Good King Wenceslas by Dawson Cowals

Born Is the King by Dawson Cowals

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Good King Wenceslas
by Dawson Cowals

Album: Born Is the King

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 knowest 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:
You 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.

For I was hungry, and I was thirsty
And you came and brought me food and drink.
For when you did this for a stranger
Surely, you did this for me.

"Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails me heart, I know not how;
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, good my 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.

When did we see you hungry, Lord?
When did we see you thirsty, Lord?
It's when you did this for the least of these

Chorus added from Matthew 25:35,40.