Quoth I 'Fellows mine,
  Why this guise sit ye?
  Making but dull cheer,
  Shepherds though ye be?
  Nowell, &c.

  'Shepherds should of right
  Leap and dance and sing;
  Thus to see ye sit
  Is a right strange thing.'
  Nowell, &c.

  Quoth these fellows then
  'To Bethlem town we go,
  To see a Mighty Lord
  Lie in manger low.'
  Nowell, &c.

  'How name ye this Lord,
  Shepherds?' then said I.
  'Very God' they said,
  'Come from Heaven high.'
  Nowell, &c.

  Then to Bethlem town
  We went two and two,
  And in a sorry place
  Heard the oxen low.
  Nowell, &c.

  Therein did we see
  A sweet and goodly May,