- As it fell out upon one day, Rich Diverus he made a feast, And he invited all his friends, And gentry of the best.
- And it fell out upon one day, Poor Lazarus he was so poor, He came and laid him down and down. Evn down at Diverus' door.
- So Lazarus laid him down and down Even down at Diverus' door: 'Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus, Do bestow upon the poor.'
- 'Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus, Lying begging at my door: No meat, no drink will I give thee, Nor bestow upon the poor.'
- Then Lazarus laid him down and down, Even down at Diverus' wall: 'Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus, Or surely starve I shall.
- 'Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus, Lying begging at my wall; No meat, no drink will I give thee, And therefore starve thou shall.'
- Then Lazarus laid him down and down, Even down at Diverus' gate: 'Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus, For Jesus Christ his sake.'
- 'Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus, Lying begging at my gate; No meat, no drink will I give thee, For Jesus Christ his sake.
- Then Diverus sent out his merry men all, To whip poor Lazarus away; They had not power to whip one whip, But threw their whips away.
- Then Diverus sent out his hungry dogs, To bite poor Lazarus away; They had not power to bite one bite, But licked his sores away.
- And it fell out upon one day, Poor Lazarus he sickened and died; There came two angels out of heaven, His soul thereto to guide.
- 'Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus, And come along with me; There is a place prepared in heaven, For to sit upon an angel's knee.'
- And it fell out upon one day Rich Diverus he sickened and died; There came two serpents out of hell, His soul thereto to guide.
- 'Rise up, rise up, brother Diverus, And come along with me; There is a place prepared in hell, For to sit upon a serpent's knee.'
No: 56; variant: 56B
Source: From memory, as sung by carol-singers at Christmas, in Worcestershire, at Hagley and Hartlebury, 1829-39: F. S. L., in Notes and Queries, Fourth Series, III, 76.