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As it fell out upon one day,
rich Dives made a feast,
and he invited all his friends
and gentry of the best.
Then poor Laz’rus laid him down and down,
and down at Dives’ door,
“Some meat and drink, brother Diverus,
bestow upon the poor.”
“Thou art none of my brothers Lazarus,
that liest begging at my door,
no meat, nor drink will I give thee,
nor bestow upon the poor.”
Then Laz’rus laid him down and down,
all under Dives’ wall,
“Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus,
for hunger starve I shall.”
“Thou art none of my brothers, O Lazarus,
that liest begging at my wall,
no meat, nor drink will I give thee,
for hunger starve you shall.”
Then Laz’rus laid him down and down,
and down at Dives’ gate,
“Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus,
for Jesus Christ his sake.”
Then Dives sent for his hungry dogs
to bite him where he lay!
They had not the power to bite one bite,
but whimpered and ran away.
Then Dives sent for his merry men to worry,
and whip poor Laz’rus away.
They had not the power to strike one stroke,
but flung their whips away.
As it fell out upon one day,
poor Laz’rus sickened and died.
There came two angels out of heaven,
his soul therein to guide.
“Rise up! Rise up! brother Lazarus,
and come along with me;
for you have a place prepared in heaven
to sit on an angels knee.”
As it fell out upon one day,
rich Dives sickened and died,
There came two serpents out of hell,
his soul therein to guide.
“Rise up, rise up, brother Diverus,
and come along with me,
for you’ve a place prepared in hell
to sit on a serpent’s knee.”
Then Dives looked up with his eyes
and saw poor Lazarus blessed,
“Give me one drop of water brother Lazarus,
to quench my flaming thirst.
O, was I now alive again
the space of one half hour.
O, that I had my peace again
then the devil should have no power.”
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