Preparations

Yet if His Majesty, our sovereign lord,

Should of his own accord

Friendly himself invite,

And say "I'll be your guest to-morrow night,"

"Set me fine Spanish tables in the hall;

See they be fitted all;

Let there be room to eat

And order taken that there want no meat.

"Look to the presence: are the carpets spread,

The dazie o'er the head,

The cushions in the chairs,

And all the candles lighted on the stairs?

Thus, if a king were coming, would we do;

And 'twere good reason too;

For 'tis a duteous thing

To show all honour to an earthly king,

But at the coming of the King of Heaven

All's set at six and seven;

We wallow in our sin,

Christ cannot find a chamber in the inn.