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| Guide 2 Christmas > Good King Wenceslas |
Good King Wenceslas
Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, who lived in the 10th century is patron Saint of the Czech people and the Czech Republic. He is best known in the English-speaking world because of the Christmas carol named after him.
In the carol, the king goes out to give alms to a poor peasant that he saw on Saint Stephen's Day. In the journey to the peasant's dwelling, the kings' page struggles against the cold weather, but is assisted by the king who provides a miracle of warmth via the footprints that he has left in the snow.
The tune of the carol dates back to the 13th century, and the English lyrics were written by Reverend John Mason Neale in the 1850s.
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, tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight gath'ring winter fuel.
"Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know'st, 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."
"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.
"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 shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."
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,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.
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