Good King Wenceslaus Lyrics

(anglická koleda)

1. Good King Wenceslaus look'd out
on the feast of Stephen.
When the snow came round about,
deep and crisp and even:
Brightly shone the moon that night
though the frost was cruel,
when a poor man came in sight,
gath'ring winter fuel.

2. "Hither, Page, and stand by me,
if thou know'st it telling,
yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
underneath the mountain,
right against the forest fence,
by Saint Agnes fountain."
(Rap: Jo, v týhle naší story
de vo jednu věc,
že starej dobrej Venca
nebyl žádnej pitomec.
Ten hned jak viděl maníka,
co v lese dříví sbíral,
tak řek si, vole,
todle není žádnej medvěd mýval.
To je svatej muž!
A na to vemte jed,
že já ty jeho kroky budu následovat hned,
protože jen ten,
kdo chce aspoň trochu poznat,
co je spasení,
musí chudý následovat -
tohleto Bůh vocení!)
3. In his master's steps he trod,
where the snow lay dinted,
heat was in the very sod,
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
for ye who now will bless the poor,
shall yourselves find blessing.