64504: The Shivering Beggar

<p dir="ltr"> Near Clapham village, where fields began,<br> Saint Edward met a beggar man.<br> It was Christmas morning, the church bells tolled,<br> The old man trembled for the fierce cold.<br> Saint Edward cried, 'It is monstrous sin<br> A beggar to lie in rags so thin!<br> An old grey-beard and the frost so keen:<br> I shall give him my fur-lined gaberdine.'<br> He stripped off his gaberdine of scarlet<br> And wrapped it round the aged varlet,<br> Who clutched at the folds with a muttered curse,<br> Quaking and chattering seven times worse.<br> Said Edward, 'Sir, it would seem you freeze<br> Most bitter at your extremities.<br> Here are gloves and shoes and stockings also,<br> That warm upon your way you may go.'<br> The man took stocking and shoe and glove,<br> Blaspheming Christ our Saviour's love,<br> Yet seemed to find but little relief,<br> Shaking and shivering like a leaf.<br> Said the saint again, 'I have no great riches,<br> Yet take this tunic, take these breeches,<br> My shirt and my vest, take everything,<br> And give due thanks to Jesus the King.'<br> The saint stood naked upon the snow<br> Long miles from where he was lodged at Bowe,<br> Praying, 'O God! my faith, it grows faint!<br> This would try the temper of any saint.<br> 'Make clean my heart, Almighty, I pray,<br> And drive these sinful thoughts away.<br> Make clean my heart if it be Thy will,<br> This damned old rascal's shivering still!'<br> He stooped, he touched the beggar man's shoulder;<br> He asked him did the frost nip colder?<br> 'Frost!' said the beggar, 'no, stupid lad!<br> 'Tis the palsy makes me shiver so bad.'</p>