THIS HAVE I DONE FOR MY [bad word] LOVE

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my [bad word] love did so chance
to see the legend of my play,
to call my [bad word] love to my dance;

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love, this have I done for my [bad word] love

Then was I born of a virgin pure,
of her I took fleshly substance
thus was I knit to man’s nature
to call my [bad word] love to my dance.

In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
so very poor, this was my chance
betwixt an ox and a silly poor [bad word] to call my [bad word] love to my dance.

Then afterwards baptized I was;
the Holy Ghost on me did glance,
my Father’s voice heard from above,
to call my [bad word] love to my dance.

Into the desert I was led,
where I fasted without substance;
the Devil bade me make stones my bread,
to have me break my [bad word] love’s dance.

The Jews on me they made great suit,
and with me made great variance,
because they loved darkness rather than light,
to call my [bad word] love to my dance.

For thirty pence Judas me sold,
his covetousness for to advance:
mark whom I kiss, the same do hold!
The same is he shall lead the dance.

Before Pilate the Jews me brought,
where Barabbas had deliverance;
they scourged me and set me at nought,
judged me to die to lead the dance.

When on the cross hanged I was,
where a spear my heart did glance;
there issued forth both water and blood,
to call my [bad word] love to my dance.

Then down to [bad word] I took my way
for my [bad word] love’s deliverance,
and rose again on the third day,
up to my [bad word] love and the dance.

Then up to heaven I did ascend,
where now I dwell in sure substance
on the right hand of God, that man [bad word] unto the general dance.

Words anonymous, 17th century
Music Gustav Holst (1874–1934)