Here's the lyrics, for those who care:
Perhaps it tells the story of a Tarsh tribal king who, despite his fierce and brutal ways learned, through the light of the Moon, to cherish and tend the poor and helpless (all for the love of Teelo Norri, of course). It describes a fairly simple and straight-forward heroquest (although freezing to death or attacks by wild beasts are not out of the question), granting the performed some sort of Keep Warm feat. And, of course, poor people in the area get fed, which makes pretty much everyone happy....
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,
Tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gath'ring winter fuel.
"Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou know'st 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:
Thou and I will see him dine,
When we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went,
Forth they went together;
Thro' the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.
"Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my 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.
Peter Larsen
Engineering and Physical Sciences Librarian
University of Rhode Island Library
15 Lippitt Rd
Kingston, RI 02881-0803
phone: (401) 874-4637
fax: (401) 874-5403
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