DIVES AND LAZARUS
1.
As it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives he made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.
2.
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives’ door:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Bestow upon the poor.’
3.
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my door;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
Nor bestow upon the poor.’
4.
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives’ wall:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Or with hunger starve I shall.’
5.
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my wall;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
But with hunger starve you shall.’
6.
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives’ gate:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’
7.
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my gate;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’
8.
Then Dives sent out his merry men,
To whip poor Lazarus away;
They had no power to strike a stroke,
But flung their whips away.
9.
Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs.
To bite him as he lay;
They had no power to bite at all,
But licked his sores away.
10.
As it fell out upon a day,
Poor Lazarus sickened and died;
There came two angels out of heaven.
His soul therein to guide.
11.
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,
And go along with me;
For you’ve a place prepared in heaven,
To sit on an angel’s knee.’
12.
As it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives sickened and died;
There came two serpents out of hell,
His soul therein to guide.
13.
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives,
And go with us to see
A dismal place prepared in hell,
From which thou canst not flee.’
14.
Then Dives looked up with his eyes.
And saw poor Lazarus blest:
‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus,
To quench my flaming thirst.
15.
‘Oh! had I as many years to abide,
As there are blades of grass,
Then there would be an end, but now
Hell’s pains will ne’er be past.
16.
‘Oh! was I now but alive again,
The space of an half hour:
Oh! that I’d made my peace secure,
Then the devil should have no power.’