Saint Stephen, The Clerk
by
Saint Stephen was a clerk
In King Herod’s hall,
And served him of bread and cloth
As ever king befall.
Stephen out of kitchen came
With boar’s head on hand,
He saw a star was fair and bright
Over Bethlehem stand.
He kist adown the boar’s head
And went into the hall:
“I forsake thee, King Herod,
And thy workes all.
“I forsake thee, King Herod,
And thy workes all;
There is a child in Bethlehem born
Is better than we all.”
“What aileth thee, Stephen?
What is thee befall?
Lacketh thee either meat or drink
In King Herod’s hall?”
“Lacketh me neither meat ne drink
In King Herod’s hall;
There is a child in Bethlehem born
Is better than we all.”
“What aileth thee, Stephen?
Art thou wode,[I] or thou ginnest to breed?[J]
Lacketh thee either gold or fee,
Or any rich weed?”[K]
“Lacketh me neither gold nor fee,
Ne none rich weed;
There is a child in Bethlehem born
Shall helpen us at our need.”
“That is also sooth,[L] Stephen,
Also sooth i-wis
As this capon crowe shall
That lieth here in my dish.”
That word was not so soon said,
That word in that hall,
The capon crew Christus natus est
Among the lordes all.
“Riseth up, my tormentors,
By two and all by one,
And leadeth Stephen out of this town,
And stoneth him with stone.”
Tooken they Stephen
And stoned him in the way,
And therefore is his even
On Christes own day.
FOOTNOTES:
[I] Mad.
[J] Scold.
[K] Dress.
[L] As true.