Part 1 / Book 4 — 109. Dives and Lazarus

I As it fell out upon a day, Rich Dives he made a feast, And he invited all his friends And gentry of the best. II Then Lazarus laid him down and down, And down at Dives’ door; ‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives, Bestow upon the poor!’— III ‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus, That lies begging at my door; No meat nor drink will I give thee, Nor bestow upon the poor.’ IV Then Lazarus laid him down and down. And down at Dives’ wall, ‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives, Or with hunger starve I shall!’— V ‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus, That lies begging at my wall; No meat nor drink will I give thee, But with hunger starve you shall.’ VI Then Lazarus laid him down and down, And down at Dives’ gate: ‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives, For Jesus Christ his sake!’— VII ‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus, That lies begging at my gate; No meat nor drink will I give thee, For Jesus Christ his sake.’ VIII Then Dives sent out his merry men, To whip poor Lazarus away; They had no power to strike a stroke, But flung their whips away. IX Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs, To bite him as he lay; They had no power to bite at all, But lickèd his sores away. X As it fell out upon a day, Poor Lazarus sicken’d and died; Then came two angels out of heaven His soul therein to guide. XI ‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus, And go along with me; For you’ve a place prepared in heaven, To sit on an angel’s knee.’ XII As it fell out upon a day, Rich Dives sicken’d and died; Then came two serpents out of hell, His soul therein to guide. XIII ‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives, And go with us to see A dismal place, prepared in hell, To sit on a serpent’s knee.’ XIV Then Dives look’d up with his eyes, And saw poor Lazarus blest: ‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus, To quench my flaming thirst. XV ‘Oh had I as many years to abide As there are blades of grass, Then there would be an end, but now Hell’s pains will ne’er be past! XVI ‘Oh was I now but alive again, The space of one half hour! Oh that I had my peace secure! Then the devil should have no power.’