by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Diverus and Lazarus
Language: English
As it fell out upon one day, Rich Diverus he made a feast; And he invited all his friends, And gentry of the best. And it fell out upon one day, Poor Lazarus he was so poor, He came and laid him down and down, Ev'n down at Diverus door. Then Lazarus laid him down and down, Ev'n down at Diverus gate; Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus, For Jesu Christ his sake. Thou are none of mine brother Lazarus, Lying begging at my gate, No meat, no drink will I give thee, For Jesus Christ his sake. Then Diverus sent his merry men all, To whip poor Lazarus away, They had not power to whip one whip, But threw their whips away. Then Diverus sent out his hungry dogs, To bite poor Lazarus away; They had not power to bite one bite, But licked his sores away. And it fell out upon one day, Poor Lazarus he sickened and died, There came two angels out of heav'n, His soul thereto to guide. Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus, And come along with me, There is a place prepared in Heav'n, For to sit upon an angel's knee. And it fell out upon one day, Rich Diverus sickened and died, There came two serpents out of hell, His soul thereto to guide. Rise up, rise up, brother Diverus, And come along with me, There is a place prepared in hell, For to sit upon a serpent's knee.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934), "Diverus and Lazarus", H. 137. [chorus] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-30
Line count: 40
Word count: 247