Divers and Lazarus

As it fell out upon one day rich Divers made a feast
And he invited all his friends and gentry of the best
The Lazarus laid him down and down and down at Divers door
"Some meat, some drink, brother Divers, to bestow upon the poor"

"Thou are non of my brothers, 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 Divers' gate
"Some meat, some drink, brother Divers, for Jesus Christ's sake"

"Thou art none of my brothers, Lazarus, that lies begging at my gate
No meat nor drink will I give thee for Jesus Christ's sake"
The Divers sent out out two merry men to whip poor Lazarus away
They had no power to strike at all but threw their whips away

"Thou art none of my brothers, Lazarus, That lies begging at my wall
No meat nor drink will I give thee, but with hunger, starve you shall"
Then Divers sent out two hungry dogs to bite him as he lay
They had no power to bite at all, but licked his sores away

As it fell our upon one day, poor Lazarus sickened and died
There came two angels out of Heaven, his soul therein to guide
"Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus, and come along with me
For there's a place prepared in Heaven to sit on an angel's knee"

As it fell out upon one day, rich Divers sickened and died
There came two serpents out of hell, his soul therein to guide
"Rise up, rise up, brother Divers, and come along with me
For there's a place prepared in Hell, from which thou canst not flee"

Then Divers looked up with his eyes and saw poor Lazarus blessed
"Give me one drop of water," he said, "To quench my flaming thirst
Had I as many years to live, as there are blades of grass
Then I would find some peace secure, and the devil would have no part."

Child #56
play.exe STARDOWN
recorded by Roberts and Barrand on Nowell Sing We Clear
SOF