Good King Wenceslas, illustrated by Jessie Marion King
King Wenceslas is a literary version of the real Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, who was known for his good deeds, killed by his greedy younger brother Boleslaus, and immediately after his death considered a martyr and a saint.
King Wenceslas is a literary version of the real Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, who was known for his good deeds, killed by his greedy younger brother Boleslaus, and immediately after his death considered a martyr and a saint.
The legend is about the Feast of St. Stephan (the day after Christmas, the so-called Boxing Day) when King Wenceslas noticed a poor man carrying some logs through high snow. He decided to help him. He took a page too but the walk was exhausting and the page couldn't keep up with the king. Then the king decided to step ahead to give the page a chance walking into his steps. The snow melted under his feet which became one of the reasons to proclaim him a saint.
After the legend, a carol below was written. It became extremely popular in the 19th century, almost a millennium after the real Wenceslas' death, thanks to the tune which is actually a melody for Easter song Tempus adest floridum. That raised a lot of controversy but the masses loved the song and it is still popular.
Enjoy it with Jessie Marion King's illustrations.
Good King Wenceslas looked out
on the feast of Stephen
when the snow lay round about
deep and crisp and even.
on the feast of Stephen
when the snow lay round about
deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night
thought the frost was cruel
when a poor man came in sight
gathering winter fuel
thought the frost was cruel
when a poor man came in sight
gathering winter fuel
Hither page and stand by me
if thou knowest it telling
yonder peasant who is he
where and what his dwelling
if thou knowest 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
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
bring me pine logs hither
thou and I shall see him dine
when we bear them thither
Page and monarch forth they
forth the went together
through the ryde winds wild lament
and the bitter weather
forth the went together
through the ryde winds wild lament
and the bitter weather
Sire the night grows darker now
and the wind blows stronger
fails my heart I know not how
I can go no longer
and the wind blows stronger
fails my heart I know not how
I can go no longer
Mark my footstep my good page
thread thou in them boldly
thou shalt find the winter wind
freeze thy blood less coldly
thread thou in them boldly
thou shalt find the winter wind
freeze thy blood less coldly
In his masters steps he trod
where the snow lay dinted
heat was in the very sod
which the saint has printed
where the snow lay dinted
heat was in the very sod
which the saint has printed
Therefore Christian men be sure
wealth or rank possesing
ye who now do bless the poor
wealth or rank possesing
ye who now do bless the poor
Shall yourselves find Blessing
Jessie Marion King illustrated the story in recognizable Art Nouveau style with loads of decorative elements, a wide range of colors, and themed frames. Through the color pallette, she balanced the coldness of the environment with the warmth of the good deed and the simplicity of the situation with religious undertones.