In The Yule-Log Glow--Book 3 | Page 9

the roofs with laughter sound!?Anon they'll think the house goes round:?For they the cellar's depth have found,
And there they will be merry.
The wenches with their wassail bowls,?About the streets are singing;?The boys are come to catch the owls,?The wild mare in is bringing.?Our kitchen-boy hath broke his box,?And to the dealing of the ox?Our honest neighbors come by flocks,
And here they will be merry.
Now kings and queens poor sheep-cotes have,?And mate with everybody;?The honest now may play the knave,?And wise men play at noddy.?Some youths will now a mumming go,?Some others play at Rowland-ho,?And twenty other gameboys mo,
Because they will be merry.
Then wherefore in these merry days,?Should we, I pray, be duller??No, let us sing some roundelays?To make our mirth the fuller.?And, whilst thus inspired, we sing,?Let all the streets with echoes ring,?Woods, and hills, and everything
Bear witness we are merry.
_George Wither._
CHRISTMAS EVE CUSTOMS.
I.
Come, guard this night the Christmas-pie,?That the thief, though ne'er so sly,?With his flesh-hooks, don't come nigh
To catch it,
From him, who alone sits there,?Having his eyes still in his ear,?And a deal of nightly fear
To watch it!
II.
Wash your hands, or else the fire?Will not teend[D] to your desire;?Unwashed hands, ye maidens, know,?Dead the fire, though ye blow.
_Robert Herrick._
FOOTNOTE:
[D] Burn.
MERRY SOULS.
O you merry, merry Souls,?Christmas is a-coming,?We shall have flowing bowls,?Dancing, piping, drumming.
Delicate minced pies?To feast every virgin,?Capon and goose likewise,?Brawn and a dish of sturgeon.
Then, for your Christmas box,?Sweet plum-cakes and money,?Delicate Holland smocks,?Kisses sweet as honey.
Hey for the Christmas ball,?Where we shall be jolly?Jigging short and tall,?Kate, Dick, Ralph, and Molly.
Then to the hop we'll go?Where we'll jig and caper;?Maidens all-a-row;?Will shall pay the scraper.
Hodge shall dance with Prue,?Keeping time with kisses;?We'll have a jovial crew?Of sweet smirking misses.
_Round About Our Coal Fire._
[Illustration The Baron's Hall]
CHRISTMAS IN THE OLDEN TIME.
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen;?The hall was dressed with holly green;?Forth to the wood did merry-men go?To gather in the mistletoe.?Then opened wide the baron's hall?To vassal, tenant, serf, and all;?Power laid his rod of rule aside,?And ceremony doffed his pride.?The heir, with roses in his shoes,?That night might village partner choose;?The lord underogating share?The vulgar game of post-and-pair.?All hailed with uncontrolled delight?And general voice, the happy night,?That to the cottage as the crown?Brought tidings of salvation down.?The fire with well-dried logs supplied?Went roaring up the chimney wide;?The huge hall-table's oaken face,?Scrubbed till it shone, the day to grace,?Bore then upon its massive board?No mark to part the squire and lord.?Then was brought in the lusty brawn?By old blue-coated serving-man;?Then the grim boar's head frowned on high,?Crested with bay and rosemary.?Well can the green-garbed ranger tell?How, when, and where the monster fell;?What dogs before his death he tore,?And all the baiting of the boar.?The wassail round, in good brown bowls,?Garnished with ribbons blithely trowls.?There the huge sirloin reeked; hard by?Plum-porridge stood and Christmas-pie;?Nor failed old Scotland to produce?At such high tide her savory goose.?Then came the merry masquers in?And carols roared with blithesome din;?If unmelodious was the song,?It was a hearty note and strong.?Who lists may in their mumming see?Traces of ancient mystery.?While shirts supplied the masquerade,?And smutted cheeks the visors made:?But, oh! what masquers richly dight?Can boast of bosoms half so light!?England was merry England when?Old Christmas brought his sports again.?'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale,?'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;?A Christmas gambol oft would cheer?The poor man's heart through half the year.
_Sir Walter Scott._
CEREMONIES FOR CHRISTMAS.
Come, bring with a noise,?My merry, merry boys,?The Christmas-log to the firing,?While my good dame, she?Bids ye all be free,?And drink to your heart's desiring.
With the last year's brand?Light the new block, and,?For good success in his spending,?On your psalteries play,?That sweet luck may?Come while the log is a-teending.[E]
Drink now the strong beer,?Cut the white loaf here,?The while the meat is a-shredding;?For the rare mince-pie?And the plums stand by,?To fill the paste that's a-kneading.
_Robert Herrick._
FOOTNOTE:
[E] Burning.
BRINGING IN THE BOAR'S HEAD.
_Caput apri defero_
_Reddens laudes domino._

The boar's head in hand bring I,?With garlands gay and rosemary;?I pray you all sing merrily
_Qui estis in convivio._
The boar's head, I understand,?Is the chief service in this land;?Look, wherever it be fand,
_Servite cum cantico._
Be glad, lords, both more and less,?For this hath ordained our steward?To cheer you all this Christmas,?The boar's head with mustard.
_Ritson's Ancient Songs._
THE BOAR'S HEAD CAROL.
SUNG AT QUEEN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD.
The boar's head in hand bear I,?Bedecked with bays and rosemary;?And I pray you, my masters, be merry,
_Quot estis in convivio._
_Caput apri defero_