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"