on the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
gathering winter fuel.
“Hither, page, and stand by me.
If thou know'st it telling:
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence,
underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence
by Saint Agnes fountain.”
“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.
Bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I will see him dine
when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went,
forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
and the bitter weather.
“Sire, the night is darker now,
and the wind blows stronger.
Fails my heart, I know not how.
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps my good page,
tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
freeze thy blood less coldly.”
In his master’s step he trod,
where the snow lay dinted.
Heat was in the very sod
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
shall yourselves find blessing.
Wenzel of Bohemia was known as "Good King Wenceslaus."
"Wenzels' thoughtfulness and regard for others endeared him to his people. Of his humility and consideration a pretty story was told. One cold, frosty night so runs the tale, he saw a poor man in the snow gathering fuel. His heart was touched, and calling on his page to 'Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.
. . . The Book of History, London, 1914, Vol. VIII, pg. 3149
"St. Wenceslaus (903-29), also known by Vaclav, was born near Prague, and was the son of Duke Wratislaw. He was taught Christianity by his grandmother, St. Ludmila. The Magyars, along with Drahomira, an anti-Christian faction murdered the Duke and St. Lumila, and took over the government. Wenceslaus was declared the new ruler after a coup in 922. He encouraged Christianity. Boleslaus, his brother, no longer successor to the throne, after Wenceslaus' son was born, joined a group of noble Czech dissenters. They invited Wenceslaus to a religious festival, trapped and killed him on the way to Mass. He is the patron saint of Bohemia and his feast day is September 28."
"St. Wenceslaus (903-29), also known by Vaclav, was born near Prague, and was the son of Duke Wratislaw. He was taught Christianity by his grandmother, St. Ludmila. The Magyars, along with Drahomira, an anti-Christian faction murdered the Duke and St. Lumila, and took over the government. Wenceslaus was declared the new ruler after a coup in 922. He encouraged Christianity. Boleslaus, his brother, no longer successor to the throne, after Wenceslaus' son was born, joined a group of noble Czech dissenters. They invited Wenceslaus to a religious festival, trapped and killed him on the way to Mass. He is the patron saint of Bohemia and his feast day is September 28."
. . . Catholic Online
