  iIJoseph was an old man, And an old man was he, When he wedded Mary In the land of Galilee. IIJoseph and Mary walk’d Through an orchard good, Where was cherries and berries So red as any blood. IIIJoseph and Mary walk’d Through an orchard green, Where was berries and cherries As thick as might be seen. IVO then bespoke Mary, So meek and so mild, ‘Pluck me one cherry, Joseph, For I am with child.’ VO then bespoke Joseph With words so unkind, ‘Let him pluck thee a cherry That brought thee with child.’ VIO then bespoke the babe Within his mother’s womb, ‘Bow down then the tallest tree For my mother to have some.’ VIIThen bow’d down the highest tree Unto his mother’s hand: Then she cried, ‘See, Joseph, I have cherries at command!’ VIIIO then bespake Joseph— ‘I have done Mary wrong; But cheer up, my dearest, And be not cast down. IX‘O eat your cherries, Mary, O eat your cherries now; O eat your cherries, Mary, That grow upon the bough.’ XThen Mary pluck’d a cherry As red as the blood; Then Mary went home With her heavy load. iiXIAs Joseph was a-walking, He heard an angel sing: ‘This night shall be born Our heavenly King. XII‘He neither shall be born In housen nor in hall, Nor in the place But in an ox’s stall. XIIIXIV‘He neither shall be rock’d In silver nor in gold, But in a wooden cradle That rocks on the mould. XV‘He neither shall be christen’d In white wine nor red, But with fair spring water With which we were christenÈd. iiiXVIThen Mary took her young son And set him on her knee; ‘I pray thee now, dear child, Tell how this world shall be.’— XVII‘O I shall be as dead, mother, As the stones in the wall; O the stones in the street, mother, Shall mourn for me all. XVIII‘And upon a Wednesday My vow I will make, And upon Good Friday My death I will take. XIX‘Upon Easter-day, mother, My uprising shall be; O the sun and the moon, mother, Shall both rise with me!’ |
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