Seynt Stevene was a clerk in Kyng Herowd{.e}s halle, <br />And servyd him of bred and cloth, as every kyng befalle. <br /> <br />Stevyn out of kechone cam, wyth boris hed on honde; <br />He saw a sterre was fayr and bryght over Bedlem stonde. <br /> <br />He kyst adoun the boris hed and went in to the halle: <br />'I forsak the, Kyng Herowd{.e}s, and thi werkes all{.e}.' <br /> <br />'I forsak the, Kyng Herowd{.e}s, and thi werkes alle; <br />Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter than we alle.' <br /> <br />'Quat eylyt the, Stevene? quat is the befall{.e}? <br />Lakkyt the eyther mete or drynk in Kyng Herowdes halle?' <br /> <br />'Lakit me neyther mete ne drynk in Kyng Herowd{.e}s halle; <br />Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter than we alle.' <br /> <br />'Quat eylyt the, Stevyn? Art thu wod, or thu gynnyst to brede? <br />Lakkyt the eyther gold or fe, or ony ryche wed{.e}?' <br /> <br />'Lakyt me neyther gold ne fe, ne non rych{.e} wed{.e}; <br />Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born xal helpyn us at our nede.' <br /> <br />'That is al so soth, Stevyn, al so soth, iwys. <br />As this capoun crowe xal that lyth here in myn dysh.' <br /> <br />That word was not so son{.e} seyd, that word in that halle, <br />The capoun crew Cristus natus est! among the lord{.e}s all{.e}. <br /> <br />'Rysyt up, myn turmentowres, be to and al be on, <br />And ledyt Stevyn out of this toun, and stonyt hym wyth ston!' <br /> <br />Tokyn he Stevene, and stonyd hym in the way, <br />And therfore is his evyn on Cryst{.e}s owyn day.<br /><br />Anonymous Americas<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/st-stephen-and-herod/
