The Stork: A Christmas Ballad
[THIS ballad, written probably in the middle or latter years of the sixteenth century, was found by a reader of the Atlantic, Mrs. Mabel C. De Vona, in an old house on the edge of the Yorkshire wolds, written on the fly-leaf of an early edition of the first prayer-book of King Edward VI, published in 1549. On the reverse of the fly-leaf were several notations referring to the death and marriage of members of the family. The page was unfortunately in a mutilated condition, and in several places, particularly the closing lines of the fourth and last stanzas, it was necessary to supply several of the words. Diligent inquiry has given us some confidence that the ballad is here given in print for the first time. — THE EDITORS.]
THE storke shee rose on Christmas eue
And sayed unto her broode,
I nowe muste fare to Bethleem,
To vieue the Sonne of God.
And sayed unto her broode,
I nowe muste fare to Bethleem,
To vieue the Sonne of God.
Shee gaue to eche his dole of mete,
Shee stowed them fayrlie in,
And farre shee flew and faste shee flew,
And came to Bethleem.
Shee stowed them fayrlie in,
And farre shee flew and faste shee flew,
And came to Bethleem.
Now where is he of Dauid’s lynne?
Shee askd at house and halle.
He is not here, they spake hardlye,
But in the Maungier stalle.
Shee askd at house and halle.
He is not here, they spake hardlye,
But in the Maungier stalle.
Shee found hym in the Maungier stalle,
With that most Holye Mayde;
The gentyle storke shee wept to see
The Lord so rudelye layde.
With that most Holye Mayde;
The gentyle storke shee wept to see
The Lord so rudelye layde.
Then from her pauntynge brest shee pluckd
The fethers whyte and warm; Shee strawed them in the Maungier bed
To kepe the Lorde from harm.
The fethers whyte and warm; Shee strawed them in the Maungier bed
To kepe the Lorde from harm.
Now blessed bee the gentil storke
Forevermore, quothe Hee,
For that shee saw my sadde estate
And showèd suche Pytye.
Forevermore, quothe Hee,
For that shee saw my sadde estate
And showèd suche Pytye.
Full welkum shal shee ever bee
In hamlet and in halle,
And hight henceforthe the Blessed Byrd
And friend of babyes alle.
In hamlet and in halle,
And hight henceforthe the Blessed Byrd
And friend of babyes alle.