| Good King Wenceslaus looked out on the feast of Stephen,
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| When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
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| Brightly shown the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,
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| When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.
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| Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know it telling:
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| Yonder peasant, who is he? |
| Where and what his dwelling?
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| Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,
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| Right against the forest fence by Saint Agnes fountain.
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| Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither.
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| Thou and I will see him dine when we bear the thither.
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| Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together
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| Through the rude wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.
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| Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger.
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| Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer.
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| Mark my footsteps my good page, tread thou in them boldly:
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| Thou shalt find the winter’s rage freeze thy blood less coldly.
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| In his master’s step he trod, where the snow lay dented.
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| Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
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| Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing
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| Ye who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing. |