Rewards and Fairies

     Our Lord Who did the Ox command
     To kneel to Judah’s King,
     He binds His frost upon the land
     To ripen it for Spring—
     To ripen it for Spring, good sirs,
     According to His word;
     Which well must be as ye can see—
     And who shall judge the Lord?

     When we poor fenmen skate the ice
     Or shiver on the wold,
     We hear the cry of a single tree
     That breaks her heart in the cold—
     That breaks her heart in the cold, good sirs,
     And rendeth by the board;
     Which well must be as ye can see—
     And who shall judge the Lord?

     Her wood is crazed and little worth
     Excepting as to burn
     That we may warm and make our mirth
     Until the Spring return—
     Until the Spring return, good sirs,
     When people walk abroad;
     Which well must be as ye can see—
     And who shall judge the Lord?

     God bless the master of this house,
     And all that sleep therein!
     And guard the fens from pirate folk,
     And keep us all from sin,
     To walk in honesty, good sirs,
     Of thought and deed and word!
     Which shall befriend our latter end—
     And who shall judge the Lord?