Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/46

 
The wise men soon espied it,
And told the king on high, —
A princely babe was born that night,
No king should e'er destroy.

"If this be true," King Herod said,
"As thou tellest unto me.
This roasted cock that lies in the dish,
Shall crow full fences three."

The cock soon freshly feathered was.
By the work of God's own hand;
And then three fences crowed he
In the dish where he did stand.

"Rise up, rise up, you merry men all,
See that you ready be;
All children under two years old,
Now shall destroyed be."

Then Jesus, ah! and Joseph,
And Mary that was so pure,
They travelled into Egypt,
As you shall find it sure.

And when they came to Egypt's land.
Amongst those fierce wild beasts,
Mary, she being weary.
Must needs sit down to rest.

"Come, sit thee down," says Jesus,
"Come sit thee down by me;
And thou shalt see how these wild beasts
Do come and worship me."

First came the lovely lion.
Which Jesu's grace did spring;
And of the wild beasts of the field.
The lion shall be king.