Classic Poem

joseph: Take heart, the journey's ended:
I see the twinkling lights,
Where we shall be befriended
On this the night of nights.

mary: Now praise the Lord that led us
So safe into the town,
Where men will feed and bed us,
And I can lay me down.

joseph: And how then shall we praise him?
Alas, my heart is sore
That we no gifts can raise him,
We are so very poor.

mary: We have as much as any
That on the earth do live,
Although we have no penny,
We have ourselves to give.

joseph: Look yonder, wife, look yonder!
A hostelry I see,
Where travellers that wander
Will very welcome be.

mary: The house is tall and stately,
The door stands open thus;
Yet husband, I fear greatly
That inn is not for us.

joseph: God save you, gently master!
Your littlest room indeed
With plainest walls of plaster
Tonight will serve our need.

host: For lordlings and for ladies
I've lodgings and to spare;
For you and yonder maid is
No closet anywhere.

joseph: Take heart, take heart, sweet Mary,
Another inn I spy,
Whose host will not be chary
To let us easy lie.

mary: O aid me, I am ailing,
My strength is nearly gone;
I feel my limbs are failing,
And yet we must go on.

joseph: God save you, Hostess, kindly!
I pray you, house my wife,
Who bears beside me blindly
The burden of her life.

hostess: My guests are rich men's daughters,
And sons, I'd have you know!
Seek out the poorer quarters,
Where ragged people go.

joseph: Good sir, my wife's in labour,
Some corner let us keep.

host: Not I: knock up my neighbour,
And as for me, I'll sleep.

mary: In all the lighted city
Where rich men welcome win,
Will not one house for pity
Take two poor strangers in?

joseph: Good woman, I implore you,
Afford my wife a bed.

hostess: Nay, nay, I've nothing for you
Except the cattle shed.

mary: Then gladly in the manger
Our bodies we will house,
Since men tonight are stranger
Than asses are and cows.

joseph: Take heart, take heart, sweet Mary,
The cattle are our friends,
Lie down, lie down, sweet Mary,
For here our journey ends.

mary: Now praise the Lord that found me
This shelter in the town,
Where I with friends around me
May lay my burden down.