 Anglická koleda
<Label:John Mason Neale, 1853.>
<Label:Tune adapted from a 13th century Tempus Adest Floridum, 1582.>
(1) [G]Good King Wenceslas looked out
[C]on the [D7]Feast of [G]Stephen*,
when the snow lay round about,
[C]deep and [D7]crisp and [G]even.
Brightly shown the [Emi]moon that night,
[C]though the [D7]frost was [G]cruel,
when a poor man [Emi]came in sight,
[C]gathering [D7]winter [G]fu[C]-[G]el.
<Picture:Good King Wenceslas.png>
(2) “Hither, page, and stand by me.
If thou 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 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.

(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 step he trod,
where the snow lay dented.
Heat was in the very sod
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, righteous men, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
ye who now will bless the poor,
shall yourselves find blessing!
