As Joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing:—
‘This night shall be born
Our heavenly King;
‘He neither shall be born
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox’s stall;
‘He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall,
But all in fair linen
As were babies all.
‘He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold,
But in a wooden cradle
That rocks on the mould.
‘He neither shall be christened
In white wine or red,
But with fair spring water
With which we were christened.’