Poem: from As Joseph as A-walking, Anonymous, Traditional French Carol

As Joseph was a-walking
He heard an Angel sing:
‘This night there shall be born
Our gracious Heav’nly King;
He neither shall be born
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in the place of Paradise,
But in an ox’s stall.’

‘He neither shall be christen’d
In white wine nor in red;
But with the fair spring water,
With which we were christened.’
As Joseph was A-walking,
Thus did the Angel sing;
And Mary’s Child at midnight
Was born to be our King.