As it fell out one May morning,
and upon a bright holiday,
Sweet Jesus asked of his dear mother
To play, to play, sweet Jesus shall go,
and to play now get you gone,
Sweet Jesus went down to yonder town,
And there did see as fine children
He said, God bless you, everyone,
and your bodies, Christ, save and see.
And now, little children, I'll play with you,
and you shall play with me.
But they made answer to him,
No, thou art meaner than us all.
Thou 'rt but a simple fair maid's child,
Sweet Jesus turned him round about,
Nor laughed, nor smiled, nor spoke,
But the tears came trickling from his eyes,
Like waters from the rock.
Sweet Jesus turned him round about,
to his mother's home went he,
and said, I have been in yonder town,
I said, God bless you, every one,
and your bodies, Christ, save and see,
And now, little children, I'll play with you,
and you shall play with me.
But they made answer to me,
no, they were lords and ladies' sons,
And I the meanest of them all,
Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder town,
And take away those sinful souls,
And dip them deep in hell.
Nay, nay, sweet Jesus smiled and said,
Nay, nay, that may not be,
For there are too many sinful souls
Cryin' out for the help of me.
Then up spoke the angel Gabriel
Upon a good -said steven,
Although you were but a maiden's child,
You are the King of heaven.
5.0
