Worship in Song ‎#323

323. Good King Wenseslas

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,
Gath’ring winter fuel.

2 “Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou knows 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,
Bbring me pinelogs 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 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 or rank posessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

Text Information

• First Line: Good King Wenceslas looked out
• Title: Good King Wenseslas
• Author: John M. Neale
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: Blessing (blessedness); Care for one another; Children; Christmas; Sharing; Story

Tune Information

• Name: TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDU
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
• Key: A Major
• Source: Piae Cantiones 1582