Edited by Francis James Child - Dives and Lazarus lyrics

As it fell out upon a day, Rich Dives he made a feast, And he invited all his friends, And gentry of the best. Then Lazarus laid him down and down, And down at Dives' door: ‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives, Bestow upon the poor.' ‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus, That lies begging at my door; No meat nor drink will I give thee, Nor bestow upon the poor.' Then Lazarus laid him down and down, And down at Dive's wall: ‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives, Or with hunger starve I shall.' ‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus, That lies begging at my wall; No meat nor drink will I give thee, But with hunger starve you shall.' Then Lazarus laid him down and down, And down at Dive's gate: ‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives, For Jesus Christ sake.' ‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus, That lies begging at my gate; No meat nor drink will I give thee, For Jesus Christ his sake.' 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. 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. As it fell out upon a day, Poor Lazarus sickened and died; Then 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 a day, Rich Dives sickened and died; Then came two serpents out of hell, His soul therein to guide. ‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives, And go with us to see A dismal place, prepared in hell, From which thou canst not flee.' Then Dives looked up with his eyes, And saw poor Lazarus blest: ‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus, To quench my flaming thirst. ‘Oh had I as many years to abide As there are blades of gra**, Then there would be an end, but now Hell's pains will ne'er be past. Oh was I now but alive again, The space of one half hour! Oh that I had my peace secure! Then the devil should have no power.'