Dives And Lazarus

As it fell out upon one day

Rich Divès made a feast

And he invited all his friends

And gentry of the best

Then Lazarus laid him down and down

And down at Divès’ door:

"Some meat and some drink, brother, Diverus

Bestow upon the poor."

"Thou’rt none of my brothers, Lazarus

That liest begging at my door

No meat, nor drink will I give thee

Nor bestow upon the poor."

Then Divès sent to his merry men

To worry poor Lazarus away;

They’d not the power to strike one stroke

But flung their whips away

Then Lazarus laid him down and down

All under Divès’ gate:

"Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus,"

"For Jesus Christ His sake."

Thou’rt none of my brothers, Lazarus

That liest begging at my gate

No meat, no drink will I give to you

For Jesus Christ His sake

Then Divès sent out his hungry dogs

To bite him as he lay;

They hadn’t the power to bite one bite

But licked his sores away

As it fell out upon one day

Poor Lazarus sickened and died

There came two angels out of Heaven

His soul therein to guide.

"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."

As it fell out upon one day

Rich Divès sickened and died

There came two serpents out of hell

His soul therein to guide

"Rise up! rise up! brother Diverus

And come along with me

There is a place provided in hell

For wicked men like thee."

Then Divès looked up with his eyes

And saw poor Lazarus blest;

"Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus

To quench my flaming thirst."

"O, was I now but alive again

The space of one half hour!

O, that I had my peace again

Then the devil should have no power"