"Stephen and Herod", slight rewrite of original
One day late for Saint Stephen's Day, a slightly rewritten ballad. Now to find a good tune and learn it by heart--there aren't many people singing this one, even among ballad buffs.
Saint Stephen was a clerk once
In King Herod's hall,
He served him best at bread and cloth
As ever did befall.
Stephen from the kitchen came
With boar's head in his hand;
He saw a star, was fair and bright,
Over Bethlem stand.
He cast down the boar's head
And went into the hall:
"I forsake thee, King Herod,
And thy works all.
"I forsake thee, King Herod,
And thy works all;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Is better than we all."
"What aileth thee, Stephen,
What did thee befall?
Lacked you ever meat or drink
In King Herod's hall?"
"Lacked I never meat or drink
In King Herod's hall;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Is better than we all."
"What aileth thee, Stephen?
Art thou going mad?
Lacked you ever gold or fee
Or riches to be had?"
"Lacked I never gold or fee
Or riches and gain;
There is a child in Bethlem born
Shall save us from our pain."
"This is all as true, Stephen,
All as true, I vow,
As this roasted cock shall crow
That's set before me now."
When those words were spoken,
And heard in the hall,
The cock crew, Christus natus est,
Among the lords all.
"Rise up, my tormentors,
By two and by one,
And lead this Stephen out of town,
And stone him with stone!"
Forth they took Stephen,
And stoned him in the way,
And therefore is his even
On Christ his own day.
Original version and notes are here.