Saint Stephen was a clerk
In King Herodës hall,
And servèd him of bread and cloth
As every king befall.
Stephen out of kitchen came,
With boarës head on hand,
He saw a star was fair and bright
Over Bethlem stand.
He cast adown the boarës head
And went into the hall:
‘I forsake thee, King Herodës,
And thy workës all.
‘I forsake thee, King Herodës,
And thy werkës all;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Is better than we all.’
‘What aileth thee, Stephen?
What is thee befall?
Lacketh thee either meat or drink
In King Herodës hall?’
‘Lacketh me neither meat ne drink
In King Herodës hall;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Is better than we all.’
‘What aileth thee, Stephen? Art thou wode[16]
Or thou ginnest to breed?[17]
Lacketh thee either gold or he
Or any richë weed?’[18]
‘Lacketh me neither gold or fee,
Ne none richë weed;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Shall help us at our need.’
‘That is also[19] sooth, Stephen,
Also sooth, i-wis,[20]
As this capon crowë shall
That lieth here in my dish.’
That word was not so soonë said,
That word in that hall,
The capon crew, ‘Christus natus est,’
Among the lordës all.
‘Riseth up, my tormentors,
By two and also by one,
And leadeth Stephen out of this town,
And stoneth him with stone.’
Tooken they Stephen
And stoned him in the way,
And therefore is his even
On Christës own day.
[16] Mad.
[17] Become (mad).
[18] Dress.
[19] As.
[20] Certainly.