Good King Wenceslas!
Although John Mason Neale wrote teh words to Good King Wenceslas and published them in 1853, the music originates 300 years earlier in Finland.
Unusually for a Christmas Carol, it is one of the few that makes no reference to the Nativity. It is the story of a 10th -Century Bohemian King, Wenceslas, who was a Catholic devotee and was martyred after being assinated by his brother Boleslaw and his supporters. Although Saint Wenceslas' Saint's Day is September 28th (he is the Patron Saint of the Czech Republic) the song mentions the feast of St. Stephen, which is celebrated on December 26th. Thus the song has been associated with Christmas and is sung as a (rahter unusual) Christmas carol.
Good King Wenceslas! - Lyrics
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
"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 him 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 blood less 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
>>> Next carol: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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