Christmas Part 29

OLD CHRISTMAS RETURNED

All you that to feasting and mirth are inclined, Come here is good news for to pleasure your mind, Old Christmas is come for to keep open house, He scorns to be guilty of starving a mouse: Then come, boys, and welcome for diet the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

The holly and ivy about the walls wind And show that we ought to our neighbors be kind, Inviting each other for pastime and sport, And where we best fare, there we most do resort; We fail not of victuals, and that of the chief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

All travellers, as they do pa.s.s on their way, At gentlemen's halls are invited to stay, Themselves to refresh, and their horses to rest, Since that he must be Old Christmas's guest; Nay, the poor shall not want, but have for relief, Plum-pudding, goose, capon, minced pies, and roast beef.

CHRISTMAS CAROL

As Joseph was a-waukin'

He heard an angel sing, "This night shall be the birthnight Of Christ our heavenly King.

"His birth-bed shall be neither In housen nor in hall, Nor in the place of paradise, But in the oxen stall.

"He neither shall be rocked In silver nor in gold, But in the wooden manger That lieth in the mould.

"He neither shall be washen With white wine nor with red, But with the fair spring water That on you shall be shed.

"He neither shall be clothed In purple nor in pall, But in the fair, white linen That usen babies all."

As Joseph was a-waukin', Thus did the angel sing, And Mary's son at midnight Was born to be our King.

Then be you glad, good people, At this time of the year; And light you up your candles, For His star it s.h.i.+neth clear.

"IN EXCELSIS GLORIA"

When Christ was born of Mary free, In Bethlehem, in that fair citie, Angels sang there with mirth and glee, _In Excelsis Gloria!_

Herdsmen beheld these angels bright, To them appearing with great light, Who said, "G.o.d's Son is born this night,"

_In Excelsis Gloria!_

This King is come to save mankind, As in Scripture truths we find, Therefore this song have we in mind, _In Excelsis Gloria!_

Then, dear Lord, for Thy great grace, Grant us the bliss to see Thy face, That we may sing to Thy solace, _In Excelsis Gloria!_

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 Reddens laudes domino._

The boar's head, as I understand, Is the rarest dish in all this land, Which thus bedeck'd with a gay garland Let us servire cantico.

_Caput apri defero Reddens laudes domino._

Our steward hath provided this In honour of the King of bliss; Which on this day to be served is In Reginensi Atrio.

_Caput apri defero Reddens laudes domino._

CHRISTMAS CAROL

Listen, lordings, unto me, a tale I will you tell; Which, as on this night of glee, in David's town befell.

Joseph came from Nazareth with Mary, that sweet maid; Weary were they nigh to death, and for a lodging prayed.

In the inn they found no room; a scanty bed they made; Soon a babe, an angel pure, was in the manger laid.

Forth He came, as light through gla.s.s, He came to save us all.

In the stable, ox and a.s.s before their Maker fall.

Shepherds lay afield that night to keep the silly sheep, Hosts of angels in their sight came down from Heaven's high steep:-- Tidings! tidings unto you! to you a child is born, Purer than the drops of dew, and brighter than the morn!

Onward then the angels sped, the shepherds onward went,-- G.o.d was in His manger bed; in wors.h.i.+p low they bent.

In the morning see ye mind, my masters one and all, At the altar Him to find, who lay within the stall.

_Chorus_.

Sing high, sing low, Sing to and fro, Go tell it out with speed, Cry out and shout, All round about, That Christ is born indeed!

Pray whither sailed those s.h.i.+ps all three On Christmas day in the morning?

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem On Christmas day, on Christmas day; Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the angels in heaven shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christmas day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain On Christmas day, on Christmas day; Then let us all rejoice amain On Christmas day in the morning.

ADDITIONAL PIECES

A CHRISTMAS INSURRECTION

ANNE P.L. FIELD

In the hush of a s.h.i.+very Christmas-tide dawn Sing hey! sing ho! heigho!