Sloane Manuscript, 2593, fol. 22 b, British Museum.
| 1 |
Seynt Steuene was a clerk in kyng Herowdes halle,
And seruyd him of bred and cloþ, as euery kyng befalle. |
| 2 |
Steuyn out of kechone cam, wyth boris hed on honde;
He saw a sterre was fayr and bryȝt ouer Bedlem stonde. |
| 3 |
He kyst adoun þe boris hed and went in to þe halle:
'I forsak þe, kyng Herowdes, and þi werkes alle. |
| 4 |
'I forsak þe, kyng Herowdes, and þi werkes alle;
Þer is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter þan we alle.' |
| 5 |
'Quat eylyt þe, Steuene? quat is þe befalle?
Lakkyt þe eyþer mete or drynk in kyng Herowdes halle!' |
| 6 |
'Lakit me neyþer mete ne drynk in kyng Herowdes halle;
Þer is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter þan we alle.' |
| 7 |
Quat eylyt þe, Steuyn? art þu wod, or þu gynnyst to brede?
Lakkyt þe eyþer gold or fe, or ony ryche wede?' |
| 8 |
'Lakyt me neyþer gold ne fe, ne non ryche wede;
Þer is a chyld in Bedlem born xal helpyn vs at our nede.' |
| 9 |
'Þat is al so soþ, Steuyn, al so soþ, iwys,
As þis capoun crowe xal þat lyþ here in myn dysh.' |
| 10 |
Þat word was not so sone seyd, þat word in þat halle,
Þe capoun crew Cristus natus est! among þe lordes alle. |
| 11 |
Rysyt vp, myn turmentowres, be to and al be on,
And ledyt Steuyn out of þis town, and stonyt hym wyth ston!' |
| 12 |
Tokyn he Steuene, and stonyd hym in the way,
And þerfore is his euyn on Crystes owyn day. |
