Francis James Child

“ For Jesus Christ his sake.'
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.
Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs,
To bite him as he lay ”

“ A
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a. Sylvester, A Garland of Christmas Carols, p. 50, from an old Birmingham broadside. b. Husk, Songs of the Nativity, p. 94, from a Worcestershire broadside of the last century.
AS it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives he made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives' door:
'Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Bestow upon the poor.'
'Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my door ”

“ Oh that I had my peace secure!
Then the devil should have no power.'
=
B
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From memory, as sung by carol-singers at Christmas, in Worcestershire, at Hagley and Hartlebury, F. S. L., in Notes and Queries, Fourth Series, III, 76. ”