John Larrysson Column: Good King Wenceslas (3)
What is the meaning of the words? (Second Half)
文章日期:2015年12月23日

The song Good King Wenceslas is popular at Christmastime. However many people do not understand the song. The week before last, I explained who Wenceslas was. Last week I explained some of the more difficult words in the first-half of the song. This week I will finish the song.

What do the words mean? The first time a difficult or confusing word is used in the song I will explain it. Some words, that were explained last week, will not be explained again.

[audio 1]

 

Good King Wenceslas

continued...

 

(“Sire, he lives a good league hence,

underneath the mountain;

Right against the forest fence,)

by Saint Agnes' fountain."

 

This line is a big problem. Saint Agnes lived from 1211 to 1282, long after Wenceslas. Although venerated (greatly honoured) for centuries, she only officially became a saint in 1989, long after the song was written. It is also confusing because she was a descendant of Saint Wenceslas in the song. She was also the sister of a different King Wenceslas I of Bohemia. Remember that Saint Wenceslas was only called a king after his death as an honour. The line refers to some impossible unexplained landmark that exists only in this song.

 

[audio 2]

"Bring me flesh (meat), and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither:

Thou and I shall see him dine (eat),

when we bear (carry) them (the food and logs) thither (to that place).”

 

The poor man lives beside the forest. Why does he need to collect wood a league away from the forest? There were some strict medieval laws preventing people hunting or cutting wood in a forest.The forest was owned by the king or a noble. This practise was common, and hated, in Norman England.

 

[audio 3]

Page and monarch (king),

forth (forward) they went,

forth they went together;

Through the rude (strong) wind's wild lament (sad song)

and the bitter (bitterly cold) weather.

"Sire, the night is darker now,

and the wind blows stronger;

Fails my heart (I am afraid.),

I know not how;

I can go no longer."

 

This part means: It is very cold and dark. I am afraid. I cannot walk this far. The page is complaining like a child.

 

[audio 4]

"Mark (look at) my footsteps,

good my page.

 

This line is an archaic structure “good my page” is similar to “Good my Lord” which is used in addressing kings etc. in Shakespeare.

 

Tread (walk) thou in them boldly

Thou shalt (present second person singular of shall) find the winter's rage (the cold weather)

freeze thy (your) blood less coldly.”

In his master's steps he trod (walked),

where the snow lay dinted (dented);

Heat was in the very sod (ground)

which the saint (Wenceslas) had printed (left a footprint).

 

By magic, from God's blessing, the page is warm when he follows in the footsteps of Saint Wenceslas.

 

Therefore, Christian men, be sure,

wealth (money) or rank (being a lord/baron/king etc...) possessing,

Ye (you) who now will bless the poor,

 

The word ye is an older polite version of you. Specifically it is the subjective (nominative) case of the second person plural pronoun.

 

shall yourselves find blessing.

[audio 5]

by John Larrysson

[email protected]

A native English speaker who has been teaching practical English in Hong Kong for over two decades.

Good King Wenceslas (1) - Who was Good King Wenceslas? (2015-12-09)

Good King Wenceslas (2) - What is the meaning of the words? (First Half) (2015-12-16)

Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas looked out,

on the Feast of Stephen,

When the snow lay round about,

deep and crisp and even;

Brightly shone the moon that night,

tho' 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 shall 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,

good my page.

Tread thou in them boldly

Thou shalt find the winter's rage,

freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps 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.

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