous (13th Century)
• Incipit: 11121 15656 71111
• Key: G Major
• Source: 13th Century spring carol; Swedish Piae Cantiones, 1582
• Copyright: Public Domain