Good King Wenceslas (Traditional)

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See also the Christmas Songbook

• CPDL #7046:

Editor: Edward L. Stauff (added 2004-05-20).   Score information: Letter, 1 page   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

• CPDL #1700: GIF and MIDI files available.

Editor: Christopher R. Baker - Online Christmas Songbook (added 2000-11-27).   Copyright: other

Edition notes: arr. John Stainer

• CPDL #624:

Editor: Rafael Ornes (added 1999-12-07).   Score information: 16 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: arr. John Stainer

General Information

Title: Good King Wenceslas
Composer: Traditional

Number of voices: 4vv  Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carols
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published:

Description:

External websites:

• See the Wikipedia article

• CyberHymnal entry for Good King Wenceslas:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/o/goodking.htm

Original text and translations

English text

1.

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, gathering winter fuel.

2.

"Hither, page, and stand by me, if you know 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."

3.

"Bring me food and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither,
You and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together,
Through the cold winds' wild lament and the bitter weather.

4.

"Sire, the night is darker now, ant the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good poage, tread now in tehm boldly,
You shall find teh winter's rage freeze your blood less coldly."

5.

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,
You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing.

John M. Neale (1818-1866)