Saint Stephen And King Herod Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B C D E F GHIH JFFF FHDH DHK KHG GHK FFL LFK KDH FHFH DKK KLKL| The Text is taken from the same manuscript as the last This manuscript is ascribed from the style of handwriting to the reign of Henry VI The ballad is there written without division into stanzas in twenty four long lines | A |
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| The Story The miraculous resuscitation of a roast fowl generally a cock as here in confirmation of an incredible prophecy is a tale found in nearly all European countries Originally we find the miracle is connected with the Passion not the Nativity See the Carnal and the Crane | B |
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| An interpolation in a late Greek MS of the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus relates that Judas having failed to induce the Jews to take back the thirty pieces of silver went home to hang himself and found his wife roasting a cock On his demand for a rope to hang himself she asked why he intended to do so and he told her he had betrayed his master Jesus to evil men who would kill him yet he would rise again on the third day His wife was incredulous and said 'Sooner shall this cock roasting over the coals crow again' whereat the cock napped his wings and crew thrice And Judas confirmed in the truth straightway made a noose in the rope and hanged himself | C |
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| Thence the miracle tale spread over Europe In a Spanish version not only the cock crows but his partner the hen lays an egg in asseveration of the truth The tale is generally connected with the legend of the Pilgrims of St James so in French Spanish Dutch Wendish and Breton ballads | D |
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| In there was printed in London a broadside sheet of carols headed with a woodcut of the Nativity by the side of which is printed 'A religious man inventing the conceits of both birds and beasts drawn in the picture of our Saviour's birth doth thus express them The cock croweth Christus natus est Christ is born The raven asked Quando When The crow replied Hac nocte This night The ox cryeth out Ubi Ubi Where where The sheep bleated out Bethlehem' Hone's Every day Book | E |
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| SAINT STEPHEN AND KING HEROD | F |
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| Seynt Stevene was a clerk | G |
| in kyng Herowdes halle | H |
| And servyd him of bred and cloth | I |
| as every kyng befalle | H |
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| Stevyn out of kechoun cam | J |
| wyth boris hed on honde | F |
| He saw a sterre was fayr and brycht | F |
| over Bedlem stonde | F |
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| He kyst adoun the bores hed | F |
| and went in to the halle | H |
| 'I forsak the kyng Herowdes | D |
| and thi werkes alle | H |
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| 'I forsak the kyng Herowdes | D |
| and thi werkes alle | H |
| Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born | K |
| is beter than we alle ' | - |
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| 'Quat eylyt the Stevene | K |
| quat is the befalle | H |
| Lakkyt the eyther mete or drynk | G |
| in kyng Herodwes halle ' | - |
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| 'Lakit me neyther mete ne drynk | G |
| in king Herowdes halle | H |
| There is a chyld in Bedlem born | K |
| is beter than we alle ' | - |
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| 'Quat eylyt the Stevyn art thou wod | F |
| or thou gynnyst to brede | F |
| Lakkyt the eyther gold or fe | L |
| or ony ryche wede ' | - |
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| 'Lakyt me neyther gold ne fe | L |
| ne non ryche wede | F |
| Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born | K |
| schal helpyn us at our nede ' | - |
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| 'That is al so soth Stevyn | K |
| al so soth i wys | D |
| As this capoun crowe schal | H |
| that lyth here in myn dysh ' | - |
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| That word was not so sone seyd | F |
| that word in that halle | H |
| The capoun crew Cristus natus est | F |
| among the lordes alle | H |
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| 'Rysyt up myn turmentowres | D |
| be to and al be on | K |
| And ledit Stevyn out of this town | K |
| and stonit him with ston ' | - |
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| Tokyn he Stevene | K |
| and stonyd hym in the way | L |
| And therfore is his evyn | K |
| on Crystes owyn day | L |
Frank Sidgwick
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