107. The Three Kings. Quiller-Couch, Arthur, ed. 1910. The Oxford Book of Ballads

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Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.

107. The Three Kings

NOW is Christëmas y-come,

Father and Son together in one,

Holy Ghost us be on

In fere-a;

God send us a good New Year-a!

I would you sing, for and I might,

Of a Child is fair in sight;

His mother him bare this endris night

So still-a,

And as it was his will-a.

III

There came three Kings from Galilee

Into Bethlehem, that fair citie,

To seek to Him that e’er should be

By right-a

Lord and king and knight-a.

As they came forth with their off’ ring,

They met with Herod that moody king;

He askéd them of their coming

This tide-a,

And this to them he said-a.

‘Of whence be ye, you Kingés three?’—

‘Of the East, as you may see,

To seek to Him that should ever be

By right-a

Lord and king and knight-a.’—

‘When you at this Child have been,

Come you home this way again;

Tell me the sight that you have seen;

I pray-a,

Go you none other way-a.’

VII

They took their leave both old and ying

Then of Herod that moody king;

They went forth with their offering

By light-a

Of the star that shone so bright-a.

VIII

Till they came into the place

Where Jesu and his mother was;

Offer’d they up with great solace

In fere-a

Gold, incense and myrrh-a.

When they had their offering made

As the Holy Ghost them bade,

Then they were both merry and glad

And light-a;

It was a good fair sight-a.

Anon, as on their way they went,

The Father of heaven an angel sent

To these three kings that made present

This tide-a,

And this to them he said-a:—

‘My Lord hath warn’d you every one

By Herod king you go not home,

For an you do he will you slone

And ’stroy-a,

And hurt you wonderly-a.’

XII

So forth they went another way

Through the might of God his lay,

As the angel to them did say,

Full right-a;

It was a good fair sight-a.

XIII

When they came home to their countrie,

Glad and blithe they were all three

Of the sight that they had see;

By dene-a

The company was clean-a.

XIV

Kneel we now here a-down;

Pray we in good devotion

To the King of great renown,

Of grace-a

In heaven to have a place-a.

GLOSS: In fere] in company. endris] last. ying] young. slone] slay. lay] law. By dene] at once, or all together.

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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