As it fell out one May morning,
and upon a bright holiday,
Sweet Jesus asked of his dear mother
if he might go and play.
To play, to play, sweet Jesus shall go,
and to play now get you gone,
And let me hear of no
complaint at night
when you come home.
Sweet Jesus went down to yonder town,
as far as the holy well,
And there did see as fine children
as any tongue can tell.
He said, God bless you, everyone,
and your bodies, Christ, save and see.
And now, little children, I'll play with you,
and you shall play with me.
But they made answer to him,
No, thou art meaner than us all.
Thou 'rt but a simple fair maid's child,
Born in an ox's stall.
Sweet Jesus turned him round about,
Nor laughed, nor smiled, nor spoke,
But the tears came trickling from his eyes,
Like waters from the rock.
Sweet Jesus turned him round about,
to his mother's home went he,
and said, I have been in yonder town,
as after you may see.
I said, God bless you, every one,
and your bodies, Christ, save and see,
And now, little children, I'll play with you,
and you shall play with me.
But they made answer to me,
no, they were lords and ladies' sons,
And I the meanest of them all,
born in an ox's stall.
Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder town,
As far as the holy well,
And take away those sinful souls,
And dip them deep in hell.
Nay, nay, sweet Jesus smiled and said,
Nay, nay, that may not be,
For there are too many sinful souls
Cryin' out for the help of me.
Then up spoke the angel Gabriel
Upon a good -said steven,
Although you were but a maiden's child,
You are the King of heaven.
You