Part 1 / Book 4 — 98. St. Stephen and King Herod

I Saint Stephen was a clerk In King Herod’s hall, And servèd him of bread and cloth As every king befall. II Stephen out of kitchen came With boar’s head on hand, He saw a star was fair and bright Over Bethlehem stand. III He cast adown the boar’s head And went into the hall; ‘I forsake thee, Herod, And thy workès all. IV ‘I forsake thee, King Herod, And thy workès all, There is a child in Bethlehem born Is better than we all.’— V ‘What aileth thee, Stephen? What is thee befall? Lacketh thee either meat or drink In King Herod’s hall?’— VI ‘Lacketh me neither meat ne drink In King Herod’s hall; There is a child in Bethlehem born Is better than we all.’— VII ‘What aileth thee, Stephen? Art wode[602] or ’ginnest to brede[603]? Lacketh thee either gold or fee, Or any rich weed[604]?’— VIII ‘Lacketh me neither gold ne fee Ne none rich weed; There is a child in Bethlehem born Shall helpen us at our need.’— IX ‘That is all so sooth, Stephen, All so sooth, I-wys, As this capon crowè shall That li’th here in my dish.’ X That word was not so soon said, That word in that hall, The capon crew Christus natus est Among the lordès all. XI ‘Risit[605] up, my tormentors, By two and all by one, And leadit Stephen out of this town, And stonit him with stone.’ XII Tooken they Stephen And stoned him in the way; And therefore is his even On Christe’s own day.