After that there came King Herod,
With his train so furiously,
Inquiring of the husbandman,
Whether Jesus passed by.
Why, the truth it must be spoke,
And the truth it must be known,
For Jesus passéd by this way
When my seed was sown.
But now I have it reapen,
And some laid on my wain,
Ready to fetch and carry
Into my barn again.
Turn back, says the captain,
Your labor and mine's in vain,
It's full three-quarters of a year
Since he his seed sown.
So Herod was deceivéd
By the work of God's own hand,
And further he proceeded
Into the Holy Land.
There's thousands of children young,
Which for His sake did die;
Do not forbid those little ones,
And do not them deny.
The truth now I have spoken,
And the truth now I have shown,
Even the blessed Virgin,
She's now brought forth a Son.
FOOTNOTES:
[M] Run.
[N] Crow.