Der gute König Wenzel....

"Good King Wencelas looked out
on the Feast of Stephen.
When the snow lay 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
Gathering winter fuel.


          

Hither, page, and stand by me
If thy knows his telling:
Yonder peasant who is he,
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire he lives a good league hence
Underneath a mountain
Right against the forest fence
By St. Agnes´ fountain.

Bring me meat and bring me wine,
Bring me pine logs hither,
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither.
Page and monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament
And the bitter weather.

Sire the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer!
Mark my footsteps, my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly,
Thou shall find the winter´s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.

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,
He who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing."


Ein etwas anderes englisches Weihnachtslied aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.
Es berichtet vom Hl. Wenzel der im 10. Jahrhundert als Fürst von Prag und Böhmen lebte und als Märtyrer starb. Er wurde zum Nationalheiligen und Schlachtenhelfer Böhmens.
Seine Gebeine ruhen im ihm geweihten Veistdom auf der Prager Burg.