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
though the frost was cruel
when a poor man came in sight
gathring winter fuel
"hither, page, and stand by me,
if thou knowst 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."
"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, my good page
tread thou in them boldly
thou shall find the winters rage
freeze thy blood less coldly."
in his masters step 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
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
though the frost was cruel
when a poor man came in sight
gathring winter fuel