70 
TRANSLATION 
1 It was the royal nurse-maid 
Who took a little nap, 
And as she slept, she held 
The young prince on her lap. 
Lord pity us! 
0 have mercy , sweet Mary ! 
Saint Nicholas! 
2 When she woke from her slumber, 
The prince was burned by flame. 
In fright she cried aloud, 
Till all men running came. 
Lord pity us! . . . 
3 “Pray, tell, what ails you, nurse-maid? 
Why do you cry and weep?” 
“’Tis naught, ’tis naught,” she said, 
“I only burned a sheet.” 
4 And through the gateway. 
She to the river ran, 
And met upon the path 
The great Saint Nicholas. 
5 “Wither go you, nurse-maid? 
With your clothes full of ash?” 
“I go to the river, 
With O my clothes there to wash.” 
6 “You tell a lie, nurse-maid, 
You seek yourself to drown. 
Go hence unto your home. 
The babe holds out his arm.” 
7 There in the arms of Mary 
You will find him unhurt. 
Such wonders come to pass 
Through great Saint Nicholas!” 
