Dives and Lazarus- Bramley and Stainer; 1871
Illustration from Christmas Carols New and Old- 1871
From: Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old, Second Series (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., 1871), Carol #39
1. As it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.
2. Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives' door;
Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Bestow upon the poor.
3. Thou’rt none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my door;
Nor meat nor drink will I give to thee,
Nor bestow upon the poor.
4. Then Lazarus laid him down and down
And down at Dives' wall;
Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Or with hunger starve I shall.
5. Thou'rt none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my wall;
Nor meat nor drink will I give to thee,
But with hunger starve you shall.
6. Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives' gate;
Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
For Jesus Christ his sake.
7. Thou'rt none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my gate;
Nor meat nor drink will I give to thee,
For Jesus Christ His sake.
8. Then Dives sent out his merry men,
To whip poor Lazarus away;
They had no power to strike a stroke,
But flung their whips away.
9. Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs,
To bite him as he lay;
They had no power to bite at all,
But licked his sores away.
10. As it fell out upon a day,
Poor Lazarus sickened and died;
There came two Angels out of Heaven,
His soul therein to guide.
11. Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,
And come along with me;
There's a place in Heaven prepared for thee,
To sit upon an Angel's knee.
12, As it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives sickened and died;
There came two serpents out of Hell,
His soul therein to guide.
13. Rise up, rise up, brother Dives,
And come along with me;
There's a place in Hell prepared for thee,
To sit upon a serpent's knee.
14. Then Dives looked with burning eyes,
And saw poor Lazarus blest;
One drop of water, Lazarus,
To quench my flaming thirst!1
15. Oh I had I as many years to abide
As there are blades of grass,
Then there would be an end: but now
Hell's pains will never pass.
16. Oh! were I but alive again,
For the space of one halt hour,
I would make my peace and so secure
That the Devil should have no power!
Notes:
1. Husk gives the following for verse 14:
Then Dives, lifting his eyes to heaven,
And seeing poor Lazarus blest,
"Give me a drop of water, brother Lazarus,
To quench my flaming thirst."