Good King Wenceslas Christmas carol lyrics

A lovely poetic carol that extols the goodness of sharing food and warmth with someone less fortunate even when one could simply look away.

Good King Wenceslas look’d 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.

“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.”

“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,

Bring me pine logs hither;

Thou and I will see him dine,

When we bear them thither.”

Page and monarch forth they went,

Forth they went together;

Through the rude wind’s wild lament,

And the bitter weather.

“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 bloodless coldly.”

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,

Ye who now will bless the poor,

Shall yourselves find blessing.